The Audi S6 V10 is Underrated

The C6 Audi S6 may have been overshadowed by its ridiculous twin-turbocharged RS big brother and the motorsport inspired E60 M5, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth a second look. In fact, it may be one of the best bargains on the market today.
00:00 Introduction
01:02 How it Drives
03:45 Interior
04:14 The M5 Problem

[@BuzzytheBlue]

A quick side note in case it was unclear in the video; just because we had 80,000+ trouble free miles with one, does not mean they are generally easy/inexpensive to maintain, or that your experience will be similar. We bought one with *impeccable* maintenance records from a long-term private owner. Generally, they are durable, fairly dependable cars, but costly to upkeep. Most of the Euro cars that I like share this downside, and the S6 is no different. The barrier to entry is low, but the running costs are not. Whether the car is worth that financial risk is a very subjective, personal choice, and one you should come to on your own after driving a sorted one. /disclaimer

[@tinto278]

😂😂

[@actionfaction2558]

Fun Fact: this was the first production car to have LED headlights…

[@ThirdOccupation]

The comfort that car provided. Felt like a king driving it or even riding passenger. A comfy car throughout with an enjoyable sound to it

[@kinderutz]

try the S8 if you liked the S6...👌

[@christian_urocar]

The meanest sounding V10 ever. There is no other V10 that growls like this first gen 5.2 V10 from Audi.

[@Serno_V10]

Greetings from Austria. Finally someone who feels the same... Had an M5 but now i´m the proud owner of one sedan and one avant Audi S6 V10. And i can totally agree with every word you are saying. Thank you for this Video to bring awareness to this forgotten, overlooked and overheared beauty.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

I’d kill for one of these as an Avant, I’m very jealous! Thanks for watching.

[@lancegallant3647]

audi is king

[@rodgazinya]

@@lancegallant3647 how is it King when Bmw beats it at every turn?

[@skybirdprojects5489]

@@rodgazinya Because we aren't talking about racing them on a track. I'd rather fully enjoy this car every day then enjoy the m5 only on track days.

[@actionfaction2558]

Well…when Audi won Lemans for many consecutive years…those wins and the applicable technology trickles down to it’s production cars.

[@alzwl8846]

Just recently got a Audi S8 with the v10. It's most definitely the best car I've ever owned and I've bought cars worth 3x the amount this car cost me

[@christian_urocar]

Haha nice man. Isn’t it a dream? Especially out on the highway!

[@Julian-666]

Any problems yet? Thinking about buying one two...

[@Inanabananana]

I bought one as my first car in May 2021. The sound is simply intoxicating in person, the mic doesn’t capture the deep V8/muscle-ness nor the screamer/V10 aspect of it. The handling is also very good, even shocking for a car that weighs 2 tons. The transmission might seem old, but if you’re going after it in manual mode, you don’t have to drive around it. It does exactly what you tell it to and knows how to have a good time. The interior is very comfortable and luxurious with pretty modern tech and creature comforts. It’s an incredible sleeper too, but those who know, know and respect the hell out of it. I bought mine in very rough shape from an extremely neglectful owner and am fixing it up piece by piece (i was shocked it still ran when I bought it after learning what it has been through. It’s really a tough cookie to break). I absolutely adore it and named it Juan Pablo. I look back and smile every time i park it. Even 1.5 years after buying it at 17, i still cant believe i own and drive a V10. It’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, but oh man does it have soul. It’s my dream come true and it ruined a lot of other cars for me lol. Best dumb decision I’ve ever made 😂 Edit: now 2.5 years after buying the car and i can finally say that the car is officially done. Not a light on the dash nor a drop underneath. It’s been my daily for over a year now too. With 90K miles on the clock, i expect it to have a good new life ahead of it :)

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Wow man congrats that’s an amazing first car! And it sounds like you saved one that’s been neglected, very cool 👍🏼 and I agree on the sound, it has such a cool, muscular growl down low that most V10s don’t have.

[@Inanabananana]

@@BuzzytheBlue i watched the ad for 8 months before i could buy it. I bought it for cheap and spent the rest fixing it up. It still has some minor issues that are to be expected. Every weekend i buy and install new parts for it myself, I’ve learned a lot working on it. It’s quite the first project car 😂

[@Inanabananana]

@@BuzzytheBlue i watched the ad for 8 months before i could buy it. I bought it for cheap and spent the rest fixing it up. It still has some minor issues that are to be expected. Every weekend i buy and install new parts for it myself, I’ve learned a lot working on it. It’s quite the first project car 😂

[@lonewolf1300]

@@Inanabananana i have a friend who has the C7 generation ,but that came with only V8 ,but is still a good car ,i like the design of c7 more than the c6 . As a first car i had a a4b7 but since i live in eastern eu ,and there are cylinder based taxes ,mine is a 2.0tdi ,is pretty good and capable , I'd rather had a v6 3.0 ,but well things happens like money 😂😂 but still love to look any audi ,built or not ,they're awesome in each aspect!

