Introduction: A technopreneur with a high-octane passion
In Singapore, the world of tech startups often blends with bold lifestyle choices. Meet Brian Tan, 43, a former wealth manager who co-founded the kids-friendly tech company myFirst. His passion project isn’t a gadget or a gadget’s gadget; it’s a cherry-red, 17-year-old Audi RS6 estate that wears a 5-litre twin-turbocharged V10 engine borrowed from the Lamborghini Gallardo of the same era. A vehicle that combines family practicality with supercar performance, the RS6 is Tan’s unlikely badge of devotion to engineering excellence—and a costly, ongoing affair.
The car: A high-performance family wagon
The RS6 is not just any wagon. Its engine is a link to Lamborghini engineering, a rare combo that lets a two-tonne estate sprint to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. For Tan, driving such a car is as much about the experience as the utility: a quiet, unassuming exterior that hides an extraordinary pulse. The car’s practical side is obvious: a spacious boot that doubles as a delivery van for myFirst’s devices and gear. Yet the thrill comes from the sound, the acceleration, and the knowledge that this isn’t a run-of-the-mill family wagon.
Costs and trade-offs: A dream that demands discipline
Owning a 17-year-old high-performance model isn’t cheap. The annual road tax sits around $8,000 after surcharges for older vehicles, and fuel consumption is brutal—about a litre of premium per 5 km. Add in the cost of parts and repairs, and the RS6 becomes a significant financial commitment. Tan notes that parts can take weeks to arrive for an older model, turning routine maintenance into a protracted affair. Big-ticket replacements include a replacement electronic control unit ($7,750), an alternator ($5,600), and front suspension components ($5,400). Despite the strain on his finances, Tan views the RS6 as a passion project worth the sacrifice.
What makes it worthwhile: The engineering and the thrill
Tan’s affection for Audi isn’t incidental. He grew up surrounded by Audis and Volvos, a background that fostered a lifelong appreciation for engineering prowess. He recalls the first real spark when his family’s garage housed his early car experiences. The RS6, however, represents a peak: an ultra-rare, high-performance variant that combines everyday practicality with supercar-level performance. He first encountered the car around 2011 and, despite its costs, found it irresistible when a similarly priced example appeared in 2016 at roughly $140,000. The car has since racked up more than 100,000 km and remains a daily driver when Tan isn’t traveling for work.
Family, lifestyle, and a shared garage
Tan’s wife, a 43-year-old doctor, uses a 2011 Audi A6, underscoring a practical, family-oriented approach to mobility. The couple’s family also includes a seven-year-old daughter. The RS6’s cavernous boot isn’t just for tech gadgets; it’s a space where dogs can easily hop inside, and where Tan can organize deliveries for his startup’s devices. The car is a conversation starter only among those who know cars; to many others, it remains an enigmatic, high-powered family wagon—quietly heroic in its own way.
The broader picture: Passion, risk, and respect for engineering
For Tan, the RS6 is more than a car. It’s a symbol of the intersection between entrepreneurship and engineering prowess. It embodies the willingness to invest in a dream—even when the price is steep and the maintenance unpredictable. In his words, the vehicle “is not temperamental, but when stuff breaks, it does so spectacularly,” a sentiment many owners of iconic but aging performance cars understand all too well. The RS6 is a reminder that for some technopreneurs, passion projects are a vital part of their professional and personal identity, even if they require a willingness to endure ongoing expense and occasional mechanical drama.
Conclusion: A car that matches a life of invention
Brian Tan’s Audi RS6 serves as both a status symbol and a practical tool for a tech-driven family life. It’s proof that a flagship passion project can coexist with a demanding startup and a full household schedule—an emblem of the modern technopreneur who believes that some investments—whether in people, ideas, or a very fast wagon—are worth every hard-earned dollar.
