2003 Audi RS6 and 2004 Audi S4 | Retro Review

Behold the ultra rare and elegantly brutal 2003 Audi RS6 and still impressive V8 powered 2004 S4.
Show 2308 | Original Airdate 10-21-2003
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[@67tomcat]

The Blue S4 looks amazing to this day!

[@Kiss__Kiss]

Nogaro Blue will always be one of the best colors, Audi has ever come up with.

[@tdub25]

The s4 is funny… it would get dusted by 33k base model gti… that has an engine that is literally less than half the size…. Meanwhile a base Tesla model 3 highland awd will smoke that rs6 while costing 35k in todays dollars…progress…

[@KhrissyDaDon]

@@tdub25 yeah but compare those vehicles to a modern RS car from Audi, and you’ll see that the tables have turned 😂!

[@bbb12345]

450hp in 2003 is like having 800hp today. Impressive.

[@tylercouture216]

The e55 had 480 but you knew that

[@Al_Lergic]

Not an enthusiasts car like the E39 M5 tho.

[@tylerburton9908]

inflation in this country, smh

[@internetavenger]

For reference, the Mustang GT at the time had 260hp (Currently has 480)

[@Al_Lergic]

@@internetavenger The Terminator had 390hp tho.

[@Techjunkiero]

Just when Audi had the best and clean sober line designs. What a absolutely gorgeous sedans, the best looking Audi’s of this era, especially the S4.

[@adamfrbs9259]

The 4.2 had the best fender flares in the history of the automobile............... ...absolutely perfect.

[@Techjunkiero]

@ Absolutely agree!

[@xClose2Deathx]

This is such a classic lines designed car. Still looks good decades later

[@nickb5417]

Audi really does have some timeless designs. I have a 07 a3 Every day I walk up to the car oogling at how sharp it still looks… The German lines and subtle curves… Executive simplicity. No im not an Audi snob. Just a lover of clean design 😂

[@RDEnduro]

I remember someone brought an RS6 with a tune out to the local street racing spot back then, it was fast, like low 12s or high 11s back then!

[@Eidrian111]

Yes, they fast to this day still

[@shwndh]

Timeless classics! Audi hit hard and shocked with the styling and performance at that time. I still want one.

[@mdh2os7]

Loved my 04 S4, hated the maintenance. Timing chain nightmare fuel.

[@tn18977]

Did you have the timing chain work done? How much does that cost?

[@Kiss__Kiss]

B6 and C5. Two of the best looking cars within that era.

[@mwp1088]

Mmmmmmm, i have a C5 and would love a B6 avant!

[@miniotgf2]

From audi yes

[@KhrissyDaDon]

When he was going over the engine specs and naming all the parts of the engine, my only thought was long term maintenance for these cars are most likely astronomically expensive 😅

[@bttawfiq]

I had a 2003 Audi S6, it looked almost exactly like that RS6 but in blue, however the 4.2l engine had no turbos (340hp) , it was still quick at the time.

[@Kiss__Kiss]

@@bttawfiq sounds like a non NA vehicle. Since we never got the S6 sedan within the C5 chassis. Only the avant.

[@bttawfiq]

@Kiss__Kiss In the US and UK it was available only as an Avant, but in some other markets it was available as a sedan, the same goes for the RS6 and RS4.

[@Kiss__Kiss]

@@bttawfiq Correct. As I've been buying into the Audi brand since the late 80s/early 90s. I was merely commenting on the S6 Sedan for others, new to the brand.

[@_que]

What an era

[@roydied15]

Its crazy that I just watched the the 1994 Volvo 850 Turbo Wagon on motorweek before this, and despite being a station wagon and 10 years older, it was only a second slower 0-60 and like half a second slower in the 1/4mi

[@oliverroo59]

Both of these cars have timeless designs. I miss the days of clean styling

[@TrailBlazerSS502]

These machines are collector’s items.

[@lt9303]

This RS6 is a legend. So far ahead of its time.

[@beesleep23]

driving a 2005 Imola S4 still. absolutely horrible gas mileage. 😂 but still fun. wanted either blue or the yellow and yellow was what i found first.

[@karpetcm]

Tried buying an S4 a few times i just gave up after a few months. The timing chain issues and they are super tight to work in very expensive in labor costs due to them being so tight in the engine bay. If your not mechanically inclined its a nightmare. I still love the look of this s4 and they sound awesome with a good aftermarket exhaust they were also slower then the m3's of the time and the m3's were also very problematic. I owned a 01 M3 and had some issues with that car that i eventually had to dump that car. Its not just being able to afford the maintenance costs its the inconvenience factor daily driving them since you need to go to work or run errands.

