Been trying to decide between ordering a 2006 A6 now or waiting for the 2007 A6. Can anyone help with the following? They all apply to the US market, regular A6 model.

Last month this year to order a 2006 A6?

When dealers get to place their first orders for 2007 A6s?

When 2007 A6s appear on US showroom floors?

When customers get to place the first orders for 2007 A6s? (If I can't talk my dealer into my order as part of his initial placement)

Since it is not a major model change for 2007, is there any reason to wait for the second boatload to come in?

New features/options for 2007? (Like the remaining red instrument numbers and letters getting (other) colors like the Driver Info Display did this year - I know, just one old man's minority opinion!)

Thanks,
Bob

Possible changes on A6 (100% speculation per say, or just my wishful list):

1) Parktronics Plus with MMI display (front & real like on A8).

2) Amber real tune signal lights (like in current UK model, right below the tail lights, next to the reverse lights).

Unless Audi makes the following changes available for the A6/A6 Avant during the 2006 model year, you may want to wait to see if they incorporate them into the 2007 models. Comparing the current A6 to the 2006 BMW 5-Series with its new for 2006/2007 engine(s) and its 4-years/50,000 miles No Charge Maintenance, or to the more highly rated Infiniti M45, Acura RL, Lexus GS, Mercedes E350, might lead you to hold off until Audi is on top again.

Recommended General Improvements to A6:
* Reintroduction of Audi Advantage (4 Years/ 50,000 Miles No-Charge Maintenance).
* 6-Speed Manual Transmission Availability.
* Reduced Weight, Noise, and Better Fuel Economy from 4.2L DOHC V-8 (430 lbs / 335 bhp / 310 lb-ft @3500 rpm / 19 mpg).
* 1 1/4" Receiver Hitch for Towing/Bike-Carrying (might improve stiffness and fore/aft weight balance of the Avant.
* Aft Mounted Battery (might improve fore/aft weight balance ala BMW).
* Minimized MMI System with Separate Radio Controls (for those who opt for No Navigation System) and/or Navigation with Improved User Interface and Traffic Update Option.
* Simple ON/OFF Switches for Radio and Climate Systems.
* Apple iPod compatibility.
* Console Integrated CD Changer.
* Power Rear Sunshade
* Solar Sunroof Available throughout A6 Line.
* Dual Pane Security Glass w/privacy tint on side windows.

Recommended Roadjet-Based Improvements to A6:
* 3.2L FSI DOHC V-6 updated with new valve lift system for 45 additional horsepower - (374 lbs / 300 bhp / 246 lb-ft @5500 rpm / 22 mpg) and a much needed increase in low end torque (we hope) with no fuel economy penalty for general driving.
* Improved 7-Speed DSG transmission.

Recommended S6-Based Improvements to A6:
* More Dynamic, Quicker Shifting, Adaptive 6-Speed Tiptronic Transmission with "S" Sport Mode.
* Improved Steering with "more direct response" from S6.
* Lighter, Firmer "more agile" S6 Suspension with "high standard of comfort for long-distance driving" and "optimized" driving stability and traction.
* Rear-biased Torque, and Switchable ASR, EDL, and ESP Settings from S6.
* Improved Brakes ala S6 (but compatible w/17" & 18" wheels - as 19" super-low-profile tires give harsh ride).
* New Generation Heated/Ventilated Sport Seats w/Memory, and Pronounced Lateral/Lumbar Support and Integral Head Restraints (to yield Good rating in IIHS rear impact testing).
* Improved Lighting Package with LED Rear/Brake, Courtesy and Running Lights

Racers/Horsepower Addicts would still have the option to get an S6 with 19" wheels, flared fenders, and a 5.2L FSI DOHC V-10 (485 lbs / 420 bhp / 398 lb-ft @3000-4000 rpm / 17.5 mpg).

The above recommendations would likely improve the A6 cars to the point of making them the most highly recommended mid-size semi-sport/lux sedans and wagons.

Hope it helps,
Joe

The programming of the A6's transmission is the biggest downfall of this great car.

