(estates/wagons) Audi A4 vs Audi A6 vs Passat

[passat938]

Hi guys,

first post

Not been able to find answers to a lot of very specific questions so thought i'd find some expert advice from current A4/A6 owners

I own a 2001 passat wagon sport edition 1.9 tdi 130 bhp - which i'm debating on selling (it has 170,000 on the clock and the cambelt is due).

I rather like the Audi A4 and A6 wagons/estates and trying to figure which one in terms of finer details, space, ride qaulity i should settle on! Looking at keeping it on a 1.9 tdi 130 bhp for performance and frugality.

1. I've read the A4 Wagon is smaller than the passat (but based on the passat platform?), whereas the A6 is slightly larger (which platform is this?)

2. My passat is the sport edition with sports suspension which I rather like, do I specifically have to get a "sport" audi a4/a6 or do the SE or S models have this as standard?

3. I love my coffee! where are the cup holders in the A4/A6? passat has them in central bay next to handbrake

4. What colour is the dash at night? (anyone got any pics?) i'm used to the red dials and blue glow on the passat - but read the audi's are all red

( http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...7/56b911d0.jpg )
( http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...7/8b9fe78d.jpg )



5. I can currently fit my mountain bike in the passat in full without taking the wheels off as long as the rear seats are down, would the A4 struggle to do this? (less rear legroom?)

( http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...7/dbe452a0.jpg
)

6. I'm looking at 2001/2002 audi A4/A6's what are the key differences in the 2002-2005 models to 2001 range?

7. Central arm rest. I like my creature comforts and the central arm rest is a must have, which A4's have this? is it standard on all A6's?

8. Is the 6 cd changer in boot/cockpit standard in A4/A6?

9. My passat has three spoke leather sport steering wheel & sports seats (a bit of side leg and upper torso support) again which versions of the A4/A6 would have this?


Sorry for all the questions, even if you only know the answer to one of the questions please reply looking for as much feedback as poss.


Paul

[ali_a4_avant]

I have a 2003 a4 avant. I can fit my mountain bike fully with back seats down, and even fit my girlfriends (minus front wheel). The cup holder is above the stereo in the dash and mine doesn't have an armrest. The dash is red and white, best i have seen (except r8).

[passat938]

I have a 2003 a4 avant. I can fit my mountain bike fully with back seats down, and even fit my girlfriends (minus front wheel). The cup holder is above the stereo in the dash and mine doesn't have an armrest. The dash is red and white, best i have seen (except r8).

Thanks Ali, can you just drop back seats down to fit bike in or do you have to remove headrests, lift bottom of seats forward then drop back seats down?

Any pics of your dash lit up?

[ali_a4_avant]

Yeah, just drop the back seats and it is in, no removing head-rests, and i'm 6 ft 1" and I dont have to adjust my seat.

I'll do a picture later when it go's dark.

[kodkod.84]

If you are getting an Avant I would get a roofrack cycle carrier- why muddy up the inside of your car by forcing bikes into the back?
Alu racks look especially smart with the alu roof rails.

[SebRogers]

I changed from a Skoda Octavia estate to the A4 Avant and have definitely noticed the difference in boot space, both with the seats up and dropped (the A4 is much smaller). As a keen mountain biker, that was a bit of a problem. I used to be able to fit three bikes plus wheels under the Octy's load cover with the seats up. I can't even get one in the A4 - the boot's just too narrow.

Then again, as kodkod.84 oints out, the A4's interior is too nice to mess up with dirty ol' bikes I solved the problem with a really nice towbar mounted 3 bike Thule rack. Looks great, doesn't hammer my fuel consumption nearly as much as a roof-mounted carrier and gives easy access to the boot. Since I got the rack I definitely don't miss the Skoda...

[passat938]

I got the Passat specifically so I could carry the bike inside the car though

Bike crime isn't good in Manchester and i've had so many friends followed home after someones viewed their shiny trophy on the back of the car

My frame alone cost me £1100 (Santa cruz Heckler) so i don't mind hoovering a bit of mud out the boot.

But if the A4 does make it a noticable task to get bike in and out, it looks like the A6 or another Passat.

Its a nightmare finding audi's with a certain spec as it seems they are all specified at original point of purchase.

With a passat if I get a sport model I know its got alloys, three spoke leather steering wheel, sports sus, sports seats etc

- with audi's i've looked at a few which don't even have an onboard computer as it wasn't originally requested.

Minefield.

[SebRogers]

Didn't realise you were in Manchester. Having lived there for a couple of years, I definitely wouldn't drive around with bikes on the back or the roof I worked in a bike shop off Deansgate in the 90s and we did a roaring trade in insurance quotations for nicked bikes

The A6 is a lot bigger in terms of boot space and probably very close to what you're used to with the Passat. Worth a look, I'd say.

[Corb2000]

You will find it frustrating identifying an A6 with the right spec as many of these were company cars with little latitude for extras at the time they were ordered.

I did have a 2002 facelift 1.8T multitronic sport avant which would have been ideal for you - the sport pack included stiffened suspension, 3 spoke steering wheel and 18" alloys plus it had a centre armrest, grey leather, heated seats, bose, luggage net and pull up screen plus full computer.

After the A6 I had an A4 2.5TDI multitronic sport avant and found this much smaller all round (front / rear and luggage area) plus the A4 had a harder ride than it's big brother. Significantly, the interior of the A6 seemed to be of a higher quality than the A4, even with them spec'd up to similar levels.

The 2002 facelift was subtle but tidied the appearance of the A6 up and gave it very clean lines in sport trim. Not sure there was much equipment difference but I'd always go for the latest model you can afford.

I got loads of stuff in the back of the A6, including a 3 seat sofa. It's bigger than the Passat and a lot classier so would be my choice of the three models you are considering.