Test drive Audi A6 2005 - 2008 sedan

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Test A6 Quattro
We present the next issue of the heading to taste and color. Potential buyers of the tested model express their pros and cons of the Audi A6 business class sedan. The expert group included top managers of the RALF Ringer shoes company, whom the correspondent asked to share impressions of the trip on the new car.
Today, Audi demonstrates in Russia the highest rates of sales growth compared to other premium brands: 53% for three quarters of 2005. Cars with four rings lead in C-, D-, E- and F-classes. At the same time, A6 in Russia accounts for the largest share of sales among all Audi models is almost 40%. Our businessmen, apparently, love to go to work, as for a holiday.
Made promises
It is not easy to create a business class car with a pronounced sports character. The designer faces many questions. How to combine the smoothness of the stroke and the severity of reactions? Acoustic comfort and a characteristic roar in the motor? Representative appearance and aggressiveness inherent in the design of sports cars?
The developers of the new A6 managed to harness into one wagon of the horse and trembling doe. They fulfilled all the promises given to fans of the brand in the concepts of Audi Pikes Peak and Nuvolari. The most noticeable detail of the exterior, migrated from experimental cars, was a single grille of the radiator, the outer circuit of which is framed by a chrome trapezoid. This element recalls the legendary Audi Auto Union Audi, which shone in the pre -war years on racing tracks.
Audi top managers in an interview with journalists argue that a potential buyer of a business class car in Europe 40 50 years old with conservative tastes. Such customers do not accept sharp changes in design. This means that the evolutionary path of design development is more promising commercially.
In the harmonious appearance of the car, it is difficult to highlight individual bright details. The impressive dimensions of the car are immediately striking: the length is 4.92 m, the width is 1.86 m, the height is 1.46 m. \u200b\u200bCompared to the previous modification A6, it stretched for 12 cm, it was heard in width by 5 cm, its wheelbase became larger by 8.3 cm. The new A6 is distinguished by the magnificent aerodynamic lobe resistance coefficient of 0.28 (in the previous model, this indicator was 0.31). Therefore, even at a speed of more than 200 km/h inside the car is very quiet.
Interior designers clearly identified the pilot responsibility. The dashboard, steering wheel, front console and the central tunnel with the gearbox lever are arranged in a single block. All devices are slightly deployed towards the driving.
Under the right hand of the driver, next to the gear lever, there is a control puck of the MMI Basic Plus multimedia system, with which you can change the settings of the navigation system, a radio receiver with a CD player and an on -board computer. All data MMI Basic Plus displays on a 6.5-inch display. The undoubted advantage of the new Audi A6 model over competitors is that this system is included in the basic complete set of the car.
The transfers lever and controls of the multimedia system left no space on the central console for the traditional handbrake. The parking brake of A6 is electromechanical and thinking. It is controlled using a key located to the left of the gearbox lever. And if the driver is fastened and begins to move, the handbrake will unlock the rear wheels automatically.
Checking on the roads
For the test, we got A6 Quattro with a 3-liter diesel engine of a 225 liter V6. With. In the author’s opinion, this is the most emotional car of all versions A6. The torque of the diesel engine 450 nm. For comparison: in a 4.2-liter gasoline engine, the torque is only 420 nm. The A6 car with a 3-liter diesel not only overly accelerates, but also breathtakingly goes to a point at speeds of 100 km/h. The cost of this version is $ 72,000.
Audi A6 through the eyes of potential buyers:
Berezhnaya Andrey, General Director of Ralf Ringer. Drives by a Mercedes E-class car. Driving experience of 18 years.
In the design of Audi A6, sports dynamism impresses me. An attempt to combine in the interior decoration of aluminum the material of the techno technique and the classic nut tree seemed unsuccessful to me. I think that either technology should be used either. But these are small nit -picking to the ideal, in principle, decoration of the salon.
I consider the work of a 3-liter turbodiesel undoubted advantage. In acceleration, the car is just super. In the dynamic characteristics there is only one nuance at a sharp start from the place, after the motor scored the first 2000 revolutions, the diesel diesel sags for a couple of seconds.
Suspension and steering settings are ideal for this class. On the one hand, the car is very integral, without a hint of slack. On the other hand, the proper level of comfort for the business class sedan is ensured.