[@Bearer_of-Light]

the 2003 RS6 is the reason I love Audi's and have since. I still rock a 01 B5 S4 in 2024

[@Kiss__Kiss]

@@Bearer_of-Light .5?

[@fleuger99]

I'd love an Avant S4 today :)

[@Kiss__Kiss]

@@fleuger99 Manual, and in Nogaro Blue? Yes, please!!

[@KrautHammer_S62]

Love the aesthetic of this generation Audi. The soft touch buttons in the interior, and the timing chain guides in the S4 were a nightmare.

[@ghaleon128]

Crazy to think that 20 years ago, it took two turbos in a V8 to get the same output numbers today out of a NA V8.

[@BioLights24]

Right my dodge Charger 2008 srt8 6.1 Hemi makes 425 I think and that’s just stock everything 😅😢😂 no turbos needed just a big asss engine!!!

[@christhechrisallen]

I had an RS6 a few years ago before the prices got insane. Man I miss that car.

[@armandowar88]

I always wanted an s4 6 speed

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Still looks good and impressive today!

[@a200tq1]

Actually it was a great engine. Very nice flowing heads (110hp/l at only 8-9psi of boost), can hold up to 700-800 hp in an oem form, and easily can go 200k+ miles. c5 was last Audi built with quality, only degradation after that.

[@bghoody5665]

I'd be pretty happy with either of those cars but the RS6 looks really nice.

[@josebrito5202]

Best looking Audi generation. That RS6 is red was a beautiful car.

[@johnquintmatt1986]

2004 Audi S4 is iconic asf

[@jrms60r]

I owned one wish I still had it.

[@Tomsecks]

I have an 04 S4 Cabriolet for sale that I basically can't give away 😂.

[@johnquintmatt1986]

​@@Tomsecks because it's the cabriolet!

[@kanob6440]

Just recently sold my 2015 RS5. Great sounding car👍🏾

[@mikep.5517]

Nice to see performance cars that go about their business without the "through a whoopie cushion", snap-crackle-pop exhaust soundtrack so prevalent on modern cars. Also nice to see a V8 with a manual gearbox. Heady days 20 years ago...

[@senseicorey9979]

When an audi goes snap crackle or pop its cuz something is broken. Something expensive..

[@kresienm9031]

Did MotorWeek ever do a review on a 1991 BMW 525i multivalve with the M50 Engine?

[@porkchopexpress6969]

Was with my boy in a e36 m3 with minor mods when they were giving test rides in the rs6 on our local b road when the rs6 passed us with 5 people in it like nothing. Felt like the future was upon us. Granted the e36 wasn’t the most impressive thing, even then.

[@4HBirtcher]

I have to correct MotorWeek about that red RS6 considering to me that they’re both S4 sedans! The only reason Audi call the red S4 the RS6 is that bi-turbo version of the 4.6 v8 and the blue S4 has a standard 4.6 v8 (non turbo)!

[@pmafterdark]

3:20 Whistling past the graveyard in my endless money pit. 🤣😂

[@SARCASM_IS_MY_FIRST_NAME]

RS6, the dream car you should never have

[@user-ie1hg5ov1m]

Timing chains...

[@PANTYEATR1]

These cars didn't show their age. Very nice! I would own one if it wasn't such a pain to work on. 😎

[@wavelength1970]

Wow the 3.0T cars a lot faster than the old 4.2 S4

[@wingcheung8307]

If they only made 1,000 examples of this RS6 why aren't they appreciating in value? I've seen low mileage examples going for under $20k. It's a good looking car.

[@wavelength1970]

Because a stock 3.0T A6 will probably beat one, let alone a tuned 3.0T....and have 8 gears instead of 5.

[@jeffc7486]

If i could have an unbeat b5 6spd in Negaro blue with low low miles, id be so happy. These ones seem alright though. 84k in 04 wow. Thats gotta be like 150k in todays money.

[@ericschultz1073]

PLEASE oh PLEASE if it was recorded, put out the retro review of the 07 to 08 solara convertible, an 06 to 11 mercury grand marquis, and a 11 to 20 dodge grand caravan… these are all cars my family and I own that I wanna know about

[@senseicorey9979]

Sti of that time had 150 less hp and a faster 1/4......

[@reyfuentes4572]

Not as heavy nor luxurious as the audi tho...

[@senseicorey9979]

True. Didn't even come with a radio.

[@augustortiz]

Any STI or Evo would leave both for dead in the corners too.

[@tungstun1977]

I’m so old this Audi looks brand new ..

[@JR-ii4lq]

I hope they had a spare gearbox on hand for the RS after those launches 😬 iykyk

[@christophejergales7852]

The best generation of Audi. Right after this, they started that trend of the massive gaping hole front grill. Kia adopted it. VW adopted it. Lexus adopted it. Toyota too. God, it was so disgusting. This gen RS6 Avant is a dream car of mine.

