Alan Partridge reckons that his Lexus is ‘a Japanese Mercedes Benz’. But what about the opposite; a German car that exhibits Japanese characteristics? I think I’ve found one. The Audi A6. It’s well built, it’s technically competent and it’s inoffensive to look at. It’s dull.  

 

Even when fitted with a 4.2 litre, twin turbo, V8 engine producing 450bhp, it can’t match more charismatic offerings from BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes Benz. But don’t dismiss the A6. Being bland is not the same as being bad. The Audi A6 is not a bad car.  

 

Introduced in May 1997 the A6 established the new face of Audi. Promoting clean, simple lines in a car that was constructed with ruthless attention to quality. Sit inside a 5 year old A6 with 100,000 miles on the clock and both the dashboard and trim should look as good as the day it left the factory.

 

Under the bonnet the Audi comes with a huge choice of engines. The petrol line up starts with a 1.8 litre, 20 valve unit that produces 150bhp thanks to the addition of a light pressure turbo. It’s no rocket but cruises well and gives reasonable economy. Next up is the 2.4 V6, with only a fraction more power than the 1.8 and economy that struggles to hit 30mpg it’s the least desirable of the lot.

 

Audi limited the power on the larger 2.8 V6 to 193bhp because of a German tax law, but in August 2001 they derestricted it added 200cc and power leapt to 220bhp, making it a more satisfying car to drive.

 

Putting a 4.2 V8 in a car this size is a recipe for fun but all extra weight and lifeless steering conspire to produce a car that is less than the sum of its parts. Pick of the petrol’s is the V6 2.7, with twin turbo’s and 230bhp. Lighter, nimbler and more economic than the V8 the only thing missing is the burbling engine note.

 

Choosing a diesel is easy. The 1.9 with 110bhp is easiest on the pocket achieving about 50mpg and for real power try the 2.5 V6. With 150 bhp, and massive torque it will hit 135mph and still average 40mpg making the idea of buying the petrol A6 virtually irrelevant. Second hand A6 diesels have often covered very high mileages but provided the car has a full Audi service history I would happily buy one with up to 150,000 miles.

 

Audi endowed the A6 with good levels of standard equipment levels with climate control, alloys, alarms and traction control as standard. Choose an SE model and you add a board computer, front arm rest and folding rear seat.

 

On the road, driving an A6 is rather like looking at one. Not a hugely stimulating experience, but also not unpleasant. Make sure that you take the car for a drive on a mixture of road surfaces as cars with Sport suspension often feel uncomfortably firm on poor roads.

 

Most models were available as either front wheel drive or quattro, four wheel drive. Whilst the quattro models do offer higher levels of grip, the additional weight they carry will reduce fuel economy and hamper acceleration. 

 

In August 2001 Audi introduced Multitronic transmission, unlike other CVT (Constantly Variable Transmissions) the system is chain driven and once you get over the fact that the engine note doesn’t change when you accelerate the effect is quite pleasing. The more traditional 5 speed auto also offers the semi automatic tiptronic mode.

 

 

 

Check the following

 

Climate control – digital read out clear and easy to set

Manual 6-speed gearbox gives long legs for motor way cruising

Catalytic converter – 2.5 diesel models have two, check carefully

Alloy wheels – standard on all models, check the spare

Bumpers – easily marked and expensive to repair

Wheel arches – V8 models have wider arches and sit pretty

Brakes – discs front and rear

Front seats – electric height adjustment on all cars

Remote control alarm and immobiliser standard

Airbags – side air bags on all models after August 2001

Boot – large boot made even better by folding rear seat on SE models

Dashboard – flawless build quality and great lay out

Suspension – Sports suspension a no cost option on many cars after May 1999

 

The one to buy 

 

Audi A6 2.5 diesel SE Auto saloon

Metallic paint

2000 ‘X’ with 60K miles

Pay £15,000 at a dealer or £13,750 privately

 

© Jason Dawe Productions Limited May 2003