The Audi brand, in my opinion, offers more innovative cars than competitors. This is its main advantage. I would exchange my Mercedes for Audi A6 if I were offered a little more favorable financial conditions for its purchase.
GRUPONOV Vladimir, Director of the Sales Department RALF Ringer. Drives by car BMW 523. Driving experience of 12 years.
Immediately striking is that the dimensions of the car have increased. I like that the new A6 came close to the representative class. But I would like a little more aggression in his appearance, more sharp and pronounced lines.
In general, the interior is respectable and high -quality. But there is something to complain about. The steering wheel without bones under the thumbs. It seemed to me that there is asymmetry in the materials of the panel: on the left is a tree, on the right an aluminum insert.
At the same time, sitting behind the wheel is very convenient. There is not a single ergonomic proportion. I think they will not be offended by the designers and passengers of the rear seat there is very spacious. I don’t know, however, if they will like rather hard suspension settings. As a driver, I like the sports characteristics of the A6 chassis. In terms of acute reactions, this car is not inferior to BMW. But on the other hand, on our roads sometimes I want more smoothness.
The diesel engine surprised the power supply. The only defect of the failure with sharp acceleration in the interval between 2000 and 3000 revolutions. However, in the sporting mode of the automatic transmission, this drawback is leveled.
Even a short trip to A6 delivered a lot of pleasant impressions. The car fully responds to the declared sports characteristics. If I had chosen a business class car today, then the new Audi A6 would consider as a very likely option. Arguments for the image, prestige, history of the brand, well -established service. Arguments against price and some fears about the reliability of the suspension.
Bubesnya Vladimir, director of the RALF Ringer design department. Rides on Hyundai Accent. Driving experience of 25 years.
The design of the Audi A6 did not surprise me: it is still impeccable and respectable. I can’t complain about the interior decoration. I liked the combination of skin, wood and plastic, both in texture and color. It is very convenient to sit behind the wheel: the chair can be blinded by any figure. When you take the steering wheel, you don’t even think that it can be a different shape.
Passengers on the back couch, in my opinion, are quite convenient: the head does not support the roof even if there is a hatch. The problem of long legs is largely solved due to the geometry of the backs of the front seats.
The power of the motor is more than enough. However, starts from a traffic light did not convince me of the sports character of the car. However, the suspension settings and the severity of the steering in combination with all -wheel drive, in my opinion, correspond to the general sports concept of the car. True, there was no feeling that the A6 was a rather heavy car.
With all these advantages, its price is a significant drawback of the machine. A reasonable balance, in my opinion, will not reach. The advantages of the diesel engine cannot outweigh my doubts regarding the quality of domestic diesel fuel, which can create insoluble problems in terms of the manufacturer's warranty obligations.
Perhaps the most striking impression of the trip to A6 was a feeling of comfort and reliability. It is amazing how Audi manages to surprisely combine severity and sophistication in its models.
Pimonenko Andrey, Director of the Development Department. Drives by Audi A6 (previous lineup). Driving experience of 18 years.
Outwardly, the model looks very worthy and more representative than her predecessor. The radiator grille is striking is, of course, the success of designers. However, A6 is too massive for a sports car.
Inside it became more spacious, primarily for the driver. Passengers, in my opinion, did not win in space. Of the aesthetic miscalculations in the interior, the design of the steering wheel. The elements of the volume adjustment and the radio settings look somehow finely and unsolvable.
However, it is convenient in the driver's place. Liked the steering wheel setting and adjusting the seats. You can get a good job, and at the same time all controls will be at hand, which is important after a busy day.
The power of the diesel engine in urban conditions was enough for me. But I like gasoline engines. The suspension of the new A6 is quite tough, but at the same time quite comfortable. Both car control settings and the design of its interior are more oriented to the driver than on the passenger. The previous A6 was the other way around.
From the options I liked the chip key, which can not be removed from the pocket, and electronic control of the parking brake.
The new Audi A6, without a doubt, met my expectations. In my opinion, this is the best business class car. True, he is somewhat expensive. But a quality thing should not be cheap.
 
Igor Komarov
 

Source: Wheel (company)