What to look for when buying an A6
#1
07-02-2010, 07:50 PM
What to look for when buying an A6
Hey guys, Im new. I am looking for a 05-06 Audi A6 quattro (3.2) and I've never owned a german car before. I would like to know if there's anything specific I should look for or examine when choosing. I'd like to have a black exterior and a mocha interior (or black leather). I haven't really found anything wrong with them on on consumer reports or anything. My dad is worried about em buying one and told me to do some research and here I am haha. I travel about 600-700 miles a month. and am trying to find one thats about 60k miles for maybe around 16-17 grand. Does that sound about right? And I tried searching all over google, can someone tell me what the different packages mean? Like the winter package. Our winters are bad and was wondering what that was.
UPDATE:
I am going to look at the car this week. What do you think I should off? Here's the ad.
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1838508536.html
HIS MMI IS ANCIENT OLD. READ BELOW. WHAT SHOULD I OFFER?
I appreciate it, thank you. Josh
UPDATE:
I am going to look at the car this week. What do you think I should off? Here's the ad.
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1838508536.html
HIS MMI IS ANCIENT OLD. READ BELOW. WHAT SHOULD I OFFER?
I appreciate it, thank you. Josh
Last edited by jdaudi; 07-17-2010 at 08:54 PM.
#2
07-02-2010, 09:56 PM
I may be the worst person to respond to this, but first and foremost ask yourself TWO main questions:
1) Do I have the necessary money to spend on every little faulty crap and maintenance AT the DEALER? (Your dad's reaction when hearing about Audi may mean something...)
2) Do I have the necessary guts and mechanical inclination to do the maintenance and replacements/repairs myself?
If you give yourself realistic answers to these two questions, then nothing can really stop you from owning an Audi. These cars are "prestigious", "head turners", "luxurious", bla, bla, bla, but finicky and sometimes worse than a shopaholic wife or girlfriend.
Give them what they need (either expensive or less expensive) and you can ride them hard (until you develop transmission problems).
Other than that: look for Maintenance RECORDS, oil/fluids leaks underneath, definitely no CEL (Check Engine Light) on, no strange noise(s) when turning, no shifting hesitation, and all the electronics should be on par.
Good luck
1) Do I have the necessary money to spend on every little faulty crap and maintenance AT the DEALER? (Your dad's reaction when hearing about Audi may mean something...)
2) Do I have the necessary guts and mechanical inclination to do the maintenance and replacements/repairs myself?
If you give yourself realistic answers to these two questions, then nothing can really stop you from owning an Audi. These cars are "prestigious", "head turners", "luxurious", bla, bla, bla, but finicky and sometimes worse than a shopaholic wife or girlfriend.
Give them what they need (either expensive or less expensive) and you can ride them hard (until you develop transmission problems).
Other than that: look for Maintenance RECORDS, oil/fluids leaks underneath, definitely no CEL (Check Engine Light) on, no strange noise(s) when turning, no shifting hesitation, and all the electronics should be on par.
Good luck
#3
07-02-2010, 10:14 PM
I may be the worst person to respond to this, but first and foremost ask yourself TWO main questions:
1) Do I have the necessary money to spend on every little faulty crap and maintenance AT the DEALER? (Your dad's reaction when hearing about Audi may mean something...)
2) Do I have the necessary guts and mechanical inclination to do the maintenance and replacements/repairs myself?
If you give yourself realistic answers to these two questions, then nothing can really stop you from owning an Audi. These cars are "prestigious", "head turners", "luxurious", bla, bla, bla, but finicky and sometimes worse than a shopaholic wife or girlfriend.
Give them what they need (either expensive or less expensive) and you can ride them hard (until you develop transmission problems).
Other than that: look for Maintenance RECORDS, oil/fluids leaks underneath, definitely no CEL (Check Engine Light) on, no strange noise(s) when turning, no shifting hesitation, and all the electronics should be on par.