It needs to respond quicker to inputs from the accelerator pedal, it needs to allow a downshift even if the RPM's are going to be on the high side instead of just staying in a gear that is too high & it needs to hold the gears longer in S mode.

They already have the programming in house in their S4 tip so it would be an easy change to make.

Eventhough the S4 cab and the A6 4.2 weigh within a few pounds of each other, the S4 feels like it blows away the A6 in acceleration

Otherwise I love my car and love the whole MMI system

Running the thing in S mode makes it up and downshift more like "normal' -- that is later up shifts and earlier downshifts.

I have no problem with this mode.

Tip mode remains a toy -- sometimes useful to downshift and hold a gear, but still nowhere near the control that a real manual offers.

Test drive if they'll let you two A4's one with tip and one with stick (otherwise identical A4's) over a loop of your own choosing.

The differences are impressive, the control and almost the "what is under the hood" differences are almost beyond description.

I can assume an A6 3.2 SLine with all the toys and even the B+ 6speed manual my 2003 allroad 2.7T offered would stop the bitchin' (from me at least) -- tip tronic, even in its best incarnation is good to very good. A stick, even a vintage 2003 stick would have to slip a notch or two to fall to good or very good.

More's the pity, this is soooo unlikely to happen.

I hear many good things about the DSG 7 speed, though.

Hope springs eternal.

I am 54, my 51 year old wife, thinks those of us with these tip equipped Audis are one step removed from our next Buick . . .Lucerne.

Her comments, unfortunately, are NOT outrageous, just a bit premature if Audi keeps de-emphasizing the sportiness in their cars (in fairness, at least Audi still offers SLine, BMW has effectively castrated its 530xi by not even offering anything beyond "comfort" suspension -- yet they do offer the stick, go figure.)

- signed:
Screaming Voice in the Wilderness

"We have met the enemy and he is us!" (sic)

Unfortunately manual transmission on the A6 counted for less than 10% of the sales.
Our dealership sold a total of 510 A6 2.7T with manual transmission over 4 years!!!!
The cost to certify that car is not cheap.
Even BMW is changing things around.
The 540 wagon is no longer available!

These cars are built alongside the cars going to Europe. What will it hurt them to make them a special ordered item? That way they could also charge a premium for them if they so wanted.

The engine ECU is different in a manual car, as is the ESP computer along with a host of other electronics. Then you have emissions certification. If it cost another $5k per car to get a manual, how many people would do it?

BMW is woking feverishly on their own version of DSG. When that arrives, I don't think we see conventional manuals offered in their mid-range and higher cars. After all, the M5 was slated to come SMG only until owners made a large stink - the manual is arriving a year later. It makes sense to offer both if people want it on the M5, simply because it is a high priced halo car.

SMG is not all that popular because it's rather clunky under some situations. Thing is, now that DSG has shown how smooth the system can be, the downsides of a semi-manual system are gone. Look for it in the B8 A4, C7 A6, and across the entire line.

Battery is already in the back and the rear sunshade is powered, but not the rear side shades though...

that Borg Warner is currently developing two longitudinal 7-speed DSG transmissions that fit perfectly in the platforms for the C6 A6/S6/RS 6, D3 A8/A8L/S8, B8 A4/S4/RS 4/A5/S5/RS 5, the platform for the VW Toureag/Porsche Cayenne/Audi Q7, the platform for the Lamborghini Gallardo/Audi R8 and the platform for all current Porsche vehicles as well as the platforms for all future VAG and Porsche vehicles. These tow longitudinal 7-speed DSGs are the DL500 (with a maximum capacity of 500nm or 369/lbs/ft of torque) and DL700 (with a maximum capacity of 700 nm or 516 lbs/ft of torque). These two DSG transmissions will be ready for production use in either CY2007 for MY2008 or in CY2008 for MY2009. Also, these two DSG transmissions will replace tiptronic throughout VAG and throughout the Porsche lineup worldwide.

hI also remember comments about power steering not being for "real men". Air conditioning, power steering, automatic transmissions, etc. all take power away from the car, but you'd be selling so few non a/c, non power steering, manual transmission machines if you offered them, that it would be completely unworthwhile. With paddle-shifted sequential transmissions, the days of true manual transmissions are coming to an end. Unfortunately, progress sometimes leaves a certain group of people behind. Even most Ferraris don't come with true stick shifts anymore.

