Lexx Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 First off, let me say this: Please don't suggest various S6 or RS6. Due to the vagries of eonomy (namely the expense of having twins arriving in Decemeber) I'm only looking at A6 Avant Diesels (has to be an Avant since twin prams are fecking huge!) We've got around £17k to spend, and there are a number of decent spec cars in that price range (albeit with slightly above average milage). We had initially settled on an Insignia, but after a visit to friends in London at the weekend and spending some time in their A6, it's became something that has tempted me. Does anyone here have any long term experience of owning one, and what they are like to live with? Common faults etc etc? I'm looking at the Audi forums etc, but they tend to be biased so figured I would ask the folks here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1 HNK Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 No experience of one but a cracking looking wagon and I would think its a very good choice. Certainly wouldn't mind driving one if I needed the space My mechanic drives the old shape A6 (2002) it's done 250k miles and he reckons its bomb proof if well looked after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetranquilbass Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I had a 2005 A6 SE 3.0TDI Quattro prior to having the zed, purchased second hand in 2009 for around the 15k mark, was traded in against the Z in April of last year. Was the saloon version, great car but obviously totally different kettle of fish from the Z. Effortless motorway crunching and an extremely nice place to sit, very comfortable also. Plenty of space for 5 adults to sit comfortably and enough space in the boot for another two, maybe three in the case of the Avant (only tried once), but used to be able to get all our band gear in the boot when travelling to gigs etc Only problem I encountered in just less than 3 years of ownership was both front wheel bearings but apart from that not a single other issue, and maintained on 20,000 mile service interval. I really liked my A6 and if I'm ever in the position to require a large saloon again the A6 will be top of my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Auto boxes can cause problems on higher mileage vehicles 05/06 I believe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragon Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Had a 2004 A6saloon qto it was a petrol 1.8t a bit underpowered but a great car, would get another with a bigger lump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianphampton Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I had a 3 litre A6 Quattro Avant around 2003 - 4, 235 bhp iirc It was faultless. My brother had a 540 BMW and the Audi was definitely better in pretty well every respect when we compared - I never managed to wrong foot the quattro - she always felt well planted and secure, and the power was always smooth, and with 3 litres to play with it went pretty well. Don't ask about the running costs as it was a comnpany car, though I seem to remember not getting much over 22 / 25 mpg. The tax on it as a company car was brutal, though. It was definitely the most civilised car I've had, great comfort (I had cream leather - and it was soft!) and great to drive. I had the all singing and dancing satnav, too, and that was great, but the cost to upgrade from UK to Europe as it was an Audi system was crazy. (But I just got the company to do it - it's just that I resented the cost) If you get Audi dealers to servicce it you'll need pretty deep pockets, though . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 Thanks for the info so far guys. I'd be getting the 2.0l Diesel. Me and my wife will be driving it, so not looking for anything powerful. Just comfort and refinement for driving the wife and kids around. The Honda has been a great estate, but the interior lets it down in my opinion. So looking for something classier. As for servicing, it'll be going to Independant specialists. I wouldn't let a dealer anywhere near any car I own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Thanks for the info so far guys. I'd be getting the 2.0l Diesel. Me and my wife will be driving it, so not looking for anything powerful. Just comfort and refinement for driving the wife and kids around. The Honda has been a great estate, but the interior lets it down in my opinion. So looking for something classier. As for servicing, it'll be going to Independant specialists. I wouldn't let a dealer anywhere near any car I own. The Honda will be no comparison to the Audi internal build quality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 My mate the German car mechanic only really buys Audis. He thinks they are the best of the Germans. He has an A6 just but it's an older shape. I quite fancy a specced up 3.0 TDI A6 saloon..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewan221 Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Had 59 plate A4 2.0 tdi as company car , clutch and flywheel went at 70k but don't think that was common. The biggest pain though was the deisel particulate filter was in the dealers for that a good few times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricey Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Id echo.....no experience but i love the lool of them and apart from the niggling issue with my audi im a proper convert. Especially if it has quattro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Thanks for the info so far guys. I'd be getting the 2.0l Diesel. Me and my wife will be driving it, so not looking for anything powerful. Just comfort and refinement for driving the wife and kids around. The Honda has been a great estate, but the interior lets it down in my opinion. So looking for something classier. As for servicing, it'll be going to Independant specialists. I wouldn't let a dealer anywhere near any car I own. The Honda will be no comparison to the Audi internal build quality Quality on interior might be better but not build quality. Honda's really are built to last. They are ok boring though. I prefer BMW and mercs personally not a vag with some leds I drove the q7 and that sucks. When it comes to space though they are massive (a6) so plenty of room of prams, shopping and toys. Have you maybe thought of a 4x4 or even an a8/w221/7 series? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greekman Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 I had a 2002 A4 3.0 quattro for a year. Changed it for a 2005 V50 2.4 as my dog grew massive. Both auto. The Audi was light years ahead from the Volvo in any way. Although 10 years old it looked and felt inside like new. Not a scratch, a tear on the leather or squeak! I can't wait to get rid of the Volvo for another Volvo. I was thinking of the 3.0 diesel A6 avant. The 1.9 seems rather underpowered esp the auto one. Ps the tiptronic was very good. Couldn't fault it at all but newer autos are miles ahead nowadays. Only fault in a year was the coil pack. Common fault on the 3.0l petrol. One went bust and instantly the other 5 kicked the bucket. Changed them myself at 35 quid a piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Thanks for the info so far guys. I'd be getting the 2.0l Diesel. Me and my wife will be driving it, so not looking for anything powerful. Just comfort and refinement for driving the wife and kids around. The Honda has been a great estate, but the interior lets it down in my opinion. So looking for something classier. As for servicing, it'll be going to Independant specialists. I wouldn't let a dealer anywhere near any car I own. The Honda will be no comparison to the Audi internal build quality Quality on interior might be better but not build quality. Honda's really are built to last. They are ok boring though. I prefer BMW and mercs personally not a vag with some leds I drove the q7 and that sucks. When it comes to space though they are massive (a6) so plenty of room of prams, shopping and toys. Have you maybe thought of a 4x4 or even an a8/w221/7 series? Fair point well made ref interior Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beavis Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 A guy i work with purchased one recently a 2.0 litre diesel model. Its always in the garage with allsorts of problems with the DPF. I think he's recently had it removed and re-mapped though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted September 27, 2012 Author Share Posted September 27, 2012 The DPF issues seem to be mostly on the pre-facelift models. I'm looking at a 2009 model, and whilst that certainly doesn't mean it may not have issues, I think (hope) it's less likely. All diesels can have DPF issues. My Pug had no end of them. A re-map and Removal would be on the cards though Falcon Performance do them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Zada Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 i work in a audi dealer so know these cars well. No really common issues, some early 2.0tdi had problems with pours cylinder heads and up to about 57 plate some had problems with the oil pump drive failing. Both very expensive repairs but cant think of any problems at all with ones around 09 plate. A dpf wont last much more than 100k unless you are very lucky but the A6 doesnt have too many issues with them. Im not a fan of the front wheel drive autos either (multitronics) the quattro auto is much better or the manual gearbox. Only thing worth checking is listen for a knocking noise on start up or when turning it off as this is likely to a faulty flywheel or intake flat. (the multitronic has a flywheel too which goes) Feel free to pm me any questions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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