I am a long-time Audi enthusiast with a passion for station wagons from the 2000's: to be sure, a passion that meets its target only when they come with a 6-speed manual transmission!​

​

From B6 and B7 A4's to allroads and many other models in between, I have had the pleasure of enjoying several of these very rewarding cars. This RS6 Avant is, obviously, the crown jewel.​

​

And then there is the allure of that 4.2 Biturbo engine. The name Cosworth graces the engine bay of some of the world's greatest exotics. The Bugatti Tourbillion. The Aston Martin Valkyrie. The Gordon Murray–designed, V-12–powered T.50. Each is breathtakingly fast, each highly tempting, each unfortunately also staggeringly expensive.

​

Going beyond the engine, without doubt there is something special about these C5 wagons: be it the quality of materials or the intuitive layout inside the cabin, or the beautifully flowing exterior shape lines, I have always felt a sense of occasion driving these cars. As exciting as Audi's current products are it is apparent that something has been lost along the way. Almost as if Audis from that era had a sense of beautiful simplicity about them that has been diluted since.

​

When the opportunity arose to acquire this beautiful specimen, I had to pursue it. Luckily, this car was located only a few hundred miles from my home. My first exploratory trip to assess this car’s condition was quickly followed by a second trip to finalize my ownership of this unique piece of automotive history.

​

The car was in excellent condition, as the previous owner didn’t drive it very often. Upon bringing it home I quickly addressed a few small items, had a trusted specialist do a full timing belt job to bring it to its 100% current condition and set out in short order to learn and understand its driving dynamics.

​

Just sitting inside the car before even turning on the engine the smell of leather pervades the cabin. Turning the key brings the engine to life with a deep, baritone burble coming from the sport exhaust. The shifter is extremely smooth and the clutch pedal action surprisingly light. Moving from a standstill one already gets the impression this engine is something special, sending low-frequency, meaningful throbs through the seat bottom.

​

Rowing through the gears at regular speed generates the kind of solid, smooth and drama-free experience we come to expect from Audis of this era. Below 2500rpm nothing reveals this is a 550HP beast. As soon as the pace picks up it is easy to appreciate how well planted this car is: handling is extremely compliant, without a hint of harshness. RS6 stock brakes are powerful and remarkably resilient, at least for enthusiastic street use. But the engine… the engine is the star of the show. The powerband at low revs, though entirely tractable, makes no mystery of what is available should one elect to continue pushing on the accelerator. As revs increase the thrust and sheer power emanating from this engine are, in a word, absurd. As if the engine was taunting: “any RPM, anytime, at any speed”. The most notable feature is that prods to the accelerator pedal are met with immediate response: there is no turbo lag at this address. Toying with acceleration on the street quickly brings the driver orders of magnitude above the limits of the law, so that’s where this report ends.

​

Driving this car home after a romp on the country roads one feels humbled by its sheer power, delighted by its overall dynamics, and thankful for being part of an unrepeatable piece of everyday supercar history. While parking it in the garage I can’t help myself narrowing my eyes and shaking my head just thinking of the lofty limits of this vehicle.

​

What a car. Just what a car.

​