2002 A6 4.2 SE Avant Quattro Tip - any issues? Any good?

[papercup]

Hello Audi Peeps

This is my first foray into here.... hope you don't bite

I have a BMW (boo hiss) 540i which i love. But i want more space (think four 17" wheels and tyres, tools, jack) and the ability to pull another car on a trailer. I was looking at 540i Estates but i think the 4WD of the Audi would be useful when grip is at a premium, think muddy fields or even nasty hill starts in the wet.

Found 1 (only 1!) of these on Auto Trader and don't know anything about them. I know my 540, i feel it has no nasty surprises to spring on me. Are these the same?

Oh, does anyone know the towing weights?

Any opinions and thoughts welcome.

cheers

Andy

p.s. yeah i know i should get a diesel....

[JKY]

Tiptronic gearbox is biggest issue - many start to give problems around 70k. This is also the same issue with A8s and Allroads.
Front suspension ball joints wear and this involves replacing the aluminium arms.
Make sure all electrics work.
Good cars otherwise.

[GreatGranny]

Some technical info from parkers

General
Production 15 Aug 2001 to 30 May 2003
Length 4833 mm
Width 1992 mm
Height 1451 mm
Weight 1815 kg
Fuel Delivery Multi point fuel injection
Transmission Automatic
Gears 5 Speed

Performance
Engine Size 4172 cc
Cylinders 8
0-60 mph 6.9 s
Power Output 300 bhp
Valves 40
Torque 400 Nm
Top Speed 155 mph
Costs
MPG 21
Insurance Group 18
Euro Emissions Standard IV
CO2 Emissions 317 g/km
Road Tax Band F
Click here for road tax costs
Click here for company car tax costs

Practicality
Wheelbase 2759 mm
Luggage Capacity -
Fuel Capacity 82 L
Turning Circle 11 m
Unbraked Towing Weight 750 kg
Braked Towing Weight 2100 kg

[Cavey]

I had a 2000 4.2 Q Avant a couple of years back. Have driven a couple of 540s, but not for long. On that limited comparison, the Audi will have:

-better grip
-worse steering
-more space
-slightly less comfortable seats
-better spec (probably)
-an outstanding speaker system if it's got Bose (it really is good in the A6s - better than 1st gen. A8s)
-better looks (IMHO)

I reckon the Audi engine is a bit less torquey than the BM, but revs more freely, but you're splitting hairs really.

Make sure the Nav Plus system is all ok and reads the nav disc - repairs are expensive.

And do watch out for the gearbox as above - it should change smoothly, even on kickdown.

[papercup]

I loved the one i drove, but it might not be working out so....

where the hell are they all? Did they sell just 3 of them or something? There was that one i've missed and....no more on the Trader at all.

'Audi Approved Used Cars' (dealer search thingy on www.audi.co.uk) only list two and they are both £25k and two or three years old.

So where are all the others? The one i saw was 130,000 miles and £5500 but i'd happily pay up to £10,000 for something a little younger...if i could find any at all?

Loads of bloody 540 Tourings around for that money....plenty of choice...but none of these?

Any ideas where to get 'em?



cheers

Andy

[Pentoman]

You do see them about on pistonheads. However I don't think they sold that many.. the A6 wasn't a car that was especially sporting, and it was probably as heavy as an A8 with the same engine (A8 is aluminium). The running costs would be similar too so - might as well get an A8 they must have thought. I rather see what they are saying, although the A8 is looking old now.

I agree with the engines - in my experience the BMW 4.4 feels brutaler (new word) than the Audi 4.2.

[nail_it]

papercup said:

'Audi Approved Used Cars' (dealer search thingy on www.audi.co.uk) only list two and they are both £25k and two or three years old. Andy

You need to check the Audi Approved site daily. Can take sometime before the Audi you want appears on the market.
Have had to do the same myself, then phone & hotfoot it to the dealer. Be prepared to travel
'Fraid it's patience, not easy but worth it to get the right car @ the right price

[papercup]

nail_it said:

papercup said:

'Audi Approved Used Cars' (dealer search thingy on www.audi.co.uk) only list two and they are both £25k and two or three years old. Andy

You need to check the Audi Approved site daily. Can take sometime before the Audi you want appears on the market.
Have had to do the same myself, then phone & hotfoot it to the dealer. Be prepared to travel
'Fraid it's patience, not easy but worth it to get the right car @ the right price

i did wonder if they are only interested in cars upto <a small amount of> years old...

i'm trying to play 'barge bargain' games with this, like i did with my 540

however i can't find enough cars to have any choice at all

[nail_it]

papercup said:

i did wonder if they are only interested in cars upto <a small amount of> years old...

Up to 3 years old with Audi dealerships.
Took me eons to "bag" my s4 but got the car I wanted & at the price.
Believe me, the Audi site changes daily & worth keeping it bookmarked

[papercup]

nail_it said:

papercup said:

i did wonder if they are only interested in cars upto <a small amount of> years old...

Up to 3 years old with Audi dealerships.
Took me eons to "bag" my s4 but got the car I wanted & at the price.
Believe me, the Audi site changes daily & worth keeping it bookmarked

too young for me.....going to pay £25000 for one of that age. But 2002 ones are going for £6000. I'll let someone else take that depreciation...

Just can't find any inbetween Say a 54 plate with 60-80k on it...would be perfect...

[nail_it]

papercup said:

Say a 54 plate with 60-80k on it...would be perfect...

Sure would + a good daily driver. Were you looking for salon or avant?
Sorry too lazy to re-read full thread, it's me age & eyesight

[papercup]

nail_it said:

papercup said:

Say a 54 plate with 60-80k on it...would be perfect...

