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2005 Audi A6: In The Autoblog Garage Day 4
I think one tough car buying bracket to be in is this mid-level luxury one that the Audi A6 finds itself in. On the one hand you have all the cars on the same stratus like the BMW 5 Series and Acura RL. You couldn't really go wrong with all three of them. Then you'd also have to think you could save a lot of money and still feel very well taken care of in the BMW 3 Series, Acura TL and Audi A4. Then you could probably get a new Pontiac Solstice for the weekends.
Lets just say for arguments sake you have to spend the money on one of the same tier cars though. If you want the smoothest ride possible you go for the Acura RL. If you want even more authentic German handling and steering go for the BMW. If you want to be somewhere in the middle the A6 is just the ride. Me? Im a conservative. Id save a few grand and go with the Acura, which after a short test-drive I found plenty fast, great AWD and very plush inside. But the A6s interior is definitely a cut above and I really think their MMI system is the best one going compared to iDrive and Acuras, which I dont think has a name, its just a big dial in the middle of the dash.
There are so many nice features here like the power folding side mirrors (a must for city
parking), heated seats and steering wheel and amazing Bose stereo that add a lot of comfort and utility. But I think
the strong looks of the car, especially in this color combination, are a major factor in swaying buyers. Some might
hate it but it doesnt leave anyone lukewarm. In person the A6 is a striking vehicle with a long hood and beefy stance.
Very masculine, very German.
Basically the only thing I wasnt thrilled with was the performance. The ride was just too rough for a car like this. Maybe if I was in an S6 it would be worth it. Handling and highway speeds were terrific and the car is maneuverable in any parking lot. But overall I was left wanting something more for the price tag. I think if I had tested the 3.2-liter at $10K less I wouldnt have as high a standard. You at least get the looks and the entire Audi package if not the extra 80 horsepower.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
K 10:58PM (12/18/2005)
I drive an Audi and was eagerly awaiting this new A6.
The previous A6 2.8 was a very good car when it came out. Audi's first real challenger in that segment. I test drove it against the BMW 530 and the Mercedes E320. It was a fresh new vehicle with AWD standard and an interior that set new standards. With that model the ride was a bit stiff, the colour options severely lacking and the seats uncomfortable. But you could easily forgive them because its their first real entry in that class.
But that was 6 years ago.
I looked at the new A6 in December.
The looks are striking, I like it in person.
The interior is still good, but not as high a standard when compared with competitors. Honestly I am very disappointed because It Still Looks The Same. If I buy this A6 it looks just like my current car except for the MMI knob and the LCD screen.
However what turned me severely off was the ride. It is bland stiff Audi. Very similar to the older A6. Its a German car, but not nearly as engaging as the BMW, and not as comfortable as the Acura or Lexus. The seats are almost identical to the older A6.
For me this is the parts of the A6 I expected Audi to improve. The new 5 Series does drive better than the older 5 series. And I believe the older 5 series drives considerably better than the new A6. The new Acura drives considerably better than the older model, and the interior feels very comfortable.
The brochure and marketing material from Audi speaks of many percentages of improvement in body rigidness and suspension over the previous model. Unfortunately none of those figures show in the end product.
Overall disappointing experience when you get to drive such a good looking car, which finally has usable navigation.
Reply
David Thomas 10:58PM (12/18/2005)
K,
So you agree with my review? wow that's almost dead on!
Dave
Reply
K 10:58PM (12/18/2005)
On pricing.
Recently the Product/Brand manager for Audi North America was asked in an online chat on audiusa.com about whether he would choose a fully loaded A6 3.2 or a base A6 4.2. He quickly responded a fully loaded A6 3.2 because of the $ 10 000 difference.
An A6 3.2 with Navigation and Premium Package (sunroof and premium sound) comes to $48 120.
An A6 4.2 comes standard with Premium and Convenience packages, so adding the option of Navigation brings you to $52 720.
So the diffrence in similar configured models is less than $4600. Plus the 4.2 comes standard with 17" wheels as opposed to the 16" wheels on the 3.2.
Reply