I have a A6 4.2 Quattro. I'm curious as to the lifecycle of the A6. 150k, 200k, 300k, 400k?? What kind of life span is expected for an A6 before major failure that would be too unreasonable to fix?
If you properly mainatain it, 200K. Proper maintenance includes, 5K oil changes, 50K transmission fluid changes, and 100K changes for timing belt, water pump and suspension parts.
< Message edited by Kevin -- 6/3/2007 5:31:15 AM >
Interesting that you say that. If you can use it as a gauge, I guess you really don't see many out there at least for sale with mileage over 200k. Not like you do with hondas or toyotas that is.
Holov, I think the reason you don't see many VW/Audis out there with 200k miles on them is for several reasons. The first would be the type of person buying the car. A person buying an VW/Audi has very different expectations of what the car will do for them. People tend to hold onto their aging european cars until it is time for the junk yard. My last car was a Volvo 850 with 313k miles on it when I let it go. Our BMW has 240k miles on it and have no intention of replacing it. My A6 has 124k miles on it and I will run it into the ground. I owned several Honda/Toyotas in the past and really like them. Every day, year after year it just started, the a/c just worked, the car was a great appliance. It was a sole less, boring, well built, but poorly tuned machine. In all the years I owned my Japanese cars, I put very little money into them, and they gave me very little back. In all the years of driving european cars (minus my newer Saabs) I had/have a great driving experience. But I do have to maintain the car more than my Japanese cars, I can't neglect my Audi and expect 200k + miles like I could with my Honda. But if I treat it right, change worn parts before they break, it too will last to 200k +. Once it gets to 200k, there is no point in selling it, the car has no value, you might as well keep it until the very end. People don't fear buying a Honda/Toyota with 200k miles on it, so you see them for sale because the market it there. People run, even me, from an unknown maintained 200k + european car. money pit comes to mind, so you don't see them for sale. There are also a lot less Audis out there as there are Honda/Toyotas.
If you want a car that takes nothing from you(money), and gives you nothing in return, buy a Honda.
Sorry for the long winded response, guess I must have been bored.
Jeff, I agree with you that driving experience, when the car is completely functioning properly, is a good one. Quattro handling and performance is quite impressive and the exterior and interior styling which in my opinion is very well thought out.
You know there is a point though where the budget has to come into question. I've had my A6 for about 2 years now. I'd say I've spent around 4k in the past year on repairs and maintenance. I think this is just plain unreasonable. Thats not including the time and money for the ABS module, multiple MAFs, window guides, and repairing the auto-leveling headlight adjustment that I've done myself. I thank the forums for helping me to do many of the repairs myself.
My previous car was an Acura and so I guess that it makes me a little spoiled from the reliability side of things. Didn't seem to matter what you threw at that car, just kept on ticking and cost next to nothing to run. In fact I'm sure that the person I sold it to is still running it with similar thoughts. I liked it a lot, but I sold the car with a 145k for the thrill and flare that the audi gave me on the test drive. It wasn't long before problems started occuring that lessened the thrill that I had.
I find myself now subconciously driving more gingerly and being gentle with the car, treating it like a fragile package for fear that something else will go wrong. I shouldn't have to feel like this, but I can't help it. There has to be a point when a short lived great experience doesn't measure up to a long lived good experience.
Don't get me wrong, I love the car, when its working, but it pains me to say that its current track record is starting to make me look around for a replacement. I keep trying to look for a reason to keep the car. I don't want to sell as I feel that I'll lose some of the feel that comes with owning/driving an audi.
Lately I've been looking at the awd subaru legacy gt limited. This car stock has the same power to weight ratio as the a6 I drive. There are tons of mods and it comes with that japanese reliability, but still I can't decide what to do. Audi seems to have something that just keeps you sucked in. I don't know what it is, but unfortunatly I can't keep affording where its taking me.
Sorry for the long response as well, but thanks for responding.
In hindsight, you should have purchased an extended warranty when you bought the car. Having researched Audis before I bought my 05 4.2 as a new car, I also purchased an extended warranty to cover the car through 7 years/100,000 miles. The extended warranty through the AAA was cheaper than the $4,000 you have spent on repairs. Owning an Audi outside of the warranty period can be expensive.
holov, I understand your frustrations with Audi, off all the european cars I have owned they are the worst, maybe tied with Saabs for reliability. My hondas/toyotas were bullet proof, I know they have their problems, but nothing like the typical european car does. One european brand in my mind shines above the rest for reliability is BMW. We are on our third 3 series and this one has 240k on it and is still probably the most reliable car we have ever onwed. Outside of the two we owned. Is sickens me how we can beat the shi* out of that car day after day, year after year and still, it runs great, drives great. If I did the same thing to my A6 or a past Saab that thing would be needing shi* left and right. Probably leads you to wonder why I drive an Audi and not a BMW. Well, I find them uncomfortable, their interiors look cheap, seats suck, and their pretensious. I don't want a sports car, I wanted a comfy, smooth, large wagon to drive around in, thats why I choose the A6 for now. I do believe my next car will be a 3 series wagon since they are finally importing them and by the time I get around to replaceing the A6 they will be cheap.