Good luck
1) Do I have the necessary money to spend on every little faulty crap and maintenance AT the DEALER? (Your dad's reaction when hearing about Audi may mean something...)
2) Do I have the necessary guts and mechanical inclination to do the maintenance and replacements/repairs myself?
If you give yourself realistic answers to these two questions, then nothing can really stop you from owning an Audi. These cars are "prestigious", "head turners", "luxurious", bla, bla, bla, but finicky and sometimes worse than a shopaholic wife or girlfriend.
Give them what they need (either expensive or less expensive) and you can ride them hard (until you develop transmission problems).
Other than that: look for Maintenance RECORDS, oil/fluids leaks underneath, definitely no CEL (Check Engine Light) on, no strange noise(s) when turning, no shifting hesitation, and all the electronics should be on par.
Good luck
Plus, I love Audi's. I ran my own car detailing business and have drove a lot of them. (A4 stick 2004 was pretty fun) They are nice and can look great with some TLC.
I know VWs have to have their timing belt changed every 80k (at least what i heard) is that true with these as well?
#4
07-03-2010, 09:22 AM
I have pasted in two of my earlier posts, which I have slightly revised and updated.
I have an 05 4.2 that I purchased new slightly more than 5 years ago. She currently has 72k on the odometer. As far as reliability, she is ok, but she is no Lexus. But she is alot of fun to drive. Most of the problems have been nuisances.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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. I understand that there is now a version 41 that is available. Since my MMI has been stable with version 33 I have not upgraded to 41. From fellow Audi owners I understand that the differences between 33 and 41 are negligible.
As far as non-computer issues. I have had quite a few.
1. All 8 coil packs had to be replaced.
2. 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.
3. The frame for the front passenger seat came loose and the entire seat had to be removed and the bolts tightened.
4. A rattle in the glove box area of the dashboard that required installation of additional insulation.
5. A bad tire pressure sensor had to be replaced.
6. A mildew smell from the air conditioner vents, which required the replacement of a ventilation duct.
7. A rattle from the rear fold down seats, which required a new clamp.
8. A rattle from the driver’s side of the dashboard, which required additional damping material.
9. The fuel-filter recall, which required a new fuel filter.
10. The fuel gauge started reading empty even though there is fuel in the tank, which required a computer software upgrade.
11. The transmission developed a chirping and the transmission software had to be upgraded.
12. The low coolant light would come on for no reason, which required an upgraded electrical circuit.
13. The power steering reservoir leaked and completely emptied itself, which required a revised clamp.
14. The front brakes developed a vibration at slow speeds and the brake caliper seals had to be replaced due to a re-design.
15. The motor for the power tilt/telescoping steering wheel had to be replaced because of a groaning noise.
16. The MMI **** fell off.
17. The motor for the rear power sunshade had to be replaced because that motor was groaning and clicking.
18. The coolant temperature gauge stopped working and the sensor had to be replaced.
19. The trunk latch ceased working and had to be replaced due to a redesign of the latch.
20. The adaptive headlight malfunction light came on and the dealer had to upgrade the software for the adaptive lights.
21. The air bag light came on and the rear air bag sensor had to be replaced for a second time.
22. The Parktronic broke and the speaker had to be replaced.
23. The coolant gauge broke again and the sensor had to be replaced.
24. The coolant gauge broke yet again and the thermostat had to be replaced.
25. The gas struts for the trunk were replaced.
26. The air bag light came on and rear air bag sensor had to be replaced for a third time.
27. The LED unit had to be replaced in the rear right because the brake and turn signal light would fail to fire.
28. The coil packs were replaced under recall.
Similar to the computer issues discussed above, Audi has TSBs on nearly all of these issues, seeming to indicate that the problems are not isolated to just my car. Audi has also issued dozens of other TSBs on issues that I have not experienced since I have the 4.2 engine instead of the 3.2 engine. In total, the 3.2 has over 200 TSBs. 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 over 45 days for repairs during the last 65 months, not maintenance, I would certainly buy the car again because the 4.2 is alot 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. The dealer will probably give you the car's maintenance records. While the car is still under warranty, I would make sure you complain about any issues contained on the TSBs issued for your VIN. If you are buying an aftermarket warranty I would get an exclusionary warranty that your local Audi dealer accepts.
