<ul><li><a href="http://www.audiworld.com">http://www.audiworld.com</a</li></ul>

I'm so happy i decided to go for the votex kit on the A6.. The front looks so much better with it!

<img src="http://www.audiworld.com/features/tests/a6launch009.jpg">

...how can Audi, a leader in Automotive design and technology, come up with THIS wheel design as standard equipment????
<img src="http://www.audiworld.com/features/tests/a6launch011.jpg">

Yes, I know that beauty's in the eye of the beholder, but really - this wheel is no better-looking than (probably worse than) the "Wineglass" wheels.

Interesting dichotomy: Audi seems to have either really mediocre (these, Wineglass, A6 4.2 "pieplate") or SUPER sweet (A6 4.2 sport forged, S4, RS 6 5-spoke, B6 A4 17" sport) wheels.

Maybe it's all part of a plan to get Audi buyers to spend more money with Audi buying upgraded wheels!!!

All IMHO, of course.... ;-)

<center><img src="http://www.audiworld.com/features/tests/a6launch014.jpg"></center><p>It really does look good.

I was so completely happy with my new A6--until you posted the pics with the Votex kit installed.

Oh crap, this is going to be expensive....

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/82349/img_7641.jpg"></center><p>
that they could have come up with a better looking wheel but a part of me thinks the wheels look decent in person. In the picture above they look pretty good.

The problem comes when you see how great looking the 18" wheel is ...

BTW the 17" wheel isn't the standard wheel, they have a 16" one as well which if I recall make the 17" wheels look great.

<center><img src="http://www.audiworld.com/features/tests/a6launch019.jpg"></center><p>That's a great looking car.

Looks cheap to me. sorry.

So why should they equip a car with good looking standard wheels ? It's all about business. I bet they cross-finance some of the electronic gimmicks with it since those things are very expensive to develop.

and find myself "wanting" to like the car. It just doesn't give me the same visual fix that the new A8 or the S4 does - particularly the rear end. The side profile isn't helped by the silly wheels Audi chose to place on the car. No denying the interior design and space though.

One thing I don't understand though - why are the Germans moving away from manual tranny's? No matter how "efficient" it might seem to some - are we gear shifters being pushed out of the market? The lack of a manual has pushed this soon to be looking for a car in this segment buyer away from Audi. In fact, In order to stay loyal to the brand and quattro, I find myself being forced towards a B6 S4 or a 2004 s-line A6 2.7t manual to replace my A4 3.0 next year. BMW drops a 7-speed manual in the new M5 and we can't even get a 6-speed in the new A6? Or did I miss the press release that the manual will soon be offered?

I've been eyeing the A6 for a while now, and I can't get myself to be crazy over it like I did my last two Audis (A4, TT).

I was debating between the new A6, and the Cayenne... think I'll go for the Porsche.

I think the kit improves the look of the back. The front doesn't need anything.

My biggest concern would be added wind noise. The car is so quiet right now, I'd hate to do anything to change it.

As always, YMMV

Worldwide regulation of emission standards, and safety standards, are effecting the design of the automoibile. Cars equipped with manual transmission cause difficulty for the manufacturers to meet the emission standards. While BMW is equipping the new M5 with a 7-speed manual it is doing so with a computer-controlled clutch, effectively creating an automatic transmission with manual gear selection possibilities. Audi executives are on record as stating that DSG will remain exclusive to transverse mounted engined cars. Automatics, with torque converters, while be used on longitudinal engined cars. I understand that the manual powered cars do not seem to have much power, according to the average test consumer, when leaving a traffic light--this is a direct result of the torque converter function of the automatic.

...is nearly identical to the C5, the "nose" is ungainly and awkward, the "swoop" on the side is Camry-derivative, the "horzontal rear" harkens to a Saturn. Inside, the vast array of flat plastic assaulting the driver, the oddly shaped "gauge surround," the stupid "grill-outline-reminding" doodad in chrome on the steering wheel, and the way the wood on the center console "wraps over" the sides all leave me profoundly unimpressed.

