Discussion
Others who own these will be able to comment more intelligently, but I've spent several weeks with one as a loan car and personally I think the A6 3.0 TDi quattro is one of the best cars in Audi's range - I love them. Excellent performance, good economy, strong and trouble-free transmission (unlike 2WD multiparp Audis), very difficult to find fault with anything to be honest. The car I've been using is a Le Mans spec and I would recommend it - looks fantastic and comes with everything you need, including a decent enough ride and surprisingly good handling. I guess a regular S-Line is similar, but I suspect the SE spec may be a bit more barge-like from a handling perspective - never tried one though so suggest you drive both specs and see what suits you best.
Only slight issue for me is that they are very large cars, and fitting it in my garage requires greater garage tidying and organisation than I could be bothered with so it had to live outside. If you intend to garage the car do make sure it fits before you buy!
S.
Only slight issue for me is that they are very large cars, and fitting it in my garage requires greater garage tidying and organisation than I could be bothered with so it had to live outside. If you intend to garage the car do make sure it fits before you buy!
S.
Edited by Steve081974 on Friday 25th September 12:27
Had an A6 3.0TDi before changing to an A8L with same engine. The engine is so smooth with excellent power delivery, gearbox is smooth and easy. Cracking car which I only changed as I needed even more space inside (see profile) although strangely the boot is a bit smaller.
Good economy and superb handling, even on SE spec. Gives so much confidence in the wet. Make sure you get the sat nav though as it affects resale value badly. If you are getting one from a main stealer haggle and get the 2009 update disc and save yourself £150.00.
Good economy and superb handling, even on SE spec. Gives so much confidence in the wet. Make sure you get the sat nav though as it affects resale value badly. If you are getting one from a main stealer haggle and get the 2009 update disc and save yourself £150.00.
That was also my budget 3 months ago and in the end I got a fully loaded 2.7Tdi Quattro Tip (Phantom Black, 19s, full leather, sat nav, Bose, 6cd, DAB, heated seats, etc, etc) on a 55 plate. The same money would only get me a very high mileage poverty spec 3.0. If I have mine remapped, it will be 3.0 power but I don't need more power than the 2.7 has.
I would think you may struggle to find much choice in 3.0s at £15k but good luck in your search, they are great cars.
I would think you may struggle to find much choice in 3.0s at £15k but good luck in your search, they are great cars.
Some of my thoughts are on the other thread, but in brief:
I bought an A6 3.0tdi SE, saloon, (55 plate) last year with 30k on it. Have since put 25k on it, including a 5600km in Europe over the last few weeks. I test drove the 330d, 330i, 535d, an A4 Avant 3.0tdi , A5 3.0tdi in comparison. I don't regret buying it at all. The A5 is as good (if not a bit better), but in the used market the price was too high for the same spec.
I found the BMW good, and rewarding, very involved drive, but just too hard in Msport spec on UK roads, and a bit tiring to drive - almost edgy at times. Very competent and probably the better car in the dry. Where I live the roads get bad in the winter, and I like runs to the Alps. Experience of BMWs in the snow have not been positive, even with snow tyres!
Overall I think the A6 is the best overall cruising saloon on the market, close by the A6/A8, 535d and Lexus 450h.
Performance/drive
Very good. I prefer the SE on 17" wheels in the UK and for long hauls. If I lived in France/Germany/Switzerland, or in a county with good roads, I would go for the S-line on 18s or 19s. For big mileage, I think the SE is a better balance, with sports seats if you can.
It's quiet, very well behaved and will eat continents for brekky. 700 miles in a day without problems.
It's very, very sure footed in all conditions and can be pushed, handles well for a big car. Rewarding for a tank.
I get around 36mpg on a loaded long run, including mountains. 42mpg on UK motorways. 32-33 around town.
Can be mapped (I haven't yet but will once it is out of warranty) to 280hp.
Extras
BOSE: good, but I wouldn't pay much extra for it
Bluetooth phone: must have if you ever talk in the car...
Satnav: must have. Some minor annoyances, like the inability to add custom POIs and downloadable routes, but only minor. Its accurate, fast and a good display.
Interface. Have tried both iDrive and Audi MMI, both have their pros and cons. I prefer the Audi for simplicity, but the iDrive with shortcut buttons is supposed to be easier these days.
Seats, etc, wish I had memory seats. But the leather is good, and finish very high quality.
Keyless entry: nice gimmick (don't have)
Air suspension: fantastic, wish I could have found a UK car with it on, and at a price I could have afforded
Costs
Still under warranty, but servicing and consumables are typical German prices. Dealers sometimes quote different prices and some haggling is possible. 18000 miles interval. So far have over 25k from the tyres with between 5-10k left on them.
Dealer
Some good, some bad. My local one in North Yorks is part of a bigger group and have been excellent, really gone out of their way, from finding me an office to work in whilst I waited for brakepads, to servicing under the cost they quoted as some things weren't due....
