The process of writing a car review often feels like creating a “Mad Lib.” TTAC readers old enough to have taken a long road trip in the pre-GameBoy era may remember Mad Libs; they are little booklets with blanks for nouns, verbs, proper names and so on. One person comes up with the nouns and verbs, another person writes them into the blanks, and hilarity ensues. Car and Driver appears to be almost entirely written by Mad Lib nowadays, but those oh-so-seductive English big-format car rags aren’t above doing a little fill-in-the-blank action themselves.
One of the most common English tropes is the “(proper noun) package (verb)s this car.” Eager to demonstrate their Princess-and-the-pea powers of discrimination, EVO or CAR will solemnly swear that, although the BMW 514d xDrive six-speed estate wagon with M Package is an unspeakably horrible car, the addition of the Dynamic Badge Coloring option group “completely transforms the on-road experience.” A variation on the theme: the recommendation of a Byzantine equipment choice, with the solemn assurance that only this particular example fails to offend the reviewer’s selective palate. “The Cayman is only truly enjoyed as a 2.7 litre non-PASM car with sport springs, 18″ wheels, adaptive seats, embossed floormats, and short-throw shifter.”
With this in mind, then, I’m almost embarrassed to explain why I’m only going to assign three stars to the Audi A6 3.0T Quattro. Car and Driver, Mad-Libbing their way through another low-speed Hocking Hills crawl retold to readers as an impossible series of derring-do accomplishments, gave this Audi the top spot above the 535i, Jag XF, Infiniti M45, and Mercedes-Benz E350. It wasn’t this A6 3.0T, however. C/D’s test car had the “Prestige” equipment level, Sport package, and rang the register to the tune of $59K. Ours was a “Premium Plus” with standard suspension, more than six grand cheaper.
What do you get with “Premium Plus”? Well, you get a button on the console that says “Navigation.” Press it, and you’ll be told that “Navigation system is not installed.” Hmm. The screen between the tach and speedometer, which displays a full selection of colorful information in the “Prestige,” is recast as a Space Invaders-style monochrome readout more fitting to a base-model Rabbit. There’s no backup camera, no high-end sound system, and the car is started with the turn of a switchblade key. A Ford Taurus Limited is considerably better-equipped, and it’s twenty grand cheaper.
Some of that price difference is eloquently explained in the driving experience. I ran the car around Nelson Ledges Road Course for a day. I was well pleased at the Audi A6 3.0T Quattro’s absolutely trustworthy handling, even on the all-season tires fitted to our tester. It’s possible to do some very stupid things, like trail-braking the “Kink” at 110 mph to point the big trapezoid grille at the inside curb, without upsetting the Audi’s fundamental nose-heavy composure. The brakes are acceptable. Even if they aren’t quite up to the challenge of repeatedly stopping the car from triple-digit speeds, they’re better than what you’d find on the equivalent Bimmer.
The supercharged V6, denoted by the “3.0T” badge on the trunk and the nifty little faux-carbon-fiber “Supercharged” insignia on each fender, is merely okay. On the road, it feels characterless. The powerplant never quite as strong as Audi’s rambunctious direct-injection V8, which it’s meant to replace. Over the course of ten laps of Nelson Ledges, heat-soak makes its presence known. Each successive exit onto the front straight feels softer. If you’re in the market for an A6, or for the S5 coupe, do yourself a favor. Get the V8 while you still can. It’s infinitely superior to this blown six, in sound, power, feel and feedback.
Alternately, you might consider saving up another ten grand past the price of an A6 4.2 and picking up a base A8. The difference between the A6 and A8 isn’t readily apparent on paper, so I’ll try to explain it here. The A6 is a very good “regular car,” while the A8 is a German D-class sedan. There is an extra layer of liquid-feeling insulation in every one of the A8’s controls, from the steering wheel to the shifter.
The A6 is shaken by bumps which fail to trouble the larger car. The A6 is quiet; the A8 is relaxing. The A6 tracks down the freeway very well, but the A8 feels as if it could follow the dotted-white line by itself. Open and close the door on both cars, and you will know immediately which one you prefer.
