Audi A6 Allroad 3.0 TDI: manual or tiptronic?

[rassi]

Starting to look for a 3.0 TDI Allroad, and the manual is relatively rare. Is the Tiptronic that good/well-matched to the 3.0 engine that a manual doesn't make sense? Any benefits on mileage with the manual?

Personally I spent 6 years in an E39 M5 (manual), now have a MB C220 automatic (5 speed) which feels quite slow-witted, so missing the control of the manual but then again the Tiptronic comes with paddles, so maybe a good compromise. Owners' experience with either appreciated!

[blueg33]

I have an A6 3.0 tiptronic and I think the box and engine are an excellent combo. I rarely use the paddles though as sport mode gives faster changes.

[Dilligaf10]

Tiptronic every time, best of both worlds.

[Dr G]

The manual in those isn't great really, vague and ponderous shift action. They sell well enough as there's a hardcore out there that refuse to have an auto (and they're cheap) but the tip works very well indeed and is reliable.

[audidoody]

I ran a 2.5TDI a/road tiptronic for a couple of years. Couldn't fault the tip. Didn't seem much point getting a manual for a TDI which does all its main work below 4000 RPM

[rassi]

Thanks for the advice! Will search for a Tiptronic, as it was my first choice originally. Just out of curiosity, the A5 3.0 TDI was available from launch until 2009 as manual only - from an extended test drive I seem to recall that a least that gear change was actually short and precise, so presumably different to the A6 one?

[456mgt]

I have exactly this car and the tiptronic was an additional cost; tiptronic was standard for the smaller engine, so if you want a 3.0 manual you may see more of those about. Personally I wouldn't bother. It's very occasionally jerky, but overall it suits the relaxed nature of the car. My first Allroad had a manual box and it was a pain TBH, rev range too narrow and first gear was especially low geared so feeding into fast moving traffic was a bit stressy. I don't use the paddles except in snow or reduced grip conditions to slow down the car or control descents. I get 33mpg according to the trip counter so you may see 35/36 with the manual ie nothing to write home about.

When mine dropped out of warranty I had it chipped for max torque by DMS (yes my insurance company does know) and it's a bloody fast car! Cornering and grip is especially impressive (on 19" with Michelin Pilot Sports) whether it's bone dry or snowing. I'm a big fan of these cars; if you don't like the SUV shape, it's as good as it gets IMO

[Dr G]

I'd take an Allroad over a tank any day; drives so much better than a Q7.

3.0 is lively with a map isn't it!

[Herdwick]

We have an Allroad and a Range Rover, and the only times that the range rover feels better is on a long journey. (south of France).
Wouldnt want a manual, and only ever use the paddles for 'fun'. Brilliant car, we are looking to sell both at the moment and replace with just one car, but cant decide what we would get, other than just a newer one the same. !!

[Pentoman]

I tested a 2.7 tdi Quattro auto (proper auto, I believe) recently and my main memory is that the gearbox was frequently off boost and you had to wait for the engine to wake up before you got any forward motion - which was respectable once it came. I don't drive diesel autos normally so is this normal? I tried using the paddles which didn't help that much. It was a spectacular blot on an otherwise surprisingly good car in my eyes. Might be worth a test drive OP based on this.

[blueg33]

Pentoman said:

I tested a 2.7 tdi Quattro auto (proper auto, I believe) recently and my main memory is that the gearbox was frequently off boost and you had to wait for the engine to wake up before you got any forward motion - which was respectable once it came. I don't drive diesel autos normally so is this normal? I tried using the paddles which didn't help that much. It was a spectacular blot on an otherwise surprisingly good car in my eyes. Might be worth a test drive OP based on this.

3.0tdi tiptronic has a very slight delay when pulling away from stationary, but at all other times there is no delay. In sport mode it shifts very fast

[Dr G]

In 'Drive' it will always put itself in as high a gear as possible for fuel economy; try manual or sport modes if you want a little more immediacy (no torque converter auto has a whip-crack response mind you).

[Pablo16v]

Bit of thread resurrection this one but it popped up in a search on Allroads. I'm going to look at a 2007 Manual 3.0tdi on Sunday so I'm doing a bit of research tonight. Tax is only £285 as opposed to £485 on the auto so i guess that's one plus point to the manual. It has 110k on the clock, with a fairly comprehensive history by the sounds of things. Anything I should particularly look out for on these?

Cheers
Pablo

[Andy JB]

I bought one 16 months ago with 75k, overall impressive for Diesel (not a fan) and auto tiptronic suits it well although manual as you say is cheaper tax.

My advice check compressor works and quietly on suspension & stays level, change ARB bushes and ARB links (cheap), consider fluid change on box if its a keeper, check DPF filter ok & make sure its run hard & fast once a week to stop it blocking. Lots of electronics so check it all works. Decent cars all round for a heavy beast it handles & pulls very well. Tyres take a pasting & need to be changed all at once due to Quattro or at least reversed each 8k miles or so.

[Pablo16v]

Cheers. After seeing the car on Sunday I’ve decided not to buy this one.

First impressions were really positive though. It was in excellent condition inside and out and the service history was fairly comprehensive too. All the electric stuff worked as it should, the suspension went uppy downy smoothly and silently, and it had good quality winter tyres all round. So far so good. Unfortunately the test drive wasn’t as positive. I noticed when I first sat in the car that the clutch felt pretty stiff, which in itself is not a massive issue as I’ve been in a few high mileage cars that have had stiffer than normal clutches, but this one felt a little bit too stiff. Out on the test drive the clutch bite point was about an inch off the carpet, and it was like an on/off switch which meant progress around town was pretty ungainly not helped at all by the low gearing in first and second. Pretty disappointing really.

The salesman has since come back offering to split the cost of a new clutch 50/50, but it just isn’t tempting enough, so it’s back to the classifieds. It’s a shame as the rest of the car was great, and I’d forgotten just what a peach of an engine the 3.0tdi is. Really punchy.