For any of you that own or have owned a 2001-2002 Audi A6, preferably with the 2.7 BiTurbo engine;

How much trouble is this car to maintain? Does it have a high Incidence of Repair? What are some of the known faults that the car sees? (i.e. peeling door handles, fading instrument clusters that are seen in other Audis).

My father will be in the market in the future and I want to see if the Audi A6 is something he should look into. He likes to have some power, and luxury too.. but on a budget because he's an old-time guy and doesnt think anything these days is worth what it costs, so he wont spend big bucks on a car.

Right now he owns a 1995 BMW 740i at 85k miles. When it hits 90k miles I'm sure he'll be ready for a newer car. He isn't so sure about buying an Audi because he believes that Audis are high maintanence cars. Should he stick with BMW or go Audi?

Thanks for your help!

 

The 2.7 is a very high maintainance engine. The 3.0 and the 4.2 are much more reliable engines.

 

anyone else have any opinions on the car? How does the 4.2 do for all of you? The 3.0 isn't under consideration.

 

got a 4.2 in a A6 sport widebody......
this is one of the best engines on the planet......
see this years Wards automotive 10 best list.....
my 4.2 is low maintanance, and regardless that the 2.7 guys say has a ton of potential, hell the 4.2 in the RS4 is 414 HP........
and anyway the 4.2 widebody is the sharpest looking audi this side if a RS.......


It's no secret there are a lot of premium V-8s out there. BMW, Cadillac, Lexus, Infiniti. Even safety-first Volvo Car Corp. has a V-8.

In fact, some say development has converged to the point where the world's premium V-8s – as a group, those generally of 5L displacement or less – are all but indistinguishable.

Not so with Audi AG's superb 4.2L DOHC V-8. The reasons Audi's V-8 returns for a third consecutive 10 Best Engines award are manifest, most having to do with the “character� said to be lacking from modern-day V-8s.

First, but probably not foremost, are the sounds. Ward's judges' appreciation continues unabated for the basso exhaust aria of the Audi V-8 as performed in the S4 sport sedan.

“Totally intoxicating,� says one editor. “When a V-8 is done right – and the Audi V-8 is terribly, terribly right – there's no better sound from any engine layout.�

From the moment one fires it up until the key is twisted to shut down, this engine engulfs vehicle occupants in a 3-ring circus of aural delight.

Next, and probably foremost, is what must be the Audi V-8's official motto: “Torque: There is no substitute.� We know almost every other premium V-8 fronts higher torque numbers. But a dozen years of 10 Best Engines competitions has taught us a few pound-feet one way or the other does not always tell the story.

Although competitors also have peaks at lower rpm, with Audi's V-8, prodigious torque always seems to be at the ready. If the engine's aluminum block were sufficiently porous, torque would ooze like sap from a maple.

Access to the power is enhanced in the S4 by the manual transmission few competitors offer, but it is also the engine's intrinsic light-flywheel sensation that augments the ever-flowing torque output.

And to us, nothing says “fine machinery� like a V-8 with a power peak of 7,000 rpm. Where many V-8s are ready to pack it in, the Audi 4.2L DOHC V-8 is still snarling, heading for the high-strung power peak that is so unusual and so addictive for a V-8 of any type.

Finally, there is the price. Many of the previously mentioned competitors are fine engines, but come only in vehicles priced out of the reach of buyers with normal means.

The Audi 4.2L mill is one of the few premium V-8s that can be had in a vehicle with a base price (barely) less than the $52,500 10 Best Engines price cap – demonstrating how exclusive this club can be.

Judges' Comments

McClellan: Wonderful engine, great gearbox, terrific car. What's not to like?

Winter: Buttery-smooth torque, perfect sound, exceedingly well mannered at low speed. This engine turns a good car into a great one.

Murphy: 14 mpg the only drawback – I can make an exception.

Visnic: Almost no sense of reciprocating mass – amazing.

Audi AG 4.2L DOHC V-8

Engine type: 4.2L DOHC 90° V-8

Displacement (cc): 4,163

Block/head material: aluminum/aluminum

Bore x stroke (mm): 84.5 x 92.8

Horsepower (SAE net): 340 @ 7,000 rpm

Torque: 302 lb.-ft. (409 Nm) @ 3,500 rpm

Specific output: 81 hp/L

Compression ratio: 11:1

Fuel economy for tested vehicle (EPA city/highway mpg): 15/21

Application tested: S4 sedan

bvisnic@primediabusiness.com

 

thats an excellent reply. This engine sounds good for my Dad. He has a 740i right now with a 4.0 V8 that lacks Torque. Its a powerful and strong sounding engine (282hp) but it just doesnt go anywhere b/c the torque is non-existent. Thanks for that reply

 

anyone else have anything to say about the reliability and their experiences with an a6 2.7t/4.2?

 

Hi

I’m an owner of a 2000 model A6 2.7 T and can say the following:

1. Engine and turbo are least of my concerns and provide plenty of power when needed.
2. I had No problems except for my water pump that was replaced on 70 000 mils (We work in Km)
3. Peeling door handles, fading instrument clusters definitely an Audi problem
4. I have 90 000 mils on the clock and are starting to experience a light jitter when the gearbox moves from 2nd to 1st. (I’m told this is also an Audi tiptronic problem.

5. Very nice car!

Hope this helps

PS: Had no excessive maintenance cost till now.

 

I have driiven the a6 2.7 and currently own the a6 4.2. I didnt own the 2.7 long enough to know what problems there were. The only problems on the 4.2 that I have encountered were 1) rear window shade motor - this is momre of an inconvienence, because i never use it. --cost - $280-- 2) vacuum pump hose - when the mechanic took it out and showed it to me, it was shreaded. Originally, he thought it was the vacuum pump itself and installed a new one. --cost - hose-very cheap-, vacuum pump - $250-- 3) warping of the rotors - the mechanic said i might need new rotors, but i have not fixed it yet. These are the only problems i have on my 4.2. I love this car. I would definitely recommend the 4.2 rather than the 2.7. I have a 2001 with 36k miles on it. Its got the fender flares, that sets it apart from the 2.7 and the 3.0. Mine also has the rs6 spoiler on it. Only thing is, I have a lead foot and like to drive fast. That includes speeding up to a red light. The car is supposed to get 17 mpg, but the way i drive in the city, I get about 13 mpg. Its got a huge gas tank, I think 18 gallon. When i fill it up with premium from shell, on empty, it costs me $50-$60 when its about $2.50-$2.75 per gallon. I get about 250 miles out of it.

I have it up for sale though on autotrader for 23k. trying to get the new a6 4.2. This is gonna hit my pocketbook pretty hard.

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thanks for the good replies guys! Sounds like A6's definately don't have much of a maintanence issue. A couple of things here or there possibly, but that's it. I appreciate the input!