To make the A6 the victor of their mid-size sedan test, C/D had to ratchet-up the “Gotta Have It” score. It’s ironic. The Audi mid-sizer fails to exude any sense of “Gotta Have It” whatsoever. It’s a pleasant, handsome, somewhat anodyne automobile, nearly completely devoid of passion. With a V8 and the Prestige equipment, it has a powerful sort of techno-presence. As a mid-liner V6, let’s just say that “the (noun) fails to stir the (noun).”
71 Comments on “Review: 2009 Audi A6 3.0T Quattro...”
Back to TopLeave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You can also login using Facebook Connect.
Ouch.
The last time I test drove an A6, circa 2006, it was considerably noisier than other cars in the glass. Espcially road noise. Have they fixed that?
On the other hand, the extra ambient noise plus perhaps the best-sounding V8 in the segment gave the car a bit more character than some other premium midsize sedans. Sounds like they’ve “fixed” both of these.
As noted in the review the interior is certainly much nicer in an A8. Both cars feel nose-heavy to me, though.
Among the current generation A6s, TrueDelta only has a partial result for the 2006. Results for this and other recent VWs and Audis suggest that VAG might have turned a corner 2-3 years ago. We’ll have more conclusive result as participation in the survey grows.
http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php
Turns out, this guy Jack’s some hell of a reviewer. I think I sold him way short in the past, thinking he was just a juvenile speed demon. Here, he writes with clarity and avoids resort to cliches and limp rhetorical crutches. Boy, I’m impressed. And I think I now have quite a good picture of the A-6 too.
$60k grand for a pimped up Passat? Taurus SHOW will walk all over it. A8 seems like the ultimate poser mobile.
Michael,
Funny you should note that the A6 is noisy. I got into my wife’s ‘05 Saturday night, and thought the same thing. And I’m coming from a 6 year old Accord and a 10 year old Caravan.
As far as reliability, maybe Audi got it together 2-3 years ago, but the ‘05 has electronic “issues” every couple of months. But it is a beautiful car.
Thanks for a great review, Jack. On a side note, I hate the Audi naming convention lately. Firstly, the model number should be the same as the engine size. Don’t sell me a “3.2″ with a 3.1 liter engine. And secondly, if it’s supercharged, call it an “S”, not a “T”, because the dealers aren’t smart enough to know the difference and will try to sell it as a turbo.
NOISY.
$60,000 for that price I rather buy 1 Ralliart Lancer and 1Honda Hybrid car my daily driver.
and the rest of the money to buy some shirts and jeans take my family to dinner for a month without listening to an annoying sound while driving.
I love my Audi. Would I spend 60 grand to get the new A6 3.0T when my 2004 A6 S-Line is just as fast, looks better (my opinion) and only cost me 23 grand with 65,000km on the odometer? Nope. I’ll stick with my bi-turbo C5. Would consider an A3 S-Line though…or the A8 if I could afford it.
What do you get with “Premium Plus”?
Crackers?
Judging from an admittedly small sample size (my bosses A4) the trick to finding happiness with an Audi is to a) get your employer to pay for it and b) get the version with the absolute fewest number of electronic gadgets possible.
I don’t know what it is with German cars these days, but they seem to be becoming the 21st century equivalent of the British car. Not that the British are willing to relinquish it without a fight.
I had an A6 3.2 base car as a loaner last year when my A8 (04 CPO – I’m no baller) was in the shop (imagine that). I was not impressed with the A6. I had to check the tire pressure to verify that they weren’t overinflated, as the ride was that harsh. I wasn’t unfairly comparing it to my A8 – that would be unfair, even though the used A8 was significantly less expensive than the new $50K “base” A6. I was comparing it more to my 08 Accord V6 sedan. The Accord rides and accelerates better than that embarrassing 3.2.
The A6 didn’t have nav, backup camera, parking sensors, premium audio – just like you state. Mine had the misfortune of an anemic 3.2 V6 and CVT that yours would easily outclass. If you came away that unimpressed from their spanking new 3.0T offering, they’re in trouble. And why the stupid “T” when it’s not a turbo?
Too pricey and not luxurious or well-equipped enough was my overall impression. How many people want to pay that kind of money for that kind of ride and lack of bells and whistles? I agree with the A8 recommendation. Skip the A6 and go with a loaded CPO A8 (06+ when reliability of all Audis seems to greatly improve).