[@DarkMagician225]

If the Mercury Marauder came supercharged would've sold so much better.

[@senseicorey9979]

I'd still rock a Marauder. Something sexy about them

[@minipandora22]

Imagine the horrible maintenance costs 🔧 🔩 🔥 😭

[@punemax]

13.2 is what my Kona runs. Same as a twin turbo V8 from 20 years ago.

[@blackericdenice]

Back when you didn't have to take the bumper off to change spark plugs. I've never cared much for Audi because they are fwd base.

[@wavelength1970]

Only the A3 is FWD based.

[@blackericdenice]

@@wavelength1970 All Audi are fwd base less the mid engine car.

[@wavelength1970]

@blackericdenice that is incorrect. My S4 has rear biased AWD system. It's not fast based like most awd cars.

[@blackericdenice]

@@wavelength1970 It is a fwd drive base car. Name one Audi with the engine in the front that is rear wheel drive only.

[@wavelength1970]

@@blackericdenice that's not the definition of FWD based

[@lostmind5063]

Does 0- 60 MPH in 4.8 seconds that is a 0.2 second trim from it doing 5.0 seconds flat.

[@noduh736]

I'd like to find a clean 6 with low miles 20 years later I can afford it

[@BertShackleford]

_Good times!_ Thank you MotorWeek. Stay classy my friends.

[@bobhill3941]

I thought these were cool in my teens.

[@Kiss__Kiss]

Good choices, young man.

[@wolf1597]

Rs6 is a snack for w211 e55 amg

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

I never realized the RS6 was almost $85,000 back then. That’s quite a lot for 20+ years ago. My buddy had a 2004 A4 1.8T, manual. I thought it was quite fast with the tuning software he had on it. It handled incredibly well, especially in rain and snow. Unfortunately like a lot of comments here mention, the car was very unreliable. The engine itself was fine, just electrical stuff. The radio would go out, then the dash light, windows would stop working, etc. It’s a shame because the interior looked awesome, especially at night

[@jlcii]

The Audi S4 words what happens when a Chevy Cavalier got the engine of a Cadillac Escalade shoved under the hood

[@sionbonkwok6937]

I want go past

[@augustortiz]

Both are a nightmare to own. The S4 engine is super mediocre in stock form for its displacement. After 60mph the S4 would get gapped by a lot of cars you wouldn’t think would keep up (Camrys, GTI’s, WRX’s). I drove one of those RS6’s and it was definitely closer to what you would expect from a “performance” sedan. An E39 M5 runs rings around both in pretty much every single way and the current prices reflect that.

[@coreyruttan872]

The '03 RS6 was decent, however it certainly wasn't a very competitive platform against lunatics that were into modifying...🤯 My old '04 Ford Lightning with FBO (full bolt-ons) on 93 ran a best of 12.22 @ 111.76-mph in the 1/4-mile at Moroso before it became PBIR. I encountered a gentleman at a stoplight going south, just south of the Highway 441 and Hillsboro Blvd. intersection (Costco-area). It was Holmberg and 441. Anyways, I had my Nitto NT555R Drag Radials on while he had, what I assume, his OEM tires. Despite Audi's AWD Quattro capabilities, I managed to get him hard out of the hole with my sticky rubber (no pun intended), and continually pull on him and his RS6.

[@coreyruttan872]

When I said Costco-area, I meant B.J's-area. I've been to B.J's, Costco and currently, Sam's Club. My apologies for those that will flame 🔥 me for getting that aspect of my encounter wrong...🙄🤦‍♂️🤣😘

[@ricardocorbie6803]

What a sexy little car, we had a A4, very sturdy and balanced vehicle, maintenance was a nightmare, from the timing belts to the turbo , leaks from plastic items, finally sold it, and the transmission gave out on the buyer, we practically gave it away for nothing, new owner wanted to put another transmission in it,, after all the money we spent on it, I guess he had a great ride after he got the tranny fixed!! 😢😢😢

[@uawanalickmee]

fun fact: the v8 s4 is .3 faster to 60 than a 2.0 4cyl honda civic si. So Audi needed 2.2 more liters to achieve the exact same result.

[@augustortiz]

Im pretty sure the Civic would also pull on it after 60 lol or at least keep up.

[@henryovalles1163]

The rs6 was overshadowed by the e55 amg and the HOUSEPOWER WARS BEGAN

[@1995RangeRover]

...and bankrupt you when they break!

[@Canadian_Gamer]

The dark ages of Audi Volkswagen Group, extremely unreliable and plasticky! 😂

[@0thers1d3]

The B6 REALLY looks boring AF!

[@tristansher1337]

First

[@droomkoning3266]

First