AUDI A6 C6 3.0T vs V6 TDI
Discussion
What Would Piston Heads Do...
I am starting a new job in the new year, which now doesn't come with a company car so I will be handing back my 2021 330e touring and getting my own. Currently saving for house renovations I don't want to go into large finance, so decided I would like to buy cash - sub £10k, get it out the way and continue saving without any outgoings..
I've had mercs and BMWs I now just quite fancy an Audi quattro.
New job is 15min, 9miles away, two junctions on the motorway.
I need a family barge, potential talks in buying a caravan next year.
I narrowed it down to a C6 A6, in the v6 3.0 supercharge or v6 TDI, looks re subjective but in SLine form I think they are quite handsome, in a very understated way.
There is a 3.0T on PH for £6500, 115k Sline Avant. but not much else on the market in that engine.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12474441
Or there are many 3.0 V6 diesels. for around the £8-10k mark.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111089...
Reliability I read they are both very good, strong engines. I have some concerns over the 3.0T fuel costs, and the TDI DPF filter doing short journeys each day (longer journeys will be on weekends I guess.
Any thoughts/experiences on either? Part of me wants the petrol because its a bit unique and would hopefully sound good (not been to see it yet as its 4-5hours away!) but part of me likes the power delivery of the diesels.
I am starting a new job in the new year, which now doesn't come with a company car so I will be handing back my 2021 330e touring and getting my own. Currently saving for house renovations I don't want to go into large finance, so decided I would like to buy cash - sub £10k, get it out the way and continue saving without any outgoings..
I've had mercs and BMWs I now just quite fancy an Audi quattro.
New job is 15min, 9miles away, two junctions on the motorway.
I need a family barge, potential talks in buying a caravan next year.
I narrowed it down to a C6 A6, in the v6 3.0 supercharge or v6 TDI, looks re subjective but in SLine form I think they are quite handsome, in a very understated way.
There is a 3.0T on PH for £6500, 115k Sline Avant. but not much else on the market in that engine.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12474441
Or there are many 3.0 V6 diesels. for around the £8-10k mark.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111089...
Reliability I read they are both very good, strong engines. I have some concerns over the 3.0T fuel costs, and the TDI DPF filter doing short journeys each day (longer journeys will be on weekends I guess.
Any thoughts/experiences on either? Part of me wants the petrol because its a bit unique and would hopefully sound good (not been to see it yet as its 4-5hours away!) but part of me likes the power delivery of the diesels.
Definitely petrol. My commute sounds very similar to yours, I have currently have a diesel car and in cold weather it's not fully warmed up by the time I arrive, in fact I'm over half way there before any warm air comes out the vents. On hot days it works well but that length commute in the winter really doesn't suit a diesel well. Also the petrol will be ULEZ compliant and the diesel won't if that makes any odds to you.
I rate the C6 A6 quattro, I had a 4.2 FSI model and it was a lovely car to live with.
I rate the C6 A6 quattro, I had a 4.2 FSI model and it was a lovely car to live with.
t itself here.Thanks Chaps. I was leaning towards the petrol, - hoping it would be more fun - but I'm not against a remapped diesel they sure do fly too!
Its just the commute putting me off a diesel, as you mentioned, the diesel wouldn't be warmed up and I would guess that the fuel economy of a diesel cold isn't much better than the petrol! - based on no scientific research.
I will look into the water pump, hadn't come across that in my research yet. For some reason there seems to be missing information on the A6 C6 3.0T, googling/YouTube always steers me to C7 3.0T - Celtic tuning don't even have it as an option on their website - maybe not many were made?
is the ZF the same i would find in an old E39 BMW 530i? I had one of those and it wasn't a bad box really.
Its just the commute putting me off a diesel, as you mentioned, the diesel wouldn't be warmed up and I would guess that the fuel economy of a diesel cold isn't much better than the petrol! - based on no scientific research.
I will look into the water pump, hadn't come across that in my research yet. For some reason there seems to be missing information on the A6 C6 3.0T, googling/YouTube always steers me to C7 3.0T - Celtic tuning don't even have it as an option on their website - maybe not many were made?
is the ZF the same i would find in an old E39 BMW 530i? I had one of those and it wasn't a bad box really.
I think it's thermostat (just checked notes from my old one) rather than water pump. It's a supercharger-off job, but MRC can do it fast (and therefore comparatively good value). The water pipe that breaks is a plastic one at the front of the engine.
The petrol, once mapped, is much quicker than a mapped diesel. I used to get 32-34mpg on a steady run in mine, 26-28mpg was more normal with mixed country/town driving.
The petrol, once mapped, is much quicker than a mapped diesel. I used to get 32-34mpg on a steady run in mine, 26-28mpg was more normal with mixed country/town driving.
amstrange1 said:
I think it's thermostat (just checked notes from my old one) rather than water pump. It's a supercharger-off job, but MRC can do it fast (and therefore comparatively good value). The water pipe that breaks is a plastic one at the front of the engine.
The petrol, once mapped, is much quicker than a mapped diesel. I used to get 32-34mpg on a steady run in mine, 26-28mpg was more normal with mixed country/town driving.
