AnimaTTor
10-18-2004, 05:10 PM
I just drive the new A6, and in the rain no less (it hasn't rained in months here in LA). Here are my impressions:
Vehicle Description:
2005 A6 (C6) 4.2 quattro. Black ext/Beige Int. Standard suspension. Standard seats. No cold weather.
Design
The outside is flawless. Although I admire the previous generation's clean, Bauhaus lines, it looks dull and dated when sitting next to the new A6. The new `trapezoidal single frame grill' is the best part of the design. It looks smaller in real life, and is perfectly proportioned to the rest of the car. The new grill is also considerably cooler looking than the old split grill. Although busier than the previous gen, the new A6's rear looks modern and clean in real life. Again, it actually looks better than the C5, thanks to gently sweeping curves and sharp creases. The profile was rather ordinary, but that could be blamed on the black color, which always obscures any car's shape.
The inside was the big surprise. I sat both in the passenger and driver's seats. The dynamic sloping lines of the wood trim are absolutely stunning in real life. The dash is pure Audi taken to the next level. The lack of wood trim within the driver's area, while looking strange in photos, makes perfect sense in real life. It's telling the driver, "This area is reserved for high-tech control and performance". I was smitten by how the dash angled toward the driver. I felt strangely empowered. Nevertheless, I had no problem getting access to MMI and climate control as a passenger. The interior is an ergonomic triumph. It also oozes refinement and luxury. Even the dials are significantly upgraded from previous gen Audis, particularly the black dials with silver trim. The interior's quality easily surpasses my A4 Cabriolet's cockpit, which is saying a lot. I also played a bit with the MMI. I grasped it right away. No learning curve issue there.
Performance
The Servotronic steering wheel was another surprise. At a standstill the wheel moved so freely and lightly, it almost felt like it was broken. I'm surprised I liked the feel since I hate light steering settings. But as the speed increased, so did the steering wheel's resistance. I loved it, and got used to this new way of steering quickly. It was hard going back to my Cabriolet's linear steering feel after the A6.
This is the first time I've played with an Audi Tiptronic since my old 2000 A4. The gear-shifting response has improved dramatically, especially when shifting manually. Not surprisingly, there's still a slight torque converter lag when punching power from standstill; although it's been considerably reduced from previous models. Acceleration was unusually smooth for a conventional Automatic; almost as good as my own Multitronic transmission. Power delivery is strong and generous, but not breathtaking. The C6 RS6 will take care of that. Because of rush hour traffic I didn't have a chance to test the V8's mid-range power at higher speeds, which is where I'm sure the engine would have shined.
Another surprise was the suspension. Even without the sport suspension it was tuned toward the dynamic. I definitely felt the road, but the sharper bumps were of course blanketed, only less than I would have expected. The chassis' impressive rigidity eliminated any vibrations. The A6's dynamics felt more like an A4 than a 5 person luxury boat. This is an important point, since it demonstrates just what a solid, well built car the new Audi is. Personally I loved it's nimble, sporty feel. I would imagine more conservative buyers would find it a touch rough. For them I would recommend Mercedes Benz, or a Buick.
In the rainy, oil-slicked roads of LA, I accelerated hard a couple of times and there was absolutely no wheel spin. No surprise there.
Conclusion
Overall, the new A6 achieves a masterful balance between modern design, high performance, practicality, and luxury.
After the test drive, I walked over to a previous gen A6 4.2 and looked inside. The old Audi's interior looked embarrassingly antiquated and dull in comparison. I don't mean to knock the C5 A6, since it set high quality standards back in its day, but the new A6 is a vast improvement in every way.
I smell a blockbuster.
Addendum Note: The A6 was fitted with 18" wheels (the smallest profile tires offered), which significantly contributed to the rougher ride.
Vehicle Description:
2005 A6 (C6) 4.2 quattro. Black ext/Beige Int. Standard suspension. Standard seats. No cold weather.
Design
The outside is flawless. Although I admire the previous generation's clean, Bauhaus lines, it looks dull and dated when sitting next to the new A6. The new `trapezoidal single frame grill' is the best part of the design. It looks smaller in real life, and is perfectly proportioned to the rest of the car. The new grill is also considerably cooler looking than the old split grill. Although busier than the previous gen, the new A6's rear looks modern and clean in real life. Again, it actually looks better than the C5, thanks to gently sweeping curves and sharp creases. The profile was rather ordinary, but that could be blamed on the black color, which always obscures any car's shape.
The inside was the big surprise. I sat both in the passenger and driver's seats. The dynamic sloping lines of the wood trim are absolutely stunning in real life. The dash is pure Audi taken to the next level. The lack of wood trim within the driver's area, while looking strange in photos, makes perfect sense in real life. It's telling the driver, "This area is reserved for high-tech control and performance". I was smitten by how the dash angled toward the driver. I felt strangely empowered. Nevertheless, I had no problem getting access to MMI and climate control as a passenger. The interior is an ergonomic triumph. It also oozes refinement and luxury. Even the dials are significantly upgraded from previous gen Audis, particularly the black dials with silver trim. The interior's quality easily surpasses my A4 Cabriolet's cockpit, which is saying a lot. I also played a bit with the MMI. I grasped it right away. No learning curve issue there.
Performance
The Servotronic steering wheel was another surprise. At a standstill the wheel moved so freely and lightly, it almost felt like it was broken. I'm surprised I liked the feel since I hate light steering settings. But as the speed increased, so did the steering wheel's resistance. I loved it, and got used to this new way of steering quickly. It was hard going back to my Cabriolet's linear steering feel after the A6.
This is the first time I've played with an Audi Tiptronic since my old 2000 A4. The gear-shifting response has improved dramatically, especially when shifting manually. Not surprisingly, there's still a slight torque converter lag when punching power from standstill; although it's been considerably reduced from previous models. Acceleration was unusually smooth for a conventional Automatic; almost as good as my own Multitronic transmission. Power delivery is strong and generous, but not breathtaking. The C6 RS6 will take care of that. Because of rush hour traffic I didn't have a chance to test the V8's mid-range power at higher speeds, which is where I'm sure the engine would have shined.
Another surprise was the suspension. Even without the sport suspension it was tuned toward the dynamic. I definitely felt the road, but the sharper bumps were of course blanketed, only less than I would have expected. The chassis' impressive rigidity eliminated any vibrations. The A6's dynamics felt more like an A4 than a 5 person luxury boat. This is an important point, since it demonstrates just what a solid, well built car the new Audi is. Personally I loved it's nimble, sporty feel. I would imagine more conservative buyers would find it a touch rough. For them I would recommend Mercedes Benz, or a Buick.
In the rainy, oil-slicked roads of LA, I accelerated hard a couple of times and there was absolutely no wheel spin. No surprise there.
Conclusion
Overall, the new A6 achieves a masterful balance between modern design, high performance, practicality, and luxury.
After the test drive, I walked over to a previous gen A6 4.2 and looked inside. The old Audi's interior looked embarrassingly antiquated and dull in comparison. I don't mean to knock the C5 A6, since it set high quality standards back in its day, but the new A6 is a vast improvement in every way.
I smell a blockbuster.
Addendum Note: The A6 was fitted with 18" wheels (the smallest profile tires offered), which significantly contributed to the rougher ride.