Anyone got an S6 ?

[windsorrob]

Currently running a 5 series BMW but thinking of a change and I like the look of the S6 avant, or possibly the 'normal' 4.2 avant. I haven't any experience of these and wondered if anyone here has ? What they're like to drive, running costs, service intervals, any points at which big services are due and hence best not to buy just before etc... any major issues to look out for ? Also they seem fairly rare - I have seen a couple for sale at Fontain Independant Audi - both now have sold flags on them ? Are they sought after motors that would be easy to resell if I wished to in a year or so ?

Any info appreciated, cheers.

[Beau]

I've just bought one of those from Fontain - the silver 02 one.

I've had Imprezas for the past 7 years (currently got my STI Wagon up for sale) but needed a larger car due to daughter! Also fancied something a bit classier! Couldn't stretch to an RS6 so thought I'd try and S6. The first S6 I tested left me hugely disapointed. It was well overpriced from a main stealer and the steering was atrocious - no feeling or feedback whatsoever. Tested a 540i Touring (50bhp less) and that set me thinking about trying to find an Alpina B10 V8 Touring. The only problem is they've only made 14 RHD ever so even rarer than an S6. Amazingly there happened to be 2 up for sale so I tested them both. The have the same bhp as the S6, more toys and to be honest sharper handling and feedback. Decided I ought to test another S6 just to see if the first one had been a dog. Turned out it was the fact it had Servotronic steering. Without the feedback and steering is so much improved. In the end I went with the S6 as the cost I was able to get it for it was better value than either of the B10's which were older and higher mileage (plus the nappa leather is soooo soft it was quite dirty on both B10s).
Insurance on the S6 was cheaper than the B10 too - got it down to the same as I pay for the Scooby despite being worth double. Servicing should be cheaper than the scooby too (which is every 7500 miles)!

Picked up the S6 yesterday and I'm very very pleased with it so far

Fontain have been great - go through everything prior to sale and their prices are very reasonable - not super cheap but very very fair.

Go and try one - without the servotronic IMHO - paritcularly if you're coming from a BM.

HTH - Beau

[krusty]

I've an RS6 but the fundamentals are the same as far as what you're looking for. Seems that the most important thing I was made aware of was to make sure it had had the 20K belt service as this was a huge cost. Otherwise everything else is pretty much hard as nails, as are all things German.

[gmarks1]

Wndsorb - the maintenance costs on these cars are HIGH - just sold my A6 4.2 for this reason.

Require cambelt, tensioners, followers, waterpump change every 40,000 miles - you will need to find a very good independant that you trust. I have had some very bad experinences with Audi main dealers

A similar BMW (540i/Alpina B10) is certainly be much cheaper to run. Also, they depreciate heavily due to running costs, and will continue to do so throughout their life.

A very nice car - but complicated......so if you buy one, make sure you find a good one, or you have VERY deep pockets (or a comprehensive renewable warranty)

I did enjoy my A6 4.2 in many ways - but I will never buy another Audi after my ownership experience.

[krusty]

Gmarks1, you sound so negative here when you sounded so positive in the 'somebody buy it thread' www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=86&h=0&t=214725
Is it a case of 'It's sold now so I can be honest??'

Lets face it, you don't buy one of these cars if you're running on a budget. If you want cheap motoring get yourself a diesel eurobox and something fun for the weekend.

[gmarks1]

Krusty - not at all - I think the message is the same in both threads - these are excellent cars to drive, comfortable, fast and assured with excellent specifications - in some ways I preferred it to the 330 that I still have.

However my car, whilst having an extensive service history, had one problem after another, and on top of that maintenance and general running costs were very high - having run BMWs for years, I expected costs to be similar - for me they were not, and I spent many thousands of pounds over 18 months and 20,000 miles maintaining and repairing it. I wouldn't want anyone to have the surprise that I did......I'm not alone on this - have a look on some of the other forums eg RS246 etc. I was very disappointed to have to sell the car, but I learn't a lesson that I thought prospective buyers would be interested in.

....there are no doubt similar stories of people who would buy never a particular make due to a bad experience - often down to the luck of the draw with the car you purchase.



>> Edited by gmarks1 on Monday 5th December 22:09

[krusty]

I think that you've hit the nail on the head with 'the luck of the draw' or the "Friday afternoon build slot' syndrome
It happens to all marques but don't let it put you off Audi. They're not too bad really although my RS6 did spend 6 out of the first 8 weeks of ownership having warrenty work done...

[yertis]

Sounds like Audi have lost the plot, build quality, durability wise - something I've suspected for a while. It's a shame that the new generation S6 is so unreliable - I've heard this from several sources - when the older "C4" type is almost unburstable. There are guys in the US running around in them tweaked up to 350bhp and with over 300,000 miles under the wheels. I wish they'd do a simpler stripped down version of the S6 with just four-wheel drive and some turbo chargers.