[@Inanabananana]

@@lonewolf1300 the C7 is incredible, but way out of my budget as a first car. Plus, I’m not looking for huge mods or massive hp as it’s also my daily. The sound and V10 are the main reasons i chose it. You just can’t beat the fact that its a V10 ya know? 😅 The A4 B7 is a very fun car, especially if its a Quattro manual. They are pretty light cars and you don’t need much power for a good time. They also look pretty good.

[@Waxymax024]

Just bought one about a month ago and it makes me smile every time I even look at it , still can’t believe I have a v10 parked out front😂the torque and the beautiful sound even out of the stock exhaust is just amazing. Lovely car if you’re in the market and have the opportunity to get it , go for it before it’s gone!

[@eljefeamericano4308]

Loved this video. My introduction to Audi was a used C6 A6. I fell in love with the brand immediately. And as old as the C6 era is, now, it still looks great to me! I keep looking at this exact model, the S6 with the V10, and I keep talking myself out of looking for one. But here I am, back to thinking that I want one of these parked outside my house. Take care!

[@PappaThiccccoms]

This car is truly special, its why i snatched up a 108k beast that needed a lil love but man is this a fun car. i have never been more obsessed over an exhaust note besides the LFA

[@w204mikull]

Great vid on all points. I watched a lot of m5/c63 videos in class as well and I can still appreciate this car lmao. That generation of car will always be what I strive to purchase.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thank you! I’d still love to own a manual E60 M5 down the road, but by the time I’m ready they’ll probably be out of my price range haha.

[@tophertycoon]

awesome video ive owned mine for 1 year and 9 months gonna sell it this winter as ive bought the big brother and waiting for it to ship this winter!

[@gtiguy415]

glad you tube recommended you. I daily a moded gti, but the dad life has got me needing something else. This cars awesome in just about everyway. I think I am going to have to go the wagon route but this is sick.

[@jkginn111]

Just bought mine about a month ago and still smile when I walk outside and see it. I've been drooling over this car for the past 10 years and just couldn't convince myself to pull the trigger until last month. So glad I did.

[@zedovski]

Wonderfully put together video and very tasteful. Thank you

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thank you!

[@davorin5428]

Bravo, very good video. Got S8 V10 2008 black for 3 or 4 years now, allmost no cost, runs like a swiss watch. Had bmw once, never again.

[@theamazingbrothers2024]

Couldn’t agree more. Great video! 👌

[@chadmanning9967]

Subscribed, great video, you helped make my decision on ownership. Thanks

[@Planetary13]

Sweet car. Love the sound. I have the C4 S6 and C5 S6A both manual. I really want to drive the C6 S6

[@CoachD4]

*I miss my c6 s6. I do not miss my 288/435hp after not carbon cleaning for thousands every 2yrs*

[@celicasupra84]

I’m strongly considering this as my next family wagon before incentives in my country ‘force’ me to go all electric. Thank you for such a fantastic and well balanced review. You say it exactly how it is and you evaluate the car keeping in mind what it was and what it represented at the time (sheer lunacy). And now at a bargain price. I’d like me a slice of that with 2 kid seats in the back, please.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Really glad you enjoyed, thanks for the kind words. I notice you said family “wagon”, are you looking at S6 Avants? I have always been disappointed they didn’t come to the US.

[@andreasgutzold]

Channel deserves way more views, hopefully the algorithm gods finally take the time to recognise it!

[@BuzzytheBlue]

That’s very kind, I hope so too! Thanks 🙏🏼

[@jeremyhueneka7115]

Your not wrong this seems thought out compared too the other crap floating around!

[@Dnyeal]

great content bro! appreciate the effort you put into your writing

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thank you man, glad you enjoyed it!

[@barfly246]

new sub here from a B5 S4 owner.. good content

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thank you!

[@vinayakrvijay9632]

Now whoever’s had this car on their bucket list is gonna see prices rocket

[@BuzzytheBlue]

You’re thinking I have more influence than I do 😂

[@minimasterd]

Watching this while sitting in my 08 S6 :)

[@dogsoldier791]

Love it, I have a 13 s6, these are awesome and I will get one one day

[@kevinmurray3301]

I can listen to this guy all day. Side note, that S6 got small in the screen QUICK

[@bsavage5128]

My B5.5 Passat wagon is underrated and underestimated every day... I love it! lmao

[@rosannamussi3132]

Very well done and interesting vidéo. The exhaust are the original ones?

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Nope, had Magnaflow mufflers actually. Otherwise stock.

[@Honk3Timess]

High quality video 👍

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thank you!

[@Birmingham_racing]

Beautiful sounding engines real sleepers

[@harleyrider76]

Yep. And the engine should make more power than it does. It has potential but they held back on the S6 to not outperform the S8 and the RS6... Many people believe that the S6 C6 can do low to mid 4 second 0-62mph and 500 hp. The gearbox is what holds the power back if you ask me, but thankfully there are TCU chips nowadays.

