A6 - New Order

[abuelbanat]

First post alert (!)

Have been lurking in the darkness reading this forum for a couple of weeks - new company car due so been doing my homework.

Bit of history - first Audi was one year old A4 on a '51 plate. I was very fortunate that at that time one of my older colleagues was leaving the company & his car was being returned at the same time I was due to choose my new one. I managed to get a deal and take his 2nd hand A4 which was the only way I'd have been able to afford it at the time - with the bonus being it introduced me to Audi :)

Loved it, but next time round no Audi's available so went with Honda Accord (54) & then Passat Highline (58). We're back to allowing Audi's so.....

A6 S-Line 2.0 TDi
Ibis White
20" 5-Arm Rotors
Badge Deletion
Storage Pack
Heated Seats
Colour DIS
Heads Up Display
DAB
Audi Music Interface

Order is in (only to company so doubtful it's with dealer yet) - hoping to see it March / April ?

Welcome anyone's thoughts on spec - 5 years we keep them so figured I deserve some toys. Bit concerned about mpg with the big wheels.... mainly motorway driving so I expect it won't be too far off what I get currently. Couldn't give up the heated seats, the storage pack seems a handy addition for the kids, and the rest are toys.

[bwoody]

Very nice, 20's are going to be pricey when it comes to tyres though

[abuelbanat]

One of the upsides to it being a company car, I don't pay for tyres.

Screwed on tax though (!)

[bwoody]

One of the upsides to it being a company car, I don't pay for tyres.

Screwed on tax though (!)

Nice I'm going to be crying when i need tyres for my 19's

[bwoody]

Welcome to the site btw forgot to say before. I'm relatively new on here too.

[Guest 2]

Nice I'm going to be crying when i need tyres for my 19's

Upwards of £1000 for a full set for your 19's - I paid £1000 for a set of Michelin PS2 and they've lasted 28k with 3mm showing on all 4.

They were on offer at the time and the usual price was ~£1500.

Welcome to VWAF, OP ;)

[bwoody]

I reckon I can get a full set of 19's for around £600. Barium bravis or Hancoook's. Both get good reviews. Certainly not paying £1000 if I can help it

[Guest 2]

I'd rather spend more £££ and get a premium tyre and get mega miles out of them instead of replacing tyres in 12-14k and then having to buy again.

I had a set of Goodyear eagle f1s on before the michelins and they lasted 10k all motorway driving and so far the michelins are about to touch 30k on the same driving conditions.

[bwoody]

I'd rather spend more £££ and get a premium tyre and get mega miles out of them instead of replacing tyres in 12-14k and then having to buy again.

I had a set of Goodyear eagle f1s on before the michelins and they lasted 10k all motorway driving and so far the michelins are about to touch 30k on the same driving conditions.

Good point regarding life span of the tyres

[Timothy Nathan]

I am the wicked, uninvited witch who takes the contrary view on wheels and tyres.

I would get rid of the big wheels - you can't see them when you are driving, they are uncomfortable, have worse driving characteristics, are easier to kerb and are a big expense, both capital and running. Everything about 17" is better; the big wheel driver has been conned by the Emperor's New Clothes of the marketeers.

Spend the money you save either on the 3.0 TDi or on Adaptive Cruise Control. HUD and DAB are brilliant. I would also have got the 4 zone a/c had I known better. I think, had I had my time again, I might also look at Quattro.

[abuelbanat]

All good points well made. I realise in terms of costs the larger wheels are an outlay both upfront & in running costs - we have a peculiar way of dealing with company car costs though (well I think it's peculiar..... )

I can choose from a list of vehicles, up to a certain OTR price. The upper limit prevents me from choosing the Black Edition, or the 3.0TDi, although I'm free to add factory fitted extras (to a cheaper version) that take the capital cost way above this limit. In terms of the upfront costs.... I pay for the extras over the course of my 'ownership' of the vehicle - in my case 5 years ergo making the likes of 20" wheels & HUD very affordable options. There's no cost to me for maintenance, so tyres aren't a factor - although mpg is.

I like the larger wheels - but I get your point. Happy to concede that that's a choice based purely on looks. ACC doesn't do anything for me, and 90% of the journeys I do I'm on my own so the swanky air con seems unnecessary.

I'd originally specked it with privacy glass & the advanced key but binned both in favour of the HUD.

A question someone can perhaps help with. I'm presuming the base level Bluetooth allows hands free calling, via the steering wheel controls? I'm not exactly sure what low Bluetooth offers, other than the cradle option which I don't want. Understanding that the high spec is for use with MMI Sat Nav etc.... what does low offer above baseline functionality for hands free calling?

[johnsimcox]

Standard bluetooth provides for full handsfree calling and also streaming audio over bluetooth and usually access to the phonebook that is on your phone. Telephone Low adds a cradle docking point in the front armrest which, if there is a dock available for your phone and there is often a serious delay between a phone being launched and a cradle being offered, then it allows the phone to make use of the car's aerial and the phone charged. As standard there is a there is a 12v socket in the armrest for charging and if you have AMI then then this will charge and iPhone up to a 4s and a 5 if you use the Apple 30pin to 9pin convertor.

[abuelbanat]

Thanks John.

I've ordered the AMI, for use with an iPhone - the standard Bluetooth should accommodate hands free calling with the blackberry then. Perfect.

[a8toa6convert]

Another vote for sticking with the standard 18s: your car will be quieter, will ride and handle better, will be less attracted to kerbs, will be less likely to scare the s*** out of you by aquaplaning on a rain-soaked ring road, will be less prone to sudden rim or tyre failure and will save you money into the bargain. It will also make you appear richer and more attractive to the opposite sex, as they will not think you are trying too hard to impress, or adding a couple of unnecessary inches to your rims to compensate for something else !

