AllRoad A6 or E350
Discussion
AllotmentChap said:
Re: your 535 tale, though, how much of the difference was due to the run-flats, and how much due to the alloy size?
It is possible that there was something up with mine, but I had a 535d SE on the standard wheels. Not a sport or M-Sport, and on the standard SE wheels with (I think) 60 profile runflat tyres.It was shockingly bad after the Audi. I couldn't tell you if that was down to the runflats; it didn't look lower than normal and you'd think that the smallish wheels and tyres with decent profile sidewalls would help make it the best riding 5 series variant. Not so.
I'd certainly have an Allroad or a Jag XF over the 5 series, and thanks to my last one I'd try an E class before the 5 series too. The Allroad was comfortable and very abusable (plastic skirts on the wheel arches & bumpers were brilliant when towing/loading/driving into things), the XF superb dynamically and the older E class 320cdi I was loaned for a few days had a great ride quality.
ettore said:
The Sports suspension on the E350 isn't actually that bad so may be worth considering even with the 18inch alloys . The E is definitely more luxobarge in my experience and the "sports" suspension is more wallowy than a standard 5 series.
Our e class on 18's with airmatic rides very nicely indeed. 
I work for VW Group UK, and as a result get a new car every 12 weeks. By now I've tried most of the range.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that the A6 Allroad BiTDI is currently the best car in the group (at least, by my standards). I rate it higher than the RS models as an ownership prospect.
Wonderfully wafty (but make sure you have the standard 18" wheels), seriously quick, cheap to fuel (45mpg+ easily attainable) and enough space for anything a young family can throw at it.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that the A6 Allroad BiTDI is currently the best car in the group (at least, by my standards). I rate it higher than the RS models as an ownership prospect.
Wonderfully wafty (but make sure you have the standard 18" wheels), seriously quick, cheap to fuel (45mpg+ easily attainable) and enough space for anything a young family can throw at it.
legless said:
I work for VW Group UK. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the A6 Allroad BiTDI is currently the best car in the group (at least, by my standards). I rate it higher than the RS models as an ownership prospect.
You would say that. 
Yeah, have to say, having driven the 3.0 bi-turbo monster, it's a very nice, very rapid and very spacious and practical car.
Main question is affordability. Don't suppose you can find me a 3.0L 2012-plater, in Silver or Black, with about 25K on the clock, coming in at about £22-24k? If so, I'll be round to your dealership tomorrow to ensure you get the commission.
AllotmentChap said:
You would say that.
Yeah, have to say, having driven the 3.0 bi-turbo monster, it's a very nice, very rapid and very spacious and practical car.
Main question is affordability. Don't suppose you can find me a 3.0L 2012-plater, in Silver or Black, with about 25K on the clock, coming in at about £22-24k? If so, I'll be round to your dealership tomorrow to ensure you get the commission.
For clarity, when I said best in the group, I mean the best car that Volkswagen Group sells...Yeah, have to say, having driven the 3.0 bi-turbo monster, it's a very nice, very rapid and very spacious and practical car.
Main question is affordability. Don't suppose you can find me a 3.0L 2012-plater, in Silver or Black, with about 25K on the clock, coming in at about £22-24k? If so, I'll be round to your dealership tomorrow to ensure you get the commission.
Wish I could help you finding a car, but I'm VWG head office rather than retailer-based. I could probably help you find a <12 month old example fairly easily, but unfortunately not for that price. Older than that, and you're at the mercy of whatever is in the retail network.
If you hang on for another 6 months or so, until the 2015 facelift models start hitting the used market, it may well push down the pre-facelift models down into your budget.
Yeah, I knew what you meant about the group. Outside the group, what would you consider as an alternative?
Thanks for the info though, didn't realise 2015 was facelift year. That's great - means that if I hold out until the autumn, I should be able to get a used model similar to the one I drove in November for a reasonable price, as you say.
Thanks for the info though, didn't realise 2015 was facelift year. That's great - means that if I hold out until the autumn, I should be able to get a used model similar to the one I drove in November for a reasonable price, as you say.
AllotmentChap said:
Yeah, I knew what you meant about the group. Outside the group, what would you consider as an alternative?
Thanks for the info though, didn't realise 2015 was facelift year. That's great - means that if I hold out until the autumn, I should be able to get a used model similar to the one I drove in November for a reasonable price, as you say.
It's difficult to say to be honest, as I can't think immediately of another large AWD estate with air suspension and a large diesel engine without going down the SUV route. Thanks for the info though, didn't realise 2015 was facelift year. That's great - means that if I hold out until the autumn, I should be able to get a used model similar to the one I drove in November for a reasonable price, as you say.
