Audi S6 Avant
 

Any of you have experience with these? Will be selling the X5 soon. Considering a CPOd 540iT or S6 and possibly even 05/06 4.4i X, etc as a replacement. No one in my family really digs the E60, esp the interior. There really aren't many S6s around to test drive, so I'd like to know whether this would be a vehicle woth considering before looking for one to take a spin in.

I drove one before getting the X5, I did not like the way it drove.

The suppression is soft and therefore the car would noise dive when stopping.

The 3 wagon would be my first choice if it is big enough.

I guess you are considering an 02/03 S6 Avant (C5)? I believe those are the only years that car was imported to the states. I have an 03 S6 and they are monsters! All whee drive, 340hp (factory), sport seats, alcantara headliner, and very tuneable. Also, they hold their value.........

The older Audi A6s aren't good at reliablity. The 540iT is probably less of a headache and more fun to drive.

My bad missed the S6 part, sorry.

Yea, 03 S6 would be what we'd look at. Too bad they weren't offered in 04 05 etc. I've driven an S4 before and it was a blast! This must be that much better. There really aren't many for sale, and basically non with nav. How's reliability been for you?

Vin: The only problem I have had is recently I had the windshield replaced, and it wasn't sealed properly, so I had started getting water leaking into the cabin.......problem solved! I do have navi., but it is basically distance to turn and arrows showing where to turn and its on the center cluster. AzNMpower32: Fun to drive? I will eat 540s lunch and I am all-wheel drive! I don't know about A6s since I am not owning one.......

Hey Vin - I can kinda sorta help out...I had a 2004 B6 S4 (V8 6sp) and a 2001 A6 2.7T (V6TT 6sp) and drove a friend's 2002 S6 from time to time, so between the three I might be able to give some decent feedback.

Highs - AWESOME V8 sound/power/driveability/response/durability. Amazing amount of space with A6 Avant chassis, including loads of passenger space for four. Best smelling leather this side of a Bentley. Gorgeous interior design and layout. Best switchgear operation in the biz. Beautiful exterior architecture (easily enhanced with RS6 wheels). Luxuriously equipped. Much better space utilization (and more of it) than E39 Touring. Quattro is simply hard to beat if your drive includes non-OC weather. It eats snow and ice for lunch.

Lows - Audi dealers in general (mine was terrific, but he was the rare one). Some A6s suffer from quality issues, but in terms of the V8 drivetrain, it's pretty much bulletproof (some of the V6 TTs have issues...expensive ones at that, although in my experience both our twin-turbo V6s - the 2000 B5 S4 and the A6 - were solid). Some people complained about the Bose audio. It wasn't as good as the one in the B5 S4, which was excellent, IMO, but it was still pretty darn good. Handling best described as "wooden" and is as entertaining as mid-level Soviet bureaucrats. Not much fun at the limit with lots of understeer.

The only problems I had with my 2001 A6 2.7T were under-designed brake rotors (I had the HP2 units that were supposed to be the high-performance units, but replaced rotors approximately every 9 months). I also had an HVAC unit replaced. All under warranty. You might find Nav, but it's not the tres cool Audi NavPlus. It's the 1st gen Nav system with the knob and buttons on the center console and the arrows/directions in the IP. It works, but it ain't pretty.

Hope this helps. Overall, it's a very good car with pure luxury and semi-serious sporting aspirations. The E39 540iT would be more of a road car, to be sure, but would have less space and arguably lesser aesthetic appeal. Tough call. I love 'em both!

Mike

Great info fellas! I know it's anti-BMW philosophically, but a 540ixT would've been perfect.

Mike, do you know how the non-power/drivetrain reliability with your bud's S6 was? VW/Audi-electrical in general tends to scare me. As far as the ride in concerned, is it comparable to the S4? Thanks a bunch.

Vin - The ride might have been a tad softer than our B6 S4, as I recall, but I've never ridden in ANY Audi of recent build that didn't have perfectly refined ride manners. I have a friend who has a Fly Yellow RS6 (it's hideous and hilarious and makes a real statement, but hey, you only go through once). Even with 19" wheels it rode very nicely with no harshness.

In terms of the 340hp corporate VAG V8, it's a very reliable piece, as is the Tip transmission. The service manager where I dealt told me it was among VAG's most reliable and dependable units. Granted, I was asking about the A6 4.2 (300hp at that time) and not the S6, but this engine is not really stressed even at 340hp. Check out www.audiworld.com for a wealth of knowledge, and good luck!

Mike