Audi A6 test drive since 2011 sedan

Brotherhood of the rings

On the sixes from Audi, only an ace
 
In the rating of coolness Audi, only Mercedes and BMW lose. In this regard, the prices of cars with four rings on the hood are quite high. However, those who wish to have a solid German car with great pleasure buy the prereded Audi A6 of the first generation, which were not produced very long - from 1994 to 1997. Moreover, this model is called one of the best Audi in the history of the company.
 
In fact, the first -generation Audi A6 is only a modernized Audi 100 -sample of 1990, which received a completely new name after restyling to all other changes. But the six has preserved all the old advantages. Among the undoubted advantages of the first -generation Audi A6 can be called a beautifully made eternal body, excellent engines, as well as a simple and damn reliable suspension, which can be repaired independently or in the nearest service. Naturally, one cannot pass by the fact that the Audi A6 was equipped with a famous all -wheel drive system. However, everything in order.
 
Audi made after 1988 (regardless of the model), everything should be in perfect order with the body. The fact is that since the late 80s, these cars have exclusively galvanized bodies that can easily resist corrosion for a very, very long time. If there are at least small foci of rust, then this is the first sign that earlier the car got into the accident and after that was restored far from the best way. In the future, such renovated hastily elements can cause a lot of trouble. And with further resale of a car (not all life to drive on the same thing), rusty elements can scare away customers or make the price seriously.
 
Unlike the Audi 100 sample of 1990-1994, which could be almost empty (sometimes even the front windows do not have electric drives), the Audi A6 in the basic version was equipped with an already minimum necessary set of bells and whistles. And most often, in addition to electric drives of glasses (front at least), there is also a climatic system with mirrors. Moreover, it is not simple, but with the possibility of separate adjustment of the air temperature for the driver and the front passenger.
 
No worse than gasoline
 
The first -generation Audi A6, despite its short life (recall that formally such a model existed only three years), was equipped with a fairly wide range of engines. And not only gasoline, but also diesel. The weakest engine feeding diesel fuel was a 1.9-liter unit with a capacity of 90 hp. Frankly, these horses are clearly not enough for such a large and heavy car. If you really want to have a diesel engine, it is better to turn the gaze to a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder unit. It can be two types: with a capacity of 115 hp. and 140 hp The last engine deserves the most flattering reviews, because it made Audi A6 an amazingly dynamic machine - acceleration to a hundred less than 10 s. And this is at the diesel machine!
 
According to Audi car service experts, diesel engines (including 1.9-liter) are very reliable. However, it must be remembered that for their diagnosis you need to go only to the branded service station, and not to ordinary workshops. About $ 30 can be taken for competent verification, but it is better to pay them, since the repair of modern Audi diesel engines will cost a huge amount (although it is a natural engine to bring to death naturally-its resource is estimated at more than 500-700 thousand km ).
 
A6 gasoline engines can be 4-, 6- or even 8-cylinder (Audi 100 equipped another 5-cylinder engine, but after restyling, this unit decided to remove from production). The weakest was the 2-liter four, usually issuing 115 hp, although you can find cars with a very dead 101-horsepower engine. Despite all the skepticism about a small number of horses, it should be noted that the 2-liter 8-valve unit has established itself from the best side due to its reliability, unpretentiousness and maintenance-spare parts for it are relatively cheap, and there are plenty of used ones at disassembly. And the cost of servicing such a machine is usually low. For example, replacing the gasket of the cylinder head will cost about $ 25 along with work (v6 engines three to four times more expensive). There is another 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with 20 valves with a capacity of 125 hp, which can also be recommended for lovers of calm and leisurely driving.
 
If you want to have a more or less fast Audi A6, it is better to look for a version with the V6 engine. It is the sixes that allow you to fully feel all the charm of possessing such a prestigious car as Audi. Under the hood A6 you can find three V6 engine options. One of them has a volume of 2.6 liters and a power of 150 hp. This is already enough so as not to break off due to lack of horses. Moreover, many consider it a 2.6-liter unit is the most optimal in price/power/operational costs. And besides, there are a lot of such cars in the secondary market, and there is something to choose from. There are two more 2.8-liter units. In the first year of A6 release, he had 174 hp, and in the second half of 1995, a more modern motor with 5 valves on the cylinder, which was already issued 193 hp, began to install on cars.
 
Everything is not enough for me!
 
Who does not have enough and 193 horses can take a chance and buy very interesting charged versions of the car. Moreover, there were several options. So, at first, on the basis of the Audi 100, a car called S4, equipped with a 5-cylinder engine with a volume of 2.2 liters with a turbocharged capacity of 230 hp. (So \u200b\u200bthe first S4 appeared from the model 100, and not from A4). But in 1995, an updated version of a high -power car was released already under the name S6. Such machines have a 4.2 liter V8 engine with a capacity of 280 hp. In addition, the Germans collected in small quantities Audi S6 Plus with a 4.2-liter engine with a capacity of 326 hp. It is very difficult to find the last modification on sale, but S6 (like the older S4) in our secondary market is not so exclusive. But what is most interesting, the prices for these cars are not much larger than for ordinary A6 with 6-cylinder engines.
 
