A6 Allroad - Anyone had one?
Discussion
Looking to upgrade the family wagon which is used for shopping trips through the week then quite a bit of longer distance stuff up to Scotland/down to Wales on weekends - do about 15k/year.
Want something with 4x4 for snow/cold roads/mild offroading/beach but something comfy and fast.
Looked at Disco 4, ML 350, X5 etc but they are all a bit w&nky and mpg is rubbish.
A6 Allroad looks to be bang on with adjustable air suspension, fast, relatively efficient and decent quattro capabilites.
Anyone owned or driven one? Looking at a 2015 model (latest facelift and slightly pokier engine tune (268bhp version).
Want something with 4x4 for snow/cold roads/mild offroading/beach but something comfy and fast.
Looked at Disco 4, ML 350, X5 etc but they are all a bit w&nky and mpg is rubbish.
A6 Allroad looks to be bang on with adjustable air suspension, fast, relatively efficient and decent quattro capabilites.
Anyone owned or driven one? Looking at a 2015 model (latest facelift and slightly pokier engine tune (268bhp version).
I owned a 2nd Gen 3L Diesel A6 allroad.
I absolutely loved it. Very comfy. I don’t want sporty from a car like this.
Recently in a current gen A6 allroad and was impressed again with it.
Just put a deposit down on the latest A4 allroad. Differences between the A4/6 models I know, but again it feels very comfy and I love the build quality and modern feel with the virtual dash. Just suited having A4 this time around.
Drove an S-line a4 avant also and it was bouncing along where the allroad wafted.
It feels nice being in something with comfort in mind rather than obsession with making things ‘feel’ sporty even in cars totally unsuited (see most suv’s). Real world I think it makes for a much nicer car... unless it’s a sports car you bought.
I absolutely loved it. Very comfy. I don’t want sporty from a car like this.
Recently in a current gen A6 allroad and was impressed again with it.
Just put a deposit down on the latest A4 allroad. Differences between the A4/6 models I know, but again it feels very comfy and I love the build quality and modern feel with the virtual dash. Just suited having A4 this time around.
Drove an S-line a4 avant also and it was bouncing along where the allroad wafted.
It feels nice being in something with comfort in mind rather than obsession with making things ‘feel’ sporty even in cars totally unsuited (see most suv’s). Real world I think it makes for a much nicer car... unless it’s a sports car you bought.
antiok said:
Thanks. I have an Elise for the sports car jobs so sounds like a perfect complement to it.
Sound on a similar wavelength!Lovely.. perfect car to compliment it. I had an S2 quite a few years ago now. Loved that also and still rate it as one of the best drivers car regardless of price. Occasionally start scanning for a mustard yellow S1 as the love of the Elise is still strong.
I’ve got a 987 boxster Spyder, which I kind of see as Porsche’s closest attempt at an Elise. Certainly people make the same fuss about the roof.
Edited by DS240 on Wednesday 29th August 21:43
Edited by DS240 on Wednesday 29th August 21:44
Rosscow said:
Just be aware that the air suspension can be problematic.
We have it on our current A6 Avant and both the rear air bags need replacing, car is getting long in the tooth though so getting rid instead!
The suspension complexity does concern me a bit. How old/how many miles do you have on yours? We have it on our current A6 Avant and both the rear air bags need replacing, car is getting long in the tooth though so getting rid instead!
antiok said:
The suspension complexity does concern me a bit. How old/how many miles do you have on yours?
It's a July 2006 with 126k on the clock.The air bags leak when in Dynamic mode, so it's permanently in Auto or Comfort now. Several times I've left the house to find it's arse on the floor.
Ours is a (rare) 3.0 V6 manual as well, and the clutch is on the way. The air conditioning blows hot one side and cold the other, as well
Like I said, it's done us OK in the last 6+ years, the only real expense to date was a £700 water pump.
Unbelievable in the snow with a set of winter tyres on. Unstoppable.
Which X5 did you look at? The A6 all road is 4x4 but is not an SUV, and that is a big difference. We got a twin turbo diesel X5, had the exact same search as you, they are quite bumpy cars but it compensates with very good handling and power for a 7 seat SUV. I'd comfortably say the X5 handles better than the A6 all road, even an A6 with S-Line setup. I also find the X5 much more luxurious than our A6.
You are right about the ML, they just aren't amazing. Disco however is very spacious and rides very well.
If you are looking at 2015 model cars, look at:
Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE
X5 xDrive35d/40d M-Sport
Range Rover TDV8/SDV8 L322
You are right about the ML, they just aren't amazing. Disco however is very spacious and rides very well.
