Talk to me about the Audi A6 Avant
Discussion
A few months ago I asked the question about a suitable car for European trips to the Alps and ended up thinking the RX450 was the right thing to go for.
Now I'm back on the case and I think I might die of boredom in a 450 (as well as REALLY disliking the styling). So I''m looking at an Audi A6 Avant Quattro.
Being slightly out of touch with current diesel/petrol engines and their relative economy/emissions data, what's the best engine to go for? I want something fast and not ruinously expensive on RFL and fuel. Reliability is key also.
Here are some interesting examples:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209209...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144708076982?hash=item2...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209240...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111209...
So, good people of PH, what are your thoughts?
Now I'm back on the case and I think I might die of boredom in a 450 (as well as REALLY disliking the styling). So I''m looking at an Audi A6 Avant Quattro.
Being slightly out of touch with current diesel/petrol engines and their relative economy/emissions data, what's the best engine to go for? I want something fast and not ruinously expensive on RFL and fuel. Reliability is key also.
Here are some interesting examples:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209209...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144708076982?hash=item2...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209240...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111209...
So, good people of PH, what are your thoughts?
The interior looks OK to me, the photos aren't very good, but it's an Audi dealer selling it. Surely they won't put their name to something with a ropey history. Don't they do due diligence?
OK, I know I sound naive there. I realise most used car salesmen would sell their granny for a new shiny suit and pointy shoes.
(Not forgetting the hair gel.)
2019-2021, I'd make allowances for lack of use due to Covid, but, I agree, earlier mileage is v questionable.
OK, I know I sound naive there. I realise most used car salesmen would sell their granny for a new shiny suit and pointy shoes.
(Not forgetting the hair gel.)

2019-2021, I'd make allowances for lack of use due to Covid, but, I agree, earlier mileage is v questionable.
The A6 with the 6 cylinder diesel is a good, refined car for longer journeys, and mine was reasonably reliable if pretty expensive to repair when it did go wrong but it's anything but interesting - I can't actually see that it's any less boring than an RX450.
Definitely worth a good test drive, the ride on my s line model left quite a lot to be desired at low speed and didn't seem to do much for the handling at higher speeds. Interior was nice though and the engine was smooth, effortless and fairly good on fuel.
Definitely worth a good test drive, the ride on my s line model left quite a lot to be desired at low speed and didn't seem to do much for the handling at higher speeds. Interior was nice though and the engine was smooth, effortless and fairly good on fuel.
Bluesgirl said:
The interior looks OK to me, the photos aren't very good, but it's an Audi dealer selling it. Surely they won't put their name to something with a ropey history. Don't they do due diligence?
OK, I know I sound naive there. I realise most used car salesmen would sell their granny for a new shiny suit and pointy shoes.
(Not forgetting the hair gel.)
2019-2021, I'd make allowances for lack of use due to Covid, but, I agree, earlier mileage is v questionable.
No they don't do their due diligence a lot of the time, dont take things for granted simply because its a main dealer with the "approved used" branding. There have been stories on these forums from all sorts of dealers including a Rolls Royce dealer selling cars with a hidden past. Im not saying they are all dodgy but do your own checksOK, I know I sound naive there. I realise most used car salesmen would sell their granny for a new shiny suit and pointy shoes.
(Not forgetting the hair gel.)

2019-2021, I'd make allowances for lack of use due to Covid, but, I agree, earlier mileage is v questionable.
Snow and Rocks said:
The A6 with the 6 cylinder diesel is a good, refined car for longer journeys, and mine was reasonably reliable if pretty expensive to repair when it did go wrong but it's anything but interesting - I can't actually see that it's any less boring than an RX450.
Definitely worth a good test drive, the ride on my s line model left quite a lot to be desired at low speed and didn't seem to do much for the handling at higher speeds. Interior was nice though and the engine was smooth, effortless and fairly good on fuel.
Agree - I've experience of this generation in SE spec and even then the ride wasn't great and was worse than the current generation, though it does seem to be better built.Definitely worth a good test drive, the ride on my s line model left quite a lot to be desired at low speed and didn't seem to do much for the handling at higher speeds. Interior was nice though and the engine was smooth, effortless and fairly good on fuel.
I'm on my 3rd C7 A6 (ok, the first one was a 2017 2.0 Black Edition saloon).
The second was a 2017 3.0 TDI [272] Avant Black Edition in which I did about 10,000 miles, sold it at about 28,000 miles. It was in this car that I did a little over 2,000 miles in two weeks, driving to Arezzo in Italy and back and it was faultless, but then it's to be expected really - it was only two years old at the time. It was Sepang Blue with a nice spec; miss this car!
I'm now on a 2015 Allroad Sport with the same 272 TDI and it's now on 134,000 miles, bought almost a year ago at 127,000 miles and lived mostly a motorway life with the previous owner; he ran his own company and was always going to far reaches of the UK.
The last one linked in the OP is a 3.0T and I think the window in which these petrol versions were sold (in the UK anyway) was pretty small. Also did not know B&O was an option on these! This one has the touchpad nav. If you are going to go for this gen of A6, try and get one with this/the bigger screen so that it doesn't feel too old skool.
The second was a 2017 3.0 TDI [272] Avant Black Edition in which I did about 10,000 miles, sold it at about 28,000 miles. It was in this car that I did a little over 2,000 miles in two weeks, driving to Arezzo in Italy and back and it was faultless, but then it's to be expected really - it was only two years old at the time. It was Sepang Blue with a nice spec; miss this car!
