What A6 Estate

[dforsdike]

Hi

I am new to this forum and wonder whether anybody can help me.
I'm in the market for a 98-01 a6 estate my preference is a manual gearbox as im concerened about problems with Auto or Tip gearboxes should i be concerened? There seems to be a lot of autos on the market but not many manuals.

I like the 2.5tdi but dont want to pay over the odds for a diesel especially with the difference in unleaded and diesel fuel costs at the moment. Out of the 2.8 and 2.4 engines what is the better engine? Have also been looking at the 1.8T seems to be similar to the 2.4 in performance.

Also i like the idea of the quattro is this reliable as am concerened about expensive repair bills?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Darren

[paul b]

Hi

I am new to this forum and wonder whether anybody can help me.
I'm in the market for a 98-01 a6 estate my preference is a manual gearbox as im concerened about problems with Auto or Tip gearboxes should i be concerened? There seems to be a lot of autos on the market but not many manuals.

I like the 2.5tdi but dont want to pay over the odds for a diesel especially with the difference in unleaded and diesel fuel costs at the moment. Out of the 2.8 and 2.4 engines what is the better engine? Have also been looking at the 1.8T seems to be similar to the 2.4 in performance.

Also i like the idea of the quattro is this reliable as am concerened about expensive repair bills?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Darren

First of all, try your hardest to get a late 2001 model or a 2002 model because the range was facelifted at that time, and I believe some of the gremlins that had affected the earlier models were rectified.

Go for the diesel! Better residuals in the long term, and also the cheaper road tax... the diesels are so torquey they are definitely no slouch especially if you remap one. I would get a 1.9 TDI and have it remapped, then you have the same BHP as a 2.5 TDI but with the economy of a 1.9 TDI.

There are a lot of problems with the Audi Multitronic automatics. Don't buy one, buy a Tiptronic or a manual. Multitronics have been given the name 'Multichronic' by a few on this forum. The tell tale sign that a Multitronic is on the way out is juddering upon acceleration and you get a pause before the thing will go into reverse.

Finally check the passenger footwell isn't wet. This is a plenum chamber fault were water ingresses from drain holes beneath the battery cover and from the brake servo. In the passenger footwell is your various central locking and electrical systems, and the convenience unit costs a fortune to buy. Also try going from lock to lock in a quiet car park and ensure there is no banging from the suspension, if there is then there is an issue with the CV joints, which are common on cars which hang all the weight on the nose like an Audi does.

Good luck!

Paul

[Niall76]

Which Estate?

An RS6 of course.

Next question...

[buster]

Hi

I am new to this forum and wonder whether anybody can help me.
I'm in the market for a 98-01 a6 estate my preference is a manual gearbox as im concerened about problems with Auto or Tip gearboxes should i be concerened? There seems to be a lot of autos on the market but not many manuals.

I like the 2.5tdi but dont want to pay over the odds for a diesel especially with the difference in unleaded and diesel fuel costs at the moment. Out of the 2.8 and 2.4 engines what is the better engine? Have also been looking at the 1.8T seems to be similar to the 2.4 in performance.

Also i like the idea of the quattro is this reliable as am concerened about expensive repair bills?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Darren

My opinion for what its worth

The 2.4 is a great crusier but in my opinion sluggish and underpowered. Fuel consumption is abismal.

2.5TDi very torqey and pulls like a train. Not great on fuel for a diesel though.

1.9Tdi - good on fuel and fairly quick off the mark. Drives well and 'all in all' a very nice car.

2.8 - good performance, very smooth and best of the petrol V6's for fuel consumption.

2.7T - OMG!! - Awesome and better on fuel than a 2.4.

1.8T - good compromise. Bit revvy and only as smooth as a 4 pot can be.

Quattro? I would always get a quattro for traction and safety (Lot of fun too ) but they do less to the gallon than two wheled variants.

Auto/manual - not that much difference these days but manuals still better on fuel.

Check the car tax band first if you are buying a car registered after 6th March 2001 as the tax may be a lot

[djl78]

Personally i have only had experience with diesels and i would go with the 2.5TDI every time.The 1.9 TDI is fine but in standard form does not have the torque available for comfortable towing.If you are not going to be towing then it's not so much an issue.A bonus for the 1.9 would probably be cheaper engine spares....Ultimately it's personal preference.

[johnm]

I've got a 03 plate 2.5tdi that I got from Audi maindealer. I've been plagued by the "Multichronic" gearbox (see separate thread) but other than that it's great. I drove it overnight to Switzerland and it was no more tiring than driving my Jaguar Sovereign. So if you can find one without a multitronic gearbox I should think it would be fine.

[VanWheeler]

I've got a 2.5 Tdi and it's great, but no great on fuel. You can push the 130pd up to 180hp and 300lb/ft and still keep the economy with a remap. But do try get 2001 on as metioned above.

[dforsdike]

Thanks guys for all your comments.

I am pretty sure i am going to go for a 98 2.8 Quattro Avant am looking at one at the weekend, realistically what can expect MPG wise parkers are suggesing mid twentys for Tiptronic.

Anybody got the 0-60 stats for a 2.8 Quattro Tiptronic ?

Thanks

Darren

[Niall76]

I have a 2.8 manual. I get 31mpg with mixed driving (back roads/town/dual carraigeway). If I am on the Motorway then it's 36+

Once, on the German autobhan, I drove a steady 2 or so hours at an average of just over 100mph and got 27.6mpg - I thought that was pretty good!

Anyhow, it's a sweet motor indeed. You'll love it.

[buster]

Thanks guys for all your comments.

I am pretty sure i am going to go for a 98 2.8 Quattro Avant am looking at one at the weekend, realistically what can expect MPG wise parkers are suggesing mid twentys for Tiptronic.

Anybody got the 0-60 stats for a 2.8 Quattro Tiptronic ?

Thanks

Darren

It's somewhere around 8.5 seconds to 62mph (100kph)

2.4 is more like 9.5 and the 2.7T is 6.5.

Nice car - have fun with it.