I am considering the purchase of a 2006 A6 with just shy of 50,000 miles; it is at 49,xxx miles. I have an A4, 2006, with 22,000 miles, but I would rather have the A6. This A6 is in the color I want and very nice, aside from the miles.

A question. Given proper care and scheduled maintence, what sort of life span can be reasonably expected from one of these cars? Are these 200,000 mile cars, or considerably less? I debate on how big a thing it is to give up the 30,000 miles extra — relatively speaking — that the A6 has on it. This car has the typical V6 in it.

Thoughts?

 

I have an 05 4.2 with 42,000 miles. The car still drives the way it did day one. Mechanically, with proper maintenance,I expect the car could make it into the 150,000 to 200,000 mile range before becoming uneconomical to maintain. I note that there are several Audis with the 4.2 engine on ebay that are in this mileage range. The big unknown is the electronics, and in particluar the MMI hardware and software. I had several electrical/MMI issues back in 2005 and 2006, that caused the car to be at the dealer for 18 days because of various idiot lights and the MMI system being inoperative. The dealer had to update the airbag software, the fuel system software and most of all the MMI software. The MMI software started at version 10.5 in my car and is now at version 33.6. The good news is that after all of these updates the car has not had a single "electrical/computer" issue in the last 18 months. However, I am concerned that if something is going to keep this car from achieving a nice long life it is going to be a computer system that needs to be replaced.

 

If the MMI did not work, could you use the vehicle? Are there controls only available through the MMI?

Does this also mean that an A4, with no MMI, would be better? .....or a pre-MMI A6?

I admit, the Star Wars electronics are worrisome.

 

The MMI controls the telephone, radio, cd player and navigation system. The rest of the car remined operable. Of course I had a business meeting 150 miles from home so I got to drive several hours in complete silence.

 

If you believe Consumer Reports, Audi improved their quality for the A6 from 2006 on. Mechanically, the car should be very reliable given maintenance and care. You've seen the comments on the electronics. I like the simplicity (if you can call it that) of my Bose system - just simple buttons where the worst thing is the paint wearing off.

I have just under 115k on mine and other than an alternator, it's been fine.

 

It's not so much the car itself as the owner. If you take care of it and make sure to nip little problems in the bud when you see them, or even suspect them, the car will last asl ong as you want it to.