I'm now on a 2015 Allroad Sport with the same 272 TDI and it's now on 134,000 miles, bought almost a year ago at 127,000 miles and lived mostly a motorway life with the previous owner; he ran his own company and was always going to far reaches of the UK.
The last one linked in the OP is a 3.0T and I think the window in which these petrol versions were sold (in the UK anyway) was pretty small. Also did not know B&O was an option on these! This one has the touchpad nav. If you are going to go for this gen of A6, try and get one with this/the bigger screen so that it doesn't feel too old skool.
I've had three A6 Avants in succession, all diesels. All used for ski trips to the Alps each year.
The first was a 2010 3 litre single turbo, Le Mans edition. Great car that I put some 70,000 miles on. No real issues with it other than regular annual maintenance and servicing.
Second was a 2014 biTDi with lots of toys including the panoramic sunroof (no issues with that) and more importantly the Sports Diff option. What a great car. Fantastic for covering big miles across France to the Alps and when fitted with snow tyres was amazing up and down the mountains. Only time it got stuck was when it was physically beached in really deep snow and was given a quick nudge by a snow plough to get it going again.
The Sport diff made such a difference to the handling making the whole car feels less bulky.
Changed that for a 2017 biTDi as the miles were adding up and the twin turbo diesel in that form was no longer going to be available. Unfortunately this one just wasn't as good. Still a good car but even though it apparently had a few more BHP it wasn't as quick, wasn't as responsive and was less economical than its predecessor. It didn't have the Sports Diff. I think the later engines were retuned to improve emissions and in doing so made the engine less efficient.
Having said all that all three were ideally suited to taking two people and all their skiing kit and enough stuff for several weeks self catering down to the Alps in great comfort. 40 mpg was easily achieved if you didn't make too much "progress"
The BiTDI's seemed to have more of an appetite for brakes but other than that they just kept going. The 2014 car was by far the best of the three.
I've now left the A6 fold and moved onto an S4 Avant mainly because it's more fun, has more modern tech but still holds all the ski stuff.
If you do buy an A6 and need some OEM Audi alloys with snow tyres let me know. My A6 ones don't fit the S4.
The first was a 2010 3 litre single turbo, Le Mans edition. Great car that I put some 70,000 miles on. No real issues with it other than regular annual maintenance and servicing.
Second was a 2014 biTDi with lots of toys including the panoramic sunroof (no issues with that) and more importantly the Sports Diff option. What a great car. Fantastic for covering big miles across France to the Alps and when fitted with snow tyres was amazing up and down the mountains. Only time it got stuck was when it was physically beached in really deep snow and was given a quick nudge by a snow plough to get it going again.
The Sport diff made such a difference to the handling making the whole car feels less bulky.
Changed that for a 2017 biTDi as the miles were adding up and the twin turbo diesel in that form was no longer going to be available. Unfortunately this one just wasn't as good. Still a good car but even though it apparently had a few more BHP it wasn't as quick, wasn't as responsive and was less economical than its predecessor. It didn't have the Sports Diff. I think the later engines were retuned to improve emissions and in doing so made the engine less efficient.
Having said all that all three were ideally suited to taking two people and all their skiing kit and enough stuff for several weeks self catering down to the Alps in great comfort. 40 mpg was easily achieved if you didn't make too much "progress"
The BiTDI's seemed to have more of an appetite for brakes but other than that they just kept going. The 2014 car was by far the best of the three.
I've now left the A6 fold and moved onto an S4 Avant mainly because it's more fun, has more modern tech but still holds all the ski stuff.
If you do buy an A6 and need some OEM Audi alloys with snow tyres let me know. My A6 ones don't fit the S4.
Bluesgirl said:
A few months ago I asked the question about a suitable car for European trips to the Alps and ended up thinking the RX450 was the right thing to go for.
Now I'm back on the case and I think I might die of boredom in a 450 (as well as REALLY disliking the styling). So I''m looking at an Audi A6 Avant Quattro.
Being slightly out of touch with current diesel/petrol engines and their relative economy/emissions data, what's the best engine to go for? I want something fast and not ruinously expensive on RFL and fuel. Reliability is key also.
Here are some interesting examples:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209209...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144708076982?hash=item2...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209240...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111209...
So, good people of PH, what are your thoughts?
I feel that while the A6 is good & the BiTdi's are a very good drive train, I'd take the E Class everytime (especially in Premium Plus spec) followed by the 5 Series.Now I'm back on the case and I think I might die of boredom in a 450 (as well as REALLY disliking the styling). So I''m looking at an Audi A6 Avant Quattro.
Being slightly out of touch with current diesel/petrol engines and their relative economy/emissions data, what's the best engine to go for? I want something fast and not ruinously expensive on RFL and fuel. Reliability is key also.
Here are some interesting examples:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209209...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144708076982?hash=item2...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209240...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111209...
So, good people of PH, what are your thoughts?
E Class:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208168...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208178...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208309...
CLS:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209159...
530d:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208138...
Shiv_P said:
Not a chance I'd be spending 20 grand on a F11 5 series or C7 A6, you are very close to G30 5 series or C8 A6 territory there which may not net you the 3.0TDI engines, but are otherwise much better and more modern cars
I actually think that F11 looks stunning and wouldn't want to live with a 520D with newer (and already dated again) infotainment over that 530D. You can't go back to a 4-pot after driving one... HelldogBE said:
I actually think that F11 looks stunning and wouldn't want to live with a 520D with newer (and already dated again) infotainment over that 530D. You can't go back to a 4-pot after driving one...
+1 to that. I would very much like that 530d on my drive.I am slightly bemused by why the RX450h is labelled too boring. Surely you need to go and drive them both OP?
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