3.0 BiTDi to S6 - is this an upgrade?

[DazN]

Hi,

Owned my A6 2013 A6 BiTDi Black Series for a few months now and before this have always been a petrol head, C63, M3, M5, RS4... so my gut feeling is that my next car would be an S6 but I'm unsure how it would feel to drive after being in the BiTDi.

My current car has a really high spec with upgraded nav, 20" RS6 wheels etc so I think I would struggle to get an S6 with a similar level. Also I currently have the Kufatec exhaust option so it actually sounds pretty good too.

Has anybody driven or even owned both, thoughts?

I like the BiTDi and it's hard to explain my logic, it's just not an S or RS.

Thanks
Darren

[zollaf]

big fast diesel vs big faster petrol. one is all torque and stops at 5000 rpm, the other does 7000 rpm, nuff said...

[Bar Shaker]

I looked at this and the S6 didn't offer enough to justify the running costs, let alone come off as an upgrade.

Plus the 70-100mph of the BiTdi left the S6 for dust, in my seat of the pants test.

I suspect the BiTDI has all but finished the S6 off and bet sales are now tiny.

If you want more, it needs to be an RS. The S6 engine in a smaller car would be a different matter.

[DazN]

Yes I know the stats and the difference in characteristics between diesel and petrol, I was looking for people with experience of them both!

[DazN]

I looked at this and the S6 didn't offer enough to justify the running costs, let alone come off as an upgrade.

Plus the 70-100mph of the BiTdi left the S6 for dust, in my seat of the pants test.

I suspect the BiTDI has all but finished the S6 off and bet sales are now tiny.

If you want more, it needs to be an RS. The S6 engine in a smaller car would be a different matter.

Thanks, this is what I am looking for in terms of replies!!

Perhaps the only thing I would 'gain' is a badge and 4 pipes instead of 2.

[Bar Shaker]

My experience is only test drives, rather than long term ownership.

Also factor in that the S6 needs quite a lot spending on it to bring it up to Black Edition spec, such as Bose, privacy glass etc. All in the S6 is about £7k more.

It comes with the chrome trim everywhere, but I am sure this can be deleted somehow if choosing a dark colour.

[diecastsink]

With VCDS you can change the MMI screen to show S6 or RS6 when starting. Maybe that is a cheaper way to satisfy you needs?

[DazN]

With VCDS you can change the MMI screen to show S6 or RS6 when starting. Maybe that is a cheaper way to satisfy you needs?

That'll do!!! Thanks

[MarkTM]

Perhaps the only thing I would 'gain' is a badge and 4 pipes instead of 2.

I have 4 pipes and a boot spoiler on my C6 SE and can almost feel the thought processes of (mainly BM) drivers behind me interested in a road race. :biglaugh:

[Westyfield2]

I don't really see the point in the S6.

If you want high power, get an A6 with the 3.0TFSI or the BiTDI (depending on your petrol/diesel preference).

If you want very high power, get an RS6.


IMHO the S6 is an unnecessary step between the two.

[wildbore]

I don't really see the point in the S6.

If you want high power, get an A6 with the 3.0TFSI or the BiTDI (depending on your petrol/diesel preference).

If you want very high power, get an RS6.


IMHO the S6 is an unnecessary step between the two.

I haven't driven an S6 but I do have the RS6. Coming from a diesel before and having driven many diesels (but not the biturbo) there is a world of difference between the way a diesel drives and the way a petrol engine drives, even when they both reach 60 at the same time. After ten years of large diesel ownership, I wanted an engine to rev its nuts off. I just .... wanted ... the ...thing ... to .. never .... stop .... revving. I wanted an engine that veritably screams, and it does.

The difference between the S6 and the Biturbo may seem irrelevant to some people as the two cars are very close on paper, but there is a glorious feeling in having a V8 under your right foot. And, although the S6 is down on the RS6, I still think 450BHP shouldn't be too shabby. That's what you are paying for - both at the dealership and at the pump - for an S6 - a screamer.

My only advice: don't buy until you have tried both.

[Hellodave.]

I haven't driven an S6 but I do have the RS6. Coming from a diesel before and having driven many diesels (but not the biturbo) there is a world of difference between the way a diesel drives and the way a petrol engine drives, even when they both reach 60 at the same time. After ten years of large diesel ownership, I wanted an engine to rev its nuts off. I just .... wanted ... the ...thing ... to .. never .... stop .... revving. I wanted an engine that veritably screams, and it does.

The difference between the S6 and the Biturbo may seem irrelevant to some people as the two cars are very close on paper, but there is a glorious feeling in having a V8 under your right foot. And, although the S6 is down on the RS6, I still think 450BHP shouldn't be too shabby. That's what you are paying for - both at the dealership and at the pump - for an S6 - a screamer.

My only advice: don't buy until you have tried both.

