This board is somewhat unusual in having really enthusiastic members post glowing comments about their Audi's. That's great but in truth is any one not happy with their A6 in any way. Any regrets? I'm considering an A6 but it is a big step for me coming from a 15 year history of M-B and BMW.

2000 540i SP
2002 X5 3.0 SP

But then again I may be biased looking at my past list. Though I have owned an M-B and an Alfa in the last 4 Years.

9000 miles so far and no problems.

Jim

The only people I've seen who are dissappointed are those coming from Japanese cars and even then, they recognize the tradeoff between driving excitement and reliability.

Although with the most recent Japanese offerings, that tradeoff is dissappearing.

I am totally satisfied with my decision. With 5 months behind the wheel and almost 5000 miles I am still infatuated with the A6.

I come to the A6 from 7 BMWs between 1985 and 2002, two 750s, four 735/740s, and one 540. Since 2002, have leased a G35 sedan, and G35 coupe, and last car an FX45. One common theme with these cars has been that they are loaded with options.

The 3 Infinitis were very reliable, and trouble free, and fun to drive. I have just leased an A6 with Nav, intelligent key, parktronic, etc. for approx the same price as I could have leased a loaded M45. I chose the A6 based on styling, exterior and interior, 4 years free maintenance, bigger trunk, better gas mileage, etc.

Having only had the A6 a few days, it is premature to judge longevity, but so far this A6 is the most comfortable, most quiet, and fun to drive car yet.

Until 6 months ago, I ran two MB 320 cdi's, a saloon and an estate (station wagon). I have had 6 MB's of various types over the last few years. I was fed up with MB dealer service in the UK and decided to buy an A6 3.0 tdi and trade one of the MB 320's. I now run the Audi and the remaining MB side by side and the A6 is always first choice for me. I will be trading the MB later in the year and were it not for the need to have a 7 seat capability I would definitely be looking at a new A6 Avant in preference to an MB.

When my A6 was supposed to be ready for delivery last summer, the supplying dealer was not happy with the gearbox performance and refused to let me take it. They did however loan me a alternative brand new A6 until mine was ready so full marks to them for that. Since then everything has been fine.

Don't know if MB still ofers that.

Otherwise it's one of the new Merc minivans I guess.

Wait for the Q7

I also considered the 530i and the E320 (E350). I knew the new Lexus GS and Infiniti M were coming out and saw previews on the web, but neither car did it for me. I bought the A6 based on the best blend of styling, performance, AWD and value for the money. I had also been very happy with my '03 A4 and my local Audi dealer.

If the Infiniti M35 had been available it would have been a close call between the A6 and the M35x.

The M35x comes in nicer colors and has more cool features than the A6 for less money. It is apt to be more reliable.

The A6 comes with a better warranty, which covers wearout items like brake pads and rotors. I like the backup sensors better than the camera on the M35. The passenger seat has better power controls than on the M35. Since we don't plan to keep it past its warranty period, and the dealer is nearby and cooperative, the car's reliability is much less important. So we probably would have gotten the A6 even if the M35x were available in November. On the other hand, if I had planned to buy it instead of leasing it and keep it for 7 or 8 years I would have gotten the M35x.

I hit some ice with my A6 in January and caused $20,000 damage to my new 3.2 A6. Nobody bought my previous car, a 2002 530i, so I was driving that again. My car finally comes back from the shop next week, and I have already made a deal to get rid of it and move up to a 750li.

One you have driven a BMW daily, then move to an Audi, and then back to the BMW, you can get a real feel for the fact that no matter what an Audi isn't a BMW.

IMHO.

Although it is better than the original E65/E66 7er which was really horrible. Not to rain on your parade, but Consumer Reports rates the reliability of the current (E65/E66) 7 Series and current (E60/E61) 5 Series worse than every other vehicle out there, including Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volkswagen (all of which are now tied for second worst) and significantly worse than Audi. I know that I used to bash CR to no end. But truth be told, they are on the ball more often than they are full of ****.

But their reliability is quickly nosediving and their new designs (which are many of the fugliest around, IMO) look much, much more like all of the following cars rolled up in one than any Audi, old or new: Saturn, Toyota/Lexus/Scion, Nissan/Infiniti, Honda/Acura, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Saab, Suzuki, Kia, Daewoo and Hyundai. The new A6 drives better all around than most other cars in it's class and Audi's new designs are some of the best around, IMO. Plus, Audi's reliability is improving, if somewhat slowly.

I have owned 5 prior BMWs, starting with the e30(89 325ix) and ending with the E39 (1999 528i)during that run I also has a 740i. I would have gone for another bimmer, but I just could not stomach the new styles. The Bimmers were a great drive, but so is my 01 4.2, and it is all wheel drive.

I have not missed the bimmer yet...

that may be the right choice for you.

<a href="http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,12929-1510977,00.htmllink">"750 review"</a>

<a href="http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e65/">"your home?"</a>

Obviously you have a great deal of extra cash on hand for the upgrade to another class of car, and you can overlook the interior and exterior styling.

I wish you well, and hope your car is more trouble-free than most 7s have been.<ul><li><a href="http://cdn.consumerreports.org/static/0504typ0.html">bad news here</a></li></ul>

You buy german for the fun to drive factor at the expense of reliability.

SUVs are not fun to drive. Well, not the one's that hold any cargo anyways. So why bother?

Apparently, if you can afford the more expensive BMW, the A6 3.2 isn't competitive. I've driven both the C6 and D3 and would definitely go with the A8 if I could, but in my price range the A6 is my favorite car.

I see your point but there is nothing like an Audi interior and if it can be had in a 7 passenger SUV then why not?

Everybody raves about the A8, especially the interior. But personally it doesn't do it for me. I loke the exterior better than the 750/760, but remain unmoved by the inside. Since you spend all of your time inside, I can live with the ugly trunk of the BMW's.

You've obviously have never driven one!! Two weeks from today I pick up my C6 3.2 but for the last 3 1/2 years I've been driving an X5 3.0 with stick shift and that was one VERY fun vehicle to drive.

It handled better than my previous vehicle (1996 VW Passat V6) and people never expected this large SUV to blow by them at 85Mph. So, until you drive a vehicle, don't make comments on its driveability.....IMHO

Craig

Although they mentioned the '04 A4 (V6 version) as a bright spot in otherwise pretty dismal European reliability, there was plenty of other info about Audi in that issue that was less complimentary.

In the "Bad Bets: Used Cars to Avoid" section, the first car listed (alphabetically, I hope) was the '97-'04 Audi A6.

In the chart comparing reliability of the marques, not only was Audi worse than the industry average, but it was worse than GMC, Ford and Chrysler.

Yes, BMW did worse, but to what degree?

I suppose what I am saying is that reliability would factor into my decision to a much greater degree when comparing the German cars to Lexus and Infiniti, marques with a long track record of producing extraordinarily reliable vehicles, than when comparing the German cars to one another.

CR actually recommended the A6 from early 2000 and prior due to average or better than average reliability. And from late 2004 to present CR recommends the A4 (regardless of engine) due to average or better than average reliability. And yes, the bad bets/used cars to avoid that were listed were listed alphabetically.

And holds more cargo behind the second seat than the X5. The X5 has no utility. I guess that's why the called it an SAV.

late 2004 models are not even a year old....not terribly confidence-inspiring.