A6 3.0TDi S-line vs. A8 3.0TDi???

[Jeux]

So, given a late 05/early 06 model of each, and that they seem to be around the same price level at the moment, pros and cons of each?

size wise there doesnt seem to be much in it, A8 a little longer and wider, but not such am amount as I would have expected.

MPG, very similar, maybe 3 or 4 difference in favour of the A6.

toys? well, all depends on the individual car, but the A8 has a few more as standard it would seem.

depreciation? I would have thught the A6 would hold up a little better, but will putting 60k miles + 3 years on each have a bigger effect on one over the other?

I keep switching from one to the other in the decision process, so which would you choose and why? ...nice dilema to have though...

S.

[ukdennis]

Don't know if the A6 has adjustable air suspension, but the A8 does. I have my A8 on "dynamic" most of the time but it's nice to put it in "comfort" when ferrying around adult back seat passengers, and "lift" is very useful on potholed/rough ground occasionally.

[Dr G]

Air suspension on an A6 is a very rare options - personally I'd take the A8.

[blueg33]

I bought new and went for the A6 which feels big enough as it is. The A8 was just too big for Mrs BlueG33 to be prepared to park in Cheltenham (the A6 is bad enough) A6 can have a more sporting feel, A8 is definately a Limo.

[ukdennis]

With Quattro all wheel drive, a relatively light 3.0tdi engine up front, and wide 255/45 tyres, the A8 can be hustled through the bendy stuff pretty quickly and with very little body roll. It feels much smaller than it is when driving, and is supremely quiet and comfortable. Get one with a Bose sound system - simply awesome! And with standard park distance control front and rear (the car that is, not the wife!), she has absolutely no difficulty parking it in multi storey carparks or any other sort of car park. Then again, she is used to driving full sized cars!

Edited by ukdennis on Thursday 25th June 14:03

[Steve081974]

Much as Audi are in my GRRRRR book at the moment, I have to say the A6 3.0 TDi S Line is a great car. While I do like the A8 I would take the A6 in preference - I suspect it must be lighter with all the associated benefits that brings, it certainly has more than enough room inside, and it drives and handles more like a Golf GTi than my A3 'Sport' manages. I wonder about things like air suspension... I'm not sure I need that in my life, and I definitely don't need it raiding my bank account if it decides to go wonky.

I also think the A6 shape is surprisingly attractive - from a distance it's unremarkable, but the more you look the more pleasing it becomes - and it has a friendly if slightly forlorn face! The A8 is a bit of a lump in comparison... no offense to those who voted for it, I'm sure it's a lump with a lovely personality...!

Oh by the way, recommend you buy the 'Le Mans' spec A6 - sexy wheels, a few worthwhile bits and bobs - nothing too spectacular but if I bought without every time I saw one with, I'd be ever so slightly irritated!

S.

Edited by Steve081974 on Thursday 25th June 16:22

[blueg33]

ukdennis said:

With Quattro all wheel drive, a relatively light 3.0tdi engine up front, and wide 255/45 tyres, the A8 can be hustled through the bendy stuff pretty quickly and with very little body roll. It feels much smaller than it is when driving, and is supremely quiet and comfortable. Get one with a Bose sound system - simply awesome! And with standard park distance control front and rear (the car that is, not the wife!), she has absolutely no difficulty parking it in multi storey carparks or any other sort of car park. Then again, she is used to driving full sized cars!

Edited by ukdennis on Thursday 25th June 14:03

A6 is lighter, mine has 255/35 tyres quattro and very little body roll too, but it is undoubtedly more nimble than the A8, and unless your are on the motorway it is slightly less limo like in terms of ride

[EC2]

The weight difference is about 50kg which none of us would notice in an 1800kg car.

Anyway, the key thing is that you buy what you like. The A6 is plenty big enough but I feel that the A8 looks a lot better than the A6 saloon. Others disagree but cars do that!

The A8 is being replaced at the end of this year whereas the A6 is about two years away from the new model FWIW.

[Dilligaf10]

Having had both an A6 and now and A8L in 3.0TDi mode (both SE spec) I would not go back to the A6 and not just for business reasons. The A8 is streets ahead in ride, handling, comfort and spec. I find it handles much better than my A6.

The A8 feels smaller when hustling on, has a definite wow factor with all my clients and the mpg difference is negligible. Comes as standard with a very high spec and agree on comments about the air suspension, comfort setting with passengers on board, dynamic when the devil is on board!!

Go for the A8 and you won't regret it.

[ukdennis]

Drive both and buy the one that appeals. Whatever you do, get it remapped (the "fast road" map at ChippedUK, now part of Viezu). Keep an eye out for "rolling road days" via one of their agents (Chip'n'Spin) where you'll get the remap plus "before" and "after" dyno runs at a considerable discount off normal list price. The most impressive part of this very moderate remap is that torque is significantly increased, but more importantly the torque plateau now persists well past 4000rpm whereas stock it drops very quickly after 3300rpm. You'll feel this very clearly on a fast "A road" overtake.

Edited by ukdennis on Thursday 25th June 19:18