Audi RS2 Avant

Scope of this guide

This guide is scoped to the Audi RS2 Avant, the Porsche-assisted, Zuffenhausen-built five-door estate sold in 1994 and 1995 with the 2.2 L turbocharged inline-five (2226 cc) engine, a six-speed manual gearbox and permanent four-wheel drive. It is not a guide to the Audi S2, which used a related five-cylinder engine with less power, or to the later RS4 Avant (B5), which has a different engine and a different character. We say below where those two differ so you can tell which car an advert is really describing.

We have not driven this model for this article. Everything here comes from a Porsche press article about the project, a PistonHeads used buying guide written specifically for the RS2 Avant, and the government recall checker. We also read Audi's own photo archive caption, an Auto Motor und Sport data page, a PistonHeads guide to the RS4 and a Wikipedia article for cross-checks, and we flag the points that rest on those pages. Where sources disagree we say so rather than choosing quietly.

The figures at a glance

• Engine: 2.2 L turbocharged inline-five (2226 cc), four valves per cylinder.
• Power: 315 PS, which is 311 bhp after conversion, at 6,500 rpm.
• Torque: 410 Nm at 3,000 rpm, which is about 302 lb ft.
• Gearbox: six-speed manual only, no automatic.
• Drive: permanent quattro all-wheel drive.
• 0-100 km/h: 5.4 seconds as a quoted figure, with a magazine 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds (explained below).
• Top speed: 262 km/h, about 163 mph.
• Weight: about 1,595 kg in the PistonHeads table, and over 1,600 kg elsewhere.
• Production: 2,891 cars, built between March 1994 and July 1995.

Where the power and torque figures come from

Audi's own photo archive caption describes the engine as the most powerful series five-cylinder Audi had built up to that point, with 232 kW (315 PS) at 6,500 rpm and 410 Nm at 3,000 rpm. The Porsche press article gives the same 315 PS and 410 Nm. PistonHeads prints 315hp and 302 lb ft, and 302 lb ft converts to about 409.5 Nm, so all three agree to within rounding.

The 311 bhp we publish is our own conversion. 315 PS multiplied by 0.98632 gives 310.7 bhp, which rounds to 311. It is the same rating as 315 PS, not a different engine, so an advert that says 315 bhp or 315 hp is using the metric figure with an imperial label. We use 410 Nm throughout because every source that gave a torque figure gave this one.

Performance claims and what they mean

The acceleration figure is the one to treat most carefully. The Porsche press article gives 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds. The PistonHeads guide prints 4.8 seconds in its specification table under a 0-62 mph label, but its own text attributes 4.8 seconds to a magazine 0-60 mph run and gives an official time of 5.4 seconds. A Wikipedia page also prints 4.8 seconds for 0-100 km/h and attributes it to the manufacturer, but we could not trace that to an Audi document. The two numbers are therefore best read as a quoted 5.4 seconds and a magazine-measured 4.8 seconds for a slightly shorter sprint, and neither is a figure we have verified on a car.

Top speed is 262 km/h. The Porsche article says the speedometer scale runs to 300 km/h and that the RS2 was the first Audi that was not electronically limited, while a Wikipedia page describes the speed as electronically limited. Those two statements do not agree, so we cannot say how the figure is imposed. PistonHeads quotes 163 mph and mentions a German 155 mph gentleman's agreement.

How the car came about

Audi wanted a car to lift its image and keep pace with the BMW M3. It turned to Porsche, which had earlier developed the Mercedes-Benz 500 E. The RS2 was shown at the Frankfurt motor show in 1993 and launched in March 1994. Audi supplied the painted bodies and parts carried over from other models, and Porsche handled new parts and development work at the Rossle building in Zuffenhausen, where the 500 E had been built.

Porsche estimates that about 20 per cent of the car came from Porsche parts. The ones named include the 17-inch Cup-style alloy wheels, redesigned door mirrors, red high-performance brakes, the Porsche lettering in the RS logo, the bumpers, dials and door handles, plus lights shared with the 964 and 993 generations of the 911. PistonHeads adds that the engine plenum cover carries the words Powered by Porsche, and that it was built as an estate partly so it would not compete with the 911.

Model years and production numbers

We use 1994 to 1995. The Porsche article says the car launched in March 1994, PistonHeads gives a 17-month run from March 1994 to July 1995, and an Auto Motor und Sport data page gives 03/1994 to 07/1995, although its page heading says 1994 to 1996. We did not find a source that confirms the final build date from a primary document.

Production was 2,891 cars according to the Porsche article, and several other pages repeat the figure. PistonHeads says the number is commonly cited as about 2,700 but that some sources say 2,891. An Austrian magazine retest page, seen only in a search result summary, gave 2,908. Wikipedia says about 2,200 were planned. We therefore treat 2,891 as the best-supported total and 2,700 or 2,908 as figures you may meet in adverts.

PistonHeads reports that 180 or 182 cars were right-hand drive for the UK, that the car was never sold in the United States, and that Audi built four saloon prototypes that were not sold. Its April 2022 estimate of fewer than 130 UK registrations, with about 90 off the road, is a snapshot from one writer and should not be treated as a current count.

