John Rotaru
21-05-2016, 10:43 PM
I'm getting close to two months of ownership, wow the time flies!! 2.500 miles of bliss, I can't believe how good this car is :D
Having said that, on a cold analysis there are a few things to improve, no doubt about it. Let's go through the good, the bad and the ugly.
Looks - I once said I will NEVER get an estate; they all seemed so disproportionate with their "big ***" without a proper ending. All of them! - well.. with the exception of Alfa 156 sportwagon, but hey.. who buys Italian cars eh? :) ... I've change my mind. One reason being I kind of need the space :) but the other, the A6 is just beautiful, from any angle IMHO. Very classy, elegant, and awe inspiring. I quite like the dark tint on the rear windows, but I've done them with the local company for £160 (not the £380 Audi wanted). And the S-line dynamic indicators are very fresh. Too bad they're not standard on the front though.
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13007090_10201528225644849_7120129444466526908_n.j pg?oh=c3e95850d1cc9f334dee651c06a42fa3&oe=57A003C7
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1545/25564517613_9332e57176_c.jpg
The 2.0 engine - very quiet up to 3500 revs, when it springs to life in sport mode. I've had diesels before but nothing this quiet. And it pulls very well. No sweat pulling a two-tonne boat out of the water.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7699/26550569554_d05c3dd910_c.jpg
I can't vouch for the economy yet - in 2.500 miles it went from 28 to 34 mpg in combined mode (50% motorways, 50% short city trips). I've got a maximum of 45 mpg on a long sedated drive. Not bad but I sure hope it's going to creep towards a combined 45 and at least 50 on the motorways!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/26550189674_cc38b4edb3_c.jpg
The driver assist functions are all great in various measures. The most helpful and relaxing is the ACC, especially on a busy motorway or in start-stop traffic. The only bad thing is that it doesn't remain on after a few seconds in start-stop traffic, like the new A4 with traffic mode. But no drama, one flick of the stalk and it's back on. Very good!
Also good and improving safety is the side assist / blind angle indicator; I had a few occasions when I've seen it "blinking" and found cars creeping when trying to change lane.
The least useful is the active lane assist. Sometimes it turns quite late and sharply (even with the "early" setting). And it always bickers about the hands not on the steering wheel and deactivates; even when the hands ARE on. Long way from autonomous driving, or at least what Tesla has at the moment (also, of course, no change of lane when signaling..). I still turn it on every long journey, to assist me.
One last minor niggle: sometimes it gets confused on various lines on roads, like old temporary narrow lanes from works etc; and I feel it wants to steer me onto a different lane, or onto the separator :) but it's easy to resist it and move back. Not 100% trustful.
30731
The interior is the best for this class (I haven't seen the new E-class to compare, but seen and test drove all the others). All materials say quality, all buttons click just right. Very little road noise - especially on new tarmac which is much quieter - barely a bit of wind whisper at 70 mph. I feel treated like a king!
The screens are high-def. I've got the 7 inch screen between dials and I love it, the amount of information and the way it's organized is very good.
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13015326_10201528228644924_740945892781898641_n.jp g?oh=80c0ea4d3c65a1114caaddfaaf756766&oe=57DF254D
I could've lived without the Audi Connect / hard drive navigation / touch pad, but they've packaged them in the £4000 Tech Pack Plus and I had to swallow the pill, as I really wanted ACC. I've played with the Tesla S "giant ipad" and there is a HUGE difference ... this is where I think Audi can improve dramatically. The whole connectivity package, with apps, weather etc, is much much behind what Tesla has now.
My wife really wanted the sunroof. It's nice but.. not for the driver and front passenger, as it starts right above and not in front of you, and you need to crane your neck backwards to see anything. Definitely not worth the £1250.
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12994479_10201528238645174_4337153791711875548_n.j pg?oh=57f53a1f5cab1206bf1336bb430e0369&oe=57CD13D3
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14706_10201502787088901_6232466246253990761_n.jpg? oh=61976ecba814d51eb366d0b9b7f80d32&oe=57D57836
As I said earlier, I really needed the space, with a 16 month baby and plans to do long weekends away with friends. Last bank holiday I had to fit some of the bags inside of the car! :)
But besides extreme situations like these, I'm very happy with the space. With the seats folded you can fit a double mattress inside.
