Well, I changed my mind on the S4 and have decided to go with an 05 A6. I drove one today and fell in love. I want an Audi Certified vehicle with around 30K on it or so with Navigation and all the goodies. I think I want the v6 and not the v8, just due to the fuel economy and I do a lot of highway driving.

My question is, is there anything specific I should look or ask for when finding an A6? If there is a sticky that addresses this, let me know. I searched, but maybe I wasn't using the right terms or something, I didn't get great results.

Thanks and great site. I can't wait to join the A6 club and start messing with mine.

well check the sticky if you go with a 2.7t its the first thread on the a6 home page... if your going for reliability go with the 2.8 a6 ... the 3.0 is ok and neither 2.8 and 3.0 can be modded to hard ... 2.7t is the way to go however be ready for maintenece and you can mod the hell outta it ... the 4.2 is the wide body nd is sexy and luxurious ... if your doing highway driving you would want the v8 your engine would be at a lower rpm and pretty economical ... so if your lookin for reliability 2.8 if you wanna mod 2.7t if you want stock power and smooth highway driving 4.2 ... let us know what ot get

Okay, now I'm just confused. I was under the impression that the 05's only came in the 3.2 V6 (which is what I drove today) or the 4.2 like the S4. Is there something I'm missing?

This is probably a dumb reason to get the 05 instead of the 04, but my final breaking point on why to go with the 05 was the dash mounted cup holder on the 04. I love the MMEI or whatever it's called on the 05 which weighed on my decision, but the dash mounted cup holder is going to cost me about 7 grand or so. I'm stupid, I know.

You are right Husker...in 05 they changed the engine to 3.2 and 4.2. I bought 06 A6 3.2 fully loaded. I love the Technology and Premium package and have amaretto leather. Depends on where you are located...I would recommend buying from Riverside Audi in NJ...they have very competitve prices and I saved a lot of money on a certified car. They ship all over US too.

Husker,

Before dealing with the pros and the cons of the 05 A6, let me say that Riverside can be hit or miss. They do a large volume in used cars but they acquire many cars at auction, including police auction, and then resell them. So be very careful and inspect the car before you purchase.

As far as your question on the 05 A6. I havean 05 4.2 that I purchased new. As far as reliability, she is ok, but she is no Lexus. Most of the problems have been nuisances.

The airbag light came on two weeks after I purchased the car. It took them 10 days to figure out the problem. Audi then came out with a TSB on updating the computer software for the airbags.

The MMI "crashed" a year after I bought the car. After having the car for 8 days, Audi wiped the hardware clean and reinstalled the MMI computer software.

The MMI had a few bugs with not updating the satellite radio stations, losing surround settings and sometimes not automatically linking with my bluetooth phone. Audi had the car for a day and updated the MMI computer software. Audi has a TSB on this issue as well.

I have written those three problems off to having a very early computer software version. To give you an idea of the number of changes in the software, my car came with MMI version 10 and now has version 33. Since being updated to MMI version 33, about a year ago, I have not had any computer issues.

As far as non-computer issues. I have had quite a few. The first was that all 8 coil packs had to be replaced. The second was the lid for the gas cap would not open from inside the car. In order to open it I had to wedge my credit card inside the lid and open it from the outside. Audi had the car for 2 days to fix these problems. The third was that the frame for the front passenger seat came loose and the entire seat had to be removed and the bolts tightened. The fourth was a rattle in the glove box area of the dashboard. The fifth was a bad tire pressure sensor. The sixth was a mildew smell from the air conditioner vents, which required the replacement of a ventilation duct. The seventh was a rattle from the rear fold down seats, which required a new clamp. The eighthisa rattle from the drivers side of the dashboard, whichrequired additional damping material. The ninth is the fuel filter recall, which required a new fuel filter. The tenth is the fuel gauge sometimes reads empty even though there is fuel in the tank, which required a computer software upgrade. The eleventh is that the transmission developed a chirping and the transmission software had to be upgraded. The twelfth is that the coolant light would come on for no reason, which required an upgraded electrical circuit. The thirteenth is that the power steering reservoir leaked, which required a revised clamp. Currently, the motorized tilt and telescoping steering column is creaking, which according to the TSB is likely a motorized belt that needs to be replaced. Similar to the computer issues discussed above,Audi has TSBs on all17 of these issues, seeming to indicate that theproblems are not isolated to just my car. Audi has also issued approximately 2 dozen other TSBs on issues that I have not experienced sinceI have the 4.2 engine instead of the 3.2 engine. In total, the 3.2 hasover 40 TSBs, whichis Audi'slingo for an unpublished recall. If you complain about these items while the car is under warranty, Audi will fix the problem for free, which sounds like a recall to me.

