New A6 Avant ...

[Jon Linkov]

I'm currently driving an A6 3.2 sedan. Like others have said, the 255 hp
sounds low on paper, but does a good job of moving the car. With regular
gas, 95-degree heat, and the A/C on, 80 mph comes up pretty quickly and
easily. Sure the turbo-avant crowd may find it slower, but no lag is a nice
thing.

Initial throttle tip-in is slow and almost restrictive, like it doesn't want
to get moving. The sedan is typical new Audi, but I find MMI pretty
dumb...it takes too many toggles/rotates/pushes to do simple tasks (like
change bands on the radio!).

I find the interior of the 3.2 a bit disappointing. It's nice...but not a
standout in the class. They still use that cheap headliner, the same one in
the A4 and (now) the A3. For a $50k car the interior is pretty blah, and
some of the chrome-like trim around the vents and dash doesn't fit well.
Well made mostly, but the class (particularly Infiniti and Lexus) have
REALLY caught up.

It's a nice ride, not floaty, firm...enjoyable. As for wagon/avants, you're
pretty much left to choose BMW, Audi, or M-B in that $$ range. Legacy wagon
doesn't compete, and the other Asians don't do wagons...

My $.02
Jon


> On 8/2/05 10:41 AM, " urq" <urq at pacbell.net> wrote:


> From my POV this is the first Audi Avant I would consider a replacement for
> my T44 Avant.  The roofline tapers down toward the rear of the car ... kinda
> reminds me of the Dodge Magnum a bit.  The liftgate is reminscent of the T44
> ... too bad it isn't like the Magnum in this regard ... It would be nice if
> it gave a bit more clearance.  I also wish that the car had a larger
> sunroof.  I think I'll take a test drive when I have time ... I'd love to be
> able to see how that direct injection (SEFI) engine runs ... the numbers are
> better than my 3.6liter V8s.  I only wish that I had the option of a manual
> tranny ...
> 
> As I was leaving the show room I noticed the RS6 that I had blazed past when
> I had entered ...
> 
> Steve B
> San Jose, CA (USA)