2007 Audi S6 Avant

[lipadier]

Had a used 2000 Audi S6 Avant before this (C5), used it the last 4 years as a daily driver. But as it is with cars like these there comes an age point when after you just mended something some other part would break just 2 days later, and so on. = Time to upgrade.

So there we are. Got me a C6 S6:





Fresh off service and Swiss MFK inspection (= MOT, in your currency) = MOT until 06/2023. Engine out rebuild, carbon cleaned. 127'000 miles.

Makes a good noise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQqyKWCsoeY

[lipadier]

^ These roads are about 10min from my home. When I drive 30min, I'm in good pre-alpine stuff, when I drive 50min I'm in the proper alps.

[lipadier]

Oh look, a tunnel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3GyJkdyh30

[lipadier]

Allright, Nürburgring is done. *checkmark* Thehe.

[lipadier]

MikeM6 said:

Very nice, and (as a fellow V10 enthusiast) I agree the noise is great!

For a month or two yes, was ace, then I realised it doesn't really do a 5.2L V10 justice. So...

...I got me a lovely big package straight from the UK:


...and some paper for it:


Sorry for ze german language, but yes, that's a Milltek exhaust system, EU/CH certified, hence legal in Switzerland and it can be mounted without a gouvernment inspection. Yay!

So far my neighbours like me. Not sure it that will last.

Edited by lipadier on Sunday 7th November 02:02

[lipadier]

Took a bit of waiting, but finally it's bolted in!



Going to collect it tomorrow morning:

[lipadier]

Collected it this morning and immediately went to make a sound-check (read: giving it the beans one one of my local-go-to roads). Sadly the camera can't really grasp all the low frequencies and sensations, but my audible reaction at 1:14 should give you some idea on what sort of fun level this 5.2 L V10 now is:



I had the small fear that this particular Milltek exhaust system would be too loud and booming in the cabin (it is my daily driver after all), but that's not the case. For sure it has its rumble presence, but on a tolerable level. - Outside, or with the windows down however... especially the cold start is now a definitive neighbour alarm clock. Thehe.

[lipadier]

The summer tires were 275, the current winter ones are 235. But I have to say I will keep the original S6 wheels on summer and winter from now on, they suit the understated character of the car much better than those tacky aftermarkets that were on the car when I bought it, but were more to the former owners taste. This means I will end up with 265's during the summer.

I'm also kicking myself a bit, why the hell didn't I buy these Milltek pipes sooner, preferably the day I bought the car, which happend already 8 months ago: I wasted the whole 2021 summer driving around with the puny S6 stock exhaust, dammit! Because let's face it, this Milltek stuff is really a necessity for this car. Well, see and hear for yourself: (Camera: DJI Action 2, 4K)

Sample 1
While all cars make some noise when you drive them hard, my main goal with this exhaust swap was to be able to cruise normally during daily driving and still get some good soundtrack. Well, goal achieved, I say: Just listen to this slow uphill driving at 1:20, after I open the windows. Not much gas, but it sounds like a massive V8 block:




Sample 2
I'm giving it some beans through a following set of tunnels. The best thing isn't the throttle part, the best thing is the deep lift-off growl when the revs go down. Love that. Sadly there were some roadworks, but still, you get my point:




The ultimate dream, to have a V10 wagon that screams like the Porsche Carrera GT, is simply not possible. But I came a few steps closer to that, thehe.

Edited by lipadier on Saturday 4th December 08:18

[lipadier]

Filibuster said:

Lovely!! Those fast Audis are so quintessential Swiss. They have a huge following in Switzerland because they are just so right!
Yours looks like a lovely example!

Greetings from a fellow Swiss PHer btw!

Grüezi!

Yeah, when I decided to go for a C6 S6 I had plenty to choose from, sure not pages and pages of them, but quite a few. I assume in the UK they are more of a rarity. - Love that apart from the badges it's really unobtrusive, especially now with the stock wheels on. And especially nowadays when even the lowest spec wagon looks like a overdesigned training shoe.

Sadly Audi simply killed off the S6 line with the current fake exhaust/sound diesel. *barf*
But anyhow, in a few years we all drive silent and boring EV's. But until then I enjoy me some loud N/A V10 barking, as long as I can.

[lipadier]

Forgot some salty pics:







After that I took it up to a solid 7/10 on the fun-dirt-o-meter!