Despite the car being at the dealer for 22 days for repairs during the last 36 months, not maintenance, I would certainly buy the car again because the 4.2is a lot of fun to drive, especially on the highway,and the dealer gives me a loaner. However, I would check which MMI software version is currently in the car. If it is below 33, I would take it to Audi and have it updated as soon as possible. In addition, I would check the car's VIN and compare it to the Audi TSBs and see what issues you need to keep an eye on. You can get copies of the Audi TSBs at eBahn's website. While the car is still under warranty, I would make sure you complain about any issues contained on the TSBs issued for your VIN.

As far as the 3.2 engine, which I don't have, I understand that it not only suffers from the issues I discussed above, but it also suffers from oil leaks and some strange noises from the cam area. The 3.2 is also underpowered in my opinion. If you were previously looking at an S4, you may want to be looking at an engine that is more powerful than the 3.2. The 4.2 is a wonderful engine and does 23/24 mpg on the highway. Unfortunately, it only does about 14 mpg around town.

Regardless of your decision, you will enjoy driving an Audi, but you may not enjoy the maintenance. I suggest that you get an extended warranty. Good luck.

Kevin

[

Awesome information Kevin, thanks a ton. I will probably be purchasing my Audi from Molle Audi in Kansas City. It's a fairly small dealer that seems to know their stuff and don't bs you just to try to sell a car.

As far as the warranty, I am going to make sure that it's Audi Certified so I get a warranty up to 100K miles or 6 years, which would basically be 3 years from now. I am VERY conscious about noises and stuff in my cars and am not afraid to use the warranty to it's fullest. One question on the MMI, you say to make sure that it's above version 33 or whatever, but how do I check that?

As far as the motor goes, I'd love to have the 4.2, but not sure I want to spend the extra money or have two cars at home with gas sucking V8's. Our LS gets about what you are saying your 4.2 gets, it's okay on the highway, but in town it's like it's leaking out of the bottom of the tank, it's horrible.

I see where the 3.2 has 250 hp, which seems like it would be plenty of power for that size of car.

Thanks again for the post, that was very helpful. Like you said, it seems like you had more nuisance problems than major repair issues. I'll let everyone know what I pick up. I have to sell my pickup first which looks like might happen in the next few days. I'm pretty pumped about getting a car this nice though, I know that.

I just checked the ebahn website and checked on the number of TSBs issued on the 3.2. I counted191TSBs, even if I miscounted a few I think you get the idea. With that said, I would still buy my 4.2 all over again. It is a blast to drive and is a great highway car.

ORIGINAL: Husker Z

Awesome information Kevin, thanks a ton. ...

As far as the warranty, I am going to make sure that it's Audi Certified so I get a warranty up to 100K miles or 6 years, which would basically be 3 years from now. ...

One question on the MMI, you say to make sure that it's above version 33 or whatever, but how do I check that?



Glad I could help. You asked some good questions and clearly understand that with a used car, especially an Audi, its prior history and treatment is an important factor in getting a "good deal". Without a good maintenance history, and proper care, an Audi can become a very expensive car to drive no matter how little you pay to initially aquire it. Sticking with a reputable dealer and purchasing a well maintainedcar is a good start.

You should know that the American Automobile Association now offers an 8 year/120K mile all inclusive warranty, with a zero deductible, that my local Audi dealer tells me that they will accept. So dependingon how long you keep the car it may make sense. It will give you five years of coverage from today or 120K total miles, which is longer than Audi.

As far as the MMI software. After you turn on the car press theMMI "car" button, on the bottom right hand corner of the MMI screen the word "version" will pop up, press the bottom right hand MMI button and a screen will pop up. The top line will read something like "SW: C6 HU 33.6.0 0632" The numbers "33.6.0" in my example is the MMI software version.

Good luck.

I believe the 3.2lengineisrated at 265hp. That's more than the stock 2.7T (250hp) and equivalent to the 2.7T in the S-line. When stock, my 2.7T easily took the car to the electronically governed 133 mphwith power to spare. It accelerated briskly. I wouldn't call it underpowered by any means.

