Jim Will
04-06-2001, 10:24 AM
It's been 10 months and 19,100 miles since I took delivery of "Blue Thunder" and I can honestly say that I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
This car has been trouble-free, and continues to provide a pleasureable experience each and every time I get behind the wheel.
I understand all the words of warning about the quattro system, and how it can provide a false sense of security and so on. I couldn't care less. Having owned this car for almost a full year I will say that unless someone else can make a better all-around luxiry-performance sedan with full time AWD, then my next car (and every other car after it) will be Audi's. I am truly amazed with the performance of this auto. I'll briefly note a few points:
1. Performance is stellar. The power delivery is seamless, almost turbine-like. From idle to redline, there's always ample torque present to get you where you want to be, with a minimum of fuss. I have become quite lazy with the stick, only shifting when the rev's drop below 1100, unless of course the car is feeling frisky and wants to have a little fun.
2. Quality. With the exception of my brake rotor warpage problem at delivery. I have had an almost perfect automobile. I suffered from 2 other problems, a small crack that developed in the wood strip over the glovebox door, and a light in the drivers side dash vent that would illuminate sporadically. Both items were fixed at regular servicing, and have not returned. I don't seem to have the windshield distortion that has been spoken about, and aside from the slight headliner buzz that came after about 3 months (and has been eliminated with some slight "tweaking") I've got nothing bad to say. On the good side, I will say that the interior of the A6 is a very hospitable place to be. Everything about the interior makes your stay an enjoyable one. The texture of the surfaces, the heft of the control buttons and stalks, the lighting. They all combine to give the car an expensive, opulent feel. Sitting inside of rival cars (5 series BMW, and anything from Japan in the same price range) makes me long for the interior of my car even more.
Doors close with a solid "thunk", windows motor up and down purposely and swiftly. Everything works with a well-weighted, damped precision. (one of my favorite is the damping return action of the overhead passenger handholds)
3. Utility. Sounds odd to say this, but my 2.7 is more of a sport utility vehicle than my friends Explorer Sport is. I can carry 4 full sized adults to any location I choose in any weather, in comfort. Other than off-roading (which even my friend doesn't subject his pretty Black Truck to) there isn't anything that he can do with his truck that I can't (or haven't) done with my car. I use my Audi whenever I want to. Earlier this year NYC had a nice sized snow storm. Something like 12" at one time. I was the only person on my block to be able to get my car out, drive it around the block (just for giggles) and put it back in the garage. (I then succeeded to get my Pathfinder stuck thinking I could manage the same in 2WD) It took 4WD Low range and 3 minutes of rocking to get it free.
In my opinion, there isn't a better "do everything" car for the money.O-60 in under 6 seconds, 20 mph in the city, 26-27 on the highway, a manual transmission for fun, massive ABS brakes for those times when you've had too much fun. I am completely satisfied with my purchase, and intend to keep this car forever, or at least until Audi releases a higher HP version that still comes mated to a manual transmission.
This car has been trouble-free, and continues to provide a pleasureable experience each and every time I get behind the wheel.
I understand all the words of warning about the quattro system, and how it can provide a false sense of security and so on. I couldn't care less. Having owned this car for almost a full year I will say that unless someone else can make a better all-around luxiry-performance sedan with full time AWD, then my next car (and every other car after it) will be Audi's. I am truly amazed with the performance of this auto. I'll briefly note a few points:
1. Performance is stellar. The power delivery is seamless, almost turbine-like. From idle to redline, there's always ample torque present to get you where you want to be, with a minimum of fuss. I have become quite lazy with the stick, only shifting when the rev's drop below 1100, unless of course the car is feeling frisky and wants to have a little fun.
2. Quality. With the exception of my brake rotor warpage problem at delivery. I have had an almost perfect automobile. I suffered from 2 other problems, a small crack that developed in the wood strip over the glovebox door, and a light in the drivers side dash vent that would illuminate sporadically. Both items were fixed at regular servicing, and have not returned. I don't seem to have the windshield distortion that has been spoken about, and aside from the slight headliner buzz that came after about 3 months (and has been eliminated with some slight "tweaking") I've got nothing bad to say. On the good side, I will say that the interior of the A6 is a very hospitable place to be. Everything about the interior makes your stay an enjoyable one. The texture of the surfaces, the heft of the control buttons and stalks, the lighting. They all combine to give the car an expensive, opulent feel. Sitting inside of rival cars (5 series BMW, and anything from Japan in the same price range) makes me long for the interior of my car even more.
Doors close with a solid "thunk", windows motor up and down purposely and swiftly. Everything works with a well-weighted, damped precision. (one of my favorite is the damping return action of the overhead passenger handholds)
3. Utility. Sounds odd to say this, but my 2.7 is more of a sport utility vehicle than my friends Explorer Sport is. I can carry 4 full sized adults to any location I choose in any weather, in comfort. Other than off-roading (which even my friend doesn't subject his pretty Black Truck to) there isn't anything that he can do with his truck that I can't (or haven't) done with my car. I use my Audi whenever I want to. Earlier this year NYC had a nice sized snow storm. Something like 12" at one time. I was the only person on my block to be able to get my car out, drive it around the block (just for giggles) and put it back in the garage. (I then succeeded to get my Pathfinder stuck thinking I could manage the same in 2WD) It took 4WD Low range and 3 minutes of rocking to get it free.
In my opinion, there isn't a better "do everything" car for the money.O-60 in under 6 seconds, 20 mph in the city, 26-27 on the highway, a manual transmission for fun, massive ABS brakes for those times when you've had too much fun. I am completely satisfied with my purchase, and intend to keep this car forever, or at least until Audi releases a higher HP version that still comes mated to a manual transmission.