Older A6 Advice

[housemaster]

I need to get a second car to keep the miles of the GT3 and I am focusing in on a previous version A6 or A6 Avant. I will have a budget of around £6K max so would appreciate greatly some input from owners about the cars and the things I should be looking for. 2.7TDI seems like a nice engine and would be interested to get views on this lump and the quattro drive line.

Cheers
Steve.

[targarama]

2.7 is only on the new model. 2.5 on the older model. You'll only get mid 30s to the gallon from the 2.5 wiesel.

I have a base model 1.8T R reg'd. Just goes. Nothing goes wrong. I would like to replace it, but can't find a decent excuse. With a light 4 pot lump up front it doesn't handle too badly either. I've not heard of any problems with the Quattro models - they don't have Haldex like TT/S3 models which need more maintenance.

Only downer IMO is the std headlamps which are pants on dipped beam, even with those brighter bulbs. Get Xenons if you can. If you're looking at an early model then listen for front suspension clonks, they get through joints. Had mine done around 70k and they're fine at 125k though.

[sublimatica]

Faded computer displays in instrument binnacle are a standard problem on Audis of that generation. (Ask me how I know.) Cost £££ to replace, so many people don't bother.

I'm getting 36mpg out of my 2.5 TDI Quattro Avant. Performance is good.

[housemaster]

There seem to be quite a few 2.7 TDI of the later previous model on this site for sale??

[targarama]

housemaster said:

There seem to be quite a few 2.7 TDI of the later previous model on this site for sale??

They are 2.7 Twin Turbo Petrol models. I believe it is a detuned version of the earlier model S4 engine. They will suck petrol like its going out of fashion compared to a TDi.

[Dilligaf10]

targarama said:

Only downer IMO is the std headlamps which are pants on dipped beam, even with those brighter bulbs. Get Xenons if you can.

They are not much better on the latest model either! Have seen an HID conversion somewher on the net for about £240.00 so am considering this. 2.5Tdi Quattro has the 183 Bhp engine I believe which is quite nippy, they can be chipped to about 225 and a lot more torque.