Going backwards, more analogue
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I’d love to hear your thoughts on something I’m considering: going back to a more analog car.
I’ve been driving a Volvo V90 T8 plug-in hybrid (406 hp) for 4.5 years. It’s a refined car with amazing interior quality, but I don’t like how everything (HVAC, radio, etc.) is only through the touchscreen, and the 4-cylinder petrol engine lacks character. It’s not really AWD either – the rear motor is only for hybrid drive.
Now I’m looking at a 2017 Audi S6 Avant (C7) with the 4.0 TFSI V8, quattro, and S-tronic – specifically this exact car:
• Daytona Grey Pearl
• Carbon inlays, full leather/Alcantara
• Bose sound system
• Sport differential, adaptive air suspension
• No modern driver-assistance systems – just the essentials
• No OPF, around 60k miles, good history
What really appeals to me is that the Audi feels like the perfect blend of modern and analog. It still has physical buttons and a folding MMI screen, with solid analog gauges and a useful central info display. No endless menus. No driver-assist overload. Just a well-built estate with a proper V8 soundtrack and a mechanical feel.
For me, this would be a step back from the modern hybrid tech to something simpler, more timeless, and with real character.
My concerns are mainly about fuel consumption, future Euro 6b restrictions without OPF, and running costs at this mileage.
What do you think?
• Will the Audi still feel special or is it just expensive nostalgia
• Has anyone else made this move from hybrid to V8
• Any big reliability issues on these S6 C7s I should watch for
Thanks in advance – I really appreciate your insights!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on something I’m considering: going back to a more analog car.
I’ve been driving a Volvo V90 T8 plug-in hybrid (406 hp) for 4.5 years. It’s a refined car with amazing interior quality, but I don’t like how everything (HVAC, radio, etc.) is only through the touchscreen, and the 4-cylinder petrol engine lacks character. It’s not really AWD either – the rear motor is only for hybrid drive.
Now I’m looking at a 2017 Audi S6 Avant (C7) with the 4.0 TFSI V8, quattro, and S-tronic – specifically this exact car:
• Daytona Grey Pearl
• Carbon inlays, full leather/Alcantara
• Bose sound system
• Sport differential, adaptive air suspension
• No modern driver-assistance systems – just the essentials
• No OPF, around 60k miles, good history
What really appeals to me is that the Audi feels like the perfect blend of modern and analog. It still has physical buttons and a folding MMI screen, with solid analog gauges and a useful central info display. No endless menus. No driver-assist overload. Just a well-built estate with a proper V8 soundtrack and a mechanical feel.
For me, this would be a step back from the modern hybrid tech to something simpler, more timeless, and with real character.
My concerns are mainly about fuel consumption, future Euro 6b restrictions without OPF, and running costs at this mileage.
What do you think?
• Will the Audi still feel special or is it just expensive nostalgia
• Has anyone else made this move from hybrid to V8
• Any big reliability issues on these S6 C7s I should watch for
Thanks in advance – I really appreciate your insights!
I nearly bought one new but, after trying the RS6 just had to go for that.It was a great car. Beautifully built and very comfortable. Averaged around 24mpg during my 4 year 45000 mile tenure. Brakes are eye wateringly expensive (and tyres not cheap) but otherwise proved reasonably cheap to run. Not sure if they do DRC on the S6, but I would avoid - had nothing but trouble with mine (all fixed under warranty, albeit repeatedly).
I just went from Tesla model Y LR to a c7 rs6
Love my Audi - really great place to sit and everything feels better quality.
However it’s dumb in comparison. The Tesla really does make stuff feel stupid and outdated.
However over time I’m forgetting that the big V8 is wonderful
Much more expensive but it’s worth it
Love my Audi - really great place to sit and everything feels better quality.
However it’s dumb in comparison. The Tesla really does make stuff feel stupid and outdated.
However over time I’m forgetting that the big V8 is wonderful
Much more expensive but it’s worth it
Stupid and outdated. Just what I want!
I think the Audi C7 is the sweet spot of modern enough (and being a safe car) but without any driver aids.
The one that I am interested in has none. The only thing I consider fitting would be reversing camera (maybe even 360) which can easily be done using oem equipment and blind spot monitoring (this is more complicated, I think). Also a MIB 2 upgrade with Apple Carplay and DAB+ would be on the list.