Good advice. I haven't driven a BiTDI but have tried an RS6 and it's epic - not just the speed but the whole experience - the way it revs and the exhaust sounding like the gates of hell have opened when you floor it - if the S6 gets anywhere close to that experience it's worth considering. I know the BiTDI has the exhaust resonator and sounds good, but I don't think you'll beat the sound of a V8.

When we were looking to change my wife's car she wanted something quicker than her old A3, and we test drove an S3 and a 2.0TDI 184 on the same day. I know the diesel was way down on power compared to the S3, but the torque figures are the same, and I was expecting the kick in the back feeling when you accelerate to be similar - it wasn't. We drove the S3 first (which was probably a mistake!) and it felt eager, power delivery was almost instant, the noise when the engine climbs above 3000 rpm was great, and it keeps pulling all the way to the redline. Driving the diesel afterwards felt totally flat, the throttle response seemed lethargic, the power band was narrow and the noise was...diesel like - it felt like a car you'd only drive to get somewhere, whereas you'd take the S3 out for the fun of it. I know this isn't an A6/S6 comparison but the point is if I'd been choosing the cars on paper I'd probably have worn my practical hat and bought the diesel, but after driving the S3 it was a no-brainer. We also test-drove a 220ps Golf GTI, which was closer in power and acceleration figures to the A3 diesel (and down bit on torque), but the power delivery and noise still made it a much more enjoyable drive.

I can see why most people choose the BiTDI over an S6 - it's almost as quick on paper, has more torque, sounds good for a diesel and is cheaper to run. However, if you can stomach the running costs of an S6 it's got to be worth a look :) Once you factor in the extra kit that's standard on an S6 (air suspension, sports diff) the RRP of an equivalent BiTDI would be about the same.

[razor77]

I own an BiTDi, I've loaned an S6. Stats may look similar. They sound different, and the S6 is more fun for daily driving. While both cars have an incredible surreality to actual acceleration, below 60 the S6 feels like it gets you there sooner. I recently watched a Tesla driver with Ludicrous mode, film family members experience the acceleration, it proper threw them back in their seats... it made me think, the Tesla hits its acceleration potential almost every time, however not in the BiTdi, and definitely not in the first few moments of acceleration.

A question to all BiTdi owners, how many of you have tried the launch control? I did, not all attempts were equal, my god when I got it right it was amazing. So then I started logging 0-60s without launch, and its dismal and not near the quoted time, nor feel. I recently loaned an Allroad 270bhp with the Stronic, it didn't come close to the BiTdi in out and out performance, but the gearbox compared to the multitronic was awesome. So the S6, complete with STronic and petrol punch, comes closer to the Tesla instant action.

For me the cost difference (esp maintenance) and need to carry my family make the BiTdi a simple choice. Frankly, with more cash I'd look to the Tesla, without the family I wouldn't compromise on a family car, I'd be in a 911.

[zollaf]

but the 911 is just a beetle. :)

[Chesterfield313]

I own an BiTDi, I've loaned an S6. Stats may look similar. They sound different, and the S6 is more fun for daily driving. While both cars have an incredible surreality to actual acceleration, below 60 the S6 feels like it gets you there sooner. I recently watched a Tesla driver with Ludicrous mode, film family members experience the acceleration, it proper threw them back in their seats... it made me think, the Tesla hits its acceleration potential almost every time, however not in the BiTdi, and definitely not in the first few moments of acceleration.

A question to all BiTdi owners, how many of you have tried the launch control? I did, not all attempts were equal, my god when I got it right it was amazing. So then I started logging 0-60s without launch, and its dismal and not near the quoted time, nor feel. I recently loaned an Allroad 270bhp with the Stronic, it didn't come close to the BiTdi in out and out performance, but the gearbox compared to the multitronic was awesome. So the S6, complete with STronic and petrol punch, comes closer to the Tesla instant action.

For me the cost difference (esp maintenance) and need to carry my family make the BiTdi a simple choice. Frankly, with more cash I'd look to the Tesla, without the family I wouldn't compromise on a family car, I'd be in a 911.

Of course the bitdi doesn't hit its 0-60 time without launch. Do you think a GT-R hits it's time without launch? The reported time is the "best" time, not what you can achieve without trying. The launch time I've measured beats the Audi declared time, so I don't think they're being unfair.

Yes there is lag without launch when accelerating from a standing start. The engine can't work miracles, it's an auto, it can't jump off the line from idling at 1000 revs. But be in the right gear just crawling at 15mph and floor the pedal and the shove in the back is instant, but do it in the wrong gear and there'll still be a delay.

If you understand the characteristics of the bitdi engine and don't sit there expecting it do things it cannot, you can drive it in the right gear and hardly ever experience lag. It doesn't take much, the power band is quite wide, if you know you want to accelerate quickly and you are at low revs either knock it over to sport or click down on the paddles and there will be no lag, the rest of the time, you don't need to do anything.

A petrol V8 will still be better though.

[Chesterfield313]

Ps. The bitdi isn't multitronic.