I can't comment on which is the better motor, but neither the 3.2 nor 4.2l will lend themselves to mods. However, you start off with @ 300hp in the 4.2l. Because it turns less rpm at highway speeds, gas consumption is comparable to the V6. Either A6 will be quiet and comfortable. I'm personally not a big fan of MMI - I like simple controls. The more complex and computer operated things are, the greater the probablility of problems. My old Saturn VUE was a basic car with little to go wrong - and little did - but it was no where as comfortable or as much fun to drive at the 2.7T.

I hope the A6 is no Lexus. That's a shopping car for old ladies.

ORIGINAL: ppgoal

I believe the 3.2lengineisrated at 265hp. That's more than the stock 2.7T (250hp) and equivalent to the 2.7T in the S-line. When stock, my 2.7T easily took the car to the electronically governed 133 mphwith power to spare. It accelerated briskly. I wouldn't call it underpowered by any means.

I can't comment on which is the better motor, but neither the 3.2 nor 4.2l will lend themselves to mods. However, you start off with @ 300hp in the 4.2l. Because it turns less rpm at highway speeds, gas consumption is comparable to the V6. Either A6 will be quiet and comfortable. I'm personally not a big fan of MMI - I like simple controls. The more complex and computer operated things are, the greater the probablility of problems. My old Saturn VUE was a basic car with little to go wrong - and little did - but it was no where as comfortable or as much fun to drive at the 2.7T.

I hope the A6 is no Lexus. That's a shopping car for old ladies.




In 2005 the 3.2 was only pushing 255 hp.It did not get the bump to 265 hpuntil 2007. Compared to the 2.7T s-line theC6has the burden of an extra 250 pounds and an automatic transmission. All of this gives the 3.2 0 to 60 timesin the 7s and quarter mile times in the 15s.With those numbers it is not exactly a race car. In fact, the 2008 6,000 pound Toyota Sequoia, which is capable of towing 10,000 pounds, goes 0-60 in 6.2 and the quarter in 14.7 according to Motor Trend. So the 3.2 is slower than an over sized "soccer mom" vehicle. That is why I say it is underpowered. I still think it is a fine vehicle, but it is not a dragster.

In 2005 the 4.2 was pushing 335 hp, not 300 hp. The old C5 was at 300 HP. In addition, by 2007 the 4.2 was at 355 hp. While it is still not a race car, it isable to hold its own.

I agree with you regarding the MMI. They have made the car so complex that my wife refers to it as driving the space shuttle. I am concerned that as it ages it is going to become a maintenance nightmare.

I am also glad thatthe A6 is not a Lexus. I have a lot more fun driving my Audi than I do driving my wife's car. But I can't ignore the fact that while my car spent over 20 days in theshop for what I described as "nuisance" repairs, that my wife's car did not spend a single day in the shop for repairs during the same period. So while I certainly enjoy driving my Audi, and would buy another one in a heartbeat, there are certainly more trouble free cars on the road.

Thanks again guys, this is all very useful information. I guess I'm not overly concerned with it being underpowered, I'm just not into that all that much. I don't really mod my motors or anything, I just like to add a few subtle personal touches to the car if I get a chance. I've never lowered a car or even did many if any engine related mods, that's just not what I'm going to be using the car for.

I'll continue to research both motors and anything A6 related. I did look at Consumer Reports and it is off the charts in every category, which is nice to see and read. I know there are going to be isolated cases of things, but when you start getting near 200 tsb's, that is a bit troubling.

I'm in no hurry at all, but I am fairly comfortable knowing that I will be purchasing an Audi as my next vehicle. I know that they require regular maintenance, just like every car, and I'm not afraid to do a little wrenching if I have the proper instructions on what I'm doing. So, I guess I'll just try to find one in my price range with the least amount of miles in the best shape, certified and with all the toys I like.

I can also appreciate the fear of getting the MMI and having more opportunity for failures, but it sure is cool. I'll see I guess, but as of right now I think I really want that. Keep the ideas coming if you think of them.

These guys have given you a good list to look at.
A few searches of this forum will give you and idea about things they might have missed.

My sugestion is that the first thingto look for is your wallet.
Once you find it, look at it carefully and find the money .
Next look at the money for a long time becauseit might be the last time you see any.

But owning an Audi is worth it.

ORIGINAL: NH_USA

But owning an Audi is worth it.




I agree completely.

ORIGINAL: NH_USA

These guys have given you a good list to look at.
A few searches of this forum will give you and idea about things they might have missed.

