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IrelandA locked engine gives Not Economically Viable an RS5 dilemma
Tim's inspection and calls to Bianca and LAA Performance turn a tidy-looking Audi into a difficult repair decision.
Not Economically Viable
Story of Why this story? The channel's weekly summary: what went up this week, what is drawing views now, and where the channel stands among similar channels.
Risking it on an Audi RS5 that “Does Not Run”
Video summary
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- 0:00An auction-bought Audi RS5 arrives with a non-running listing and an uncertain repair bill.
- 6:55A faint starter click prompts closer investigation in the workshop.
- 12:28Tim joins the manual crankshaft test; the diagnosis develops through the following inspection.
- 24:16Bianca takes a call about sourcing a reconditioned engine.
- 26:56Luke explains the potential rebuild costs before the host weighs repair and resale options.
The starter clicks, but the engine won't turn. That small distinction becomes the expensive heart of Not Economically Viable's only new upload this week, "Risking it on an Audi RS5 that "Does Not Run"".
The £6,500 auction purchase looks encouraging at first: clean bodywork and interior, a full service history and aftermarket Bilstein shocks. Underneath, the story changes. Mechanic Tim helps establish that the engine is locked solid, and an inspection reveals metallic debris and an overheated connecting rod. "That's a spun bearing," Tim says.
As we reported here, the auction listing was the gamble. The more interesting question now is what to do with the car. His sister Bianca investigates a reconditioned engine, while Luke at LAA Performance explains the cost of a comprehensive rebuild. Selling the Audi, breaking it for parts and rebuilding it himself all get considered, with a workshop relocation complicating the last option.
Viewers are weighing those same choices. Some want a home rebuild so they can see exactly what failed; others suggest a donor car or selling the parts. Several point towards Dean at Saving Salvage as someone who could help.
The upload has passed a quarter of a million views and accounts for most of the channel's current daily viewing. July's non-running Range Rover and September's dart-at-a-map car purchase remain smaller, active draws.
Subscribers increased modestly over the week, although today's viewing is below half the usual daily level. Among nearby motoring channels, Lucid Car Photography and omardrives had substantially larger viewing weeks. Here, the audience's attention is concentrated on a particularly awkward workshop question: how much more should go into an Audi that cannot turn its own engine?
Published on Trari
Where next?
What viewers say
Rebuild the engine yourself. It will generate loads of interest and would be cool to see exactly what's happened. If crankcases are ok surely it's the cheapest option
@paulmarshall949See it on YouTubeDean at Saving Salvage might be able to assist... collaboration video maybe?
@leecubeddu498See it on YouTubeGlad to see you back Nino, youve been missed.
@terrywilkins5266See it on YouTube
5 more comments
Buy one rear end write off. Use as donor car. Or bk to auction.
@HENRYda8th187See it on YouTube100 % break it and sell the parts ….deffo
@peterpaliwoda1527See it on YouTubeGo bonkers, put 1.9 TDi in it:))
@pawewu9211See it on YouTubeWhen complete, drive it to the Nurburgring next summer , join Ben from Tasty Classics.😎
@skeelo69See it on YouTubeFor the best advice call Rick from RE performance. You could collab on this even if it’s just a teams call !
@ricey6105See it on YouTube
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The videos drawing views on Not Economically Viable right now
- Channel
- Not Economically Viable
- Subscribers
- 195,000 ▲ 1,000 this week
- Channel views, last 7 days
- 290,951
- Videos published this week
- 1
- Video published
- November 4, 2026
- Video views so far
- 256,159
- Views on its first day
- 133,064
The numbers
Here is how the RS5 upload and the channel's wider week compare.
💡 Test your knowledge
What does Audi's name "quattro" mean in Italian?
Quattro is Italian for four, the name Audi uses for its all-wheel-drive technology.