And drifter, if you want “ultimate poser mobile, it’s surely not the understated A8. An S-Class or 7-series are positively garish in comparison.
I’ll never understand what people have for/against Audi’s.
Everyone on these sites claims the Audi A8L has a better interior than my S550 – which I think is bullshit, but then, the Benzes and BMW’s get ranked much higher than their Audi counterparts.
the Lexus models get ranked higher than their Audi counterparts.
I guess it takes more than a set of LED running lamps to make a good car.
10 wrong things about the Audi Old and New.
1. Oil Sludge
2. Electrical problems
3. Heavy
4. Wanna be fast but it is not
5. No one below 40 really buys them including me.
if you see a young man driving an Audi it must be his father’s car.
6. LED lights is all it got to make your head turn.
7.Noisy engines
8.Expensive to fix and expensive to buy
9.No throttle response very sluggish
10 It used to be father of all Rally Car but what on earth happened.
If you have an Audi did you fixed your on 16,000 – 32,000 – 45,000 miles etc etc
Cam seal problem, Overhead oil gasket seal problem, steering wheel problems,brake problems. I think the car was made in China with German parts.
tsk tsk tsk!
Nice review Jack. I felt much the same way about the A4. Sure footed but not crisp handling, a somewhat disappointing engine and the general feeling that the whole experience never quite justified the price tag.
@BEAT
I would have to disagree. I’m under 40, own a 2004 A6 S-Line. It hits 100km/h in 6.3 seconds (plenty fast) and have never had any issues with it aside from a lose front seat, which was fixed under the Audi Certified warranty that came with it. Being Audi certified it came with a complete service history. The only thing that went wrong with it before I bought it was a flat tire.
My father has a 2000 A6 2.7T. He has put about 120,000km on it and the only thing that has ever gone wrong with it is the battery in his remote key died and had to be replaced. The guy, honestly, could buy any car he wants. He buys my mother a brand new convertable every two years. Right now she has a BMW. He REFUSES to sell the 2000 A6. He loves it.
A co-worker of mine has owned 5 Audi’s. He never had any major problems with them either.
The “Gotta Have It” score is a crock of [explicative].
For this price you would be better off with a slightly used S6
I was really hoping that the new 3.0 TFSI would be serious competitor to BMW’s N54 engine. I haven’t driven it, but this review certainly doesn’t point that way. Even the old V8 got its behind kicked by the N54 in S5 vs 335i comparisons. Seems that this engine in S4/S5 will have no chance against the twinturbo bimmer.
Except it does seem to be winning magazine comparisons against the 335i, such as that one in German, and this one from Australia.
It certainly isn’t going to sound as nice as the V8. It may not feel as fast, either, as Jack noted. But when it comes to actual performance numbers or on the track, it actually is faster than the 4.2L V8 and than the 335i. (More power integrating under the curve, peak is slightly lower.) Perhaps it’s continuing the Audi tradition of being stealth?
One the plus side, the 3L supercharged V6 engine is five thousand cheaper than the V8 on models with both, and gets considerably better mileage, enough to avoid the gas guzzler tax, help Audi avoid CAFE taxes, etc.
But if you don’t like the way that it drives, you don’t like the way it drives.
You said No Major problems. That’s what I meant but you still have issues for a car worth $60,000.
especially if a commuters drives 60 miles a day to work. They need a reliable car.
that’s why people buy expensive cars to avoid small issues.
One good car manufacturer that can prove that to Audi is the Toyota (Corolla).
Audi shouldn’t be getting those issues in a car of that quality and reputation but unfortunately Audi have issues.
Any sufficiently complicated mechanical device is prone to small operational or maintenance issues. A five-year-old car has suffered one small non-critical problem, that was quickly repaired with no cost, and I’d guess minimal disruption, to the owner.
Please point me to the car manufacturer whose autos have absolutely no problems, major or minor, for the first five years. Thanks.
Well if you read those tests, in direct comparisons of the engines Audi doesn’t seem to win anything. I don’t know what black magic BMW used to create the N54, but it gets better gas milegae than 3.0TFSI, has broader torque curve – Audi 420Nm 2500-4850rpm, BMW 400nm 1300-5000rpm, Audi’s redline is 6500rpm, BMW is rev-happy to 7000rpm etc.