PM me if you want any more info.
I bought an A6 3.0tdi SE, saloon, (55 plate) last year with 30k on it. Have since put 25k on it, including a 5600km in Europe over the last few weeks. I test drove the 330d, 330i, 535d, an A4 Avant 3.0tdi , A5 3.0tdi in comparison. I don't regret buying it at all. The A5 is as good (if not a bit better), but in the used market the price was too high for the same spec.
I found the BMW good, and rewarding, very involved drive, but just too hard in Msport spec on UK roads, and a bit tiring to drive - almost edgy at times. Very competent and probably the better car in the dry. Where I live the roads get bad in the winter, and I like runs to the Alps. Experience of BMWs in the snow have not been positive, even with snow tyres!
Overall I think the A6 is the best overall cruising saloon on the market, close by the A6/A8, 535d and Lexus 450h.
Performance/drive
Very good. I prefer the SE on 17" wheels in the UK and for long hauls. If I lived in France/Germany/Switzerland, or in a county with good roads, I would go for the S-line on 18s or 19s. For big mileage, I think the SE is a better balance, with sports seats if you can.
It's quiet, very well behaved and will eat continents for brekky. 700 miles in a day without problems.
It's very, very sure footed in all conditions and can be pushed, handles well for a big car. Rewarding for a tank.
I get around 36mpg on a loaded long run, including mountains. 42mpg on UK motorways. 32-33 around town.
Can be mapped (I haven't yet but will once it is out of warranty) to 280hp.
Extras
BOSE: good, but I wouldn't pay much extra for it
Bluetooth phone: must have if you ever talk in the car...
Satnav: must have. Some minor annoyances, like the inability to add custom POIs and downloadable routes, but only minor. Its accurate, fast and a good display.
Interface. Have tried both iDrive and Audi MMI, both have their pros and cons. I prefer the Audi for simplicity, but the iDrive with shortcut buttons is supposed to be easier these days.
Seats, etc, wish I had memory seats. But the leather is good, and finish very high quality.
Keyless entry: nice gimmick (don't have)
Air suspension: fantastic, wish I could have found a UK car with it on, and at a price I could have afforded
Costs
Still under warranty, but servicing and consumables are typical German prices. Dealers sometimes quote different prices and some haggling is possible. 18000 miles interval. So far have over 25k from the tyres with between 5-10k left on them.
Dealer
Some good, some bad. My local one in North Yorks is part of a bigger group and have been excellent, really gone out of their way, from finding me an office to work in whilst I waited for brakepads, to servicing under the cost they quoted as some things weren't due....
PM me if you want any more info.
I have an A6 LeMans 3.0tdi. Great Car. I am going to replace it with another soon so will be selling, may be a little over the budget you quoted.
I would echo everyones comments above. If you like a more limosine type ride I would suggest an SE with air suspension. Some people find the s-line suspension a bit firm, personally I think its great.
If you buy a quattro, make sure that the tyres all match, its important to save wear and tear on the drive train. Also if it has bluetooth phone ensure that it has had the software update from 2008/9 as it works better after that! It was a recall, so the dealer should have done it.
Daytona is good colour! Slightly biased!
I would echo everyones comments above. If you like a more limosine type ride I would suggest an SE with air suspension. Some people find the s-line suspension a bit firm, personally I think its great.
If you buy a quattro, make sure that the tyres all match, its important to save wear and tear on the drive train. Also if it has bluetooth phone ensure that it has had the software update from 2008/9 as it works better after that! It was a recall, so the dealer should have done it.
Daytona is good colour! Slightly biased!
Jack_and_MLE said:
How much difference is there between the 2.7 and 3.0 TDI whiles driving
Is there a huge amount of difference of torque between the two?
The 2.7tdi came in auto and manual. Is there a huge amount of difference of torque between the two?
I believe is is an older engine, and the auto is a Multitronic (which people have had mixed experiences with), rather than a Classic Auto that is in the 3.0tdi (which only comes in auto). The 2.7 is down on power (189hp I think vs 225/230hp) and isn't much more efficient (if at all). Have heard very mixed experiences about them, unless you really want a manual.
Also, I think the 2.7 had quattro as an option?
plg101 said:
Jack_and_MLE said:
How much difference is there between the 2.7 and 3.0 TDI whiles driving
Is there a huge amount of difference of torque between the two?
The 2.7tdi came in auto and manual. Is there a huge amount of difference of torque between the two?
I believe is is an older engine, and the auto is a Multitronic (which people have had mixed experiences with), rather than a Classic Auto that is in the 3.0tdi (which only comes in auto). The 2.7 is down on power (189hp I think vs 225/230hp) and isn't much more efficient (if at all). Have heard very mixed experiences about them, unless you really want a manual.
Also, I think the 2.7 had quattro as an option?
