Used car buying guide: Audi RS7 Sportback

And it’s not like a swooping body really impairs practicality: the RS7 still has enough room for the family and, with a hatchback tailgate, a boot that’s big enough to swallow most of their clutter. 

Elsewhere, the cabin is adorned with the usual 24-carat quality that we’re used to from Audi, with soft-touch plastics buried in the most unusual places you rarely touch, leather everywhere and the sort of material finish that you would expect to find on a piece of Bang & Olufsen hi-fi (one of which was incidentally a mere £2000 option on the RS7). 

On the downside, it is starting to look dated, as many buttons as horsepower and the low resolution of the infotainment infotainment screen’s graphics make it apparent that this is a car from 2014.

Happily, the driving experience on a B-road tries to make up for the outdated interior. Renn Sport Audis have always been point-and-squirt bahnstormers, with as much grip as car-park cachet but not much driver engagement on twisty roads, but the RS7 just about bucks that trend. 

It rides beautifully and the clever torque-vectoring system means you’re protected should your talent discover its limit before the car does. If we had to name a downside, it’s that the steering is quite numb. 

To summarise, let’s look back at the boxes the RS7 ticks. Stylish? Yes. Practical? Yes. Fast? Yes. A copper pot rack it’s not, but a four-door R8 it most definitely is.

What we said then

6 November 2013: Enthusiasts may bemoan the RS7’s lack of outright engagement, but there’s no denying it’s an enjoyable car to drive, mainly for its sheer pace. [And] for the wider market, the RS7 will be ideal: it’s a stylish car that’s capable of effortlessly and rapidly transporting its occupants and luggage over vast distances.’

An expert's view

“The RS7 is the RS6 Avant’s less shouty non-identical twin. It’s just as talented but slightly more svelte in appearance and reserved in taste. If you’re after more for your money or can’t quite stretch to your perfect RS6, the RS7 is a great alternative involving little compromise. It offers bombastic performance, a good record for quality and 90% of a brand-new one for less than 50% of the cost. Consumables may be expensive, but for the money there are few finer or faster ways to consume super unleaded.”

Buyer beware

Recalls: Between 2014 and 2017, Audi recalled 26,053 cars, including the RS7, to prevent potential turbo failure. Concerns grew that the turbo’s oil strainer became blocked and as a result starved it of oil, leading to severe power loss and engine stalling. The recall affected cars made between 2013 and 2017. 

Another recall took place for cars manufactured between July and October 2014. This concerned the auxiliary heater element in the air-con failing, due to an electrical connector not being plugged in correctly, potentially leading to smoldering damage and even fire. Check with an Audi dealer that all the appropriate work has been done. 

Engine: The camshaft-adjustment control valve is responsible for the opening time of the valves in the piston to suit different operating conditions. In the RS7’s 4.0-litre V8 engine, these could come loose. Fortunately there’s no specific damage caused by this, however rough running and/or the illumination of a dashboard warning light are signs of the problem. 

Tyres and brakes: Being heavy and extremely powerful, the RS7 will likely go through sets of tyres and brake pads and discs very quickly. Before you buy, ensure there’s enough tread in the tyres and that the brake pads and discs aren’t at the very ends of their lives. If they are, this could suggest that the car has been run on a tight budget. 

Transmission: Some owners have reported a metallic clanking noise coming from the automatic gearbox. If this occurs during a test drive and the car isn’t under warranty, walk away or budget £5000 for a new unit.

Also worth knowing

A common issue with some Audis is the oxygen sensor needing to be replaced every few years. This is usually given away by an enginemanagement warning light showing. Budget £150 to £250 for this. General maintenance of a car such as this is absolutely crucial. They will likely have been driven most of their life, with owners giving them regular punts down back roads. Therefore ensure the car you’re looking at has a full service history and preferably has been approved by Audi. If not, have it checked over by the manufacturer.