In the December issue of Sports Car Market, we profiled a recent auction sale of an Audi RS6. The RS6 was a fantastic car back in 2003 and remains so today. Equipped with a bi-turbo 4.2 V-8 and flared fenders, the RS6 is the quintessential German super sedan. In a genuine sense, it’s the spiritual (and modern) successor to the iconic Mercedes-Benz 500E. The RS6 checks all the boxes for today’s enthusiast—it’s a rare machine that drives like a land-missile. It is interesting to note that for the first time since 2003, an all-new RS6 is finally going to be offered here in the United States for 2020. Audi dealers are currently taking orders for the C8 RS6, and it will be available on our shores as a wagon! Talk about the ultimate grocery getter! (Photo courtesy of CarBuzz).

Sounds more like the successor to the 90s BMW M5 (for which the term “ultimate driving machine” was coined) and not the 500E!
These are dirt cheap, but are so for a reason. Great car, but owning a cheap Audi from the early 2000s is reportedly not such a cheap proposition. Reliability concerns and finding qualified mechanics to maintain these cars are a challenge. A lot of comps out there to chose from during this era like the Mercedes Benz W210 E55/W211 E55 and the BMW E39 M5 although the values of the later has recently skyrocketed for a well sorted low mileage example. Cool car nevertheless, but FEAR of the high cost of maintenance will keep these values in place for the foreseeable future.