Hi, Looking at Le Mans 3.0TDi A6 (C6 Platform) for family

[HannsG]

Hi,

Greetings to all. Hope you are all well..

After being a lurker for a long time I thought I would sign up to join the community and also have some input etc.

I have a budget of around 8-12k. We have a kid on the way and make a lot of trips up and down the country and believe it or not cart a lot of things between houses etc. Once the kids comes along I'm sure this will increase etc..

So...I am chopping in my wifes polo and on the lookout for a comfortable and spacious cruiser..

The Le Mans A6 has been top of my list for a few weeks now. Acres of space and in Avant form a very decent boot. Plus 3.0Tdi, Quattro etc, 30+mpg - and with a remap...will shift better..

Anyone have any input on these cars?

I have broached the idea of the Yeti with the other half as I had one as a company car and it was supreme in every way. However - I still think she is hung up on the Skoda name. SO its a no go.

The XC90 is also off the list purely due to the fact cant see the need for such a huge car coupled with unreliability (Spline etc) and high running costs..

Thanks

[J4CKO]

My father in law has one but tends to nick my mother in laws C class most of the time, not sure why. Have driven it a couple of times and it is a really rather nice car, ride is a bit jiggly for a wafter but not horrendous, it seemed plenty quick enough, wasnt quite as fast as the Saab Aero I had at the time but that had been remapped so I suspect once mapped they would be as fast as anyone really needs a diesel estate car to go, I dont think it is that economical and can drop into the high twenties. Well put together, handsome, decent space and not that expensive, I bet that engine in a smaller A4 is even more impressive, oh and not forgeting they are 4wd so very sure footed, I get the impression that A6's seem cheaper secondhand, or on a par with A4's, is that correct ?

[HannsG]

J4CKO said:

My father in law has one but tends to nick my mother in laws C class most of the time, not sure why. Have driven it a couple of times and it is a really rather nice car, ride is a bit jiggly for a wafter but not horrendous, it seemed plenty quick enough, wasnt quite as fast as the Saab Aero I had at the time but that had been remapped so I suspect once mapped they would be as fast as anyone really needs a diesel estate car to go, I dont think it is that economical and can drop into the high twenties. Well put together, handsome, decent space and not that expensive, I bet that engine in a smaller A4 is even more impressive, oh and not forgeting they are 4wd so very sure footed, I get the impression that A6's seem cheaper secondhand, or on a par with A4's, is that correct ?

Hi JACKO. Yes they do seem cheaper and much better value for money than the A4 Avants. The Le Mans for instance is pretty much fully kitted out albeit without rear LED's. I'll be happy with mid-twenties or higher around town. On the motorway I think the engine will get better than 35mpg+ which should be decent enough.

The rear seats in the A4 are very very poor for leg room. Seeing as the missus is 6ft and want to sit behind with the baby the A4 is a no go.

EDIT: How was the Aero? was it the petrol or diesel you had?? 9-5 or 9-3??

The Saabs look like stupid value for money right now!

[Output Flange]

HannsG said:

The rear seats in the A4 are very very poor for leg room. Seeing as the missus is 6ft and want to sit behind with the baby the A4 is a no go.

Can't she sit behind the passenger seat with it pushed forward, with the baby behind the driver?

[HannsG]

Output Flange said:

Can't she sit behind the passenger seat with it pushed forward, with the baby behind the driver?

Hi. She insists the baby be behind the passenger seat. God knows why..

Yes we could try that.

[J4CKO]

I had the petrol Aero, I love the looks, interior looked nice but was poorly made, rest of the car as good as anything else, ride was brittle, performance was impressive post remap, less so before. Fuel economy was pretty poor, gearchange a bit lumpty, handling very effective but not much fun, no finesse but didnt the job, brakes were epic. I cant wholeheartedly recommend them, there is a reason why they are cheaper than the German stuff, they just arent as good but the price differential is greater than the actual difference, I think the ones without the Sports Suspension are a nicer drive. Mine was fairly reliable, never let me down and had plenty of life left in it, colleague at work has it now, the engien in them seems good for very high mileages, the diesels seem less reliable by a long way.

[HannsG]

J4CKO said:

I had the petrol Aero, I love the looks, interior looked nice but was poorly made, rest of the car as good as anything else, ride was brittle, performance was impressive post remap, less so before. Fuel economy was pretty poor, gearchange a bit lumpty, handling very effective but not much fun, no finesse but didnt the job, brakes were epic. I cant wholeheartedly recommend them, there is a reason why they are cheaper than the German stuff, they just arent as good but the price differential is greater than the actual difference, I think the ones without the Sports Suspension are a nicer drive. Mine was fairly reliable, never let me down and had plenty of life left in it, colleague at work has it now, the engien in them seems good for very high mileages, the diesels seem less reliable by a long way.

Hmmm. Might give them a pass then.

Seem like good value for money though

[Chris Hinds]

I've had my A6 Avant 3.0tdi Quattro auto (59 plate) for coming up to three years now and 43.5k miles. In that time it's been an excellent cruiser up not the most fun car to drive. If you do tons of miles it's a good car to do them in and there is plenty of space in the back/boot. Have averaged 33mpg and have yet to think of changing it because I can't think of something that would do the job significantly better. If I could change one thing it would be its habit for 235/35/19 tyres... At £250 a pop and a poor life it's lets fun in that respect. SportContact3 tyres do 5k on the front and 8k at the back. SportContact5 is better at 7k front and 10k back. Bridgestone Potenza RE050A seem to be doing better... Looks like 8k front but nearer 18k at the back

[BusaMK]

Personally I'd also look at the various bmw estates - they seem to hold their value better, which is worth considering at your price bracket and for lots of motorway miles. A C6 bought at say 50k miles at £12k will be worth about £6k once it's done 100k miles.

[HannsG]

BusaMK said:

Personally I'd also look at the various bmw estates - they seem to hold their value better, which is worth considering at your price bracket and for lots of motorway miles. A C6 bought at say 50k miles at £12k will be worth about £6k once it's done 100k miles.

Hi. I am itching to pull the trigger on an 530/535d. Would even up my budget. Love Beemers....

But....wifes orders. No RWD for baby transport.....I already have a E46 M3 for weekend thrills. So Quattro it is.

Plus the fact I nearly killed myself by crashing into a lampost on ice a few years back did bit help matters.

One thing women dont compromise seems to be newborn babies!