Anyway this gen A6 has been in production for many years, in few totally new genereation should be expected? So 3 stars is a nice score to get in 5 star scale.
10 wrong things about the Audi Old and New.
I don’t agree with all of your list, but I think the appeal of Audi has faded over the years. The high points of an Audi used to be the build quality and the AWD system. But these days every car has optional AWD and German cars aren’t built as well and everything else is built much better.
I grew up with Audis in the family. With all the shortcomings my family’s ‘89 80 Quattro was a great machine. The 325i BMW was faster and so was the Maxima SE. But there was still a charm to the slow and soft Audi with its Torsen-center/locking-rear diffs, superior comfort, and heated everything. It had such a solid feel, supreme confidence on the highway or a rutty dirt road and everything in between. The chassis was so well built and protected from the elements, as long as you could afford to fix the inevitible broken power windows, worn out bushings, bad synchros etc. you could run the car forever.
A 20v turbo-5 S4 was like a dream machine to me. Now everyone else has caught up and the Germans don’t build ‘em as expensively as they used to. Still love the sound of that S4 V8 though.
No one below 40 really buys them including me.
I see a lot of kids with the older turbo A4s, many times they appear a little hopped up, seem to be pretty popular.
Audi still has great interiors. My mom switched to BMW with her last car (325ix) and the interior is all black and cheap plastic. The AWD system is all open diffs too(I think the newest x-drive is more sophisticated), but these days you have traction control systems replacing trick diffs. My new WRX gets VDC in place of the old rear LSD.
# Scott :
August 10th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Any sufficiently complicated mechanical device is prone to small operational or maintenance issues. A five-year-old car has suffered one small non-critical problem, that was quickly repaired with no cost, and I’d guess minimal disruption, to the owner.
Please point me to the car manufacturer whose autos have absolutely no problems, major or minor, for the first five years. Thanks.
———————————————-
Your argument is flawed. Of course, no car is perfect. But that doesn’t mean buyer shouldn’t expect relatively better cars.
If a $60k Audi A6 has 200% more problems (typical, according to JDP or CR) than a cheaper Lexus GS or Infinity M, then there is something wrong with Audi. Their production process simply sucks.
Power6 I read from your previous posting that you almost drove every single car out there for the past 15 years but you never drove the one that Americans really like Honda and Toyota.
These cars are very cheap to buy and very reliable and durable. I had 1993 Honda Civic it started to made problems on 145,000 miles
The Audi starts it’s problems after you drive them out of the dealer’s lot that is not worth $60,000
SEARCH The Net and count how many Audi complaint about their beloved Audi cars.
@BEAT
Yes, I said no major problems. What I did mean is NO PROBLEMS. They have been bulletproof reliable for me and others I know. I know that there are poeple who have a lot of issues. There are also people on audiforums.com who have 200,000 miles on their C5 A6s with only regular maintenance as their trips to the shop. I know the 2.0T A3 gets horrible initial quality ratings. I also know a guy who had a BMW 330i and had it in the shop every other month, so issues are not limited to Audi for sure. Price really has no bearing on how reliable a car should be. By that rational a Koenigsegg should never break down when, in fact, they break every thousand km. You are paying for luxury/performance which leads me to this point..
The 60,000 price should get you a more exciting car. The new A6 3.0T does not really do it for me. If I had a choice, my 2004 A6 S-Line with 65,000km on it or a brand new A6 3.0T, I would stick with my ‘04. Looks better, handles better and can be chipped for 600 bucks resulting in 350+ hp.
Power6 I read from your previous posting that you almost drove every single car out there for the past 15 years but you never drove the one that Americans really like Honda and Toyota.
I think you have me confused with someone else ;-) I haven’t driven everything out there and I have driven plenty of Hondas and Toyotas.
These cars are very cheap to buy and very reliable and durable.
This is plenty true, but not always only what people are looking for in a car purchase.
I think the lesson here is that one shouldn’t buy an Audi and assume that it is as reliable as a Honda just because it costs more.
