RE: Don't want an SUV? Get a new A6 Allroad

RE: Don't want an SUV? Get a new A6 Allroad

Author
Discussion

ballans

790 posts

105 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Has anyone ever towed with one of these and compared to a full size SUV?
I would love to get rid of my wife’s SUV and replace it with one of these as I do lots of motorway miles but she tows a horse box (with a horse in it) so the additional bulk of the SUV makes it feel much more stable, especially when the horse decides it wants to move around a bit.
Have tried with a Volvo Cross country and that felt a bit wobbly.
Also £55k is strong money and I don’t expect to see much discount on these.

thiscocks

3,127 posts

195 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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GTEYE said:
In the last picture particularly the wheels look comically large, possibly the black arches make them look more so.

Gives it a rather Hot Wheels stance,

Here in Germany, small wheels rule - this is a rather British trend. Here an M Sport/S Line/AMG line is a rare sight - it’s SE spec all the way...
But us Brits love to pay £££ for new wheels when another pot hole destroys said 20" bling rim laugh

Shakermaker

11,317 posts

100 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Tubbycharged said:
Shakermaker said:
smart, an older A6 Allroad is on my list of potential purchases to replace my Superb

Skoda have done their own version of this now as well, with the upcoming Superb Scout, which will of course only offer Skoda's range of 2.0 four-cylinder engines but I suspect will be £15-20k cheaper.
JFYI the Skoda I believe will not have the air suspension system that allows the raising and lowering of the ride height and is so key to how these perform. I also believe, though am somewhat hazy on the details that the A6 Allroad has a more robust/advanced Quattro system over and above other VAG products (eg A4 Allroad, Skoda Scout etc) - but I am sure others more knowledgeable than me can confirm.

I have had two of these A6 Allroads over the years as second/family cars (C6 and C7 models) and they are fantastic on slippery muddy tracks/across fields and beaches, as well as very comfortable motorway cruisers. The air suspension is key to this. They are less good and quite 'boat-like' in cities however.
No that sounds about right - it's not a direct competitor in every respect of course as they won't want to compete in their own market, I'm sure Audi will have all the "newest and best" tech but you'll pay the premium for it

thiscocks

3,127 posts

195 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
quotequote all
Tubbycharged said:
JFYI the Skoda I believe will not have the air suspension system that allows the raising and lowering of the ride height and is so key to how these perform. I also believe, though am somewhat hazy on the details that the A6 Allroad has a more robust/advanced Quattro system over and above other VAG products (eg A4 Allroad, Skoda Scout etc) - but I am sure others more knowledgeable than me can confirm.

I have had two of these A6 Allroads over the years as second/family cars (C6 and C7 models) and they are fantastic on slippery muddy tracks/across fields and beaches, as well as very comfortable motorway cruisers. The air suspension is key to this. They are less good and quite 'boat-like' in cities however.
Yes AFAIK the A6 has the 'proper' Quattro system, rather than the haldex type.

Wills2

22,752 posts

175 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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I had a C6 allroad back in 2007 just a bogo spec 2.7Tdi but it was fantastic, the ride was brilliant on the air suspension with 17 wheels/tyres and some side wall on them.

The thinking mans SUV.


silentbrown

8,818 posts

116 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Auto Express and others mention a 55 TDI which (surprise, surprise) seems to be the S6 engine, but hopefully without the tarty bits. I guess UK buyers aren't worthy of that, then,

BrassMan

1,483 posts

189 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Nice. Far more than I need (or am prepared to pay) but should do the job well without the 3 and 4's image problems.

Sad Weevil

118 posts

148 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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No thanks. I'll stick with my 9 year old Outback - proper permanent awd, lovely flat 6, plenty of ground clearance, reliable. Original and best. IMHO. YMMV.

kambites

67,543 posts

221 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Looks pretty well judged. 2.5 tonne is more than enough for most people who tow and the ground clearance should be enough to navigate anything most SUVs ever encounter.

It'd be better with a less aggressive front bumper though; it looks like you could easily whack the splitter on something the car would otherwise happily clear.

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

224 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Sad Weevil said:
Outback. Original and best. IMHO. YMMV.
Original what?