If you are looser with the comparison though, only the XF Sportbrake and E350 come to mind. The 5-series just doesn't seem to be in the same league for comfort though.
Going down the SUV route is another option. I like the Touareg for example, but you need to be careful with the trim level and wheel choices to preserve the comfort. It's generally quite stiffly sprung too in comparison with the Allroad to maintain handling with the increased mass. Others I've enjoyed driving include the Discovery 4 and Merc ML.
There doesn't seem to be much of a market for waft-mobiles unfortunately. Bizarrely, people seem to want rock-hard suspension and rubber-band tyres on everything, and this is what the market gives them.
Yeah, I need to look at the Sportbrake, as I've had a few recommendations that it's good. Not sure if it's roomy enough though, and the prices seem high for a used one (probably because they're rare). I liked my X-type a few years back though, and the comfort was good.
SUVs aren't really an option, mainly because my wife can't climb into a tall car - otherwise an Audi Q or a Tourag definitely seems to be top of the comfort list. Also, SUVs are ridiculous for driving on the road and I always think people who drive them are Muppets. :-D
So it's still looking like a two horse race between the Allroad and E350 - and the face-lift price adjustment factor this year could push the balance Audi's way.
SUVs aren't really an option, mainly because my wife can't climb into a tall car - otherwise an Audi Q or a Tourag definitely seems to be top of the comfort list. Also, SUVs are ridiculous for driving on the road and I always think people who drive them are Muppets. :-D
So it's still looking like a two horse race between the Allroad and E350 - and the face-lift price adjustment factor this year could push the balance Audi's way.
Edited by AllotmentChap on Sunday 1st March 12:04
Another question for you guys.... anyone driven both the 245ps and 204ps versions of the 3.0TDi A6 Allroad? If so, opinions on the difference, real-world? I'm not worried about top-end, my speeding days are long gone and I don't really drive in EU much. More interested to know if there's a real-world difference between them while pressing on along country roads.
Also, I've read that the 204PS version is just a de-tuned version of the 245PS engine, and can be reasonably easily remapped back up to 245PS. Is this chipping company nonsense, or is there something to it?
Also, I've read that the 204PS version is just a de-tuned version of the 245PS engine, and can be reasonably easily remapped back up to 245PS. Is this chipping company nonsense, or is there something to it?
AllotmentChap said:
Another question for you guys.... anyone driven both the 245ps and 204ps versions of the 3.0TDi A6 Allroad? If so, opinions on the difference, real-world? I'm not worried about top-end, my speeding days are long gone and I don't really drive in EU much. More interested to know if there's a real-world difference between them while pressing on along country roads.
Also, I've read that the 204PS version is just a de-tuned version of the 245PS engine, and can be reasonably easily remapped back up to 245PS. Is this chipping company nonsense, or is there something to it?
I've had both versions in the past. The 204PS version is best described as 'adequate'. It is perfectly fine, if a little slow off the mark. It's best summarised as being broadly equivalent in performance to the FWD 2.0TDI Ultra models. Also, I've read that the 204PS version is just a de-tuned version of the 245PS engine, and can be reasonably easily remapped back up to 245PS. Is this chipping company nonsense, or is there something to it?
Having had all three states of tune of the 3.0TDI, I've found that fuel economy is broadly the same across all variants, with no noticeable difference.
I don't know with absolute certainty, but I've been led to believe in the past that the 204PS and 245PS versions are mechanically similar but not identical. The 204PS version allegedly has a slightly different cylinder head.
Quick question for any of you AllRoad owners out there... have you used/tried the MMI Connect smartphone app for music, satnav destination setting etc? Any good? Reviews in the Google appstore imply that it doesn't work well and is a bit of a shambles. Be interested to hear any experiences people have had.
So, just to update the thread, I finally got a test drive of a C350 SE, E350 SE, 530D SE and an Allroad this weekend. The E and 530 were saloons, but enough to tell me what the ride was going to be like. In summary: C class was bloody awful - far to harsh for an Elegance. The E was better, very plush. The Beemer totally surprised me and was better than the E class, and a very nice drive - I nearly ordered a 2011 535D SE touring that the dealer had on the spot. But the Allroad, in comfort mode, wafted them all away - it absorbed bumps better and gave a smoother ride (eg over cats eyes, pot holes etc) and in Allroad jacked-up mode was even more smooth. So we're going for the Audi.
Will be getting a silver 2012/13 245PS model, and just need to find the right car now.
One dilemma left - and I'm sure this will result in religious war... Do I go for a car with privacy glass or not? :-)
Will be getting a silver 2012/13 245PS model, and just need to find the right car now.
One dilemma left - and I'm sure this will result in religious war... Do I go for a car with privacy glass or not? :-)
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