My sugestion is that the first thingto look for is your wallet.
Once you find it, look at it carefully and find the money .
Next look at the money for a long time becauseit might be the last time you see any.

But owning an Audi is worth it.




Do you say that because they breakdown all the time or because if something does go wrong, it costs an arm and a leg to fix? Also, as a guy who isn't afraid to tear into things himself, are they very good DIY cars?

The cost of the tranny fluid, without labor, was over $900 on my 05. So yes, Audis can be expensive to mainiain. Plus I don't think the MMI is going to be DIY friendly.

ORIGINAL: Kevin

The cost of the tranny fluid, without labor, was over $900 on my 05. So yes, Audis can be expensive to mainiain. Plus I don't think the MMI is going to be DIY friendly.


No, I'm pretty sure I won't be working on the MMI, that's for sure.

This thread is funny, it seems like everyone has a love/hate relationship with their Audi. They are great cars comfort and driving-wise, but it sounds like the reliability is in question. The reliability actually surprises me a bit. My family has had 2 5000's and a 90 and the engine and the drivetrain was as solid as can be but little things killed them, like door handles, climate control, sunroof, power windows, etc. Nothing ever major, just little things. But those cars were a 1984, 1986 (5000 CS turbo which was the funnest car I've ever driven) and a 1993 and I think Audi had some QC problems until the early 2000's, I'm surprised to hear that some of that is still there.

Well, I think I might sell my pickup tomorrow, so I need to make a decision fairly quickly. I don't want to drive my backup car, this 97 Maxima, too long.

It all comes down to money and I think A6 3.2 is a good choice. Try 2006 model...with some negotiation you can get it for below $30k (not sure if you are planning to spend less then that)

Kevin: I totally changed myperception about Riverside Audi. I had an awesome experience getting the car fixed and they gave me great service that I never expected at all. They totally blew me away...they are in volume business but they take care of customers and make sure they are happy with the purchase. They went above and beyond and fixed some exterior hair line scratches that I never asked them to fix. My car looks awesome inside and outside.

An Audi will nickle and dime you to death if your not careful. It is the cost ofgoing to dealers and getting parts.Thigs are just more expensive. Additionally it is hard to find someone that really knows about the cars. If it were not for places like Audi Forums etc I'm sure a lot more Audi's would be put put out to pasture. In my opinion having a good souce of new and used parts is critcal for the DIY's.

I absolutly love my 89-200QT but it is getting near the end of it's life at 350K miles. It has real character and can run circles around everything else I own except for the HPRS-- I drive 100 miles a day and it is the vehicle I would rather drive but the little things have finally caught up - The current list of 2do is front half shaft, mufler, vacuum lines, plugs/wires, 2 window switches, AC needs charging again, and a few small electrical issues. Any one or two isn't bad but the list is too long and I don't have time.

My 97 A6 Avant is OK but not the 200.. I use Chris Semple at Force Five Automotive in Concord NH for most of my parts because they are better than Autozone stuff and he has good prices. I also get used stuff from him when it is appropriate. There are a few other places that are good but if you are a DIYer you need to find them soon.

ORIGINAL: NH_USA

An Audi will nickle and dime you to death if your not careful. It is the cost ofgoing to dealers and getting parts.Thigs are just more expensive. Additionally it is hard to find someone that really knows about the cars. If it were not for places like Audi Forums etc I'm sure a lot more Audi's would be put put out to pasture. In my opinion having a good souce of new and used parts is critcal for the DIY's.



That pretty much somes it up.

ORIGINAL: Kevin

ORIGINAL: NH_USA

An Audi will nickle and dime you to death if your not careful. It is the cost ofgoing to dealers and getting parts.Thigs are just more expensive. Additionally it is hard to find someone that really knows about the cars. If it were not for places like Audi Forums etc I'm sure a lot more Audi's would be put put out to pasture. In my opinion having a good souce of new and used parts is critcal for the DIY's.



That pretty much somes it up.


Well, with the internet for parts and having a little ability myself along with a very good mechanic that I'm pretty tight with, I think I am going to go ahead and pursue it. I just absolutely fell in love with the car when I drove it, plus I loved our old 5000's even though they were mid 80's, they were way ahead of their time, even then.

I don't think I can swing an 06, I'm wanting to spend around 26-27 and I'd like to get one with less than 30K miles on it, so I think I'm about where I need to be.