Audi AWD estates were around before Subaru released the Outback wagon in '96.

Shiv_P

2,736 posts

105 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Sad Weevil said:
No thanks. I'll stick with my 9 year old Outback - proper permanent awd, lovely flat 6, plenty of ground clearance, reliable. Original and best. IMHO. YMMV.
This has permanent AWD as well.

blueg33

35,772 posts

224 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Isn't a Range Rover an even earlier 4wd estate car? Or the Subaru Leone which is around the same time?

I think the Subaru just beats the Rangie

George7

1,130 posts

150 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Sad Weevil said:
No thanks. I'll stick with my 9 year old Outback - proper permanent awd, lovely flat 6, plenty of ground clearance, reliable. Original and best. IMHO. YMMV.
Audi's Torsen based AWD system does seem to be better than Subaru's one though, at least from all the evidence I've seen.

Check out this slightly cheesy Russian video below of a C5 gen Allroad vs an Outback.

https://youtu.be/f20_skN9Pr4?t=45

legless

1,689 posts

140 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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George7 said:
Audi's Torsen based AWD system does seem to be better than Subaru's one though, at least from all the evidence I've seen.
The C7 and C8 allroads use the Audi 'Crown Gear' centre diff instead of the Torsen unit. It's technically superior to Torsen as it can fully lock regardless of torque bias ratio, and supports four-wheel torque vectoring.

It's a permanent AWD setup with a normal F:R torque bias of 40:60, but it can vary this between 15:85 and 70:30.

The3rdDukeofB

284 posts

59 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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On my second C7 AllRoad (current 'sport' version is a facelifted version) and it gives a great ride and spread of abilities in a car.
Fortunately spec'd heavily buy the previous owner, making it great.

It says 'mild hybrid' in the article, but no details.
If I could plug mine in and achieve 30 miles on Elecktricery it want not much else in a car.

Sad Weevil

118 posts

148 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Lol I wasn't suggesting the Audi didn't have a proper permanent awd system. I know it has. I simply prefer the Subaru.

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Nice but I am biased

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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numtumfutunch said:
Holy Memory Lane Batman!!

At the height of the financial meltdown I was torn between a TDV8 RR Sport and a petrol V8 Allroad for a bit less

I bought the RRS and ran it for almost 8y for only modest financial ruin until it was about to need a ££££ air suspension rebuild

My Allroad itch remains unscratched but I have no tame indies nearby for when warranties expire and Im not that brave to budget for a similar suspension rebuild from Audi UK

And they don't do a V8 anymore cry

Cheers
Get yourself a C6 while they’re out there!! 4.2 V8 FSI wink
Thumpin’!

You jealous yet wink

A1VDY

3,575 posts

127 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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kambites said:
Looks pretty well judged. 2.5 tonne is more than enough for most people who tow and the ground clearance should be enough to navigate anything most SUVs ever encounter.

It'd be better with a less aggressive front bumper though; it looks like you could easily whack the splitter on something the car would otherwise happily clear.
Splitter??
Its the front bumper, why would you call it splitter??

Andy JB

1,319 posts

219 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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Richard-vcdkn said:
When I lived in the US for a few years I owned one of the original allroads, 2.7T with air suspension.

The suspension was a reliability nightmare, with leaking airbags and worn out pumps.

After replacing two bags and the air pump (worn out compensating for leaks) I gave up and bought a conversion kit to take it to conventional coil suspension.

The next gen after that dropped the air suspension, I am surprised it's making a comeback.

Apparently the issue with the airbags was down to road grit getting between the exposed folds in the rubber and just rubbing holes in the bellows.

Hopefully they have fixed this design flaw.
Confused here - I have a C6 Allroad which continued to have air suspension which was my primary reason for buying one compared to my C5. it's over 10 years old now with over 100k miles and air sus continues to work perfectly.

In fact its such a good all round car being fast comfortable reliable spacious & well built so I'm keeping it, and far better than my newer S3 which apperas to be made of chocolate. Of course being dreaded diesel is now worth pennies and yes I would buy another, glad audi still build this in a market of niche SUVs it covers every base in style.