[@Todd.T]

I used to own a 1993 Taurus SHO, and after studying many cars that had engines stuffed in them, after the chassis was designed for something else, I decided to not buy any more cars that were modified for another/more extreme duty years after the design. They just had a lot of unique parts that were hard to get. In the end I was combing junkyards for SHO parts or the car would never move again. Had a C6 A6. Overlooked the V10 because I was thinking very few people would be able to fix it and the performance wasn't quite there. I did have a 4.2 non FSI because I didn't want to deal with carbon cleaning. In 2006, the year of my car, sport buckets were offered as an option and I had them. Never seen another one with them, only one on YT. The seats were rare. The car rode like a bag of rocks, and the S-Line suspension was so low it used to scrape a lot. Well balanced car. Handled great. Fun to drive. Now I have a C7.5 part of me misses the C6 still.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

The C7/C7.5 3.0T is really the calculated alternative to a C6 S6. As fast/quite a bit faster depending on the state of tune, a lot cheaper to run, and a more modern interior obviously. The S6 is really more about the unique spectacle of that engine at this point. Although we had a great experience with ours and many others do too, I wouldn’t blame anyone for being wary of the potential maintenance.

[@Todd.T]

@@BuzzytheBlue The timing belt on the SHO was $350..in the bag and much more to put it on. Taurus front rotors? $89. SHO front rotors? $200. They didn’t plan on how you would service the clutch so you had to drill holes in the floor to get a socket through. The clutch kit came with a paper template and plugs for the holes. Front spindle? $1200 but nobody had one, so junkyard parts it is. All those were 1990s prices and the only junkyard that had parts was in Alabama and I live in Canada. So I try to get engines that are derivatives or similar and can share parts. The 4.2 had a leak and I was certain the engine would have to come out so I traded it in. Both A6s are AWESOME on long trips with winding back roads. The 3.0T plus the 8 speed ZF is noticeably faster and more efficient having more choices of gears. V8 feels a bit smoother as I would guess the V10 to the V8. Performance wise I have APR stage 2 dual pulley, with APR CPS heat exchanger, APR coils, AWE S-Flo intake and a BG SQ5 trans tune. It is significantly faster than stock. I’m looking for the mom in a Tesla Y with three kids in the back. I’m going to make her refill her latte with tears.

[@Hassanw9]

This c6 rs6 is reason I love super estate cars…. And then the c7.5 blew my mind

[@harleyrider76]

It’s a S6 tho…

[@Pepsiman_24]

I regret not getting the wagon version when I saw in a lot. I’m getting the next one I see no matter what

[@PaulSmith-bn8nd]

Nice Spotlight Video on the C6S6 I've had mine for about 6-7 years and counting but unfortunately it's been broken more than it's been running. I'm also in CT and i'm in search of a Good german mechanic. do you have any recommendations?

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Straight Jacket in Guilford is my go to, they have one of the best Audi techs I know. He worked on our S6 too, so he has a knowledge of the V10. He’s the only person I bring my cars too. Otherwise I’ve heard good things about Excelerate in Branford.

[@dummytummy7622]

Never had a 5.2 v10 but had a 4.2 v8 sounded amazing I can hear the 4.2 in the 5.2L v10 a lil bit still just sound more sportier

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Yeah I can’t confirm it from my own research but I do remember hearing somewhere that the V10 and V8 are actually related architecturally.

[@Divine_Serpent_Geh]

@@BuzzytheBlueThey are. The architecture is pretty much identical to the 4.2 FSI, and no… it’s NOT a Lamborghini engine. What most people don’t know is that Audi designed Lamborghini’s V10 for them when they rescued them from bankruptcy in 1998. the Lambo has an Audi engine, and that makes it even cooler in my book.

[@MdubMedia]

Great vid! I want one now lol

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thanks and me too lol! I forgot to mention in the video that the S8 of this era has the same V10. Has to be some of the most car you can get per $ right now.

[@MM9Productionz]

A truly forgotten about car

[@______6879]

C5 RS6 also evokes similar overshadowed feelings by the E55 but offered something very different

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Love the C5 RS6, hardly ever see them around these days. When you think about it, a twin Turbo V8 and all wheel drive was awfully forward thinking for the time; especially when you consider the current lineup of twin turbo V8, AWD, sedans from M, AMG, and RS.

[@andre4273]

Always loved these and the v8 s4's I have a b6 a4 1.8t that I got when I was a sophomore in high school. Still have it 12 years later. I also got a 6spd 04 G35 coupe now though. One day i wanna pull the trigger on one of these or one of the b6 s4's. Also what part of CT you from? I live right over the border in MA

[@izdakilla]

I have a B7 S4 and It was single handedly the best terrible decision I've ever made. Love that thing so much lol

[@tiko4621]

1.8t never lose

[@izdakilla]

@@tiko4621 eh. If you like 4 bangers for sure, but I just don't like them, they all just sound like shit to me besides Subarus. Honestly wish it wasn't that way though, my wallet would love me😂

[@BocaAtractivo82]

NNNIIIICCCCEEEEE!!!!!!Recognize that SWEEEET V10!

[@coleb4323]

How much is a oil change? I heard it takes around 10 quarts and wondering if the price for oil for it would be to much for a daily driver?

