Looking at buying 2011-12 A6 C7 3.0 Tdi (not Bi turbo)

[jcdub]

In looking at buying a 2011 - 2012 A6 S line 3.0 TDI, can't stretch to the Bi turbo model. So I'm looking for advice you your experiences so far, earth to look out for and possible issues. I'll decide on after I have the car a few months. Do they respond well to a remap?
I'd appreciate any advice given
Tks

[belly buster]

These are still quite cars new there's not many common problems to look for.

See other threads regarding remaps. There's lots of options, nearly all of which will invalidate you warranty and push your insurance up. You'll probably find the car plenty fast enough without any need to remap.

[jcdub]

Thanks for the reply. Good to hear there is nothing to cause concern. I take it the multitronic gearbox is reliable now, it's it a 7 or 8 sowed unit now ?


These are still quite cars new there's not many common problems to look for.

See other threads regarding remaps. There's lots of options, nearly all of which will invalidate you warranty and push your insurance up. You'll probably find the car plenty fast enough without any need to remap.

[wja96]

I would body swerve the 204PS with Multitronic, no matter how cheap. It makes the engine feel decidedly sluggish and they have detuned it (400Nm torque vs. 450Nm on the S-tronic allroad) to the point that unless you REALLY want a V6 you're almost as well off with the 2.0 manual. It also makes remapping the Multitronic a bit pointless because you will get a bit of extra power, but very little extra torque whereas the S-tronic equipped allroads should map very well.

My business partner and I have near-identical allroads. Mine is the 313PS and his is the 204PS S-tronic. In day-to-day driving there is very little between them. 99.9% of the time he can easily keep up with me but for overtaking even he admits he should have bought the 245PS.

The 245PS is a VERY good engine in the A6. It really is plenty. I seriously doubt that you would need to remap a 245PS. The real-world difference between the three engines is very small (except for overtaking obviously).

To to sum it up - if you have to get a 204PS, get an allroad with S-tronic, otherwise get the 245PS.

[jcdub]

Thanks for the advice. I would love the 245 model but the difference in price between the two for 2011 models is €3500 - 4k (€30k vs 34k) just a lot extra. Although I could possibly go for a 245 se model for an extra 2500 - 3k.

P.S A 2011 2.0 sline costs similar to the 3.0 204 sline model here in Ireland!


I would body swerve the 204PS with Multitronic, no matter how cheap. It makes the engine feel decidedly sluggish and they have detuned it (400Nm torque vs. 450Nm on the S-tronic allroad) to the point that unless you REALLY want a V6 you're almost as well off with the 2.0 manual. It also makes remapping the Multitronic a bit pointless because you will get a bit of extra power, but very little extra torque whereas the S-tronic equipped allroads should map very well.

My business partner and I have near-identical allroads. Mine is the 313PS and his is the 204PS S-tronic. In day-to-day driving there is very little between them. 99.9% of the time he can easily keep up with me but for overtaking even he admits he should have bought the 245PS.

The 245PS is a VERY good engine in the A6. It really is plenty. I seriously doubt that you would need to remap a 245PS. The real-world difference between the three engines is very small (except for overtaking obviously).

To to sum it up - if you have to get a 204PS, get an allroad with S-tronic, otherwise get the 245PS.

[johnsimcox]

By definition the Multitronic does not have a specified number of gears as it constantly variable. It does have pre-programmed settings that in effect replete defined gears when you are in Sport mode, think the A6 still has 7 presets but not 100% certain. Other consideration with the multitronic box is the need to do a transmission fluid change every 38k miles and failure to do that will cause very expensive problems with the gearbox. As you are looking secondhand walk away from any car with that many or more miles that does not have clear evidence of the fluid change being done on time. If the car is close to that mileage and needing change use that as point of negotiation. Multitronic is more reliable than it was but no one seems to get anywhere close when it comes to fuel consumption. At constant speeds it is economical as it can go to a very high ratio but under normal driving with acceleration the nature of the box means that it will always go to a lower ratio and thus use more revs and fuel than would be the case with a fixed ratio box that makes more use of the available torque.

Not sure about the market in Ireland but I would antiquate that here in the UK the vast majority of 3.0 cars are quattro not FWD and therefore have either S-Tonic or Tiptronic boxes.

[belly buster]

I should have been clearer in my response as I thought you were looking at the 245PS quattro.

Like the other posters I would suggest you avoid the 204PS Multitronic 2WD. I was unimpressed on the test drive.

[jcdub]

I hadn't realised the 204 TDI with quattro had the S-Tonic / Tiptronic box....
Something more to think about


By definition the Multitronic does not have a specified number of gears as it constantly variable. It does have pre-programmed settings that in effect replete defined gears when you are in Sport mode, think the A6 still has 7 presets but not 100% certain. Other consideration with the multitronic box is the need to do a transmission fluid change every 38k miles and failure to do that will cause very expensive problems with the gearbox. As you are looking secondhand walk away from any car with that many or more miles that does not have clear evidence of the fluid change being done on time. If the car is close to that mileage and needing change use that as point of negotiation. Multitronic is more reliable than it was but no one seems to get anywhere close when it comes to fuel consumption. At constant speeds it is economical as it can go to a very high ratio but under normal driving with acceleration the nature of the box means that it will always go to a lower ratio and thus use more revs and fuel than would be the case with a fixed ratio box that makes more use of the available torque.

Not sure about the market in Ireland but I would antiquate that here in the UK the vast majority of 3.0 cars are quattro not FWD and therefore have either S-Tonic or Tiptronic boxes.