2006 Audi A6 Reviews

Audi A6 is a medium-large car much loved by those who like a solid touch of sportiness in their transport.

For many years Audi lagged behind arch rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW models in the prestige car stakes in Australia.That was despite it holding equal ranking in most European countries. However, Audi is now seen as one of the ‘big three’ in the eyes of upmarket Australian buyers.The so-called single-frame grille, with its huge radiator grille has been a stroke of genius in automotive design and is arguably the main reason for the big increase in sales in recent years. In Australia, aggressive marketing and a willingness to throw serious money at marketing the brand has also played a major part. The subject of this week’s used-car review, the A6, is the mid-size vehicle in the Audi range.It replaced the Audi 100 in November 1994, but struggled in the sales race in its early days. A virtually all-new A6 reached Australia in November 1997 improved things somewhat so we will start looking in detail at the A6 from that model onwards.The aforementioned single-frame grille reached the A6 range in Australia in August 2005 and things really started to hike along. Interior design has been a strong point with Audis for many years and the cabin is close to immaculate in the way it’s themed and then constructed.The Audi A6 has high levels of noise, vibration and harshness suppression that make it a very capable high-speed cruiser. Interior space is OK for five adults, though lack of support in the centre-rear position makes it a noticeably less comfortable position than the other seats.Boot space is very good in the sedan. Audi A6 has a reasonably strong presence in the prestige station wagon market in Australia, though not to the huge extent it does on its home market. Handling is better than average for a front-wheel-drive car, though the powertrain layout, with the engine being mostly in front of the axle, means the nose-heavy machine tends to push slightly wide on corners.This has been toned down with each successive model, but is still a weak point compared with other vehicles in this upmarket German class. Owners who are more interested in the aforementioned waft-along cruising are unlikely to ever experience the understeering.There is the option of Audi’s famous quattro all-wheel-drive system for added traction on slippery roads. It too can suffer from front-end push but does so at higher cornering efforts. Quattro isn't on offer in all models, but is well worth the extra money if you’re a keen driver.Engines are many and varied, with petrol and diesel units on offer. In the petrol lineup there's everything from turbocharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder units to a sweet little V6 with a capacity of just 2.4 litres and larger V6s displacing 2.8, 3.0 and 3.2 litres.These are complex cars and it's best that you have all work, other than the vary basics of servicing, done professionally. Audi dealers are generally restricted to major metropolitan areas but you will find some in major country centres as well. Contact Audi's head office in Sydney for further information.Insurance costs are relatively high, but no more than you would expect from quality cars built from top-end materials. Premiums don’t usually vary a lot between major players, but it's always worth shopping around for the best deal. Make sure you are comparing like with like before making your decision. As well as the standard A6 models, Audi also imports high-performance variants. Called, in ascending order of performance, Audi A6 S Line, Audi S6 and Audi RS6, the latter are sold in pretty limited numbers and are aimed at a very specialised market, so won’t be examined in detail here.WHAT TO LOOK FORRust is rare as Audi was a pioneer in using all-galvanised panels in its bodies. Poor crash repairs which didn’t see the metal being properly protected can still lead to troubles.Interiors are finished to a very high standard and last well. Nevertheless, careless owners can still cause damage so check the complete interior. Sun damage, even on cars that have been kept outside continuously, is rare, but check the upper surfaces of the dashboard as well as the condition of the rear parcel shelf.Look for oil leaks from early V6 engines and if the engine. Be sure the cam drive belt has been replaced on schedule. Look for oil leaks from the power-steering rack and the hoses connected to it.Check that the automatic transmission works smoothly and does not change gears when it shouldn’t. If a tiptronic is fitted run it up and down through the gears to make sure it selects them quickly.CAR BUYING TIPBeware the social-climbers who have bought cars they can’t afford to maintain correctly. If you can’t examine the service books be very suspicious. 