My father in law has two Subie wagons, they have been disgustingly reliable, sorta fun to drive. The A6 is more fun, nicer, and classier, but better be for the 20k price premium.
I wish there was more to add but I believe everything previously stated is accurate. I have 120K on my 00 2.7T along with several modifications. I just put $900 on a passenger side tie rod, passenger side CV boot and a passenger side window regulator and an oil service, but in retrospect, the tie rod was OE original, the CV boot was the second replacement in about a year and a half ( the CV boots are known to get torn from road debris, my case exactly) and the regulator was the OE original. I guess I can't complain though! The car looks great, handles well and has great drivabilty, but it does come at a price! I feel the japanese DO have a more reliable car (Lexus), but they have NO feel whatsoever and they are not fun to drive. I have driven them all from Lexus, Acura, Infinity and so on and they are all the same. I want the car I drive to become an extension of my hand and none do it better then the germans. So....if it cost me a bit more for more fun....I'll accept it!
OOOO
< Message edited by Joeski -- 6/4/2007 8:01:08 AM >
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Spec Stage II Clutch and Aluminum Flywheel, APR Software, APR Snub Mount, APR Downpipes and Test Pipes with Milltek Cat Back, Hyperboost Diverter Valves, K&N Drop In (Temp).
Joe that is exactly how I feel. Well mostly, I don't want a sports car, but I want a car that is competent, so when I need it, it is there. I accept the extra expense of owning a european car because of what it gives back to me. There are definetly Japansese cars that are comfy, large, smooth (not any wagons though) that I could buy, but none that get my heart pounding while driving back home in rural WI up and down the bluffs like my A6 or our 3 series does. Safety is what brought me to the Audi dealer in the first place, I wanted a wagon, with side airbags, had to be european and I could buy for less than 12k. That left me with Volvo v70s, Audi A4 & A6's. I had my Volvo 850(now s70) for ever and loved it, but that car was probably the most boring car I have ever owned. I looked at the A4 and felt the interior was not my style, I looked at the A6 and knew I had to own that car. And now I do, and I and love my car, day in and day out. It will cost more than the typical european car, but I feel it is worth it.
Couldn't agree more....and let me add that 2 of my neighbors, 1 owns a Lexus GS300 and the other has an M3 and they love there autos. The Lexus owner has driven both my car and the M3 and he has plainly said that our cars keep you "involved" with your driving because of how they feel and respond on the road to where he said his Lexus can lull you to sleep because of the lack of "feel". He is an older gentleman that said he preferred the Lexus because of his age and the "comfort" factor, but he said if he was younger could see himself driving the BMW and Audi. He also said our interiors looked more elegant as well.
OOOO
< Message edited by Joeski -- 6/4/2007 9:58:25 AM >
_____________________________
Spec Stage II Clutch and Aluminum Flywheel, APR Software, APR Snub Mount, APR Downpipes and Test Pipes with Milltek Cat Back, Hyperboost Diverter Valves, K&N Drop In (Temp).
Thanks for the posts guys. I agree with you all. I love my audi for the drive quality it gives me.
The plain fact is that the german cars are fun to drive. Interiors are amazingly well designed and they are safe as anything.
I also used to think that "well even though I have to pay a little more, its worth it for the feel it gives me," but enough is enough sometimes and honestly I feel myself unfortunately sliding off the slope to try something else.
I'm not going to beat around the bush Audi has let me down a little. I look back at the past year on what I've spent just to keep the car running smooth. What I could have done with that $.
Maybe a BMW will be to come..Who knows. Might be nice to see what i'm missing.
Posts: 701
Joined: 9/8/2006 From: Holland MI Status: offline
I bought my A6 a little over two years ago (used), but it is still the nicest car I have ever owned. I love the profile, the fact that it has a manual transmission (I enjoy driving...not riding), plus all the safety features of AWD and 8 air bags. The interior is comfortable and the Bose keeps me company on my long drives. I put 60k miles on it and am looking forward to rolling over 200k miles with it.
The downside is a little more maintenance. My Saturn VUE was an oil change every 3-4k and good utility, but not much fun or sportiness. The only unexpected A6 failure I have had in two years has been the alternator. I also chipped the beast and expected to run into clutch problems, which I did eventually. Now even that is relatively bulletproof with the Stage 2 clutch. I would consider regular oil changes and 100k timing belts as maintenance. My wife's Mercury Villagers suggest timing belt changes too - I just didn't bother to get it done because they are disposable minivans (a 92 at 140k) and the current 99 at 110k. Other things wear out or fail and need to be replaced over time.
Yeah, Lexus and Acuras are probably more reliable. But do they give the combination of sportiness, interior and trunk space, the option of a manual tranny, and AWD. Not in any one package of which I am aware.
The most fun car I ever had was a 1974 Triumph TR6. But every couple weeks it was cleaning the spark plugs, diddling with the Strombergs, etc. The second most fun - my 2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster Ltd. But there is something special, and limiting, about convertibles. The A6 is fun all year round.