I would think they would want something more towards the smaller and sporty end. I think the A6 is just too big to have as a manual.

I love manual's which is why I have an 05 Mazda 6s with one and before that I had the RX8 plus a ton of tother manual's but those cars are more direct feeling with less isolation or call them less refined ...

models like the 330 and the 530 but if you notice, on the new generation 3 series the SMG is not offered though a manual is.
On the last gen 3 series the sales of the SMG 330i vs the manual 330i weren't even comparable ... the manual blew it away. So what seemed like the manual being phased out by BMW, didn't quite work.

Also consider that cars like the Mazdaspeed 6 are only offered with manual's and that in some countries it is still rare to find a car with an automatic transmission.

I am not saying manual will be here forever but I think it still has plenty of time before it goes away.

auto. On the other hand, driving a Ferrari manual smoothly is very hard work, and even the sometimes clunky F1 gearbox is a welcome upgrade for many folks who want to drive the car more often ;-)

Audi of America will end its free maintenance program beginning with the 2007 model year, much to the distress of dealers.

Called the Audi Advantage, the four-year/50,000-mile program was established in the late 1980s as a way to restore consumer confidence and jump-start the brand in the United States. Only a few auto companies offer free maintenance - but they include a chief Audi rival, BMW.

"They are getting rid of it because of costs. Dealers feel it is a large advantage," said Tom Harper, incoming chairman of the dealer council, Sunday after the make meeting. Harper owns Harper's Porsche-Audi-Jaguar-Volkswagen-Infiniti-Acura in Knoxville, Tenn.

Audi will provide some free service during the first year of ownership.

Dealers want Audi to consider a modified program for repeat customers. "It is important to those who have second or third car," said Harper.

There's no doubt some loyal customers may be disappointed, said Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president in charge of the Audi brand.

"There is that danger, I have to acknowledge it," said Audi's U.S. chief.

De Nysschen said Audi needs money to fund a proposed increase in the dealer margin.

...just thought you guys should know this...

<ul><li><a href="http://forums.audiworld.com/c6a6/msgs/18454.phtml">CLICK</a></li></ul>

* Reintroduction of Audi Advantage (4 Years/ 50,000 Miles No-Charge Maintenance).

For an extra $550 or as a previous Audi owner, you can have it.

* 6-Speed Manual Transmission Availability.

Not unless you want to pay the certification costs for what the last time around amounted to 7% of total A6 market (read $$$$).

* Reduced Weight, Noise, and Better Fuel Economy from 4.2L DOHC V-8 (430 lbs / 335 bhp / 310 lb-ft @3500 rpm / 19 mpg).

Lightening a car costs money. Lots of money. You willing to pay Mercedes or BMW prices? The V6 gets the same town mileage as the BMW 525xi (the same basic MSRP as the A6 3.1 - the 530xi costs $5K more), and only 1 mpg worse on the highway. This despite having more horsepower and way more torque than the BMW. Even the V8 A6 and 550 are within a mile per gallon of each other, despite the BMW not offering awd, and only listing numbers with the manual tranission.

* 1 1/4" Receiver Hitch for Towing/Bike-Carrying (might improve stiffness and fore/aft weight balance of the Avant.

See Da'lan for hitches. Avants already have better weight distribution than sedans.

* Aft Mounted Battery (might improve fore/aft weight balance ala BMW).

Introduces long term electrical issues by having a long heavy power cable. An amusing side note. Somebody I know installed solonoid operated trunk release in his car. He also moved the battery to the trunk for better weight distribution. One day he cranked the starter just a bit too long and the starter solonoid fused open and kept the starter motor turning even though the engine was running. The car started to smoke as the electrical system couldn't handle it. The trunk release would not work because all power was being routed to the starter. It took quick thinking and an emergency access panel to open the trunk and disconnect the battery - or the car would have burned down. BMWs are very well know for their electrical faults.