But this does not mean at all that you need to quit everything and run to look for the charged Audi. Here, measure the principle seven times and cut only once. Buying a very used first-generation Audi S6 now (after all, a similar machine has been a lot of years, and its mileage is appropriate), you need to understand that this missile can at any time demand decent funds for the repair of the engine, gearbox, etc. To say that the 4.2-liter eight, which went to the S6 from a larger A8, is very reliable and capable of working more than 500 thousand km. This Audi A8 could buy for a more or less calm driving with a professional driver driving. And the S6 was taken exclusively for aggressive and high -speed driving. And for nothing more! And when the engine is constantly used 100%, its resource may not exceed 100 thousand km. Repair of a charged motor costs astronomical money. Yes, it's not only about the motor. Many details from the usual A6 are not suitable for S6. The price of spare parts for charged cars can simply be indecently high. For example, a clutch kit draws by $ 400-500, an original shock absorber costs about $ 350, and for branded brake pads (others do not put it on the S6) ask for about $ 220.
 
The service life of more calm engines V6 with a volume of 2.6 and 2.8 liters is much larger. When buying a car, it is necessary to remove the upper engine cover (the so -called plate) and see if there is oil in the space between the heads of the cylinder block. If so, this is a bad sign. Perhaps such a motor has led one of the heads. In general, Audi engines love to eat oil, but if its consumption exceeds a liter per thousand km, it is likely to replace the guide valves (occurs after 300-400 thousand km of run). This pleasure is not cheap, because work and spare parts will have to be given about $ 1000-1500, depending on the steepness of the service. You need to see yet whether the gaskets of the cylinder block heads flow. Sometimes their simple replacement is not enough due to the fact that for one reason or another, the head was a little crumbled. The alignment of its landing plane will cost $ 300-500. Decent costs await the owner if the intake manifold cracked. The work on its replacement usually costs about $ 60-100, but the purchase of a new part will pull out more than $ 800-1000 from the wallet (you can find a used for $ 350 at the showdown).
 
After purchasing a car, just in case, put a new timing belt (in Russia it is better to change it every 60-70 thousand km). Replacing the belt along with a set of rollers and pomp will cost about $ 350-400. It is also recommended for approximately every 30-40 thousand km of mileage to rinse the injector ($ 100). By the way, you can give one recommendation. If in winter there are problems with a cold launch, then most likely the matter is not in any electronic sensors (they also occasionally fail). Sometimes it’s enough just to call on the Audi service and slightly reconfigure the computer.
 
Legendary Quattro
 
A significant part of the first -generation A6 has a QUATTRO all -wheel drive system with a self -locking differential Torsen - this scheme since the 80s of the last century has become an Audi calling card. If you do not go into theory, it can be noted that the huge advantage of the Torsen differential is an instant transmission of torque from the front wheels to the rear. Moreover, this is not done at the beginning of the slip, but even before it (Torsen reacts to the change in the coupling conditions). The operation of all -wheel drive cars is slightly more expensive than usual. For example, the rear suspension of such machines is quite complicated and has many silent blocks that must be changed every few years (about $ 300-450). Yes, plus to this can still be worn out to adjust the collapse of the rear wheels (another $ 120-200 with work). As for the all -wheel drive system itself, it is extremely reliable. And even if a small rumble appeared in the differential, it is often enough to fill in special liquids.
 
Front-wheel drive cars have a simple rear suspension with a steel beam and two silent blocks. Replacing the latter costs about $ 80-150. And there is more to break there, in general, nothing. And the front suspension is also the simplest - just one lever with a ball support, the service life of which is more than 120 thousand km. The original one at a company service station can cost more than $ 250, but there are good non -original details for $ 90 in stores (it is strongly recommended not to buy Chinese, Taiwanese, Italian and Spanish spare parts - it is better to opt for branded from Lemferder and TRW). Silent-Blok of a lever on European roads is capable of working over 150 thousand km. We sometimes have it only for 50-70 thousand, which is also quite good (replacing $ 40-80). A little more often (once every 30-40 thousand km) it is required to put new bushings of the reptile stability stabilizer ($ 30-50 with work). Perhaps the only thing that is a little upset in the first-generation Audi A6 suspension is shock absorbers, often failing on our roads (but there are enough of them for 1-1.5 years). What shock absorbers to buy, everyone decides for himself - now there are both the most ordinary and not too reliable and sports gas with the possibility of adjusting stiffness on the market.
 
Text: Dmitry Gaidukevich
 

Source: Mkobil magazine [07.03.2005]