I want to chime in! My father has owned 3 Acura Legends, 1 RL, an integra and my Legend...all great cars, but kind of boring to drive. I've owned 3 Mustangs, Ford Contour SVT, Lexus GS 400 and my Audi A4. Of all the cars, I've loved my Audi the most. I just sold it last week with 107,000 miles and I hated to get rid of it. Great car, just wanted to get an A6 which I'm doing this weekend (04 2.7T 6MT). My A4 did what every other car I owned did. Needed the battery, alternator, tie rods and timing chain replaced around 100k, other than that, nothing major. Torn CV Boot at 105k and new fuel level sending unit. I'm a German, more specifically an Audi, person for life. I agree with the statement that BMW's are too pretenious and the fact that you can't get an all wheel, manual, luxury sedan that is fun to drive from the Japanese. My Lexus was nice, but boring and did put me to sleep, even with 300 hp. My 190 hp 2.8 A4 was so much fun and so solid to drive. That's all...can't wait for the A6:)
Funny how we all agree to the responses and yet I find myself sucked into this intriguing dialogue- I own '99 A6 2.8 Quattro. I bought with 23K in late 2001 with the extend warranty (thank you forum members for that advice)! I am in sales, do a lot driving and live in the Northeast, USA- My car now has 198K and I should reach 200K in July- I chose this car after focusing on AWD cars, not SUVs and the Audi clearly stood out from the pack (Subaru's- small interior, dare I say Ford, need I explain, BMW- AWD models too pricey and Infinity/Lexus- not many used AWD available). The A6 easily fits three car seats (ages 2, 5, 7) and leaves plenty of leg room too. Audi by far has the best interior, great handling and I love the styling! Now for the costly repairs: At 70K (timing belt $1200. including labor), 100K (spark plug wires and plugs, and rear axle fluid- $300- DIY), 105K "The Trifecta" (Oil Camshaft Seals (4), Crankcase seal oil leak and Value Cover Seals (2) $2900-w/ Labor- oh yeah, the leaks were so bad that the timing belt had to be replaced again), 118K Axle/tranny seal (passenger side) $250 w/ Labor and squeaky HVAC Blower (I remove blower behind the glove box, cleaned, oiled and replaced- good as new (FREE, just well spent time)- 120K (Replaced driver side Axle and Tie Rods $700) 150K, Yellow Headlight lens (they were nasty, I went AutoZone and bought headlight lens restorer kit made by Permatex, now they are renewed and refreshed the cars appearance- $15 for kit and elbow grease)-197K (Cats Replaced Direct fit-aftermarket $800 w/Labor- I am told the aftermarket cats will not last as long as the OEM from Audi, but pushing 200K I'll take my chances. Total approx $6100-OUCH! But I love the darn thing- no turning back- I heard once it’s fixed, it’s good for another 70-100K.
Now, I have never replaced the tranny fluid- I was told by my Audi Service Tech that these tranny's are not meant to be changed due to the Synthetic Fluid used and design- Is this true and should have this done now? How much is this service? There is no dipstick so you need to refill the fluid from the top of the tranny and like all Audi repairs it ain't easy to get to- Any Ideas or instructions to do this?
Well that's my long winded history- In closing, my wife and I bought our 2nd Honda Odyssey (2007), the old one had 150K and never went in the shop for repairs outside the maintenance schedule-How about Honda and Audi partner- Honda builds the engine and Audi the design?
Wow, I usually refrain from "do a search", and don't take umbrage, but there have been a lot of posts on the trans fluid issue.
Opinions vary.
For my part, I wouldn't run any synthetic fluid over 100K even under the most relaxed driving. I just did mine on my A6 and it was the color and consistency of coffee. The R&R is a bit more difficult because there is no topside provision for adding the fluid and the car needs to be level, but it should be done. There are a number of stories around about erratic shifting prompting a change a short bit before or after 100K. There's a write-up for changing it on an A8...I think its on Audiworld...essentially the same although you can tailor to your own degree of obsessiveness. I did front and rear diffs at the same time, though I haven't gotten to the gearbox at the very front of the trans yet. Looks like that one is best tackled during pass side CV boot or axle service.
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2002 Audi A6 4.2 black/tan, premium & sport. 4 SALE!! 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, OME +2, Pirellis, >sold< 1994 Ford Explorer Sport, 69K, no redeeming qualities whatsoever. 1983 Porsche 928 Euro S 5 speed, gold/brown. Rocks.
I had my atf fluid changed (4 qts) a couple months ago, at that time I also drained and refilled the rear and I believe the front differential. Is there another diff or fluid to change? On AW I was reading about needing to change the torsion fluid next to the cat, but I thought the bentley said that it shared the atf fluid. So my question is, how many diffs are there to change fluid on? The front, rear and ?
Posts: 701
Joined: 9/8/2006 From: Holland MI Status: offline
Hey, bdmstang. Not to hijack the thread, but would you be willing to share the mileage, options, and price of your 2004 2.7T MT6? Helps us understand the market prices for these babies.
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Audi A6 Life Span?? - 
RE: Audi A6 Life Span?? - 