Despite the issues with the car, I think that it is a great driving car. However, keep in mind that I am an original owner who paid close to $60,000 for my daily driver and who according to my wife is the President of the "More Money than Brains" club. For example, changing the transmission fluid costs over a $1,000 just for the fluid (the fluid is $57 per liter), not including labor. Also keep in mind that the 55,000 mile service is the "major" service for the car. If money is an issue, you may want to look for a car that is cheaper to "maintain". Regardless of your decision, you will enjoy driving an Audi, but you may not enjoy the maintenance. Good luck.
Kevin
Here is my post in response to a related topic:
I am afraid that Audi has TSBs on every one of the problems that I experienced indicating that I am not alone with these issues. As far as not hearing about these issues on the forum, I point out that I am one of the few original C6 owners on the forum with the corresponding 5 years of experience in owning one of these cars. I doubt that when these cars are purchased used that the original owners are so honest with the buyers. In contrast to my 5 years of experience, many of the C6 owners on this forum only have a few months of experience with the "maintenance" on these cars. With that said, I think that the C6 is a great driving car and is alot of fun on the highway. I would also buy it all over again. You just need to make sure that you are carrying some type of warranty coverage.
Kevin
I have an 05 4.2 that I purchased new slightly more than 5 years ago. She currently has 72k on the odometer. As far as reliability, she is ok, but she is no Lexus. But she is alot of fun to drive. Most of the problems have been nuisances.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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. I understand that there is now a version 41 that is available. Since my MMI has been stable with version 33 I have not upgraded to 41. From fellow Audi owners I understand that the differences between 33 and 41 are negligible.
As far as non-computer issues. I have had quite a few.
1. All 8 coil packs had to be replaced.
2. 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.
3. The frame for the front passenger seat came loose and the entire seat had to be removed and the bolts tightened.
4. A rattle in the glove box area of the dashboard that required installation of additional insulation.
5. A bad tire pressure sensor had to be replaced.
6. A mildew smell from the air conditioner vents, which required the replacement of a ventilation duct.
7. A rattle from the rear fold down seats, which required a new clamp.
8. A rattle from the driver’s side of the dashboard, which required additional damping material.
9. The fuel-filter recall, which required a new fuel filter.
10. The fuel gauge started reading empty even though there is fuel in the tank, which required a computer software upgrade.
11. The transmission developed a chirping and the transmission software had to be upgraded.
12. The low coolant light would come on for no reason, which required an upgraded electrical circuit.
13. The power steering reservoir leaked and completely emptied itself, which required a revised clamp.
14. The front brakes developed a vibration at slow speeds and the brake caliper seals had to be replaced due to a re-design.