[@BenjaminMcCall86]

Smiles Per Gallon are definitely high on this one. I have the C7.5 S6 which has the 4.0L Twin turbo V8. Not having the turbo lag would be interesting. I dont notice the turbo lag a ton but this makes me long for a naturally aspirated model. Didnt think I would say that.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

I haven’t had a chance to drive the C7 S6 to offer comparison but I think the transmission difference, DCT vs old 6 speed auto, could be pretty jarring.

[@tiltedtoken1450]

I'll trade you my B8.5 RS5 for your S6 🙂

[@malakisands8180]

I would trade you my highly modified D2 S8 with a 6 speed ZF swap and my B5 S4 Avant manual transmission for your car

[@TFossett]

The only thing stopping me from selling my S2000 and buying an S6 V10 is that there is basically 0 aftermarket support for this motor

[@BuzzytheBlue]

That’d be a pretty drastic change overall from an S2000 too haha! JHM has some stuff that makes a pretty big difference, intake manifold spacers, exhaust, tune etc. But yeah there isn’t much else. They got theirs to do a 12.9 1/4 I believe with their parts.

[@TFossett]

@@BuzzytheBlue It wouldn't be a big change for me, I have a B5 S4 that I race in winter, and the S2000 is for summer only. I wanted an A6 tdi, but those things are stupid expensive right now and I don't feel like spending all the money I get from selling the S2K on it, I want extra money to mod with haha

[@Rajonas007]

Maintenance on these is nightmare so unless you're a mechanic or have a lot of money don't even think about owning it. Car Wizard made a great video about this car

[@Inanabananana]

I saw those videos before buying mine. Carbon cleaning and fixing/replacing the intake manifold (the two common issues with this car) are really simple to do at home as long as you know how to turn a wrench and have a little patience. It’s really not a scary engine to work on. It’s all straightforward and simple. I’ve done carbon cleaning at home twice now and got great results. There are actually YT videos for it. But i have to agree, paying someone else to do it would cost a pretty penny, especially that it should be considered yearly maintenance.

[@yearight259]

I purchased one three years ago that was a rebuilt title, it has 160k on it and still runs like a champ. It’s the pride of my fleet. Older but yet still a beautiful car. Besides the price of 91 octane and over a $100 dollars for an oil change all Iv had to do in the 30,000 miles Iv owned it is the brakes. Great car. My wonder is what if it’s chipped? Can you get another 100hp out of it? Or even more torque?

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Not much power on the table really. JHM makes a tune and a couple odds and ends but really it’s the kind of car you just keep carbon cleaned and enjoy. No huge horsepower mods for it.

[@kbk9535]

@@BuzzytheBlue hey, sorry I know it's a 6 months old comment, but are you sure about that? With a few of those hardware mods and the JHM tune the car's pretty much supposed to reach 500 to the crank and run a 4.6-7-ish 0-60. That's pretty much stock M5 territory. Obviously still won't handle like an M5, rev as high as an M5, bla bla bla :)

[@dcswings]

I love my S6

[@boxerbull5405]

More video’s!

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Shooting for one a week! We’ll see if I can sustain that 😂

[@coleoberdorf4466]

Any thoughts on the S6 vs the S8 version? Would there/should there be any preference on one over the other?

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Very similar cars all things considered. The S8 has the nicer/more modern feeling interior but is even larger. Not sure how different they drive as I haven’t driven an S8, but if I was in the market for one I’d probably consider the other as well.

[@b5Bart]

Both 4.2 v8 and 5.2 v10 are both amazing engines from audi. The only issues are the good ol chain tensioners.

[@lancegallant3647]

absolutely true unless You get an b7 rs4 if You can find one 😉 no plastic tensioner in here :-) love my rs4 holy fack

[@b5Bart]

@@lancegallant3647 you can always upgrad em too, i have a 4.2 swapped b5 a4 but its the older belt driven 4.2. Nothing beats the low end torque of a 4.2 especially when the charger kids see a audi wagon with a loud ass v8. Always awesome seeing confused faces

[@lancegallant3647]

@@b5Bart absolutely priceless 👌 cars rule single and own 4

[@Flushsion]

0-w40 Mobil got rid of my 4.2 chain rattle- 160k miles on it when sold. Loved that thing to bits!

[@bllende]

that s85 m5 v10 engine broke too many hearts. bmw is another level bro.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Definitely the more exciting of the two. But having the rod bearings done on my S54 was expensive enough for me, let alone an S85 haha.

[@bllende]

@@BuzzytheBluei dont know alot about audi v10s but bmw v10 it was just perfect for a stock NA, sure it have some issues but still a good engine

[@BuzzytheBlue]

For sure, I still want to own a manual E60 M5 eventually for that reason. One of the coolest engines BMW ever built.

[@bllende]

@@BuzzytheBlue yes, and now they even used to supercharges more than 800hp 🤯

[@2kgaming225]

Audi S6 sound reminds me of the 5 cylinder 07K

[@ZebDaNegev]

Our taste in cars is very similar lol! I have a z4m roadster And a c6 s6 hahah

[@BuzzytheBlue]

If I decide to sell my 335i for some reason I may try to track down an S8 V10 (just to try out the larger cars interior). Just putting this video together made me miss that engine lol!