ORIGINAL: Husker Z


Well, with the internet for parts and having a little ability myself along with a very good mechanic that I'm pretty tight with, I think I am going to go ahead and pursue it. I just absolutely fell in love with the car when I drove it, plus I loved our old 5000's even though they were mid 80's, they were way ahead of their time, even then.

I don't think I can swing an 06, I'm wanting to spend around 26-27 and I'd like to get one with less than 30K miles on it, so I think I'm about where I need to be.

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You will love the car. I am older than many of the people on the forum and was able to buy my 4.2 brand new. I am also not economically scared by the cost of the dealer. But it isthe first time in my "gray hair life" that everyone in a service department knows me by name, and recognizes me around town.On the plus side, I love mycar and I get to "road test all the loaners" every time mine is in for service. Between regular maintenance and the service issues, I think I have driven nearly every Audi model. I have certainly driven the 3.2 for every year from 2005 to 2008.

Believe it or not, an06 3.2 with less than 30K miles is pretty easy to getfor close to $27K. In the real world it did not hold its value very well. I just spent less than three minutes on the internet and found"certified" 06 3.2s atAudi dealers withasking prices of as little as $24,900. With negotiation it can probably be had for less than $23K. I also found four other 06 3.2s,each with less than 30,000 miles, being sold by Audi dealers, not private sales, withasking prices of less than $30,000. Again in the real world, these $30,000 asking prices will probably get a real price of about $27K. So the $27K budgetis not an obstacle to getting an 06 3.2.

As I said, I have driven the 3.2s from 05, 06, 07 and 08 as loaners, and notwithstanding that you could easily purchase an 06 3.2 for $27K, I would pass on both the 06 and buying any carfrom one of the high volume used car mills advertising on the internet. Even if you were to take a chance on one of these dealers, and they can be pretty hit and miss, the 05 will still be less expensive.By the way the 06 has the same engine as the 05.Audidid tweakthe suspension in the 06, which gave the car adifferent ride. But by 07, Audi, realizing the issue, tweakedthe suspension again, making its ride more comparable to the 05 in my opinion. Audi alsobeefed up the 3.2 engine in 2007. As a result, the 06 isthe middle child missing both the stronger engine of the 07 and the ride of the 05 and the 07. Depending on economics, if I were buying used I would go with either the 05 or the 07. Obviously, I am partial to the 4.2, but they are sometimes tough to find and are more expensive. By the way, my05 rides similar to the brand new 08, though the 08 seems to sit a little higher.

Good luck and I am sure you will enjoy your A6.

Thanks a ton guys, if the forum is as helpful when you have an issue as it has been for me researching the A6, I think I'll be pretty happy with everything.

One thing you guys have 100% convinced me of is that I need to make sure I get a car that is certified to get the 100K mile warranty. I will use it to it's fullest.

Thanks again everyone.

A 100,000 mile warantee guarantees that it wil break at 100,001 miles [X(]

ORIGINAL: NH_USA

A 100,000 mile warantee guarantees that it wil break at 100,001 miles [X(]


Oh yeah, I'm very aware of that rule. But, it'll give me about 70,000 miles to save up for whatever it is that breaks.

One more question, does the MMI in the 05 allow for an iPod hookup?

You can buy it after market and install it yourself or use Best buy or something. Audi sells it too but its really expensive. Also, you can search forum for ipod and will find plenty of discussions on that.

ORIGINAL: Husker Z

One more question, does the MMI in the 05 allow for an iPod hookup?


Denison makes anaftermarket ipod adapter. People seem to be happy with it and it works through the MMI. I am not sure about the price, but is it significantly less than the Audi adapter which runs over $1,200.

ORIGINAL: Kevin

ORIGINAL: Husker Z

One more question, does the MMI in the 05 allow for an iPod hookup?


Denison makes anaftermarket ipod adapter. People seem to be happy with it and it works through the MMI. I am not sure about the price, but is it significantly less than the Audi adapter which runs over $1,200.


$1200!! Holy crap, that's crazy. I'll do a search and see what I can come up with.

Thanks again.

Just an FYI to everyone, I think every post I searched for called it Denison and that's not right, it's DenSIon, the i and the s are flipped. I just noticed that on the website.

ORIGINAL: Husker Z

Just an FYI to everyone, I think every post I searched for called it Denison and that's not right, it's DenSIon, the i and the s are flipped. I just noticed that on the website.


I must be dyslexic.:D