Jack_and_MLE said:
Hi
I'm thinking changing my car for an A6 auto 3.0ltr TDI budget maxi £15K.
What can go wrong with those car? gearbox, engine, body?
What are the option to look out for?
Cheers
Jack
Sorry I wrote a car review instead of answering your questionsI'm thinking changing my car for an A6 auto 3.0ltr TDI budget maxi £15K.
What can go wrong with those car? gearbox, engine, body?
What are the option to look out for?
Cheers
Jack
What can go wrong with those car? gearbox, engine, body?
3.0tdi very reliable. Gearbox is a true auto (better than multitronic), body very sound though it's only been in 3.0tdi guide since 2005(?)
Engine will take take big mileage, 18k service interval. Gearbox apparently okay, have heard of faults >150k but then most cars do at that mileage.
What are the option to look out for?
Leather, parking sensors (especially rear though fronts are handy as the bonnet is so long and slopes quickly at the end), satnav, bluetooth if you want the phone. BOSE if you like your music. AMI interface if you want ipod connection (can be retrofitted for about £400.
Haggle areas with Audi: servicing package if you plan big mileage, sometimes they run 2yrs warranty offer which is from Audi UK so no profit loss to the dealer.
You can get some upgrades retrospectively if you find an ideal car at mileage, etc but it's missing something:
http://www.tclsatnav.com/index_003.htm
Jack_and_MLE said:
How much difference is there between the 2.7 and 3.0 TDI whiles driving
Is there a huge amount of difference of torque between the two?
I think most 2.7s are front wheel drive. I've spent a week or so with one of those too (also in Le Mans spec), and to be honest it was a very pale immitation of the 3.0 quattro. The traction of the quattro makes a big difference to balance and drivability, and the 2wd comes with multitronic gearbox rather than conventional torque converter auto with the quattro, and it's a dog of a thing - insanely slow to pick up from stand-still to the point where I would say it is dangerous.Is there a huge amount of difference of torque between the two?
The 2.7 engine itself was very nice - certainly the 3.0 has more get up and go but it didn't seem to be underpowered and it was very smooth - just completely hamstrung by a useless gearbox. I'm not aware of any problems with the 2.7 - I know the 2.5 is regarded as troubled, but to my knowledge those problems are isolated to that one engine.
So... if I was shopping I'd definitely seek out a 3.0 (in Le Mans trim - in fact I'd make Blue an offer if I could - his is the perfect spec for me). I would completely disregard a 2.7 2 wheel drive auto, but if the money was right I suspect a 2.7 quattro would be pleasant enough too if outright pace is not a big priority - it will still nip along.
I think that a pretty fair assessment Steve.
I bought my 2.7 Quattro not knowing of the problems with the 2WD multitronic gearboxes and consider myself very lucky reading some of the posts about this box. If the budget stretches to it, a fully loaded 3.0 is an amazing car. If it does stretch that far, I really don't think you will be disappointed with a 2.7 Q.
Setting cruise control at 80mph on the 2.7 returns 39-40mpg and I get an overall average (its mostly town driving and me not being frugal) of 33mpg.
I bought my 2.7 Quattro not knowing of the problems with the 2WD multitronic gearboxes and consider myself very lucky reading some of the posts about this box. If the budget stretches to it, a fully loaded 3.0 is an amazing car. If it does stretch that far, I really don't think you will be disappointed with a 2.7 Q.
Setting cruise control at 80mph on the 2.7 returns 39-40mpg and I get an overall average (its mostly town driving and me not being frugal) of 33mpg.
Raven Flyer said:
The premium is between 10% and 15% at the £14-£16k bracket.
A remap is £500 and a lower road fund duty
I really wouldn't map the 2.7 multitronic... the manual maybe, but I have heard of many horror stories of the multitronic.A remap is £500 and a lower road fund duty
For equal prices, I'd take a higher mileage 3.0tdi over the 2.7tdi any day.
plg101 said:
Raven Flyer said:
The premium is between 10% and 15% at the £14-£16k bracket.
A remap is £500 and a lower road fund duty
I really wouldn't map the 2.7 multitronic... the manual maybe, but I have heard of many horror stories of the multitronic.A remap is £500 and a lower road fund duty
For equal prices, I'd take a higher mileage 3.0tdi over the 2.7tdi any day.
Edited by blueg33 on Monday 28th September 15:29
blueg33 said:
plg101 said:
Raven Flyer said:
The premium is between 10% and 15% at the £14-£16k bracket.
A remap is £500 and a lower road fund duty
I really wouldn't map the 2.7 multitronic... the manual maybe, but I have heard of many horror stories of the multitronic.A remap is £500 and a lower road fund duty
For equal prices, I'd take a higher mileage 3.0tdi over the 2.7tdi any day.
Edited by blueg33 on Monday 28th September 15:29
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