[@bombardierboerboels]

Question sir. I am in the Uk S6 avants are hard to find but RS6 not so hard is the RS more trouble 572 bhp troubles

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Wish I could help, but I know next to nothing about the RS6 in terms of maintaining one as they never came to the U.S. Given it adds twin turbos into the formula, I’d imagine maintenance is even steeper. But I’d just do some research and see!

[@zurdo196]

i have the s6 2016 v8 c7.5 is a beutifull piece super relieable...

[@Incountry]

I have a 3.0TFSI C6 (2009) Auto box with 1 pulley swap and remapped to 440+hp with similar torque figures… it makes the little ones laugh when we accelerate hard, but I prefer my oil burner 2004 320 CDi…

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Yeah any 3.0T car with a pulley and tune is extremely fun.

[@Incountry]

@@BuzzytheBlue Agreed…

[@StudioGoldsmith]

I watched this video and went and bought an S6 at 73k. I got it dirt cheap since it has an oil leak. Engine is coming out this month. Looking to daily drive it for as long as it runs. :D

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Sounds like you’re the perfect owner for it! Try to do as much preventative work as you possibly can while it’s out and you’ll have many years of trouble free fun to look forward too!

[@belminzvekic6]

How much you pick it up for?

[@StudioGoldsmith]

@@belminzvekic6 i got it for 12 grand. the country i live in has car tax, so cars cost twice as much as elsewhere. The cheapest C6 RS6 would've been 40 grand

[@DRAGONBALL1351]

Please do a review on an S8!!

[@BuzzytheBlue]

I’d love too! Will keep an eye out, they are relatively rare cars.

[@DRAGONBALL1351]

@@BuzzytheBlue I'm getting one very soon! I know the engines are KINDA the same with the S8 at 450HP but still I would like to think there are a few differences in the S8 than the S6. Subbed too man!

[@kdubbya]

You can get the same numbers out of a C7 A6 for 10 grand. It does sound way cooler though.

[@Poorschedriver]

Wonderful video. I thoroughly enjoy enthusiasts who call out the HP arms race we've seen over the last 20 years. More power does not always mean a better car. People are overlooking great cars just because they might not have been "best in class" at the time, but they miss out on so many other advantages and experiences. And driving is about the experience. Your channel may still be small, but you definitely have a recepie for success. Keep up the good work and hit me up on IG if you're ever in Mass.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thank you! I really appreciate that. Followed you back on insta, I’ll definitely reach out next time I’m heading out that way.

[@hookhousebeatz]

im looking at one currently and it has 185k on it.....this video got me thinking extra hard now!!!! lol

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Sold ours with around 180k if I remember correctly, was still running fantastic. Just make sure it has an AWESOME maintenance/ownership history if you're looking at one with those kind of miles. If owners before you put off maintenance items you could be in for a serious bill.

[@DudeBro571]

That’s a one beautiful POS

[@HEMIJackking]

I don't get it why people keep telling that this car is not all that fast. Even if it's just south of 2 tons it's still more than 430 horses, it is tremendously fast compared to most of things on the road

[@rockefeller63]

The narrative of comparing s6 to m5 does not make much sense, thats where rs6 comes in to play. Great car and video tho

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thank you! And I agree, unfortunately though, the RS6 doesn’t come into play in the US, never came here. That’s why I say in the video that the S6 may have been kind of misunderstood here as it was often directly compared to the M5, being the top of the C6 lineup in the States.

[@tylercouture216]

I've bought 3 e60 m5s on different occasions all pristine examples all SMGs

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Have they been pretty good to you maintenance wise? Any tips for looking at them? I still consider trying to find a 6SPD one sometimes.

[@tylercouture216]

@@BuzzytheBlue the first one I bought had 41k miles on it drove it back from AZ to Atlanta regular maintenence and haven't had a single issue EXCEPT the alternator went out on me (it was the original) the second one I purchased I ended up having to replace the trans have a real close friend who works on bimmers and did it for a stellar price. Runs Strong and zero issues with reliability. The last and final one was the most pristine of them all and could not help my self as it was just sitting in some guys garage still on the original continentals. Black sapphire with Silverstone interior. Had the throttle actuators replaced on that as it was putting in limp most that was had 43k miles on it. They are overall very dependable based off my 2 years of dealing with them. You can drive them hard and they start up strong the next morning I like getting well sought out examples either extensive background and maintenance background as that is the most sure fire route in a good purchase

[@BuzzytheBlue]

That’s really good to hear, thanks for the info man. I very nearly bought a beautiful 2011, one owner, manual, black sapphire car but got cold feet at the last second. And that’s when I bought my Z4M instead. I don’t regret going the route I did but I definitely want to own an M5 eventually still. Do you do oil analysis to monitor the bearings at all?

[@tylercouture216]

@@BuzzytheBlue to be honest I have not found my self doing the analysis I don't run 10w60 I run 5w50 redline a thinner viscosity and a higher temp that which provides even more efficient passing of the oil to help alleviate those tight clearances. When I do get oil changes a once over of the oil with a bright light is good enough to be to see the life of bearing between each oil change. I have extensively got familiar with these cars and what they can handle. I find my self talking to my self while driving saying "this is the coolest driving experience ever". When the really know how to work the SMG and its capabilities it's a super rewarding feeling for comparison when you drive a manual smooth like butter it's very exhilarating. Same goes for the SMG . With that being said a DCT swap from the M3 or F10 M5 is what I plan to do with one of them probably the most recently purchased one

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Awesome, I know I saw an E46 M3 on here with the V10 swapped in and a DCT. If you go that route definitely shoot me a message on Instagram or something, would love to see it.

