The RS2 was particularly well engineered and constructed. A well looked after 6 year example should be in excellent condition, free from any rust thanks to its galvanised body shell. When purchasing, pay particular attention to the bodywork as this alone will affect the value of an RS2 the most. If in doubt, seek the advice of a professional organisation such as the AA RAC. The most important item to check is for accident damage. Due to the value of an RS2, many have been put back on the road even after serious accident damage. Lift the bonnet and check the wing bolts for signs of disturbance. Carefully inspect the front bumper for signs of repair, especially at the top centre where they crack if knocked. A new one will cost approximately £900. The cross member behind the bumper which holds the the turbo intake pipe, is also vulnerable to damage in the same place. Have a look through The RS2's lower air dam and inspect the huge intercooler. Damage to the surface fins could indicate a front end impact. Take a good look down the side of the car moving your head from side to side to catch the light against the panels. A poorly repaired panel will look rippley! Also inspect the door retaining bolts for signs of disturbance and look under the door handles. An original example will have black plastic showing under them, not body colour painted. Look around the tailgate aperture and under the boot floor for other signs of damage or repair although an RS2 is less likely to be hit from the rear. General wear and tear should be expected. A weak item is the colour keyed trims running along the bottom edge of the doors, the driver's door trim often gets caught and will curl and run out of shape. The front doors are also prone to dropping on the RS2 as the hinge pins are not man enough, but are easily remedied. The wheels are likely to show signs of wear on a 6 year old example but there are a good number of specialists who can return these back to perfect condition.

Mechanically, the RS2 is a bullet proof super car. Regular servicing will ensure long mechanical life. Most major mechanical items will far exceed 100,000 miles including the turbo charger. However, these items are worth checking. If the car is down on power, the cause is almost always a leak in the turbo pipework but can require expert help to find the exact cause. Pay particular attention to transmission whines which although very rare, could be expensive to remedy. Most noises are usually created by a worn wheel bearing which can be checked by driving the car and turning sharply from side to side. If the noise is created by a wheel bearing, it will usually change tone as the pressure is put on it and then released as the car moves from side to side. A similar noise could however be created by a worn differential bearing in the gearbox which will prove very costly to renew. If in doubt, seek specialist advice. The brakes, being Porsche items, are not cheap and require regular overhauls. New front discs and pads will cost £400 plus vat and fitting. To test, look through the wheels and feel the lip on the disc which should be no more than 1 or 2 millimeters. This is only advisable when the car is cold unless you have asbestos fingers! The handbrake is also a Porsche design in that it uses drums and shoes. The cable often stretches and the shoes require occasional overhaul which is shown up by an excessively long handbrake lever travel. The power steering pump can leak which can be seen at the very front of the engine. The only cure is a replacement which will set you back £400 from Audi but good reconditioned examples are available for a third of that cost from specialists.