* Minimized MMI System with Separate Radio Controls (for those who opt for No Navigation System) and/or Navigation with Improved User Interface and Traffic Update Option.

Who's system is your benchmark?

* Simple ON/OFF Switches for Radio and Climate Systems.

Understood.

* Apple iPod compatibility.

Dealers don't have an adaptor kit yet?

* Solar Sunroof Available throughout A6 Line.

The V8 has it. Just like models before. Do other German auto makers offer it in their lower engine lines (E class and 5 series)? Heck! Even fold down rear seats an option in those!

* Dual Pane Security Glass w/privacy tint on side windows.

Hardly something you want if you want a lighter car. Tinted front side windows not legal in many states. Requires special window mechanisms for extra thickness and weight. More expensive to insure.

Recommended Roadjet-Based Improvements to A6:
* 3.2L FSI DOHC V-6 updated with new valve lift system for 45 additional horsepower - (374 lbs / 300 bhp / 246 lb-ft @5500 rpm / 22 mpg) and a much needed increase in low end torque (we hope) with no fuel economy penalty for general driving.

More power always costs in the fuel economy dept unless you gear the car taller or make it lighter. Simple stochiometric limitations. Especially if you are looking to punch a 3600lb to 4000lb car from 0-60 more quickly.

* Improved 7-Speed DSG transmission.

There is no 7 speed longitudinal tranny - and it's unlikely we'll see one in the C6 due to fitment and cost concerns.

Recommended S6-Based Improvements to A6:
* More Dynamic, Quicker Shifting, Adaptive 6-Speed Tiptronic Transmission with "S" Sport Mode.

That will cost you in fuel economy.

* Improved Steering with "more direct response" from S6.

4 link front end means friction from 4 sets of ball joints per side. That translates into less feel. The A6 actually had quite a few engineers work to reduce the friction, but you can't make it go away. The advantage is no torque steer and a never changing camber.

* Lighter, Firmer "more agile" S6 Suspension with "high standard of comfort for long-distance driving" and "optimized" driving stability and traction.

Ok, which do you want? A Lexus or a BMW? Will you pay for the specially engineered bits of the S6, or do you want the Toyota engineered parts devoid of any road feel from a Lexus?

* Rear-biased Torque, and Switchable ASR, EDL, and ESP Settings from S6.

So what makes the S6 different from the other A6? Does BMW carry over all of their chassis technology from the M5 into the base 525? Does the average buyer care and do they want to pay for those "upgrades"options?

* Improved Brakes ala S6 (but compatible w/17" &amp; 18" wheels - as 19" super-low-profile tires give harsh ride).

Have you run out of brakes? An A6 3.2 does 60-0 in 129ft. a non-awd 525 (BMW doesn't publish 60-0 numbers for the xi) is 123 ft.

* New Generation Heated/Ventilated Sport Seats w/Memory, and Pronounced Lateral/Lumbar Support and Integral Head Restraints (to yield Good rating in IIHS rear impact testing).

Isn't the A6 one of best crashing cars already? Again, do you want to pay for the seats? Especially since they will need certification for the US in crash testing?

* Improved Lighting Package with LED Rear/Brake, Courtesy and Running Lights

Improved how?

You have some great ideas, but they all cost money. Money to engineer, money to certify, and money to build. It all boils down to priorities. Designers and engineers need to pick those areas that they feel will best serve their target market. Cars and brands overlap, but rarely do they duplicate the efforts of one another. Your ideal A6 may be a great car, but they need to weigh whether the cost of improvements have enough of a halo effect in the larger scheme to be cost effective, since the cost will be borne to some effect by all and any A6 built.

Saw another picture in the series of your sig pic on Hartmann web site as part of the banner.

I should kept my A3 as a second car, but now I can shoose from 2.0T and 3.2Q.

I am willing to pay for DSG on an A6.

Yeah, I sent the original pic of my A3 to Hartmann.