[@Ayixlia]

I think it's not underrated it's just that it was over shadowed by the E60 M5 V10 and tbh a lot of people will pick BMW over Audi because of the racing motorsport heritage and history.

[@TheBoobieBandit1]

have the intake flaps broken yet

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Ours hadn’t at 180,000, so it doesn’t seem to happen 100% of the time as a certain mileage. It’s worth checking before buying one though if it was replaced by Audi or a prior owner.

[@_________Eh.Sun______2020]

you completeLy forgot to mention that a singLe supercharger upgrade turns this v10 into A 980 horsepower hyper car ! with the same transmission ! same fueL pump ! and yes a fuLL bodikit and custom headLight and taiLLight is what this car trueLy deserves ! which is why ~ i ~ had to own 2 of them . . . . . . . . . and if i get enough time to work on it more i wouLd make turn it into a V10 hybrid competition for the koenigsegg gemera one that revs to 11000 RPM

[@ebbonemint]

It’s a great car, owned one for 5 years Put $14-17k in parts keeping it alive, it is fairly easy to work on, things are designed well and for how cramped the engine appears at first glance, it’s very simple as it just drops out for maintenance. Would not call it a bargain though It’s a bargain in the sense that buying a 60 year old cargo freighter is, sure you’re only paying $900k for one, but you’ll need $1.2m to make it seaworthy. Unless you just plan on ignoring the fault codes until it dies.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

That's definitely a huge maintenance number for parts alone; what were some of the highest dollar items during your ownership? Did you replace the manifold? And I suppose I think of it as a bargain because some of the older, special BMWs and Euro cars require both expensive maintenance AND a steep upfront cost to get into one (especially lately). These are still inexpensive to pick up at least.

[@ebbonemint]

@@BuzzytheBlue Intake manifold, high pressure fuel pumps, Injectors, pcv/air oil separator, transmission service, suspension, brakes, thermostat, waterpump, timing chain, electrical problems galore, sensors galore, rod/mainbearings, rear and front main seals on two occasions. Even after all the times it left me on the side of the road, I still love the car. But I want to set realistic expectations for guys thinking about buying a bargain V10 sports car, Don’t if you’re a douche who’s going to clap it out and drive it until it falls apart, these cars are beautiful and deserve to have caring owners who’ll go beyond the minimum maintenance. Not just guys who’ll take it down to jiffy lube for an oil change every 8000mls and floor it 30 seconds after a cold start. There will never be another V10 sedan manufactured, there will be millions of turbo 4 cylinder econoturds by every manufacturer. If you don’t want to show the car the love and care it deserves, get a subaru or a focus st.

[@evanleo7633]

The 6at looks shift pretty fast , it even makes the DCT fart,

[@BuzzytheBlue]

The shifts themselves are very fast, (and yeah the fart at high rpm is nuts haha) it’s moreso the paddles that aren’t super responsive. Like a heartbeat from when you pull it to the shift happening. Still fun to use though.

[@evanleo7633]

@@BuzzytheBlue good point, I have experience with c7 corvette 8at and Nissan gtr 6dct, the GTR might actually shift slower than c7 but the response time is wayyy faster, DCTs not necessarily shift faster, but they response faster

[@jaromor8808]

_"V10 soundtrack behind you..."_ i think you might be using the car wrong, sir 😎

[@gitanodel69]

Do you know why it doesn't sound like an Audi R8 V10 or an Huracan? Is it because of the exhaust or headers, to give it more low end torque but less high end and thus the redline being quite lower? I think I read something like that somewhere.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Yep! It has unequal length headers from the factory, that gives them more of a growl, same reason older WRXs have that distinct rumble. A handful of of people have done equal length headers and it completely changes the sound, crazy exotic wail. But I kinda dig the stock tone personally, very unique.

[@gitanodel69]

@@BuzzytheBlue ok so it s the headers then. I meant to say intime or headers, but so it s the latter. Thanks bro!

[@christian_urocar]

Doesn’t matter. It’s still the meanest sounding V10 . The r8 and lambo with equal length headers have a smoother high pitched v10 sound. Sure it’s nice , but no other v10 has the same growl and tone of the S6/S8 V10 .. show me a link of a meaner sounding V10 and I will salute you

[@gitanodel69]

Intake*** not intime, that damn corrector..

[@Serno_V10]

No thats not the whole truth. Its also a different crankshaft with splitpin design wich the r8 engine does not have

[@DrSlideit]

B8 S4 manual, tune, sport diff.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Love the B8 S4s with sport diffs, haven’t driven a manual one yet.

[@christopherclaure6689]

Zf trans ?

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Yes.

