A6 C6 3.0T avant handling

[Babw]

Any advice on how to make this car handle better, especially reduce the understeer?

This is my first Audi and I have to say I'm very disappointed with the dynamics, I don't expect it to be a drivers car but compared to our 5 series it's pants.

I don't want to go down coilovers, anti roll bars etc but happy to make simple modifications (geo, shocks and spring, tyres etc)

Currently it's running 235 width 18" Pirelli's with S-line suspension. The car is 3 years old and has 40k odd miles with suspension components in good condition.

Main aim is to improve the front end and just make it a bit quicker A to B.

I've been considering moving to 19's and keeping the 18's as winter wheels, I'm a little concerned about worsening and already poor ride so upgrading to Bilstein B12's/Koni FSD's have crossed my mind.

All input appreciated/

[Babw]

Dr G said:

Firstly 235s are wrong for that car with an 18" wheel, it should be wearing a 245/40/18 all round. If you've 235s they may have too low a load rating also.

Check pressures and geo first, check anti-roll bar bushes (A6s wear them quickly). They are setup to nose gently into understeer on the very limit but I've never managed this on the road this side of an icy roundabout. You'd need to be flying along for it to be an issue.

You're right, they're 245/40/18 P zeros. The Mrs drives the car 90% of the time but the occasion where I drive during a longer journey I always feel disappointed with the dynamics. I've checked the pressures, all well there.

I'm going to see this on saturday with a view to trade up -

http://www.jardinemotors.co.uk/audi/used-cars/5903...
It seems keenly priced and the Mrs likes the colour.

Dr G you seem to be well informed when it comes to Audi's, can you tell me whether dynamically the RS6 is going to deliver relative to the 3.0T?

Like I said previously I'm not looking for a hair on fire drivers car but for example our 550i is not as agile as an M5 but you can hustle is down a Welsh A road, brake late and get on the power early. This is what I was expecting from the A6 but it's just very numb + understeery.

scherzkeks said:

Understeer on public roads ...

You know those roads that Evo do their tests of their COTY and other supercars, the roads worth driving hours to get to...well I live there so it's not hard to make cars go beyond their ability while staying well within the speed limits. Thanks for the input though, appreciated.

[Babw]

Well there we go, I've never owned Pirelli's before but I guess you can never assume with tyres.

I run Pilot Super Sports on all the other cars (which are all sensible BMW) I assumed Pirelli's work well with Audis.

I'll see how the RS6 feels and go from there, trying some new tyres would be much cheaper!

[Babw]

So I never got to drive the RS6 as it sold the previous day. I doubt the handling would have been much the wiser anyway and as the missus uses it daily she didn't fancy the 10mpg so looks like we're keeping this for another year at least.

I was reading EVO earlier where they have the Uber estate shootout with the C7 RS6 and they mention "mid corner you loose track of the front wheels and the wheel washes out". This is the exact feeling I get, I've got some Super Sports on order so will see how they fair.

I did get in touch with MRC who seem to specialise in all aspects of Audi including geo, considering the stock suspension is hard but so poorly controlled (rebound damping seems to be too low and compression too hard) I'm looking to go for the Bilstein B12 kit. MRC also have a tune where stage 1 gives 450PS?!