I went to go check out a new A6 4.2, but was disappointed with the interior room. I'm 6'5" and my head brushed the headliner. Also, with the front seat in my driving position, I couldn't even get into the rear seat. So they had a '04 dark blue A8L marked down by roughly $10k.

After the deal was done, I wound up getting it for $600 over invoice. Size-wise it's no comparison. If there are any bigger guys out there looking at the A6, I'd recommend checking to see if there are any '04 A8's left. The A8 only weighs 200lbs more than the A6 and the 0-60 is only a few tenths higher, but you get so much more car for the price. My only regret is that it doesn't have bluetooth so I can't use it with my existing phone.

Steve

That makes the A8L 4.2 (at 4,400 pounds) 550 pounds heavier than the new A6 4.2. The A8 4.2 weighs 4,288 pounds. That makes the A8 4.2 438 pound heavier than the new A6 4.2, not 200. BTW, I'm 5 feet 9.5 inches tall, so I should fit into the A6 just fine.

Whoops, you're right about the weight. I guess that's what I get for listening to a salesman. I think he was giving me the numbers for the old A6 compared to the new A8 (not the A8 L).

Anyway, my decision was based almost entirely on interior size as the A6 was just too cramped for me. I was kind of shocked that the car wasn't big enough for me as I've usually purchased smaller cars in the past (S4's & M3's). I really wanted something with ample headroom and a usable back seat.

I actually envy you for being closer to the average height than myself. I've always had to order cars without moonroofs, with manual seats, etc. just to get more headroom. I was going to try to do that again with the A6 when I saw the '04 A8L marked down by $10k. I really couldn't pass that car up as it fits my frame quite a bit better, without having to make any compromises.


Steve

I picked up my A8L this afternoon and immediately took it on a 2.5 hour roadtrip. With the combination of the 19inch wheels and the adaptive suspension set to its lowest setting, this car carves up the road. I can only imagine what a lighter A6 would feel like with the same setup. Audi is really making some awesome cars right now.

I was told by my salesman that the reason I was able to get $10k off on the '04 A8L was because Audi is offering incentives through the end of October. I'm SOOOO glad I went in on Friday to check out the new A6, otherwise I'm 100% sure I never would have bought this A8L. I never in a million years saw myself getting an A8.

I don't know if every dealer is offering deals like this, but it seemed like my local dealer had almost every '04 Audi marked down by at least $5k.


Steve

I'm also 6'5" with similar frustrations with headroom. A8 is a great choice.

I am the same height as you. Fits me just fine.

He was expecting the new A6 to much roomier as well, but it seemed like the old model actually had better headroom. Very odd.

Steve

If a new A6 and a new A8 shortwheelbase had the same equipment, would the difference in weight between the two be much? I'd guess that the difference in weight would not be much.

I was almost shocked at how little added room there is in the new A6. Specifically, the rear leg room was really disappointing. Being a A4 owner, the real limitation is the rear seating. The A6 IMHO doesn't help here and I also found myself thinking the A8 is the better proposition. A salesperson mentioned a 04 big daddy could be had for $66K. Oddly, I think the A6 interior is much nicer than in the A8.

I'll look again at the A6 as I'm buying a new car soon. I'm actually interested in the bmw 530i and A8 too. Paying over $50K for the A6 3.2 and bmw 530i with a 7 second 0 - 60 time is not thrilling. The question for me is whether to spend $10 to $13 more K for an A8 or bmw 545. Big size or lots of speed.


CVT Ben Hogan

A6 4.2: 4145lbs
A8 L: 4399lbs

So it's only a difference of 250lbs or so.


Steve

Not to mention, the new 5 Series is far uglier (especially that awful nauseating sub $20K interior) than the new A6.

Does it make a big difference?

The new A6 has 16 cubic ft of trunk space vs 14 for the 5 series, 14 for the new STS, and 16 for the 4matic E class.

Front headroom is 38.7 for the A6, 37.7 for the BMW, 38.7 for the STS, and 37.4 for the Merc.

Rear headroom is virtually identical between all, with an average around 37. 8.

Shoulder room up front is in the low 57 inch range for both the A6 and 5 series, with the STS 58.6 and the Merc having 56.4.

Rear shoulder room is 55.9 for the A6, 57.2 for the 5 series, 57.4 for the STS, and 56.1 for the mercedes.

Front leg room is 41.3 for the A6, 41. 5 for the 5 series, 42.6 for the STS, and 41.9 for the e class.

Rear leg room is 36.9 for the A6, 36 for the 5 series, 38.3 for the STS, and 35.6 for the Mercedes.

Overall length of the A6 is only 3 inches longer (193.5) than the 5 series, of which some goes to trunk space, and some goes to the front pedestrain crush zone standards. The STS is another 3 inches longer, and the Mercedes squeaks in just under 190 inches at 189.7.

Wheelbase on the A6 is 111.9, while the 5 series has 113.7, the STS 116.4, and the Mercedes 112.4.

The 5 series is taller by the other cars by half an inch or so - 58 inches vs 57.5.

Width on the A6 and Mercedes is around 71. 3, while the 5 series and STS are both about an inch wider.

Fuel capacity is 21. 1 gallons in the A6, 18.5 for the 5 series, 17 for the STS, and 20.6 for the E class.

The A6 and STS are the only two that run on regular gas, the others requiring premium.

These are numbers culled from edmunds website.