Ah right OK. The petrol one I have my eye on says hes done the thermostat, PCV system, inlet swirl flap actuators and exhaust flexis. So seems the niggles that are common are already taken care of.The petrol, once mapped, is much quicker than a mapped diesel. I used to get 32-34mpg on a steady run in mine, 26-28mpg was more normal with mixed country/town driving.
a mixed of 26-28 I would be very happy with, I was more concerned of mpg in the high teens from what I have been reading! I dont floor it everywhere as I usually have a little one in the car, but the few times I am alone I do like to test the brakes...
Did you have any issues with the gear box after the map?
amstrange1 said:
I think it's thermostat (just checked notes from my old one) rather than water pump. It's a supercharger-off job, but MRC can do it fast (and therefore comparatively good value). The water pipe that breaks is a plastic one at the front of the engine.
The petrol, once mapped, is much quicker than a mapped diesel. I used to get 32-34mpg on a steady run in mine, 26-28mpg was more normal with mixed country/town driving.
Also, did yours have the chain rattle on cold start up until the oil pressure caught up?The petrol, once mapped, is much quicker than a mapped diesel. I used to get 32-34mpg on a steady run in mine, 26-28mpg was more normal with mixed country/town driving.
This one does, but I have read that its not an issue to be concerned about, it sounds worse than it is?
Ah yes, exhaust flexis are another one - good if that's been done, my local garage fixed mine for about £120 per side.
Gearbox was fine, the ZF Lifeguard fluid for it is expensive, so check that it's been changed on time and that you've got some confidence they used the right oil/fluid. There are variants of the 6HP transmission that are used in higher torque applications, so I wasn't unduly worried.
Mine had a small chain rattle on really cold days, but quietened down very quickly after starting - so I'd only be worried if it takes several seconds to quieten down.
The engines are very tough being a detuned S4 lump, but have a larger cooling pack than the S4 - so MRC said they typically make a bit more power than a remapped S4 as a result. They're a heavy old tank, so will be hard on tyres and brakes, but if you treat them as a comfy family barge with great overtaking poke on demand then they're great. Deffo not a get up at 5am on a Sunday to go for a drive type car though!
If you're buying a mapped one, make sure they've mapped the gearbox too and not just the engine.
Gearbox was fine, the ZF Lifeguard fluid for it is expensive, so check that it's been changed on time and that you've got some confidence they used the right oil/fluid. There are variants of the 6HP transmission that are used in higher torque applications, so I wasn't unduly worried.
Mine had a small chain rattle on really cold days, but quietened down very quickly after starting - so I'd only be worried if it takes several seconds to quieten down.
The engines are very tough being a detuned S4 lump, but have a larger cooling pack than the S4 - so MRC said they typically make a bit more power than a remapped S4 as a result. They're a heavy old tank, so will be hard on tyres and brakes, but if you treat them as a comfy family barge with great overtaking poke on demand then they're great. Deffo not a get up at 5am on a Sunday to go for a drive type car though!
If you're buying a mapped one, make sure they've mapped the gearbox too and not just the engine.
The petrol version won't be any more fun but it'll have an enjoyable engine note.
I think I'd buy one of these rather than the A6 space wise there's not a lot in it.
VXR Insignia
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107084...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110299...
That A6 is rare though.
I think I'd buy one of these rather than the A6 space wise there's not a lot in it.
VXR Insignia
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107084...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110299...
That A6 is rare though.
I went for an A6 Avant over other brands as I wanted the 4wd capability, size and I preferred the badge over the VXR.
I bought a V6 diesel and while I had considered the petrol, a few things put me off:
1. my mechanic suggested avoiding any Audi V6 petrol - of course make of this what you will.
2. there were (are?) barely any petrol versions around.
3. the A6 is massive and very much not a drivers car. A 400hp petrol would be hilarious but also frustrating.
Reliability wise it has been fine. It’s a bit scruffy but I knew that as I bought cheap.
Good luck with whatever you choose 👍
I bought a V6 diesel and while I had considered the petrol, a few things put me off:
1. my mechanic suggested avoiding any Audi V6 petrol - of course make of this what you will.
2. there were (are?) barely any petrol versions around.
3. the A6 is massive and very much not a drivers car. A 400hp petrol would be hilarious but also frustrating.
Reliability wise it has been fine. It’s a bit scruffy but I knew that as I bought cheap.
Good luck with whatever you choose 👍
A 9 mile commute in a diesel?
MPG is going to be rubbish and you are asking for DPF trouble.
Could be lucky, get one which had done decent mileage and the DPF is fine.....you do short journeys for a few years which buggers the DPF and then sell it, later to become an issue for the next owner.....or the previous owner may have done short journeys already, DPF is on its way out and you then take it over the edge.
Get the petrol
MPG is going to be rubbish and you are asking for DPF trouble.
Could be lucky, get one which had done decent mileage and the DPF is fine.....you do short journeys for a few years which buggers the DPF and then sell it, later to become an issue for the next owner.....or the previous owner may have done short journeys already, DPF is on its way out and you then take it over the edge.
Get the petrol
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