Sure would + a good daily driver. Were you looking for salon or avant?
Sorry too lazy to re-read full thread, it's me age & eyesight

Avant.....must be an Avant. If i wanted a saloon i'd probably get an S8.....

[nail_it]

Had a "trip" round the sites I know & not an A6 4.2 Avant anywhere that you're requesting
Will keep me beady eyes pealed for you.
Turning into an interesting challenge

Edited by nail_it on Tuesday 6th May 23:04

[papercup]

nail_it said:

Had a "trip" round the sites I know & not an A6 4.2 Avant anywhere that you're requesting ;(
Will keep me beady eyes pealed for you.
Turning into an interesting challenge

I am also now looking at Allroads. An A6 with fancy air suspension.

Whats interesting is that the only A6 with a 2100kg towing weight (which i want) is the 4.2; all the others are too weedy. But all the Allroads pull 2100kg. They also came with the 4.2 (but i realise my chances of finding one are non-existent).

But the 2.7 V6 twin-turbo is a possibility. Same engine as the S4. 250bhp/253foot pounds. Not far off the 300/320 of the V8 and at least there are tons to choose from.

Still want a V8 though :'(

[nail_it]

papercup said:

Still want a V8 though :'(

Best way to go

Twin turbo great but not so great replacing them
V8 your best bet for towing, done this myself eons ago & had a V8 for the job.

[SJobson]

Cavey said:

I had a 2000 4.2 Q Avant a couple of years back. Have driven a couple of 540s, but not for long. On that limited comparison, the Audi will have:

-better grip
-worse steering
-more space
-slightly less comfortable seats
-better spec (probably)
-an outstanding speaker system if it's got Bose (it really is good in the A6s - better than 1st gen. A8s)
-better looks (IMHO)

I reckon the Audi engine is a bit less torquey than the BM, but revs more freely, but you're splitting hairs really.

I previously had an S6 saloon for 2 years, and have had an E39 540i Touring since April 2007. The S6 is very similar to the A6 4.2 but has different heads, revs higher (to 7,000rpm) and has 340bhp as opposed to 300. I haven't tried the normal A6 4.2 but the S6's engine is definitely more revvy and characterful than the BMW 4.4, but it consumes more fuel (I never got better than 24mpg even cruising the motorway at a steady 70; the BMW managed 29.5mpg on the cruise control at 95mph on the French autoroutes). The Audi felt less torquey because it had a kick at 3,000rpm when it picked up its skirts, but in reality either is plenty torquey enough.

I wouldn't say the Audi has worse steering though; the Audi has rack and pinion rather than recirculating ball, and it's well weighted, has feedback and doesn't have an excessive number of turns lock to lock, unlike the 540. Caveat here: both my S6 and 540 have had servotronic.

Other opinions - the recaro seats in the Audi (standard in the S6, optional on the A6 4.2) are the best I've ever sat in, and they're electric but don't have memory. My 540 has comfort seats, which are no less comfortable but the leather's not as nice.

Overall, the Audi was by far the better car to drive purely for fun. The BMW lacks traction, though with the ASC/DSP/TC nonsense it doesn't spin the wheels, just reprimands you with a dash light. My 540 has the sport pack so M-Tech suspension and 17" alloys, but it's still definitely more of a cruiser/barge than the S6.

Not sure quite how much of this is applicable to the A6 4.2 - I am aware it shares suspension components with the S6 but not sure if the spring/damper rates are similar, nor whether the SE/Sport versions of the A6 have different settings to each other. The S6's gearing is also lower than the A6 4.2 (25mph/1000rpm in 5th as opposed to about 30, auto box) so it's possible the A6 might be more economical but feel less torquey.

[papercup]

look what i found

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-AUDI-ALLROAD-4-2-V8-Quattro-Tip-Auto_W0QQitemZ350038880044QQihZ022QQcategoryZ9835QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem 

best of both worlds?

[Cavey]

Never driven an Allroad, but I would imagine the higher ride height is going to take the edge of any handling finesse. Also, you don't get the same seats as standard on the 4.2.

A 4.2 Allroad is a very rare car - that't the forst one I've seen anywhere.

Agree about the 2.7 Turbo by the way - doesn't feel as powerful as the spec sheet suggests, an in a different league to the 4.2.

[papercup]

Cavey said:

Never driven an Allroad, but I would imagine the higher ride height is going to take the edge of any handling finesse. Also, you don't get the same seats as standard on the 4.2.

A 4.2 Allroad is a very rare car - that't the forst one I've seen anywhere.

Agree about the 2.7 Turbo by the way - doesn't feel as powerful as the spec sheet suggests, an in a different league to the 4.2.

Apparently the Allroad has four sussie settings and the lowest, 'sport', is at least as low, if not lower, than a normal A6. So it can hustle, supposedly. I am struggling to see a disadvantage to the Allroad, or, conversely, an advantage to the normal A6 Avant over one.

And yes, thats the first 4.2 i've seen. Look at the price though - doesn't that seem very strong money to you?

Bear in mind the other 4.2 Avant i have found on 'the bay': http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170190805272&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007 

Possibly not a fair comparison....but the price difference?

[Cavey]

Not really up to date with values on these, but I sould think there'd be some room for negotiation on the Allroad - the market for big V8s is small, and only getting smaller, so I would imagine he won't find it that easy to shift.

Audi dealers still seem to be asking very high prices for late examples of last shape A6s, and maybe this dealer's hoping to get close to that.