2004 AUDI RS6 SALOON (2)

Supercar straight-line performance, outstanding poise and grip, great practicality. These are not attributes you’d normally associate with a 15 year-old four-door. Do some research and you’ll find standard C5 RS6s delivered 330kW while the later RS6 Plus offered another 19kW and powered its way to a 280km/h top speed. In either form, peak torque was the same 580Nm from 1950rpm.

An MTM upgrade seriously invigorated the torque curve, turning 580Nm of twist into 720Nm for effortless pace on a quarter throttle. Best of all, you can drive it hard with confidence as it has an ability to put its power down wet or dry.

Driving the RS6 at any speed, you’re struck by a firmness to every action, whether it’s a turn of the hydraulically assisted helm, a stab of brake or loud pedal, or the way it steamrolls a flowing road, even with adaptive dampers. You also sit on firm, leather-clad Recaros in a functional cabin that’s frill-free by today’s standards. But when your primary focus is performance, a lack of cabin clutter can be refreshing.

Owned one? Driven one? Share your C5 RS6 experience: keepers@kiwigarage.co.nz