The mid-sized prestige market has been a very lucrative one in the past 20 years or so, particularly for European carmakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and more latterly Audi with its A6. Audi has been aggressively, and successfully, chasing market share and the A6 has been an important weapon in its campaign to overthrow its rivals.The most obvious change to the A6 introduced in 2006 was the bold new grille, but that change alone said plenty about the model and the brand's intent. In one fell swoop the A6, and the brand, took on a more aggressive, in your face look. It emerged from the pack and said 'look at me'. If the grille was the centrepiece of the overhaul, there were other changes to the body as well. Again, given BMW's move to more sharply defined, chiselled lines, the smooth, sweeping lines of the Audi were appealing to the many buyers who found the BMW looks challenging.The new A6 was larger than the previous model, with more cabin space and a larger boot, made even more useful thanks to a folding rear seat. The interior was nicely designed and finished, with comfortable and supportive seats, and everything else you could wish for in the segment. When first launched the A6 had a selection of engines ranging from a 2.4-litre V6 through to a 4.2-litre V8, along with a new 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6.But in no time at all more engines were introduced, including a new fuel-efficient 2.0-litre TFSi unit. The transmission choices were a six-speed automatic with tiptronic shift control and a smooth CVT continuously variable automatic gearbox, and there was a choice of front-wheel drive or Audi's popular Quattro all-wheel drive system.Not surprisingly given its price the A6 came with plenty of luxury features, like leather and wood trim, CD sound, power seats, sat-nav and a raft of others. On the road the A6 was a smooth operator aimed more at giving the executive a smooth ride than a driving thrill. It wasn't as sporty as a BMW 5-Series, but that was Audi's claimed point of difference. Even though it didn't pretend to be as sporty as its main rival it still displayed a fine handling balance with a reassuring neutral poise that dealt corners with a minimum of fuss. The ride, too, was blissfully smooth and supple on all surfaces, and bumps and broken pavement was soaked up with consummate ease.IN THE SHOPIt's European, which means it comes with technology that can  sometimes be temperamental, and parts and repairs can be expensive. Before buying a second hand Audi it's a good idea to have it checked  by someone with experience in the brand, someone who can pick the faults and advise on what could go wrong. It's also well worthwhile to be on good terms with an independent Audi specialist who can not only expertly service your car, but also source more affordable parts if and when needed. Look for oil leaks around the engine and coolant leaks around the cooling system, check the service record, and inspect for poor crash repairs.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $80,600 to $145,900Engines: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol; 125 kW/280 Nm 2.4-litre V6 petrol; 130 kW/230 Nm 2.8-litre V6 petrol; 154 kW/280 Nm 3.2-litre V6 petrol; 188 kW/330 Nm 4.2-litre V8 petrol; 246 kW/420 Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel; 165 kW/450 NmTransmissions: 6-speed auto, CVT, FWD, AWDEconomy: 8.5 L/100 km (2.0T), 9.8 L/100 km (2.4), 9.7 L/100 km (2.8),  9.9 L/100 km (3.2), 13.2 L/100 km (4.2), 8.3 L/100 km (3.0 TDi).Body: sedan, wagonVariants: Base, Avant, and Quattro Safety: 5-star ANCAPVERDICTSmooth driving, smooth riding, well-equipped alternative to the BMW with a smooth new look.

The four-pot in the German sedan has a turbocharger that helps it generate 125kW and 280Nm.It is the latest generation powerplant that has been already slotted into the A3 Sportback, A4 and TT models and uses direct petrol injection.In the smaller, lighter models, the engine is a cracker, but it has to work harder in the bulkier A6 (1555kg).Even so, it can still run from 0-100km/h in 8.7 seconds, faster than the 2.4-litre A6 model that costs $7800 more.In both models, the new 2.0-litre is teamed with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).A CVT, using a mix of cones, belts and pulleys, continuously changes the gear ratio so the engine is operating as efficiently as possible.To the driver, it feels as if the car has one gear. There are no step changes as with a regular automatic.The combination of the efficient CVT and the small engine means the entry-level A6 can score an official fuel economy figure of 8.5 litres for 100km of city and highway driving.The new model may be the cheapest in the A6 range, but comes with plenty of luxury, including leather seats, woodgrain trim, cruise control, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers and cruise control.The A6 comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, including a spare one in the boot.Safety is also covered with eight airbags, stability control and anti-skid brakes.A wagon version is available for an extra $3800. It adds roof rails and a storage system for the boot, including luggage nets and dividers.The CVT automatic is standard on the sedan and wagon and there is no manual gearbox option. If you feel the urge to change gears yourself, the CVT has seven pre-defined ratios you can flick between using the manual shift mode. ON THE ROADTHERE are no badges on the A6 to let you know it has a 2.0-litre engine.The A6 models with bigger engines have big badges on the boot proudly announcing the size of the powerplant.But there is no reason to be ashamed if you buy a 2.0-litre A6. It's not the fastest model, but has enough punch for most conditions and it is efficient.A mixture of highway driving and a bit of city work had the engine using between 6.8 litres and 7.0 litres for 100km. That is excellent for this size vehicle.Cruising at 100km/h, the 2.0-litre engine is running at just 1800 revs, which no doubt helps it achieve such good figures.The A6 is a bit sluggish when you put the boot in or try to accelerate hard up hills.The CVT auto also means it is smooth, with no jerky gear changes to worry about.Audi has not cut corners when it comes to the interior, even though this is the base model. The quality of the surfaces, the fitment of the trim and the woodgrain-lined panels bordered with aluminium all make the driver feel they own an expensive car.Small things such as the glovebox opening slowly at the touch of a button on the dashboard add to the luxury feel.Just as the other premium Audi models, the A6 has the MMI information controller.This system uses a roller ball and four corner buttons to let the driver control all sorts of things, from radio stations to heater settings.The MMI system is the best of the bunch and is easier to use than the BMW iDrive.There is plenty of room in the back for two people, though the middle rear seat is so hard it is almost unusable.You do have to wonder about Audi's priorities. There are no cupholders in the rear, but there are ashtrays on both rear doors and a central cigarette lighter.The ride comfort in the A6 is not bad, especially compared with many other Audi models that tend to be far too firm for Australian roads.Perhaps it is the fact this A6 runs on smaller wheels and higher-profile tyres than the more expensive A6 models. They help to absorb some of the bumps.The A6 is no sportscar, but it's still disappointing that the steering is rather vague, with little feel.Even so, the 2.0-litre A6 is an impressive car that offers good value for money.