If you are looking at 2015 model cars, look at:
Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE
X5 xDrive35d/40d M-Sport
Range Rover TDV8/SDV8 L322
The problem with air suspension is that the bags really should be seen as consumables, and replaced around 100,000 miles. But nobody ever does that, or frankly any other maintenance on it at all, so it gets a reputation for being unreliable. A leaky airbag is no more common than a broken coil spring, but it's the kind of thing that will limp on undetected and eventually shag the compressor.
There is also the elephant in the room, in the form of "what about an XC70?".
There is also the elephant in the room, in the form of "what about an XC70?".
rayyan171 said:
Which X5 did you look at? The A6 all road is 4x4 but is not an SUV, and that is a big difference. We got a twin turbo diesel X5, had the exact same search as you, they are quite bumpy cars but it compensates with very good handling and power for a 7 seat SUV. I'd comfortably say the X5 handles better than the A6 all road, even an A6 with S-Line setup. I also find the X5 much more luxurious than our A6.
Honestly I don't really see the difference between an Allroad and an 'SUV' like an X5. Similar load space, similar off road capabilities, similar performance from big turbo diesels. X5 ride is terrible, especially on bigger alloys, have friends with them and it's laughable. S Line is a trim not a setup. Allroad is a model that sits separate in A6 range you can't spec it with s line? Have you driven an Allroad to compare against your X5?
I had an x5 and currently run an a6 allroad. The allroad pisses all over the x5 in every respect, comfort, handling, reliability, economy and other drivers reaction to it. The allroad was around a third of the price of the x5 as well, but it is a bit older. If this was to get written off tomorrow i'd go straight out and buy another. The only downside is it was hard to find one with all the spec i wanted, there are a lot out there with the se style interior.
agent006 said:
The problem with air suspension is that the bags really should be seen as consumables, and replaced around 100,000 miles. But nobody ever does that, or frankly any other maintenance on it at all, so it gets a reputation for being unreliable. A leaky airbag is no more common than a broken coil spring, but it's the kind of thing that will limp on undetected and eventually shag the compressor.
There is also the elephant in the room, in the form of "what about an XC70?".
The problem as well is the shockers, they are electronicly adjuatable too, when they start to leak its not nice, standard a6 shocker, pattern part £58 trade, s line somewhere around £80 allroad shock dealer only, trade price £690+vat. For 1 corner.There is also the elephant in the room, in the form of "what about an XC70?".
agent006 said:
The problem with air suspension is that the bags really should be seen as consumables, and replaced around 100,000 miles. But nobody ever does that, or frankly any other maintenance on it at all, so it gets a reputation for being unreliable. A leaky airbag is no more common than a broken coil spring, but it's the kind of thing that will limp on undetected and eventually shag the compressor.
There is also the elephant in the room, in the form of "what about an XC70?".
Hello stranger There is also the elephant in the room, in the form of "what about an XC70?".
hope all well.On my Allroad I had airbags going at about 90,000 miles. But I don't think its accurate to say they're no more common than a broken child spring, because nobody considers coil springs service items to be replaced at 100,000.
I replaced mine with coils, which was an expensive mistake. Should have just chopped it in (or scrapped it). C5 – not Audi's finest era.
My dad bought a 2015 Allroad 3.0v6 tdi (245bhp) and it is absolutely lovely. He has had a few upgrades done like a reversing camera fitted, and a nav upgrade. Generally a lovely car and very capable especially in the snow. He lives in Switzerland so snow capability is important. Seems easy to maintain and run with limited expense.
antiok said:
rayyan171 said:
Which X5 did you look at? The A6 all road is 4x4 but is not an SUV, and that is a big difference. We got a twin turbo diesel X5, had the exact same search as you, they are quite bumpy cars but it compensates with very good handling and power for a 7 seat SUV. I'd comfortably say the X5 handles better than the A6 all road, even an A6 with S-Line setup. I also find the X5 much more luxurious than our A6.
Honestly I don't really see the difference between an Allroad and an 'SUV' like an X5. Similar load space, similar off road capabilities, similar performance from big turbo diesels. X5 ride is terrible, especially on bigger alloys, have friends with them and it's laughable. S Line is a trim not a setup. Allroad is a model that sits separate in A6 range you can't spec it with s line? Have you driven an Allroad to compare against your X5?
Simple answer is whether you are someone who is that bothered about how the car handles. If not, the A6 all road is yours, but I am arguing that the X5 is actually a very good drive, and when paired with a good engine it's actually a well performing car.
Also going to say that the F15 X5 suspension setup is not as good as the E70, many owners comment that the last generation handles much better. They did not have adaptive dampers unless specified, which few cars did have, and there were many fitted with self-levelling air suspension, which does increase ride quality.
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