SEARCH The Net and count how many Audi complaint about their beloved Audi cars.
Besides the fact that I would probalby never buy a new Audi, at least in this stage of my life, I don’t really pay much attention to Internet anecdotes, they don’t really stand up statistically. Most every car is reliable enough so that whether you like it and take care of it is more important than what particular problems it has. I would rather spend twice money and time fixing a car I like than motoring trouble-free in a car I don’t (within reason of course, but how many real stinkers are there?)
That said I am sure a Honda is more trouble free than an Audi…so what is your point?
Excellent review, Jack.
I’m very keen on the rear styling of these more recent Audis. The S5, which always seemed slightly awkward in pictures because of the way the midsection dips, has a gorgeous stance in person. I imagine this A6 is much the same. Count me with the others who wish the 3.0S was a peer to BMW’s N54, though.
Confidential to Farago: there’s an ‘is’ missing in the engine paragraph.
My point is I will never buy a $60,000 car even If I have the money to buy 4 of them.
You said “I think the lesson here is that one shouldn’t buy an Audi and assume that it is as reliable as a Honda just because it costs more”.
Well that’s problem people do buy them because of the name and the country of origin. They expect a lot for a German car that will never break down but they do. it is a typical consumer behavior. The more expensive the better.
it is not statistics it’s just how many Audi owners complaint about their Audi’s and there are a lot of them.
I understand other reasons to choose something different, but this doesn’t make sense. The 3.0 supercharged engine already makes 333 hp, and it too can be chipped for 350+ hp. In fact, some of the tuners are claiming up to 435 HP for the 3.0S, though I’m fairly certain that’s more than just an ECU flash. Of course something that’s been out longer will have more mods, but the 3.0S should be easy to tune.
Except for 0-60mph / 0-100km/hr or quarter mile or lap times.
Not in the EPA test it doesn’t, though I suspect it’s all in how you drive it anyway. The 3.0S in the S4 (manual or DSG) gets better gas mileage than the 335i (manual or automatic), much less the 335xi, considering how AWD affects mileage.
Heck, according to the EPA, the 3.0S in the A6 gets better gas mileage (18/26) than the 335i (17/26), despite that extra weight.
it is not statistics it’s just how many Audi owners complaint about their Audi’s and there are a lot of them.
Same for BMW, same for Mercedes, same for nearly every single american brand. Problem with that statement is that people will complain when something goes wrong, but if they are happy with their car, they won’t take the effort to report it. Sometimes the love for a car overshadows any flaws. The guy I know whos BMW was in the shop all the time once said “Its annoying but I love the car, its totally worth it.”
Also, in the 2009 JD Power owner satisfaction survey, the Audi A6/S6/RS6 beat the Honda Accord and Civic. Not to say its more reliable, but if its not, people loved the A6 so much that it did not bother them…which says a lot about Audi I think.
Comparing the Civics and Toyotas against Audi is apples and oranges. One is for people who just want a reliable car to go to work in. The other is for the enthusiast who enjoys driving and wants room for golf bags too.
# Flashpoint :
August 10th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I’ll never understand what people have for/against Audi’s.
Everyone on these sites claims the Audi A8L has a better interior than my S550 – which I think is bullshit, but then, the Benzes and BMW’s get ranked much higher than their Audi counterparts.
the Lexus models get ranked higher than their Audi counterparts.
I guess it takes more than a set of LED running lamps to make a good car.
Audi’s interior quality is the benchmark in its class – has been for the past decade. They are not cheaping out with the current models either. I test drove an 05 S-Class when I was looking at the 04 A8. The Mercedes was a huge step down. There was nothing in that interior that came close to the A8. Cheap feeling switchgear that didn’t belong in a $30K vehicle, let alone a $70K one. The S-Class at the time did not impress me in the least. That throttle response was also crazy – had to give it a 10-lb boot before it would get out of its own way in a parking lot. Guess you get used to it.
Anyhow, I wasn’t sure if you are saying that Mercedes and BMW are ranked above Audi in interior – show me that reference if so. BMW for driving dynamics, sure, but not by a large margin. Mercedes has been ranked above all in electrical problems for their W220 (”…Consumer Reports classified the W220 model’s reliability as “poor,” its lowest rating, and declared it one of the “least reliable luxury cars.”).
