Re: A6 quattro

[oleg@veritas.com (Oleg Kiselev)]

>Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 20:57:02 +0800
>From: "Peter Lander" <peterl@courtland.com.au>
>Subject: A6 Quattro
>
>I am about to to purchase an A6 (2.8 V6) or A4 (2.8 V6) quattro.
>
>Any feedback from A6 owners (positive or negative) will be appreciated.
>
>I am comparing the A6 against a BMW 528i  and the A4 against the new 328i.
>Of specific interest will be any comments from owners of either a BMW or A4
>owner who have 'upsized' to an A6.
>
>In Oz (Australia) the A4 is fully spec'd refer
>http://www.audi.com.au/models/a4_28.htm
>the A6 sepcs are http://www.audi.com.au/models/a6_24q28q.htm
>
>My instincts are for the A4 although my family responsiblities (1W, 2K) say
>the A6.
>
>Regards
>
>
>
>Peter Lander
>Courtland Business Systems
>peterl@courtland.com.au

we have a '98 a6q.  we have driven a4q on several occasions.

first, the price.  a fully loaded a4q is only us$5k or so cheaper than a6q.
the difference between 328i and 528i is a bit larger, as i recall.

second, the ride.  bwm 540i is an absolute joy to drive and i have not
driven the a8 so i don't know if it is better or worse, but you are looking
at 528, not 540.  528 is a little more gutless than a6, its automatic 
transmission is nowhere nearly as smooth as the a6, but it accelerates
better at lower speeds.  at higher speeds they are about equivalent,
although i prefer the a6's responsiveness.  on wet roads, which we have
had plenty this year from last november to just about 3 weeks ago, i would
trust a6q much more than 528i.

328i with stick is not as comfortable or effortless to drive as a4q and on
a wet road i would take a4 over 328i.  a4 is a fun car to drive.  328i is 
only good, not superb like the 5-series.

caveat: i have carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists.  this narrows my
choice of cars to what i can drive.  audi's soft, smooth steering is much
easier for me than bmw's stiff wheel.  also, bmw shifted with a lot more
resistance, especially the 1-2-3 gears.  audi shifter was like a hot knife
through butter -- effortless.  i can't drive a bmw, but i can drive an
audi.

the interior and exterior appearances.  a4 is clean and reasonable.  328i
looks a bit cheap on the inside.  both 528i and a6 are "near luxury", but
a6 has better ergonomics, while 528 has more comfortable seats.  from the
outside, i think the 5-series are the most attractive looking cars on the
road today, while a6, when it's clean (and ours needs a wash), looks
definitely distinguished and appealing, but it's not as pretty as bmw.

there are a number of little things about the a6 that are easy to get used
to that don't show up on cheaper cars.  all controlls are one-touch -- all
windows and the moon-roof have pinch-detection.  the remote-keyed memory
seat for the driver.  4 way power lumbar adjustment (but that's not on
memory).  individual map lights (something lexus rx300 we looked at last
week did not have!) both in front and in the back seat.  a separate dome
light for the rear seats that is recessed and not likely to blind the 
the driver in the rearview mirror.  "puddle" lights on the doors.  the
rightside mirror that tilts down when the car is in reverse.  the dome
light fades in and out.  the red glow over the center console at
night.  the red glow around every important handle or knob.  the red
dash illumination.

on the other hand, i don't like the cruise control position, the cup
holders are a bit hokey, there are no day-time running lights, and i think
placing the cd changer behind a panel in the trunk is idiotic -- lexus has
it in the glove compartment and some us cars have it in the center console.
either is better and more convenient.

reliability: a friend of ours bought his 528i a couple of months before we
bought the a6.  in the past 8 months / 10k miles i've had the car it's
been in the shop 6 times and is due for more fixing of little things that
break (and replacement of a rear fuel pump -- apparently the annoying whine
we have heard only twice is the noise the pump makes when it ceises up).
my friend's bmw was in the shop only for the oil change -- nothing else
broke.


-- 
Oleg Kiselev                                        oleg at veritas dot com
VERITAS Software
(650)335-8586