Advice on Audi S6 Suspension...........

[sidicks]

As an alternative to a B7 RS4, I'm also considering a nearly new S6 (in either Saloon or Avant form), as they do seem to offer a tremendous amount of car for the money.

The biggest issues I've heard about are:

1) Suspension

2) Fuel Economy

3) Depreciation

Fuel Economy won't be a problem, as the car isn't likely to be doing that many miles (maybe 7,000 a year) and hopefully by buying a car which is a year or so old, I'll avoid the biggest hit in value. It's the suspension issues that worry me. Obviously I will have a test drive first, but can anyone provide any insight into whether a) the suspension is different on later cars (i.e.did Audi make some changes to improve things) and b) are the issues the same on both the Avant and Saloon versions?

Coming from a Porsche 911 C4S, which I often drive with the Sports suspension turned 'on', I'm not sure that a stiff ride would bother me too much - can it really be that bad?!

Sidicks

[Golfer]

It's a nose heavy dog on the twisty stuff,loads of overstear, nothing was done to remedy this, fuel economy is very poor if pushing on, pottering 24/25MPG, depreciation horrendous, and NOT mileage specific either, leave it, it won't resell.

In this climate with £5+ per gallon for ever more, it would a bad move buying one IMO.

[Chris_B]

Each to their own, IMHO.

I didn't think the S6 was too bad overall, but it does have quite odd suspension - it's flat enough in the corners, but it feels like Audi tried to make it hard, then thoguht they'd best soften it for the UK's poor roads, so it ends up with limited travel, but it doesn't transmit every road ripple directly to your spine, meaning it's very (and I mean very, very) slightly bouncy, but not smooth enough to ride over bumps unnoticed. I think it's one of those 'marmite' jobs, personally.

It does understeer. With ESP off, you can induce some power-on oversteer by cogging dwon the gears and revving the nuts off the engine, but not for long like you can in a RWD car.

It feels very well screwed together inside - far better than a regular A6 somehow.

As for fuel economy, well it's a 5.2 litre V10 in a near-two-tonne car; what do you expect?

Try one, you might love it. It's certainly the best way (at the moment) to lug loads about at high speed. I'd have one over a large-engined 5-series Touring (drive a 5 Touring before buying the allroad; hated the handling and feel, but that coudl have been the runflat tyres).

If you hate it, nothing much lost.

[avantissimo]

I posted a similar question recently and the fuel economy but me off big time.

Great car and the price seems good doesn't it?

I read a few blogs elsewhere and people who own them say you would not see much better than 14mpg or so. What with that fantastic V10, the temptation to plant you're right foot will happen frequently and cost you £££.

My local stealer (Listers Coventry) said they had never ordered one in and said only buy one if you don't mind losing a lot of money on trade in.

I decided to get a 3.0TDI instead. Bought a Le Mans A6 Avant this week. Ok, its not a V10, but still darn quick for such a big car and I'm not losing shedloads at the pumps or at trade in.

Audi should start and think about putting the 4.2 TDI in the A6 and making something of a hot version of that. Or if the bi-turbo 3.0TDI ever comes out that could be interesting.

I couldn't live with 14mpg.

[Merlot]

The A7 is speculated to get the 4.2tdi but it weighs a lot.

Most of the S6's for sale are dealer demo cars. It makes sense 2nd hand but I wouldn't bother until they are £29,995 which won't be long.