[abuelbanat]

Another vote for sticking with the standard 18s: your car will be quieter, will ride and handle better, will be less attracted to kerbs, will be less likely to scare the s*** out of you by aquaplaning on a rain-soaked ring road, will be less prone to sudden rim or tyre failure and will save you money into the bargain. It will also make you appear richer and more attractive to the opposite sex, as they will not think you are trying too hard to impress, or adding a couple of unnecessary inches to your rims to compensate for something else !

You guys really not liking the big wheels then ;) I'm sure in the grand scheme the 18's are a 'comfier' ride - but life's full of trade offs isn't it.

(and lets remember the kerbs don't do the attracting - rim size isn't the problem there)

[bmoster]

Have kept to the standard 18s on the A6 I have ordered. I think they are just about big enough to suit the car and would prefer a nicer ride and less cost when replacement time comes.

[MFGF]

You guys really not liking the big wheels then ;) I'm sure in the grand scheme the 18's are a 'comfier' ride - but life's full of trade offs isn't it.

(and lets remember the kerbs don't do the attracting - rim size isn't the problem there)

Not everyone is of that opinion :) I opted for the 20s and I am very pleased with them! :)

[abuelbanat]

Not everyone is of that opinion :) I opted for the 20s and I am very pleased with them! :)

glad to hear it. since ordering I'm eagle eyed trying to spot an A6 on the road with the same wheels - no joy yet..... caught sight of a white A6 on the motorway this evening & patiently stalked him until I could get a look at his wheels. 18"s :(

must stop ;)

[EvilPostIt]

Hi,

Sorry to say this so late but can i just point out that...

20" alloy + DAB + AMI = £2,065...

The Black Edition (£2,350) which contains the above plus...

Bose Sound System (£1000)
Black Styling Pack (£545)
Piano Black Inlays (£700)
Privacy Glass (£390)
Total = (£2635)

This also has the added effect of raising the guaranteed future value bu about £900.

[abuelbanat]

Hi,

Sorry to say this so late but can i just point out that...

20" alloy + DAB + AMI = £2,065...

The Black Edition (£2,350) which contains the above plus...

Bose Sound System (£1000)
Black Styling Pack (£545)
Piano Black Inlays (£700)
Privacy Glass (£390)
Total = (£2635)

This also has the added effect of raising the guaranteed future value bu about £900.

Company vehicle so future value is no concern. Black Edition wasn't available to me however it was easy to pick the spec I wanted and build it from the S-Line...... Wasn't interested in the Bose, Privacy glass & the piano black options.

[KAM]

Company vehicle so future value is no concern.I obviously don't know how your company is funding the vehicle so perhaps this is correct, but I think in the majority of cases future value is relevant. Many (most?) companies will lease vehicles rather than own them and have them as depreciating capital assets on their own books. Lease companies will calculate the lease cost taking in to account whatever they perceive to be the residual value at end of lease. A high residual will help offset high OTR cost and vice versa. Of course, what they think contributes to 'value' may not line up with our own ideas of 'value'!

@EvilPostIt: I thought you definitely lived up to your name with that post!! Someone tells us what they've ordered and then you show them how they could have got all that, and more, for less money. Ouch! Well, at least you did acknowledge it was a bit late. All in good faith.

[abuelbanat]

I obviously don't know how your company is funding the vehicle so perhaps this is correct, but I think in the majority of cases future value is relevant. Many (most?) companies will lease vehicles rather than own them and have them as depreciating capital assets on their own books. Lease companies will calculate the lease cost taking in to account whatever they perceive to be the residual value at end of lease. A high residual will help offset high OTR cost and vice versa. Of course, what they think contributes to 'value' may not line up with our own ideas of 'value'!

@EvilPostIt: I thought you definitely lived up to your name with that post!! Someone tells us what they've ordered and then you show them how they could have got all that, and more, for less money. Ouch! Well, at least you did acknowledge it was a bit late. All in good faith.

It's ultimately owned by the company I work for, depreciating asset until it gets moved on in 5 years time. I suppose what would have been more correct is that future value is of no corncern to me.

and I thought his post was lame aswell - no credit given for being able to work out his point myself.

[belly buster]

@EvilPostIt: I thought you definitely lived up to your name with that post!! Someone tells us what they've ordered and then you show them how they could have got all that, and more, for less money. Ouch! Well, at least you did acknowledge it was a bit late. All in good faith.

Might be useful other people in the same situation though!

[EvilPostIt]

My point was more from the perspective of if there was time to change the order... Thus the phrase "may be a bit late"... But hey sorry for butting in and trying to get you more stuff for less cash. I have seen quite a few posts around the Audi packs and how many people end up getting 75% of a pack when the full one is cheaper without it being pointed out to them.

[abuelbanat]

My point was more from the perspective of if there was time to change the order... Thus the phrase "may be a bit late"... But hey sorry for butting in and trying to get you more stuff for less cash. I have seen quite a few posts around the Audi packs and how many people end up getting 75% of a pack when the full one is cheaper without it being pointed out to them.

fair enough fella - sometimes hard to gauge whether someone's being helpful or not in forums.

I had looked at everything prior to ordering, and the fact that the Black Ed wasn't available to me meant I just picked the parts of that spec that I definitely wanted and upped it from the S-Line.

Still not sure on the Ibis White - if there's anything likely to get me changing spec it's that (!)