Fast forward to the current gen S-Class (W221 from 06) and, yes, the interior is much-improved. I’ve driven a friend’s and found its interior to be very comparable to the A8, but still not quite there. I’ve driven the newer A4/A6 as well and they are still put together with incredible craftsmanship. BMW, like Mercedes, cheaped out – example being their 3-series. I had an 01 330i that was noticeably better quality inside than that of the current version.
I never considered the horribly styled BMW 745Li when it came out, even though I had just come out of the previous gen 740iL. It was only when the 750Li came out that the rear end of that thing was palatable to me. Fast forward again to the current gen 7-series and we have a Lexus rear for some reason. First the Japanese ape the Germans, now it’s anybody’s guess. Even with Audi’s gaping maw, it is still a better looking line of vehicles than its competitors. Reliability has improved as well – for all of the German marques since the 05/06 time-frame.
I’ve driven an ‘06 with the 4.2 and an ‘08 with the 3.2 S-line package. MUCH preferred the 4.2. The tip-in is so slow on the V6 you have to stomp the throttle to make any forward progress. It’s OK with the transmission in “S”, but regular “D” is worthless. By all means, get the V8. A low-mileage ‘08 with the 4.2 is around $40-45k (YSE car of the week?)
Agree that the interior is brilliant. No other word for it.
I’ve driven an ‘06 with the 4.2 and an ‘08 with the 3.2 S-line package. MUCH preferred the 4.2. The tip-in is so slow on the V6 you have to stomp the throttle to make any forward progress. It’s OK with the transmission in “S”, but regular “D” is worthless
My 04 S-Line is exactly the same. D mode is a big fuel nanny. Sport mode turns the car into a different beast all together. Fast as heck. I vote YSE car of the week to be the 2004 A6 S-Line. I paid 25 grand, with 2 year warrenty and 65,000kms on it. For that I get performance near equal to the current 3.0T, except with sport suspension. And better looks. Interior is top of the line, no rattles, very solid. My sister’s fusion has 50,000kms on it and you would swear the dash is about to rattle itself right off.
BEAT :
August 10th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I think the car was made in China with German parts.
Eastern European, not No Chinese.
An interesting group of comments, this. A few points regarding Audi to spur further discussion:
-Anyone who’s paying attention would know that Audi’s quality and reliability has gotten better overall every year for the past 10, which isn’t something that either of its German competitors can claim. Audis reliability is now well above the industry average, and above BMW and MB.
-Audi has stuck to its design theme of elegant exteriors and logical, beautifully put together interiors over that same time period. BMW (Bangle??)and MB (COMAND)? Notsomuch.
-Audi introduced quattro AWD to the mass market, and has stayed with it, even when it wasn’t “cool” to do so. Why do you think that BMW and MB (not to mention every other manufacturer) now offer (inferior) AWD systems on many of their models?? Audi and the market forced them into it.
-Audis are always smooth and refined, but not to the point of blandness, like many recent MB models. That’s not boring or anodyne, it’s a harbinger of good engineering and design, and an indication that Audi knows what it represents, and knows what it wants to be.
-Audi introduced arguably the world’s best sports car, the R8 on its FIRST try at a sports car. Yes, it’s based on a Lamborghini, but it’s its own vehicle, with performance, styling and quality matched by few other cars. Don’t forget, either, that without Audi’s influence, the Gallardo and the Murcielago would be typical Lamborghinis, with parts falling off of them everywhere they went. Instead, they’re among the most compelling pieces in all of automobiledom, they stay together and the company is more successful than it has ever been. Apart from the amazing M1, name a BMW or Mercedes sports car of the past 30 years, let alone one that set the sportscar world on its ear, worldwide.
-Audi offers a compelling mixture of design, quality, safety and performance, which is one reason that they handily outsell BMW and MB in Germany, and why their market share continues to rise in the US.
Anyone who’s paying attention will realize that Audi’s on the way up. BMW and MB know, and they’re paying attention. Watch what happens in the next 3 years or so – it’s gonna be great stuff.
Oh, and BTW, suggesting than an an A6 is somehow less worthy because it’s not as nice as an A8 is the very definition of the word ludicrous.