I've bought the boot separators kit (one metallic extendable bar and one textile band that fit in the rails). They are not as useful as I thought.
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13082764_10201575189578918_4605603794546831707_n.j pg?oh=9151cd2f0d534b9ebf31f275165e5217&oe=579FEA16
It's a shame that even with the lighting package Audi hasn't bother to put all interior lights as LED's. You can really see the difference with an aftermarket kit, the originals look yellow'ish comparing to the LED headlights. However I've found the LED lights a little too brighter on a dark night.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1709/26590618672_c4a3f1349b_c.jpg
So.. overall: extremely quiet and comfortable, spacious, easy and relaxing on long journeys, but lagging behind in the gadgetry and connectivity features that come with a high price to pay -- not always easy to justify. With the configuration selected (see signature), it creeped up to a £45000 invoice price, and without some of the options I would've wanted (matrix lights, electric seats, perhaps a little bigger engine... it all adds up into 911 territory!)
Even so, the big "end of life" discounts that they currently have make them a no-brainer in comparison with the other brethrens in the premium large segment (and you can see that in the sales figures (http://left-lane.com/car-sales-europe/car-sales-segments/premium-large-car-segment/) ), and even with the newer and more modern A4. Especially with the delivery times for that one!
Looking forward to spend the next 5 to 10 years driving it. It ticks all my boxes for now.
And I've made up my mind: I won't change it until I can find a ~400 miles electric car, similar in size with FULLY autonomous driving. The one I can have a nap while it's taking me to the airport :)
The next A6? The next Tesla S? Google car, Apple car... who knows.
'Nuff said!
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12991041_10201528229844954_5780566808998829959_n.j pg?oh=54a544fe260b0cc077bb21e8f584a2ea&oe=57D91F75
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13043641_10201528232165012_5531868061800666514_n.j pg?oh=9270fbac634268a2efa2d085ca9e7cb9&oe=57CEB696
Having said that, on a cold analysis there are a few things to improve, no doubt about it. Let's go through the good, the bad and the ugly.
Looks - I once said I will NEVER get an estate; they all seemed so disproportionate with their "big ***" without a proper ending. All of them! - well.. with the exception of Alfa 156 sportwagon, but hey.. who buys Italian cars eh? :) ... I've change my mind. One reason being I kind of need the space :) but the other, the A6 is just beautiful, from any angle IMHO. Very classy, elegant, and awe inspiring. I quite like the dark tint on the rear windows, but I've done them with the local company for £160 (not the £380 Audi wanted). And the S-line dynamic indicators are very fresh. Too bad they're not standard on the front though.
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13007090_10201528225644849_7120129444466526908_n.j pg?oh=c3e95850d1cc9f334dee651c06a42fa3&oe=57A003C7
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1545/25564517613_9332e57176_c.jpg
The 2.0 engine - very quiet up to 3500 revs, when it springs to life in sport mode. I've had diesels before but nothing this quiet. And it pulls very well. No sweat pulling a two-tonne boat out of the water.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7699/26550569554_d05c3dd910_c.jpg
I can't vouch for the economy yet - in 2.500 miles it went from 28 to 34 mpg in combined mode (50% motorways, 50% short city trips). I've got a maximum of 45 mpg on a long sedated drive. Not bad but I sure hope it's going to creep towards a combined 45 and at least 50 on the motorways!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/26550189674_cc38b4edb3_c.jpg
The driver assist functions are all great in various measures. The most helpful and relaxing is the ACC, especially on a busy motorway or in start-stop traffic. The only bad thing is that it doesn't remain on after a few seconds in start-stop traffic, like the new A4 with traffic mode. But no drama, one flick of the stalk and it's back on. Very good!
Also good and improving safety is the side assist / blind angle indicator; I had a few occasions when I've seen it "blinking" and found cars creeping when trying to change lane.
