Picture Gallery: 2009 Audi A6 3.0T | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
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There is nothing wrong with wanting a vehicle that does more than get you from A to B. If there was, then we’d have nothing more than econobox tin cans circling our neighbourhoods. The Audi A6 is for those with a taste for luxury and style and the 3.0T model like my tester adds a little hint of spice.
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The $80,000 model would be a 4.2-litre V8 quattro sedan, while my tester is a 3.0T quattro sedan “Premium” edition with added navigation and S-Line Sport packages.
The Navigation package is self explanatory, while the S-Line Sport package contains: 19-inch wheels with performance 255/35/19 tires, S-Line three-spoke steering wheel, sport suspension, S-Line bumpers and front grille with badge, aluminum door sills with S-Line badge, rear spoiler, brushed aluminum interior trim, and a black headliner.
2009 Audi A6 3.0T Premium
MSRP as tested (including destination): $73,900
For more information on Audi and the A6 visit Audi Canada
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Normally I wouldn’t notice the number of cupholders. I don’t drink coffee, so I don’t typically carry a mug or visit the local Timmies like the rest of the lemmings on their morning commute. But today I was going out for lunch so I brought an apple with me and decided to stuff it in the cupholder and exclaimed to myself: “There is only one cupholder?”
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But I suppose this all makes sense– who in their right mind would drink in their $70,000 vehicle? You would get off the road, sit in a nice coffee shop or perhaps the local country club and have a pint. You would then have a round or two of golf then use your A6 to pick up your wife from shopping and head out to dinner. None of these uncivilized fast-food big-gulps in your Audi.
I actually feel weird going through a drive through when I have a vehicle like the A6, or heading to Wal-Mart. You usually do not see this type of vehicle at those stores. You feel a little different when you drive an A6 — it’s not just another car, it’s a lifestyle.
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One would assume the “T” in 3.0T stood for turbo, but one would be incorrect as this 3.0-litre engine is supercharged. A supercharger’s boost feels quite different that of a turbo charger. The power continuously builds and builds with a supercharged engine, rather than hitting full boost off the line. This attribute works perfectly in a vehicle like the A6, especially as you accelerate to pass or merge with highway traffic. The feeling is like that of a jet; as the revs climb the speed does as well.
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Despite the 35-series rubber, the suspension and body of the A6 do not crash and bang you around, and although you can feel the slightest ridge in the road, I expected worse from tires so low in profile. Road noise, as you would expect, is virtually nil, allowing you to cruise sans distraction, but the blind spot indicators keep you honest in case you mellow out a little too much.
The six-speed tiptronic transmission has both positive and negative traits. Drive sedately and it tends to shift a little roughly, especially between first and second gear as you stop and start at intersections. Drive with vigour, though, and this engine and transmission combo come alive with quick, smooth shifts that nearly rival Audi’s own DSG gearbox.
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Fuel mileage wasn’t stellar but I wasn’t expecting it to be; it was actually not horrible for a vehicle of this size and power. My A6 tester averaged 12.5L/100km over the course of the week — an interesting tidbit: the A6’s fuel tank is enormous, at 80 litres!
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2009 Audi A6 3.0T Premium
MSRP as tested (including destination): $73,900
For more information on Audi and the A6 visit Audi Canada
to our site.
April 05, 2009, 01:28:48 am
Yes yes yes.
I also think Oz meant to compare DSG automatic transmissions with those with a torque converter.
Exactly, I didnt specify. I meant DSG vs. slushbox.
My car is MT and I'm a firm believer in it.
April 06, 2009, 10:26:10 am
Yesterday at 07:28:22 pm Audi doesn't need to build reliable cars, because they drive so well. They wouldn't sell an extra car even if it was more reliable than a Lexus, b/c quite frankly, Audi buyers might be offended. I'd think that they wasted resources on reliability at the expense of driving pleasure.
Just like if Lexus made their cars more fun to drive, their sales would decrease. Their buyers look forboredom and reliability as their chief goal, and that's why Lexus needs to build their cars off corolla and camry platforms (admittely those platforms are quite reliability)."