However, as I (and may other AW members and very reliable Automotive press is Germany such as Autobild, Auto, Motor Und Sport, etcetera) have stated many times, Borg Warner, who manufactures the transverse 6-speed DSG tranmsissions for several Audi and VW models, is currently developing two longitudinal 7-speed DSG transmissions that are designed to fit perfectly in all of the platforms where the Ricardo built DL1,400 7-speed DSG (with a maximum capacity of 1,032 lbs/ft of torque or 1,400 nm, hence the DL1,400 designation) in the Bugatti Veyron does not fit because it is too big. These two longitudinal 7-speed DSG transmissions that Borg Warner is developing for the C6 platform, D3 platform and platforms for other vehicles in VAG and Porsche are the DL500 (with a maximum capacity of 369 lbs/ft of torque or 500 nm, hence the DL500 designation) and DL700 (with a maximum capacity of 516 lbs/ft of torque or 700 nm, hence the DL700 designation). These longitudinal 7-speed DSG transmissions by Borg Warner and the transverse 6-speed DSG transmissions are supposed to replace tiptronic throughout the Volkswagen/Audi Group and throughout the Porsche lineup worldwide either in CY2007 for MY2008 or in CY2008 for MY2009. I know I sound like a broken record. But some people insist that DSG completely replacing tiptronic will not happen until the D4 A8/A8L and C7 A6 come out in the early 2010s. But DSG will replace tiptronic completely in the late 2000s, a few years before the D4 A8/A8L/S8 and C7 A6/S6/RS 6/A7/S7/RS 7 come out. This is fact. FWIW, there are rumors that Audi will come out with a larger coupe and convertible that will either be a two door, three door or four door to compete with the BMW 6 Series/M6, Mercedes CLS and Mercedes CL on the C7 platform that the next A6/S6/RS 6 (which is due out sometime in 2011 for 2012) will be on called the A7/S7/RS 7, which would come out one year after the next A6/S6/RS 6 if it even makes production.

But on the aft battery issue, it can't be that bad as the battery is already aft on the A6 and doesn't seem to have much of an adverse effect.

And on the real time traffic on nav...I'd pay more money for that feature. But isn't that feature currently on European models? It's available on the Acura RL in the US only, so isn't that just an issue of sourcing components?

As for the battery in the trunk, just pointing out what happens when electrics get a little older;-)

any idea why it's available in Europe but not here?

1.a few more ponies.
2.a slightly softer and more insulated suspension on rough roads.

From looking at the last couple years of postings, it looks like..

last 2006 orders - May
dealer and a few lucky customers 2007 orders - June/July
2007s start trickling in - early Sept.
official 2007 release date - early Oct.

Thanks for your lists of desired improvements.
Bob

Audi offers Sirius and Xm, so because it is not a XM exclusive it cannot offer it.
I heard that it is not available in all cities.
Apparently as cool as it is, it is not bringing buyers to it.
Sales are down 40% in its second year!

Most traffic here is on highways as in Europe it is in the city itself.
There are a lot of markers accross the major cities in Europe.

what was XM thinking? No wonder they haven't churned a profit.

but when I test drove the 05 RL that was the only cool feature I liked. It has my home area pretty well covered, but it's disappointing to see it on an Acura and not on any other car.

Yes, you can have it on the 4.2. But you can't have a 4.2 Avant. I tried everything to get this feature added to our A6, with the only result that the order was delayed a few weeks and by the time it went into production, our special paint choice was no longer available. Double bummer.

Why they would not want to have that feature on a car that's arguably the "best" family vehicle in their lineup is totally beyond me. Why not make the air suspension or radar cruise a 4.2 only thing? I would have happily given up either. But keeping the car cool for when you load the kids back in, that's a bit silly. Yes, I have tint.

*Arbitrary* limitations such as these is what drives me nuts. If people want it, make them pay for it. You can make an A4 look like an S4, you can order a normal FWD A6 in Misano if you are willing to pay for it, so why this?

Sorry, I am seriously p*ssed about this one. If anyone knows how to retrofit it, please let me know.