[@robertdaone]

I heard these are very high maintenance and have twice as many 02 sensors as most vehicles and that you have to remove the hole engine to get to some of them. Plus they are very heavy and underpowered for their weight. No thank you, you can keep that mess.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Definitely more expensive to own than a normal car, as one would expect. Generally more reliable and easier to maintain than comparable cars though. Had no issues with one all the way to 180k miles. Newer S6s have turbo failures, M5s have throttle actuators and bearings, hard to find an interesting Euro car without an expensive caveat or two unfortunately.

[@Wanderer25]

Too bad NA didn't get the wagon. It would've been the perfect daily.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Agreed, I want to import one when they’re legal 😂

[@user-us8el5yv2q]

ah man watching at 2024

[@Divine_Serpent_Geh]

Slow cars sadly (at least for being V10s)… but VERY unique and timeless. Problems are pretty well documented out there, and if you can handle them, it’s a hard car to ignore.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Agreed, they really only feel quick in isolation. With that said, I think they’re still a worthwhile experience, particularly with the right exhaust.

[@kbk9535]

With some mods and a tune the S6 can get sub 5 secs 0-60 and mid 12s 1/4. Wouldn't exactly call that slow per se :)

[@Divine_Serpent_Geh]

@@kbk9535 Those mods come at a pretty heavy cost. Ported intake manifold, crankshaft lightweight pulley, full exhaust/decat, lightweight rotors, ECU/TCU tune, and pcv delete. Ultimately after all this it’s probably still slower than its base cousin supercharged A6 3.0t with a decent pulley and tune. A car that is much more accessible, reliable, and easier to make power. In the end, still not that great for a V10. Again, don’t get me wrong, I think they are very beautiful and unique cars, being the die-hard Audi fan that I am, but unfortunately they have very high running costs, even when compared to other Audis, and the performance just never really felt justified to me.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

@@Divine_Serpent_Geh I'm with you there. It certainly isn't a logical or even particularly smart choice at this point, certainly compared to a 3.0T car. However, I'll say this, while the C7 3.0T with a tune I drove would blitz an S6, I don't find it anywhere near as interesting. Effective, powerful, and reliable, but not exactly special.

[@Divine_Serpent_Geh]

@@BuzzytheBlue Hell it doesn’t even need to be the C7, the C6 3.0t will also outperform it. But again, yes. If the exclusivity is what you want, you won’t get than in the 3.0t.

[@tossr4716]

jah brah

[@joshuareisbord]

The achilles heel of the V10 S6 is the O2 sensors and primary catalytic converters. Because of the unique exhaust headers Audi had to fit to pass emissions, you have to pull the ENTIRE engine to swap those parts. Good car, just a nightmare when those go bad.

[@AnontheGOAT]

Ya there’s a reason why they’re so cheap and have been so for a long time…

[@lancegallant3647]

no winter tho pls poor baby will rust out over time summer car only ! Would never drive my b7 rs4 in even the rain sunny days only :-)

[@brucesmith6942]

Underrated (until if fks out)

[@shiznoes]

After seeing my friends disaster of an RS4 there's no shot I would gamble on an Audi V10 😂 Don't be scared of the S85, just get the E63 M6 because it's the superior car. Who needs 4 doors when you don't have kids anyway? Never understood why guys prefer the heavier, slower car.

[@MikkelL03]

I would much, much, much rather have an rs6 v10 as a wagon.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Wish they came to the US haha.

[@matts.996]

I got a 5cylinder Passat, close enough

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Ayyy, one of my favorite things about my 5 cylinder XC70 was the exhaust note haha!

[@matts.996]

@@BuzzytheBlue i own an older a6 but this video has changed my mind a bit about these v10s

[@BuzzytheBlue]

It’s definitely a lot of car for the money. I think the most important thing with these is buying the “right” one. We bought ours from a guy that worked for Audi NA, so even though it had 100,000 miles, the maintenance history was impeccable. It’s a car I wouldn’t even consider buying from a car lot.

[@TechManKnows]

Had this car for 8 months. Put 4k into it. Fun car but not fun when its in the shop.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

What was some of the stuff you had to address on yours? Even a tune up/injectors can definitely be pretty steep considering the cylinder count lol.

[@TechManKnows]

@@BuzzytheBlue 02 sensor failures, high pressure fuel pump failures, valves had carbon built up that was first thing I did getting it. Coolant leaks everywhere.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Ah yeah, can add up quick. Never had to do 02 sensors on ours, was that job as bad as I’ve been hearing about?

[@doca8792]

Yeah, but you need to be a mechanic to own this or the previous C5 RS6.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

I don’t think these are quite as temperamental as the C5 RS6, I don’t have experience with those but I’ve only heard nightmares haha.

[@doca8792]

@@BuzzytheBlue RS6 temperamental? That’s an understatement. When it’s running right, you drive it like you stole it, but that’s not often.

[@leviathan5207]

It aint underrated. Its just that all the people who start off with being interested in it, get scared away by maintenance and running cost. Who can blame them? Audi S and RS models are a nightmare to keep on the road. Not that M cars or AMGs are that much better.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

As you said, that makes up a LOT of M/AMG/RS cars, I've put like $3500 of preventative maintenance into my Z4M lol.