(IMHO, of course.;-)
“Viceroy_Fizzlebottom :
August 10th, 2009 at 11:58 am
For this price you would be better off with a slightly used S6″
Just traded my A5 for a 2007 S6. 15000 miles on the odometer.
Cost less than a new A6
The A6 has always been an odd duck in the US market. The current model is, how shall we say it…it’s the nice girl who you wouldn’t mind taking to the prom, but only after the hottie turned you down and you’ve resigned yourself to self-fulfillment after the party has ended.
The A6 is a handsome car, but it isn’t beautiful (interior, though, is a different story). It’s competent, but not exciting. It’s poised, but sloppy at the margins.
In short – it doesn’t have the panache of a new Jag, the spirit of a 5-series, or the value of a Lexus or Infiniti. I am an unabashed Audi fan, but even I would not buy an A6. In fact, not only would I not buy an A6, were I given one I would turn, sell it and buy something else (*cough* S5 *cough*).
I’m sincerely hoping that the next generation A6 outperforms this model in both looks and handling to put it on the radar for more people. It’s a great car…just, well, a bit….blah.
drifter :
Eastern European, not No Chinese.
What exactly is your problem with Eastern Europe?
Poland is among biggest automobile producers in Europe and Fiat Panda build here is said to be most reliable in it’s class. Also the beloved 500 is build in Poland (a top priority product for Fiat). Not to mention Skoda’s from Czech Republic that became today’s real ‘Volkswagen.’
johnthacker – I referred to your linked Australian test about the mpg numbers – in real life conditions N54 was considerably more frugal.
Audi’s interiors are just loads better than Mercedes’ interiors… which seem to have fallen a notch or two ever since the ChryCo thing… I’ve been on the inside of an S500 and was… slightly underwhelmed. It’s a far cry from the Mercs of yesteryear, where interior quality was a given… like the revs on a Honda or RWD on a Beemer.
Against BMW… they’re a step ahead, from a model-to-model point of view, but both seem to cheap out on appointments and materials for lower end models, and pour on the love for the higher-spec ones… at least Audi’s MMI is more intuitive than BMW’s i-Drive.
That said… aside from the rare RS8 or R8… and despite the fact that BMW stubbornly refuse to recognize the revolting repulsiveness of run-flats… I’d still go for a BMW 3-series or 5-series over their Audi counterparts.
Can you get heatsoak on a supercharger? I thought it was something that only happens to turbo’d engines.
Yes Audi is a great car but BMW still one of the best selling car in Europe compared to Audi.
Audi is not even on the list for best selling car in Europe. The Ford brand is still the number 1 seller in Europe no doubt about that including Fiat, Renault and VW.
Yes Audi interior is great for those people who live inside their car but not me.
Interior is only second nature and handling, horsepower and realibility comes first. I don’t even care if it’s an old Honda CRX. As long it doesn’t choke up over taking 5 cars on 95 and with AC too.
To Those who drive an Audi. Have you driven a BMW M3 Alpine Edition?
By the way I dated a Polish girl.
ZCD2.7T :
…
Oh, and BTW, suggesting than an an A6 is somehow less worthy because it’s not as nice as an A8 is the very definition of the word ludicrous.
(IMHO, of course.;-)
I agree with most of what you say above, although some of it rings with a bit of an Audi marketing slant. I do like Audi, but I think the price of the A6 for what you get is ridiculous. I was actually comparing the crappy ride (non-sport even) with my Accord. The brand-new A6 I drove was simply unacceptable from a ride standpoint – far too harsh for that class vehicle. And saddled with a pathetic sounding/performing V6 that had no business being put in there. The lack of bells/whistles in that $50K car was astounding to me. I know that BMW/Mercedes are also ridiculously overpriced as well. Used baby, used.
A friend of mine had an 01 (I believe) A6 2.7T with the manual transmission and sport package. What a rare vehicle. The shifter was rubbery and the power delivery from that turbo was quite interesting, but I did like that one. In black too.
