A6 Buying Advice?
 

I'm currently driving a 2000 BMW 528i 5-speed/sport package, with over 220,000 miles on the clock. The 528 has been a great car, but I'm getting tired of the sport suspension and the harsher ride, noise, feeling every joint in the pavement, etc. I've been a regular reader of the Tech Talk column in the BMWCCA magazine, and it appears that the newer model BMW's have developed a reputation for difficult and much more expensive maintenance requirements. I'm thinking seriously about replacing it with an Audi A6 this fall. Might look for a used 2008-2010 or maybe buy new.

Is there a resource on this web site that gives some background on this topic - how to live with an A6 and what its potential maintenance and operation strengths and weaknesses might be? Are maintenance manuals available for the recent A6's so I can do some of my own minor work?

Thanks.

Try Consumer's Reports. Just look at the relative ranking of the A6. Dead last. You have been warned!

Bob

Bob, do you own an A6?

"reputation for difficult and expensive maintenance"

pretty much any car in this class, be it a bimmer, a merc or an audi is going to have this issue.

this and other audi forums are pretty good if you are handy with a wrench and have a penchant for DIY.

if you are looking for something more "hassel free" get one of those disposable jap econoboxes. When it has a problem just throw it out and get a new one.

All used cars, not only A6, have potential of big problems depending if the former owners abuse it or not.

The best advice I can give is
AA Test drive it yourself, if satified goto BB
BB Find an Audi specialized indipendent garage to have pre-purchase inspection (+- 80.00) before negotiating the price or any further decision after you saw the report of how clean the car is, and any big ticket items to take care of.

Thanks to all for the ongoing input. I too like the lines of the A6 and the quiet ride, better rear seat legroom. Have had a good experience with the wife's 2002 TT Turbo Quattro Roadster, but only 33,000 miles on it. May wait to see what the front of the 2012 A6 looks like before making a decision.

- Great car
- You know exactly what's in it
I know it's in our nature to grow bored or tired of our cars after a while...we always want something else...
Have you ever considered just replacing the sport-tuned suspension with something else more forgiving?
Unless you want to get into a 2008+ yr model with not so many miles on it, it's like trading a still working hard donkey for probably a mule.
However, nothing beats the enjoyment of not knowing what you buy and wrenching on it while still emptying the dowry chest.

Thanks for the suggestion Chefro!
 

I hadn't thought about curing the perceived ills of the 528. But the clutch has about 125,000 miles on it, will be needing to be replaced soon at a cost of around $1,200. The alternator, A/C compressor, starter and P/S pump are all original and I can't imagine them going 300,000 miles without replacement. That's got to be worth $800 each at BMW prices - so another $3,200. So to face $5,500 in foreseeable maintenance over the next 75,000 miles, it makes it tough to add another $4,000 in suspension work to calm down the car's road manners. So I ponder and consider the options. Is it worth investing $7,500 in a car that's worth about $3,500 on the market? (But still fits like a favorite pair of shoes.)

Well, ALL the prices you listed are at the stealership and it sounds like you don't do much work on your car.
In this case, I do apologise for my suggestion: Hell I either wouldn't inject $ 7500 in a car worth half of that, no matter if the basting in the injection would made it look and run like a royal turkey.
If my name was Jay Leno :) on the other hand and money was no impeding object, then ....