Only idiots buy unreliable vehicles for driving pleasure. How much driving pleasure can you derive from having your car in the shop for weeks at a time or being stranded in death valley in July? The only reality is if you are the kind of person who has a chauffeur driven vehicle(s) then it really doesn't matter if it's a unreliable POS because your staff will be at the dealer for repairs and you will just use another POS that hasn't broken down yet. For the rest of us we'll have our cake and eat it too. Lexus IS
An expert's take on VW reliability(from boston.com/cars):
Q. I have a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta and the computer light constantly comes on. I recently I replaced the oxygen sensor then filled up with gas and the light went out. The next day it came back on. What can I do? It can't pass inspection and every time I put it in the shop it costs more money. The car has 107,000 miles so I don't consider it worn out. What can I do?
A. At this point I would return to the shop that performed the original repair. Since they seemed to have misdiagnosed the problem, at a minimum they owe it to you to look at the car again. As they get older, Volkswagens suffer from simple items such as cracked and leaking vacuum hoses to faulty mass-air-flow sensors.
John Paul is the public affairs manager for AAA Southern New England.
April 06, 2009, 01:26:34 pm In MKIVs if the CEL isn't on.. the bulb's out... not something I'd lose sleep over.
Why can't it pass inspection?
April 06, 2009, 04:40:10 pm To all the basher's of Audi's reliability, I would say reliability is all relative.
For the Audi buyer, who usually craves driving pleasure, and wants the best-of-the-best, they only drive their Audi for a few years before switching to a newer model Audi to enjoy updated modern-day driving. As long as the Audi can last for the 3 yrs, as far as the Audi buyer is concerned, it is plenty reliable.
The Toyota/Honda buyer who wants monotony, and drive the rust-bucket to the ground, wishes their tin-on-wheels could last 30-40 years, but maybe the Toyota was only reliable for 10-15 yrs. Therefore, it's reliability as far as it's target audience is concerned, is quite dismal.
The problem is people confuse reliability with quality, but they are totally separate entities. If they were the same, we wouldn't associate quality cars with Audi/BMW/MB/Ferrari, but would associate them with the likes of Toyota and Hyundai. Thank goodness we don't.
April 06, 2009, 05:03:00 pm He's got a point though... how many luxury car owners keep their cars past the 4 year mark? Not many I presume.
April 06, 2009, 06:39:39 pm
You presume that based on what?
Jaeger
April 06, 2009, 06:44:53 pm
For the Audi buyer, who usually craves driving pleasure, and wants the best-of-the-best, they only drive their Audi for a few years before switching to a newer model Audi to enjoy updated modern-day driving. As long as the Audi can last for the 3 yrs, as far as the Audi buyer is concerned, it is plenty reliable.
The Toyota/Honda buyer who wants monotony, and drive the rust-bucket to the ground, wishes their tin-on-wheels could last 30-40 years, but maybe the Toyota was only reliable for 10-15 yrs. Therefore, it's reliability as far as it's target audience is concerned, is quite dismal.
The problem is people confuse reliability with quality, but they are totally separate entities. If they were the same, we wouldn't associate quality cars with Audi/BMW/MB/Ferrari, but would associate them with the likes of Toyota and Hyundai. Thank goodness we don't.
Audi Lover - I have a hard time viewing a car that can only be extpected to last 3 years as the "best-of-the-best".
I think the "problem" is some blowhard fanboys don't realize that you can have driving fun AND reliability. It doesn't have to be an "either / or" proposition.
C'mon - tell me again how Audi owners would be "offended" if the manufacturer made their cars more reliable. I need a good laugh, and that one just doesn't get old.
Jaeger
April 06, 2009, 07:38:06 pm This guy is pretty funny.
April 06, 2009, 09:13:02 pm
Yesterday at 07:28:22 pm Audi doesn't need to build reliable cars, because they drive so well. They wouldn't sell an extra car even if it was more reliable than a Lexus, b/c quite frankly, Audi buyers might be offended. I'd think that they wasted resources on reliability at the expense of driving pleasure.
Just like if Lexus made their cars more fun to drive, their sales would decrease. Their buyers look forboredom and reliability as their chief goal, and that's why Lexus needs to build their cars off corolla and camry platforms (admittely those platforms are quite reliability)."
