Very nice handling. The car I drove had PZero Rosso 245/40-18 tires. Expectedly it feels bigger than the S4 (my current ride)but the sport suspension feels really tight. Not as harsh as the S4 but for me it seemed just right for what I would expect in an A6 sport suspension. The S4 corners better but I would expect a decent driver could make it hang with an S4.

The motor had the familiar S4 4.2 whine. It might get a little bothersome for the typical A6 4.2 buyer but it wasn't too bad. I noticed it because it was familiar.

The exterior is growing on me although the front is still too weird. The color was Oyster Gray. Very dark grey, almost black.

The interior is not as nice as the C5 IMHO but there are several nice touches. The MMI integrates everything very nicely into the center display.

A few points:
- The CD changer is in the glove box so there is not much room left in there.
- The wood trim was very nice but the instrument cluster had a less than exciting surround. Too much flat plastic.
- The visor mirrors have a "zoom" feature.
- The window buttons on the driver's side armrest are set back like the S4's. In the C5 A6 they were at my fingertips.
- Nice fat steering wheel. I don't care for the new design but it felt good. Steering was tight and responsive.
- The trunk is huge. Looks a good bit deepr than my C5 but the opening itself may be slightly smaller.
- Battery is in the trunk with a full size spare.

Overall I was impressed but not stunned. The handling and power would satisfy me if I needed more room.

Is the battery recessed in the spare-wheel well or "out" like in the RS 6? Did you shift with in TIP mode, and if so was it more responsive than late model C5's (i.e. was there the crazy TIP Lag)?

Thanks for the review!

Haven't driven the S6.

The battery is recessed.

Tip mode is better although not to the level of the RS6. It has a sport mode and that works very well.

I've driven the RS6 and the handling is comparable but not exactly the same. I didn't get a lot of seat time in it so I wasn't able to do too many extreme maneuvers :-)

Acceleration is silky smooth, braking is very good although there's no way to tell have well they would hold up at the track. I would say the brake modulation is almost as good as my S4. Brought it down from very high hiway speeds effortlessly.

<center><img src="http://onfinite.com/libraries/66141/995.jpg"></center><p>Aftert driving the C6 was very impressed. I drove the 4.2 non sport with 18s and it was very light on its feet. The steering seemed quicker than the RS6 but it was not a heavy as the RS6 and it is definately tuned more to the luxury side of sport. The handling was also great on the C6, probably on par or a little better than the S6 but not as hard or as stiff as the RS6 with its drynamic ride control.

The biggest glaring difference is the two different chassis, this new body is alot stiffer and more solid than the previous body. It almost as big as the difference between the B5 and B6 A4/S4.

I doubt it would fare as well in a comparison with the RS6 suspension if it were put under stress. But for street and hiighway cruising and the occasional playful jaunt, it is excellent for a large sedan.

I predict some of the general public and the automotive press will find it a little too harsh but most of us will like it.

<center><img src="http://onfinite.com/libraries/66306/d94.jpg"></center><p>
You say you drove a (Burnt Orange ) are u on the east coast because we may have drove the same car. I didn't like that color with the beige interior, think it would lok better with ebony or the cream beige.

It had a platinum colored interior. Dark wood.

in 18"... they werent CH95 or any of the other contis I've seen as stock on NAS audis as of yet.

in the dashboard, and on the C5 the CD changer was built into the head.