[@DubbaDaveski]

prefer the s8, much cleaner interior and cockpit view.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Have never sat in one, but I agree it’s aging nicely. Similar design to the newer C7 A6. I imagine there’s some luxury elements you could get in the S8 that you couldn’t in the S6 too.

[@saltycanadian6190]

And an oil change is 1000$…. I love Audis, but I’d never replace my built A4 for anything with a Lamborghini engine.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

No it isn’t lol, they’re not cheap to maintain but that’s a bit much haha. Oh also, something you may be interested to know, the 5.2 was actually developed by Audi, and then used by Lamborghini, not the other way around. It was used in the Gallardo/R8 (reworked for higher HP/RPM) but it’s always been an Audi design.

[@ChevyBM]

It is a bargain until it breaks, then it will fuck up your economy. Thou it is a cheap car now and sounds like a wonderful idea parts and maintenance goes after the sticker price. If you want German power that is reliable then get a Mercedes-Benz AMG with the 55 or 63 motor. Other-vice I prefer American made V8 power, it is cheap to own and reliable.

[@reviewsmore2946]

I'd rather get a m56s reliability and a v8

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Cool car, I just can’t get into the design/interiors of Infinitis from that era.

[@miguelurquieta6483]

@@BuzzytheBlue when look at one and squint my eyes, I just see an Altima 😂

[@ericjohnson3332]

It was a very cool project by Audi, but still a maintenance pig. The C7 platform is worlds better than the C6 in every way. The C6 comes from a time when Audi was still trying to figure out their identity, the C7 stamped Audi's identity. The C7.5 S6/S7 is one of the best driving cars ive ever experienced, including cars three times the price and power. The C7.5 in all variants will go down as the highpoint of Audi in the VAG owned era. C8 is too plasticky, artificial and tech laden.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Yeah, even a C7 3.0T A6 is really an all around better car in every measurable way, the S6 just has that “cool factor” of a pretty special engine. I also think certain interior elements were a little better built on the C6 but it’s very close.

[@ericjohnson3332]

@@BuzzytheBlue I sold Audi for five years from 2016 to 2021 and I rarely had a C6 as a trade in, and if I did, it was ALWAYS beat or had significant issues. C7's of course had some minor issues, but the interior and electronics seemed to hold up much better. The C7, B8, 2nd gen R8 and D4 in all their facelifted forms are so much more polished than their predecessors. Peak Audi was 2012 to 2018 in my eyes. Audi wasnt afraid to NOT be the tech leader that BMW and Merc were shooting for and continue to do so. Audi did what Audi does best, conservative, timeless design, backed up by world class performance and build quality. To me it was reminiscent of the pre VAG era from 1987 to 1996, when they also made smash hits with the UrS4/S6, Quattro coupe, 100/200, the 5 cylinder motor era.

[@stensballe3683]

why not the s8? they are so cheap atm

[@BuzzytheBlue]

I should have mentioned to cross shop them tbh, as long as you don’t mind the larger size they’re fundamentally very similar cars. (Love the S8 interior too)

[@KG-byson]

jsut checked its more expensive to maintain that thing than an r8. its ok but ill pass.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

I mean, R8s aren’t particularly insane maintenance wise so that’s a strange comparison. My Z4M has needed more expensive maintenance items than the S6 ever did lol.

[@dre1music212]

My friend blew up 2 of these motors in his s6.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Damn, know what happened? I’ve never heard of these just blowing up.

[@DarkSession6208]

Had one myself for 4 years. It was a okay car, but there was not much i liked about it. Slow, heavy, gas hungry, horrible Chassis for such a engine and the low revline. Basically a horrible restricted engine in a completely useless chassis. Suffers from the same Problems as the first gen S5 V8 ... Way too low hp and no fun as a classic automatic. I honestly would advise everyone to skip models such as BMW 545/550i, S3, S4 and so on and get the proper bigger brothers. The difference is insane between a 550 and M5, and S and RS. The milder cars are just pimped base class cars with a bigger engine, the big models (C63 instead of C43 and so on) are like coming from a 3.0 TDI to a R8.

[@Kosmoz86]

This car has nothing except bragging rights for having V10 and a v10 sound. Poorly calibrated gearbox just kills it in driving dynamics.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

For the time it’s really not that bad, I’d take this automatic over an SMG BMW personally. But I hear you, it definitely holds the car back a bit. I still found it good enough to have fun though.

[@IF040020]

These cars are maintenance money pits.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Find me a V10 that isn’t 😂 Even the Fords can be lol. My point was mainly that it’s a bit less insane to upkeep than the E60 M5.

[@curvs4me]

Shhhhh don't tell anyone! Bargains for smart investigative types become a ripoff in no time because of this type of video lol

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Better go find one then lmao, this is apparently such a "controversial" topic that its getting some views lmao

[@curvs4me]

@@BuzzytheBlue However, it's a brilliant business plan for someone that puts the work in with a good following. Buying the undervalued and highlight with a build will bring the bank. Like a 348 Ferrari with some suspension work, brakes, pocket port, cams and turbo is a Jen U ein hypercar.