Only idiots buy unreliable vehicles for driving pleasure. How much driving pleasure can you derive from having your car in the shop for weeks at a time or being stranded in death valley in July? The only reality is if you are the kind of person who has a chauffeur driven vehicle(s) then it really doesn't matter if it's a unreliable POS because your staff will be at the dealer for repairs and you will just use another POS that hasn't broken down yet. For the rest of us we'll have our cake and eat it too. Lexus IS
An expert's take on VW reliability(from boston.com/cars):
Q. I have a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta and the computer light constantly comes on. I recently I replaced the oxygen sensor then filled up with gas and the light went out. The next day it came back on. What can I do? It can't pass inspection and every time I put it in the shop it costs more money. The car has 107,000 miles so I don't consider it worn out. What can I do?
A. At this point I would return to the shop that performed the original repair. Since they seemed to have misdiagnosed the problem, at a minimum they owe it to you to look at the car again. As they get older, Volkswagens suffer from simple items such as cracked and leaking vacuum hoses to faulty mass-air-flow sensors.
John Paul is the public affairs manager for AAA Southern New England.
LOL My most recent repair was for the vacuum hose and pump, so this guy was on the money! This was my first CEL and I honestly thought my CELs would be more frequent than once in every 125000km.
April 06, 2009, 09:35:32 pm
You presume that based on what?
Jaeger
On the average luxury car owner who knows nothing about cars and changes his/her ride every 4 years.
April 07, 2009, 02:02:40 am
...in the way that A Modest Proposal was funny. I'm betting that he's an online persona created for satirical purposes.
If he's for real...that's just sad.
April 07, 2009, 08:32:06 am
You presume that based on what?
Jaeger
On the average luxury car owner who knows nothing about cars and changes his/her ride every 4 years.
That's what I'm asking - how do you how often the average luxury car owner changes his car and why do you assume 4 years? Reason I ask is that is that I know a few Lexus and MB owners that have kept their cars 7-10 years. I have no basis upon which to conclude that they represent the rule or the exception. I suppose a large percentage do in fact flip more quickly, because a large portion do lease. I'd guessing that those that buy keep them longer - though that's just a guess.
Jaeger
April 07, 2009, 11:40:54 am Actually most lease..
Those of you who own luxury cars, would you like let us know how often you change your cars? Most people I know who own 50-80k cars lease for 2-3 years so they can dump it for something new sooner...
April 11, 2009, 03:57:42 am ΠΡΠ»ΠΈΡΠ½ΡΠΉ Π±Π»ΠΎΠ³, ΠΈΠ½ΡΠ΅ΡΠ΅ΡΠ½ΠΎΠ΅ ΠΈ ΠΏΠΎΠ»Π΅Π·Π½ΠΎΠ΅ ΡΠΎΠ΄Π΅ΡΠΆΠ°Π½ΠΈΠ΅!
April 13, 2009, 05:37:08 pm I'm negotiating on a 2008 A6 Avant right now. Should be a good price, the original sticker was $80k+
April 13, 2009, 05:47:18 pm
April 13, 2009, 06:04:15 pm
Negotiating. Nothing final.
April 13, 2009, 08:12:57 pm
Negotiating. Nothing final.
Well then, negotiate harder so we can drool over your new ride!!
April 13, 2009, 08:36:42 pm
Wow. I don't think I have ever seen a A6 Avant...
April 13, 2009, 11:59:36 pm
Wow. I don't think I have ever seen a A6 Avant...
Rare for sure. At the price that Audi asks for no wonder....
April 14, 2009, 12:25:57 am But it looks amazing..
April 14, 2009, 04:25:52 pm Negotiation has ground to a halt.
April 15, 2009, 11:16:25 am
Ah crap.
Do you think you'd have better luck around August/September when they need to clear out the 09s?
April 15, 2009, 11:36:18 am
Ah crap.
Do you think you'd have better luck around August/September when they need to clear out the 09s?
Perhaps, but A6 Avants are as rare as hens teeth. The problem seems to be a common one, the 2008 had a $80 MSRP and the 2009 (with bigger better engine is $72 MSRP. The 08 comes with the discontinued air suspension (a really cool feature). Anyhow the 08 is a victim of the decrease in MSRPs.
April 17, 2009, 12:13:03 am
Don't give up yet, after a few weeks of negotiating GD got about 16 tires and a set of alloys with his car, and I think the guy mowed his lawn too!
P.S. I got a pax ride in a modified RS6 a while ago that was pushing 500bhp+. It defied physics!