15. The motor for the power tilt/telescoping steering wheel had to be replaced because of a groaning noise.
16. The MMI **** fell off.
17. The motor for the rear power sunshade had to be replaced because that motor was groaning and clicking.
18. The coolant temperature gauge stopped working and the sensor had to be replaced.
19. The trunk latch ceased working and had to be replaced due to a redesign of the latch.
20. The adaptive headlight malfunction light came on and the dealer had to upgrade the software for the adaptive lights.
21. The air bag light came on and the rear air bag sensor had to be replaced for a second time.
22. The Parktronic broke and the speaker had to be replaced.
23. The coolant gauge broke again and the sensor had to be replaced.
24. The coolant gauge broke yet again and the thermostat had to be replaced.
25. The gas struts for the trunk were replaced.
26. The air bag light came on and rear air bag sensor had to be replaced for a third time.
27. The LED unit had to be replaced in the rear right because the brake and turn signal light would fail to fire.
28. The coil packs were replaced under recall.
Similar to the computer issues discussed above, Audi has TSBs on nearly all of these issues, seeming to indicate that the problems are not isolated to just my car. Audi has also issued dozens of other TSBs on issues that I have not experienced since I have the 4.2 engine instead of the 3.2 engine. In total, the 3.2 has over 200 TSBs. 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 over 45 days for repairs during the last 65 months, not maintenance, I would certainly buy the car again because the 4.2 is alot 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. The dealer will probably give you the car's maintenance records. While the car is still under warranty, I would make sure you complain about any issues contained on the TSBs issued for your VIN. If you are buying an aftermarket warranty I would get an exclusionary warranty that your local Audi dealer accepts.
Despite the issues with the car, I think that it is a great driving car. However, keep in mind that I am an original owner who paid close to $60,000 for my daily driver and who according to my wife is the President of the "More Money than Brains" club. For example, changing the transmission fluid costs over a $1,000 just for the fluid (the fluid is $57 per liter), not including labor. Also keep in mind that the 55,000 mile service is the "major" service for the car. If money is an issue, you may want to look for a car that is cheaper to "maintain". Regardless of your decision, you will enjoy driving an Audi, but you may not enjoy the maintenance. Good luck.
Kevin
Here is my post in response to a related topic:
I am afraid that Audi has TSBs on every one of the problems that I experienced indicating that I am not alone with these issues. As far as not hearing about these issues on the forum, I point out that I am one of the few original C6 owners on the forum with the corresponding 5 years of experience in owning one of these cars. I doubt that when these cars are purchased used that the original owners are so honest with the buyers. In contrast to my 5 years of experience, many of the C6 owners on this forum only have a few months of experience with the "maintenance" on these cars. With that said, I think that the C6 is a great driving car and is alot of fun on the highway. I would also buy it all over again. You just need to make sure that you are carrying some type of warranty coverage.
Kevin
#6
07-03-2010, 11:48 AM
Hondas are junk and made fun of out here. So pretty much if you have some type of warranty your good? My pick for a car was either between this audi or a 350z. I chose the audi but everyones making me almost second guess myself. I seen on consumer reports and everything this car has a 10 out of 10 on everything, I am surprised they have this many problems. So I should look for the software versions of everything, and that will end most of my problems?
#9
07-03-2010, 12:53 PM
Just noticed you already posted this in our original post, guess I should pay more attention.
Anyways, I think so long as you care for the car and treat it well, you'll be fine. The 3.2 is a newer engine compared to the 2.8/2.7/4.2... but seems reliable. If you set aside 1000.00 a year for repairs, you'll be just fine.
The C6(2005+) a6's have timing chains, so no more belt changing.
The cold weather package on the C5 (which I own) includes: heated mirrors, heated rear seats in addition to the front, ski bag and heater washer nozzles. I know there are heated steering wheels, but don't know if that's part of the CWP (cold weather package). If my car has it, it doesn't work.
Anyways, I think so long as you care for the car and treat it well, you'll be fine. The 3.2 is a newer engine compared to the 2.8/2.7/4.2... but seems reliable. If you set aside 1000.00 a year for repairs, you'll be just fine.
The C6(2005+) a6's have timing chains, so no more belt changing.
The cold weather package on the C5 (which I own) includes: heated mirrors, heated rear seats in addition to the front, ski bag and heater washer nozzles. I know there are heated steering wheels, but don't know if that's part of the CWP (cold weather package). If my car has it, it doesn't work.
#10
07-03-2010, 01:02 PM
Thats okay haha. I'm a network administrator and I baby everything of mine like an old man with his buick. Are there any other packages? Like a "summer" package? I'm just trying to get a feel for this audi transition. And does the timing chain need to be changed every 80k like a vw?