The least useful is the active lane assist. Sometimes it turns quite late and sharply (even with the "early" setting). And it always bickers about the hands not on the steering wheel and deactivates; even when the hands ARE on. Long way from autonomous driving, or at least what Tesla has at the moment (also, of course, no change of lane when signaling..). I still turn it on every long journey, to assist me.
One last minor niggle: sometimes it gets confused on various lines on roads, like old temporary narrow lanes from works etc; and I feel it wants to steer me onto a different lane, or onto the separator :) but it's easy to resist it and move back. Not 100% trustful.
30731
The interior is the best for this class (I haven't seen the new E-class to compare, but seen and test drove all the others). All materials say quality, all buttons click just right. Very little road noise - especially on new tarmac which is much quieter - barely a bit of wind whisper at 70 mph. I feel treated like a king!
The screens are high-def. I've got the 7 inch screen between dials and I love it, the amount of information and the way it's organized is very good.
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13015326_10201528228644924_740945892781898641_n.jp g?oh=80c0ea4d3c65a1114caaddfaaf756766&oe=57DF254D
I could've lived without the Audi Connect / hard drive navigation / touch pad, but they've packaged them in the £4000 Tech Pack Plus and I had to swallow the pill, as I really wanted ACC. I've played with the Tesla S "giant ipad" and there is a HUGE difference ... this is where I think Audi can improve dramatically. The whole connectivity package, with apps, weather etc, is much much behind what Tesla has now.
My wife really wanted the sunroof. It's nice but.. not for the driver and front passenger, as it starts right above and not in front of you, and you need to crane your neck backwards to see anything. Definitely not worth the £1250.
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12994479_10201528238645174_4337153791711875548_n.j pg?oh=57f53a1f5cab1206bf1336bb430e0369&oe=57CD13D3
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14706_10201502787088901_6232466246253990761_n.jpg? oh=61976ecba814d51eb366d0b9b7f80d32&oe=57D57836
As I said earlier, I really needed the space, with a 16 month baby and plans to do long weekends away with friends. Last bank holiday I had to fit some of the bags inside of the car! :)
But besides extreme situations like these, I'm very happy with the space. With the seats folded you can fit a double mattress inside.
I've bought the boot separators kit (one metallic extendable bar and one textile band that fit in the rails). They are not as useful as I thought.
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13082764_10201575189578918_4605603794546831707_n.j pg?oh=9151cd2f0d534b9ebf31f275165e5217&oe=579FEA16
It's a shame that even with the lighting package Audi hasn't bother to put all interior lights as LED's. You can really see the difference with an aftermarket kit, the originals look yellow'ish comparing to the LED headlights. However I've found the LED lights a little too brighter on a dark night.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1709/26590618672_c4a3f1349b_c.jpg
So.. overall: extremely quiet and comfortable, spacious, easy and relaxing on long journeys, but lagging behind in the gadgetry and connectivity features that come with a high price to pay -- not always easy to justify. With the configuration selected (see signature), it creeped up to a £45000 invoice price, and without some of the options I would've wanted (matrix lights, electric seats, perhaps a little bigger engine... it all adds up into 911 territory!)
Even so, the big "end of life" discounts that they currently have make them a no-brainer in comparison with the other brethrens in the premium large segment (and you can see that in the sales figures (http://left-lane.com/car-sales-europe/car-sales-segments/premium-large-car-segment/) ), and even with the newer and more modern A4. Especially with the delivery times for that one!
Looking forward to spend the next 5 to 10 years driving it. It ticks all my boxes for now.
And I've made up my mind: I won't change it until I can find a ~400 miles electric car, similar in size with FULLY autonomous driving. The one I can have a nap while it's taking me to the airport :)
The next A6? The next Tesla S? Google car, Apple car... who knows.
'Nuff said!
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12991041_10201528229844954_5780566808998829959_n.j pg?oh=54a544fe260b0cc077bb21e8f584a2ea&oe=57D91F75
https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13043641_10201528232165012_5531868061800666514_n.j pg?oh=9270fbac634268a2efa2d085ca9e7cb9&oe=57CEB696