I have A6 3.2 auto, and have suspicion that it is taking too long to reach operating temperature. Outside temperatures are in range of -5 to -15 C. I drive to work in urban environment about 15 - 20 minutes, and it barely reaches one bar on scale. If I drive longer, it will eventually get to half scale mark, where it should be. Car is also very sluggish for first five minutes, part due to slow shifting, and I assume due to low engine temp. I would like to know other people's experience with similar models. Thermostat is not that easy to replace, would rather not if this is normal. Also on last full tank it barely made 400kms (used 67 liters).

Thank you!

 

It doesn't sound too far off. At low speeds (low engine load) it'll take longer because the engine simply doesn't produce enough heat to warm the coolant. Generally, if it does get to normal temp in cold weather after driving far enough, the t-stat is most likely OK. You may want to try driving in sport mode or a lower gear so you've got more engine rpm which equals more heat produced.
Also, if the ECM detects it's taking too long to warm up it'll set a trouble code. It "knows" that at a certain ambient temp at a certain engine load (etc...) it should take "X" amount of time to get to "Y" coolant temp.
Cold weather mileage, especially if yours is a Quattro will be significantly less than in warm weather. Just think, only 6 more months and that warm weather will be back! lol

 

Id start with looking for codes. I've got to A6 Avants, both 2.8l and neither of them are "sluggish" first thing in the morning with cold weather.

I get that it may not heat up as quickly, common for any vehicle.

Start with the codes -

When was the last time you had a tranny flush?

 

There are no codes. To my knowledge, trans flush was never done. The car has some 80,000 miles, should not have too much trouble with the fluid. May be just the way it is (poor engine thermal management). Coming from 2006 BMW 330i, Audi is much slower to warm up, but than BMW uses electric coolant and oil pump, speed of which is controlled by ECU and engine requirements, not by rpm. (coolant circulates very slowly when motor is cold, hence very fast warm up and fuel economy).

 

On the tranny side, you are past the life of the fluid, despite what ever Audi says. Rule of thumb for most car manufactures, change the fluid in the tranny every 3-5 years or 30-50 000 miles.