How the RS2 Avant differs from the S2 and the RS4 B5

The S2 used a related 2.2 L five-cylinder turbo. Wikipedia lists 220 PS or 230 PS depending on the engine, and PistonHeads says the RS2 has about 85 hp more than the S2, so the gap is large. The S2 also came as a coupe and a saloon as well as an Avant, and the RS2 adds the Porsche-developed brakes and suspension work, bumpers and mirrors described above. PistonHeads says the RS2 sits 40 mm lower with firmer damping than the S2.

The RS4 Avant (B5) is a different car. PistonHeads gives it a 2,671 cc twin-turbo V6 with a cylinder head developed by Cosworth, 380hp in its table and 375hp in its text, a six-speed manual, quattro with a Torsen centre differential, a 0-62 mph time of 4.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 155 mph. It was sold in 2000 and 2001 as an estate only, and PistonHeads says a little over 6,000 were built. That guide does not say where it was built or whether Porsche was involved, so we make no claim on either.

Engine and gearbox

The engine is the part owners talk about most. PistonHeads describes significant lag from the large KKK turbo and says some owners left-foot brake to keep boost up. It lists coil packs as a common failure, fuel pumps that wear out, spark plugs that can work loose and should be changed every 20,000 miles, and oil level as something to watch. A hesitant engine that smokes black and will not rev beyond about 4,000 rpm points to a faulty air mass sensor, while overboost without smoke may point to the wastegate. The turbo cooling water pump should be checked.

The cambelt is due every 80,000 miles. PistonHeads says it is an RS2-specific belt and that the belt and water pump kit cost about 400 pounds at the time of writing, with the tensioner and idler pulley extra. Treat that as an April 2022 figure.

The six-speed manual is described as heavy and industrial, with a heavy flywheel that makes smooth shifts harder. Selector looseness can develop, synchros and the shift collar can wear, and aggressive launches can break first gear. The four-wheel drive system is called very rugged, and the rear differential lock is switched from a dash button, though on some cars it may not stay engaged. Ask for evidence of a gearbox and clutch service rather than relying on a short test drive.

Chassis, brakes and wheels

Standard wheels are 7 x 17 inch Cup-style alloys with 245/40 ZR17 Dunlop tyres, and PistonHeads warns that the original tyre is almost extinct and that modern 245/40 sizes can rub. It suggests 235 or 225 sections stretched on the rims, which is a fitment decision to take advice on.

Brake details differ between our sources. PistonHeads says the car has 332 mm Porsche discs with red Porsche-branded calipers. Wikipedia lists 304 mm front discs as standard with an optional 322 mm size, and attributes the calipers to Brembo. We cannot reconcile those, so measure and identify the discs on any car you view. PistonHeads says the slider plates and fixings corrode and should be replaced with the pads, that handbrake cables stretch, and that some cars squeal. The steering is hydraulic, and the guide calls it more communicative than early electric racks.

Bodywork, trim and interior

PistonHeads names the wheelarches and sills as the areas most exposed to corrosion. Window regulators commonly fail, the bespoke door mirrors are hard to find, and replacement bumpers are very expensive. Many RS2-specific black plastic trim pieces and the gear knob are scarce. Audi Tradition does not list the RS2 by model, so parts often come from specialists and owner forums.

PistonHeads counts 13 colours, with Pearl White, Polar Silver and Ragusa Green among the metallics and RS Blue the best known of the pearl-effect shades. The seats are Recaro, in leather or leather and Alcantara. Air conditioning is said to work well, cruise control was not standard, and wind and road noise are noticeable.

Prices, running costs and practicality

PistonHeads gave a new price of 45,705 pounds and a used price from 80,000 pounds in April 2022, and cited a 51,000-mile Ragusa Green car at 79,995 pounds that had already sold. We give no current valuation, because we have not seen a recent price source and values for a car this rare can move quickly. Fuel economy in the mid-20s mpg is called good by PistonHeads, and its table says about 21 mpg. We found no source for insurance, tax or servicing costs, so we give none. Check what a specialist would charge for a full inspection before you commit.

What to check before buying

• Confirm it is a genuine RS2 Avant, not an 80 or S2 Avant with badges and bumpers, using the VIN, the paperwork and a specialist's opinion.
• Look for evidence of the cambelt and water pump change, and the turbo cooling water pump.
• Check for turbo lag that has grown worse, smoke, a flat top end, and coil pack or fuel pump faults.
• Test every gear for selector looseness, notchy shifts and first gear damage, and check the rear differential lock switch.
• Inspect brake discs, slider plates and handbrake operation, and identify the disc size.
• Check the wheelarches, sills, window regulators and mirrors.
• Look at tyre date codes and fitment, and ask how the car is shod.
• Confirm every recall is closed using the check below.

Recalls and the DVSA check

We did not find a recall list for the RS2 Avant in the sources we read, and PistonHeads does not mention recalls in its guide. That does not mean none exist, and the government checker may not cover every older or imported car. Run the registration number or VIN through the GOV.UK vehicle recall check and ask the seller for any recall paperwork from an Audi dealer.

Verdict

The RS2 Avant is a rare, well-documented Porsche-assisted estate whose appeal comes from its history and its character as much as its speed. If you are shopping for one, confirm that it is genuine, budget for specialist work on the turbo, gearbox and brakes, and treat the 311 bhp, 410 Nm, 5.4 seconds and 262 km/h figures as published ratings with the caveats above. We have not driven it, so use the sources and a proper inspection to decide.