(btw, I give up with hiding the numberplates, it's almost 2022 and you will find my anyway)

Edited by lipadier on Saturday 4th December 09:00

[lipadier]

^ I did a dig and it seems you got rid of yours in 2019. What was the decision maker? Big luring repair bill?

[lipadier]

Jim on the hill said:

Love this. One for sale in the UK, very rare

Here in small Switzerland I count 11 wagons for sale, just on Autoscout24 alone. Granted, the cheapest 2 or 3 of them I wouldn't touch, but still.

[lipadier]

iwantagta said:

Repeated issues of various types - Intake manifold was the last in the list.
However main driver was increased mileage due to a job change.
MPG was never the cars most endearing feature!
So so so miss the sound. Enjoy.

Ah, I see. - In case of the V10 drinking habits I say ignorance is bliss. I simply don't care what the MPG or L/100km is, I just fill the car up when the needle comes down near the red part. Then I go in, grab a drink and a snack, pay up, and then moan ab bit about how massively expensive drinks and snacks at petrol stations are. - This sort of self-deceit works just fine.

And anyhow, atleast now I can hear my money very well when it shoots out of the pipes at the back.

Edited by lipadier on Saturday 4th December 20:18

[lipadier]

Random pics+video update:

Yeah, I gave the tacky oversized aftermarket wheels away for good, these stock wheels do fit the reserved character of the car so much better:


Meanwhile winter wonderland has truly arrived:


Which can only mean one thing: Up the hill we go, sometimes with all 4 wheels spinning!
(At 1:09 you can hear me chuckle):


Stock wheels on and a better exhaust in, and this is now pure daily joy:

[lipadier]

After 9 months of ownership and 24'000km (15'000mi) done, the first bigger issue: A crack somewhere between the steering pump and the reservoir. Fluid on the floor, zero steering assistance. Hello.

Since the car was heading to the garage because of this, I decided to get the brakes done, front ones were close to the minimum, and rear ones would have started to chirp soon too. - And an oil change didn't hurt either. Almost 10 liters of the finest.

After that all is well again. Sure, my wallet got a slap, but hey, soon forgotten when every drive is an event: V10 with a Milltek is the recipe.

Apart from the purchase day, the S6 has never been so clean as after this garage visit:

[lipadier]

Short hop over the Swiss Alps today, letting the V10 howlwagon proper off the leash. - Richly deserving after all the daily commute. - And with that I mean the car and myself. :LOL:


Look out for the guy with a death wish at 04:04


Guy waving at 2:03


The good thing about driving a (somewhat) louder car is the fact that people can actually hear you coming up from behind, and so they kindly let you pass. Seen here at 03:00 and 4:58


The top of the San Bernardino Pass with its lake is so gorgeous, I went over it twice.


Good times, good times. - Sadly the dashcam had sound problems, so everything is very muted.

Edited by lipadier on Sunday 3rd July 14:24

[lipadier]

Headlight lenses went really foggy over the past few months:


Finally I did some restoration work today, first dry sandig with 800, and later wet sanding with 2000 and 3000 paper. After that I polished the glass with a sealer. Result:



More important:

[lipadier]

^ Hi, saw your post in the "Switzerland" thread:

TVR_Steve said:

Hi all, moved to near Zürich a couple of months ago from the UK.
Currently not in an interesting car but would like to meet up with petrolheads/benzinekopfs around here, are they any cars & coffee type events going on?

I went to the Swiss Classic World in Luzern a few weeks ago which was great.

I like to visit car events, but with me it's usually more of a case of reading about an event afterwards and going "ah, I missed that didn't know that happend". He.

[lipadier]

^ Almost. Mine is NORDLIGHT BLUE PEARL EFFECT (Code LZ7R). I would actually prefer a darker blue like your S8, but hey.

Yeah, the engine is the party peace. Plenty of grunt at mid-range. Soundwise at lower speeds it growls and whines, and at higher speeds it starts to howl. So unique.

Damn your car is clean.

[lipadier]

"I was promised hover cars by 2015! It's 2022 and I still don't... Eh, ok"


Yes, new summer rubber all around = the roadtrip season is on!


Buzzing off today, heading without time constriction towards Grasse in France, whilst taking all the swiss and french alpine passes inbetween:


After that not much is planned (as I like it that way), just about 10 days of alternating between V10 hooning through the french countryside visiting some points of interest, and beach bumming it at the Cote d'Azur.