I think the Audi C7 is the sweet spot of modern enough (and being a safe car) but without any driver aids.
The one that I am interested in has none. The only thing I consider fitting would be reversing camera (maybe even 360) which can easily be done using oem equipment and blind spot monitoring (this is more complicated, I think). Also a MIB 2 upgrade with Apple Carplay and DAB+ would be on the list.
I bought the Audi in the end. The OH isn‘t impressed, as she claims to have gotten used to the creature comforts of the Volvo, especially the HUD and the 360 camera.
I was impressed by the Audi‘s dynamic and the mechanical engineering of the car. Also with these cars being 10 years old now, I had to get it, simply because you don‘t find these from the first owner and with only 60k miles that often anymore. I have every single reciept, including the original sales order.
Can‘t wait to pick it up
I was impressed by the Audi‘s dynamic and the mechanical engineering of the car. Also with these cars being 10 years old now, I had to get it, simply because you don‘t find these from the first owner and with only 60k miles that often anymore. I have every single reciept, including the original sales order.
Can‘t wait to pick it up
When did a modern S6 qualify as being 'analogue' and 'not having any driver aids'? It has multi-channel ABS, traction control, stability control, fly-by-wire throttle, it changes gears for you, it adjusts the suspension for you, it could hardly be less 'analogue'. Don't get me wrong, they're nice cars, but they are a big fat barge packed full of electronics just like the Volvo, the only meaningful difference is it will make a nice noise at the cost of burning double the fuel.
You could try a TVR.
The brakes do have a servo
Most do have power steering
The engine management is by way of an ECU and fuel injection.
Windows are electric, as are the doors and boot.
NO:
Airbags
Anti lock brakes
Traction control
Airconditioning
Driver aids like lane assist, cruise control etc.
So the driving experience is sort of modern analogue.
How analogue do you fancy going?
The brakes do have a servo
Most do have power steering
The engine management is by way of an ECU and fuel injection.
Windows are electric, as are the doors and boot.
NO:
Airbags
Anti lock brakes
Traction control
Airconditioning
Driver aids like lane assist, cruise control etc.
So the driving experience is sort of modern analogue.
How analogue do you fancy going?
I think the Volvo stuff is just a really poor example of how to do the modern tech; I found the XC90 to be a pretty miserable experience.
There’s plenty of newer stuff, at least up until 2023, that is a bit more old-school. My wife’s BMW iX3 has all the tech going, which she has turned on - it drives me crackers if I use the car with her key! But I have the spare key set up to use my profile which disables absolutely everything and it’s great. All the controls are physical knobs and buttons rather than screen controlled.
My ‘23 911 has a manual gearbox and not a single ‘nanny’ feature, presumably because Porsche would’ve made you pay for it until it became mandatory! All the controls are buttons and switches. Aside from the particulate filter and turbo-charged engine it’s about as analogue as anything from the last 15 years but with a modern infotainment system.
Anyway, my point is that you can still get far more modern cars that’ll be just as analogue as your S6. Proper analogue means going back to the mid-2000s and requires quite a bit of dedication to the cause. I have no problem with modern tech, I quite like some of it, but some of it is horrendously integrated. I also want to be able to turn it off and it remain off!
There’s plenty of newer stuff, at least up until 2023, that is a bit more old-school. My wife’s BMW iX3 has all the tech going, which she has turned on - it drives me crackers if I use the car with her key! But I have the spare key set up to use my profile which disables absolutely everything and it’s great. All the controls are physical knobs and buttons rather than screen controlled.
My ‘23 911 has a manual gearbox and not a single ‘nanny’ feature, presumably because Porsche would’ve made you pay for it until it became mandatory! All the controls are buttons and switches. Aside from the particulate filter and turbo-charged engine it’s about as analogue as anything from the last 15 years but with a modern infotainment system.
Anyway, my point is that you can still get far more modern cars that’ll be just as analogue as your S6. Proper analogue means going back to the mid-2000s and requires quite a bit of dedication to the cause. I have no problem with modern tech, I quite like some of it, but some of it is horrendously integrated. I also want to be able to turn it off and it remain off!
TurboHatchback said:
When did a modern S6 qualify as being 'analogue' and 'not having any driver aids'? It has multi-channel ABS, traction control, stability control, fly-by-wire throttle, it changes gears for you, it adjusts the suspension for you, it could hardly be less 'analogue'. Don't get me wrong, they're nice cars, but they are a big fat barge packed full of electronics just like the Volvo, the only meaningful difference is it will make a nice noise at the cost of burning double the fuel.