I think that the A6 is a very nicely-styled model that simply needs a competitive engine to be a contender with BMW. I thought this new 3.0T was supposed to be the ticket. I’ll have to drive one to see, but it is hard to beat that V8 torque/sound.
noreserve: I do like Audi, but I think the price of the A6 for what you get is ridiculous….Used baby, used.
I like Audis, too, but not enought to be blinded to their faults. For example, though I much prefer the styling and interior quality of the Q7, we bought an MDX because it’s a much better value, and because the 3.6 in the Q7, while powerful and responsive, is just plain too loud for that class of vehicle.
I disagree regarding the ride quality and performance of the A6 3.2, but I respect your opinion. Published figures would suggest that the 3.2 is at least as quick if not quicker than a V-6 Accord, but I’m sure the power delivery is quite different, given that Audi aimed for torque and flexibility, while Honda has always aimed for high HP, often resulting in soft low-end torque.
Finally, I must admit that I’ve bought 2 of our 3 Audis used (CPO), because they’re great values in that situation, but that’s true of all the luxury makes.
BEAT: Yes Audi is a great car but BMW still one of the best selling car in Europe compared to Audi.
Audi is not even on the list for best selling car in Europe. The Ford brand is still the number 1 seller in Europe no doubt about that including Fiat, Renault and VW.
@BEAT, you are seriously out of date here. 2009 first-half sales by brand (not group) in Europe show:
1. VW – 849K
2. Ford – 664K
3. Opel – 561K
4. Fiat – 571K
5. Renault – 527K
6. Peugeot – 506K
7. Citroen – 442K
8. Toyota – 363K
9. Audi – 327K
10. Mercedes – 304K
11. BMW – 290K
12. Skoda – 248K
Audi was behind Mercedes and BMW in 2008 still, but has picked up market share this year, while BMW and Mercedes sales have dropped over 20%.
The Best selling cars Europe for 2008 and 2009 and Audi is not on the list.
Where on earth did you get that list? oh Please why do always people wants to proved that I’m wrong? I don’t get that
You should buy another magazine the only High end car that on the top 10 is BMW for European cars. Mercedez is not even on the list
Ford cars has 2 of them on the list for the past years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_10_best_selling_cars_in_Europe
BMW is always on the list because a lot of Europeans prefer the BMW 3 Series.
Funny about your list I went to 20 web site not a single Audi was included even or listed on the top ten best selling cars in Europe BMW is always on the list.
You even kicked out the BMW on the tenth spot and put Audi and Mercedez which is very funny. All the list I saw not even a Benz or Audi were inlcuded
Please don’t tell me the best selling car in the world is the Ford F-150.
Mr. Baruth:
“To make the A6 the victor of their mid-size sedan test, C/D had to ratchet-up the “Gotta Have It” score.”
Not true.
Actually, if you eliminate the “Gotta Have It” score, and the A6 wins the comparison numerically 196pts. to 195 pts for the 535i.
Take away “Fun to Drive” score as well, and the A6 still wins, 175pts to 173pts.
Just sayin’
ZCD2.7T, your comments are better than the review they comment on.
The writer, unfortunately, is engaging in a classic fallacy of reviewing other people’s reviews. Instead of letting CD calibrate his expectations of the A6, he should have confronted it in its own terms. For the record, CD was impressed with the A6 not just in the “gotta have it” category, but in terms of interior design and quality, MPGs, quietness, etc.
I’ve personally owned several Audis. Never had a serious maintenance issue (though the back wheels fell off my Honda…not once, but twice).
BEAT: Where on earth did you get that list? oh Please why do always people wants to proved that I’m wrong? I don’t get that
That list is from the Automotive News (http://www.autonews.com/) data center, generally considered to be more authoritative than Wikipedia.
When you say things like “BMW still one of the best selling car in Europe compared to Audi” and “The Ford brand is still the number 1 seller in Europe no doubt about that” you are just asking for a correction.
As to why BMW shows better on the Wikipedia list? Mainly because nearly half of BMW’s sales are for the 3-series.
Where on earth did you get that list?
You claimed some stuff about best selling brands in Europe and then toted out some stats about best selling models. th009 pulled out the correct stats for the discussion point that you started.
oh Please why do always people wants to proved that I’m wrong? I don’t get that
HINT: The answer to your question lies in why you would ask such a question at all…