Stoopid Germans.

for some reason i was under the impression that the m5 could be had with a 7-speed manual. without looking further into it, i'm still tempted to believe that the m5 can be had with a manual of some sort. i know where amg stands on the issue - they've been quoted as saying, essentially, "why bother with a manual when the computer does it so much better." but for me, for now, gotta row my own gears and so far it appears the a6 won't let me do that...

...instead of the A6---No wait, the A8 will have the "fish mouth" grill in MY'06. Oh no!!! Can't contain my horror---Will have to get a BMW---No wait, it's even worse than the Audi design---Will have to get a Merc! No, wait---I really don't like their styling either!!!

Now I got it, I'll get a.....Hold on, ya know, you're making me crazy. I really do like the C6 design, and love the way the new grill works on the A8 6.0---So perhaps it will be the SWB A8 4.2 for '06! Thanks, you've convinced me ;-)

I bet there is a whole room full of Audi brass sitting around just absolutely scared out of their wits cause the new A6 doesn't appeal to you. I mean, they had you exactly in mind when the designed the car. But somehow they missed the target and came up with a stunning automobile instead. It's a shame they couldn't please you, but I get the impression that nothing pleases you. Honestly man. Go get a life or something, come up with better things to do than trolling on this board stirring up controversy.

And to the rest of the C5 owners and C6 haters. Don't follow the lead of the intolerant B5 crowd.

Jerry D
2002 A4 1.8t QMS, 2004 A6 2.7t S-line.

BMW is "looking into the possibility" of offering a 6 sp man with the new M5. But it remains a long shot. The 7 sp SMG box was never designed to be a proper manual tranny. The shif pattern is something really crazy that no person could actually work with properly. Which is why it is SMG only.

Jerry D

I was working at Rector Audi when all those A6 3.2/4.2s came in to be PDIed. Audi engineers were around futzing with last minute changes on them....I probably saw the car you got.

...your assertion that Audi "fears" my response to this car, I would agree that they care not a whit about my opinion. Perhaps they SHOULD care about the opinion of someone who has bought 5 C-models in 15 years, but they clearly don't. That said, if my opinion turns out to be much more representative of overall U.S. market reaction to this car than yours (and thta of the AudiWorld "press-release journalists"), well I would expect the life of the C6 to be short.

Above, I challenged Jason to a $100 wager regarding total U.S. A6 C6 private sales in 2005. (He chooses not to make the bet, which should tell you something!) Audi's aiming for 22,500 in year one. They won't make it. Not even close. That will be the strongest indication that this look-challenged model will be headed for a premature end. Suits me. Send 'em ALL to China!

Do you like the car?

Ok, so you don't like the car. Good for you, I am sure your teacher will give you a gold star for saying so. But what is the point of continually saying so? There are people here who have bought the car and who are really enjoying their purchase. Do you take pleasure in constantly taking shots at their taste in automobiles? Sorry no.dot, but I really fail to see the point of anything you say. All seems bent on stirring up another internet argument. Really man, that is a sorry and sad way for one to live one's life.

Do us all a favour and go away troll.

Jerry D

It's easy to sit back and criticize. It doesn't take much in the way of intelligent or original thought to be a critic of another's work or achievements. Me a loser? For not tolerating the likes of you? If not wanting to put up with a **** disturber such as yourself makes me a loser, then so be it. I still manage to be many times better than the likes of you troll.

Jerry D

Ok, let me see if I can play way way way way way way way down at your intelligence level. Because troll, you aren't really much of a challenge to me. But you do provide limited entertainment value.

You have 350 deleted posts, I have but 1. Confirms your status as an individual who comes to the board to stir up controversy.

Ball is in your court troll

Jerry D

I am sure life as an internet forum troll is very fulfilling.

I am in awe of your greatness. I too hope I can be a troll like you.

Jerry D

...go fvck yourself.

"Those who cannot take criticism have no business on this (or any other) forum. You are teh losAr."

I rest my case.

Jerry D

Where is that famous no.radar wit now? No more smart-ass answers eh? Could this be the end of radar.troll?

We can only hope, but I doubt it. People like you never go away, they always come back to stir up the pot again. You're like the common cold. There is no cure.

Jerry D