I hear what you’re saying!And to be honest, those are exactly the kinds of technologies and safety nets I do want in a daily driver or family bus.
What I’m after is a purely mechanical drivetrain—a big engine up front and one of the best AWD systems out there. I just don’t want a hybrid drivetrain anymore, or a car that tries to drive itself.
The Audi delivers on that.
I also have a manual 997.1, which I’d already call a neo-classic. For many years, my only car was a 1960s classic. But even for a weekend toy, I now consider EFI, air con, and ABS as the absolute baseline.
For me, it’s about finding the sweet spot, which is of course subjective. The S6—with its pure ICE engine, mechanical quattro with sport differential (yes, electro-hydraulic, but still), analogue gauges, and a dashboard with physical buttons and a retractable screen—seems to tick the right boxes.
Sure, it wouldn’t start after an EMP, but I’m looking for a daily, not a bug-out vehicle that runs on frying oil and vacuum tubes.
I’m just curious now whether the driving experience actually lives up to my expectations!
I just collected the Audi and went for a 150-mile drive. So far, I’m really impressed – it offers exactly what I was looking for.
It’s a much more composed drive than the Volvo V90 I came from. While Audis are often criticised for their numb steering feel, the S6’s steering is significantly better than the Volvo’s. The whole car feels more planted and confidence-inspiring. I also prefer the slightly smaller steering wheel – it adds a sense of control.
Driving-wise, I have to adapt my habits. Engine braking is something I need to re-learn. The hybrid Volvo was always “sailing”, and even though it had regenerative braking, it felt entirely different. In the Audi, there’s a more natural mechanical feel, and I’m enjoying reconnecting with that.
One thing I noticed is the lack of blind spot monitoring. It’s not a big deal – I’ve never had it on my weekend car – but I’d grown used to it in the Volvo, especially on motorway trips. I’ve had to get back into the habit of proper shoulder checks. It’s not a complaint, just part of going back to basics. The same goes for cruise control – no adaptive system here, just a simple, classic setup, and honestly, I prefer it.
Fuel economy was a surprise. I averaged around 38 mpg (UK) in the Volvo. The S6 showed about 30 mpg on the trip computer, which is better than expected for a V8 estate.
Interior quality is excellent. The Volvo had beautiful Scandinavian design and materials, but the Audi feels more solid and well-screwed together – very Teutonic, in a good way. I don’t miss the HUD either. The digital screen between the gauges does the job nicely, with clear, useful info.
The only feature I’m really missing is the rear camera. That’s definitely on my retrofit list.
So far, very happy with the car. It feels like the right blend of mechanical involvement, usability, and refinement. Looking forward to putting more miles on it!
It’s a much more composed drive than the Volvo V90 I came from. While Audis are often criticised for their numb steering feel, the S6’s steering is significantly better than the Volvo’s. The whole car feels more planted and confidence-inspiring. I also prefer the slightly smaller steering wheel – it adds a sense of control.
Driving-wise, I have to adapt my habits. Engine braking is something I need to re-learn. The hybrid Volvo was always “sailing”, and even though it had regenerative braking, it felt entirely different. In the Audi, there’s a more natural mechanical feel, and I’m enjoying reconnecting with that.
One thing I noticed is the lack of blind spot monitoring. It’s not a big deal – I’ve never had it on my weekend car – but I’d grown used to it in the Volvo, especially on motorway trips. I’ve had to get back into the habit of proper shoulder checks. It’s not a complaint, just part of going back to basics. The same goes for cruise control – no adaptive system here, just a simple, classic setup, and honestly, I prefer it.
Fuel economy was a surprise. I averaged around 38 mpg (UK) in the Volvo. The S6 showed about 30 mpg on the trip computer, which is better than expected for a V8 estate.
Interior quality is excellent. The Volvo had beautiful Scandinavian design and materials, but the Audi feels more solid and well-screwed together – very Teutonic, in a good way. I don’t miss the HUD either. The digital screen between the gauges does the job nicely, with clear, useful info.
The only feature I’m really missing is the rear camera. That’s definitely on my retrofit list.
So far, very happy with the car. It feels like the right blend of mechanical involvement, usability, and refinement. Looking forward to putting more miles on it!
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