So this is how the other half lives — or would, if they had any any imagination at all. Apparently, one arrives at the middle-upper executive level of life and reflexively calls on a BMW or Mercedes-Benz dealer.For the 5 Series and the E-Class are every bit as de rigueur in this set as spending a year in Provence or buying wine as an investment.Although ever more Audis — the third force in the prestige segment from Germany — are being driven from showrooms, the marque is yet to become an automatic lifestyle decision in the way of the other two.The bankers (and those whose conspicuous consumption makes them rhyme with bankers) don't know what they're missing out on.So if you see an A6 emerging from a CBD building or a blue-ribbon suburban driveway, you see a driver of wealth and tact.Especially if the letters TDI are embossed upon the A6's behind. This, if not the perfect luxury car, is about as good as Audis get.It's far from the ultimate model in the range — for that, see the S6 at the Motor Show. Nor, by some way, is it the least — clock the 2.0 TFSI at the same venue.But it's the smartest choice. The A6 embodies those endearing qualities found in the better products of Ingolstadt: a superb direct-injection turbo diesel engine; quattro all-wheel drive; strong yet understated lines; and first-rate fit and finish.It also entails some of the dynamic drawbacks inherent to the cars with four rings on their grille: steering from which almost almost every milligram of feel has been meticulously removed; suspension made for First World roads, not ours; over-servoed brakes; and a nose-heavy pushiness in extremes.But for the most part, you won't much care about that.In the year since we drove the petrol A6 of near-equivalent price and capacity, this, its sibling, has become the first diesel to be voted Best Luxury Car over $57,000 by the nation's motoring organisations.Encountering the slightly up-powered version last week (it's now good for 171kW over the previous 165) was to affirm our belief that the TDI renders borderline redundant even so good a petrol V6 as Audi's.Driven through a six-speed tiptronic transmission with manual and sport modes, the 3.0 V6 diesel's towering 450Nm is present from 1400 to 3250rpm.It's a petrol V8-beating torque figure that gets this 1765kg sedan to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds — a company claim that equals that made for the FSI.It's a figure that also questions the relevance of the 4.2 V8 A6, for all the real-world use of its 5.9-second sprint time.Indeed, save for a hint of hesitation that characterises even the best-bred turbo diesel when the pedal is planted hard, the 3.0TDI has all the performance you could reasonably want.Nor, except at idle and crawling pace, is there much to suggest there's a diesel beneath the bonnet. Refinement is a given with this engine, as is near-silence at cruising speed and a sonorous note when it is suddenly asked to get fast.Combined with quattro — as opposed to the front-wheel-drive (and dive) of lesser A6s — the 3.0 TDI makes a case for consideration as a sports sedan. All this at wholly credible combined fuel consumption claim of 8.5 litres per 100km.All this, of course, is but half the picture for prestige punters, for whom what lies within is at least of equal importance.Being an upper-spec Audi, the inside story is of an interior whose air of sombre understatement cannot be marred even by the schmatte woodgrain that allegedly indicates class. Fit and finish are simply world-leading.If you're serious about situating three adults in the back, though, an A6 avant would serve better than the sedan with a sloping roof that wins it awards but slices head space.Dynamically, the A6 3.0 TDI can't match the harder-edged 5 Series. Nor is its ride so plush as that of the E-Class.But in so far as value is an issue here, the Audi's $101,700 price tag represents just that.It's also possessed of qualities — and a badge — that stimulate all but the dullest imaginations.