Decent performance but unengaging drive from Audi A6
As we all know, back in the day when you got a flat tyre, you simply stopped the car, opened the boot, took out the spare and the jack and the wheel brace, took off the errant rubber and replaced it. All very simple and uncomplicated.
These days, however, all is very different. Very few cars now actually come with a full-sized spare, largely thanks to car manufacturers’ efforts to reduce CO2 emissions as extra weight means you emit more nasty gasses. Consequently most cars these days come with either a ‘bicycle tyre’ space-saver or one of those completely useless kits which are supposed to seal the hole in your tyre with some sort of gunk or other.
It may be that if you get a puncture in any sort of a built up area, you have some hope of redemption, but if you’re out in the wilds and find the need for assistance, then you’re in big trouble.
And so it was in the wilds of West Cork one recent Sunday when the A6 picked up a rear left puncture on a narrow B-road. Having found a relatively safe place to change the tyre for the space-saver in the boot, I found I could not remove the plastic caps covering the wheel nuts. Thus I couldn’t remove the wheel.
After more than half an hour of fruitless endeavour — and increasingly frozen mitts — with screwdrivers and a fiddly fish-hook thingy which you’d presume is the right implement for the job, I caved in and went to call for help — except there was no phone coverage. Apologies to Audi, but by the time I got coverage I’d had to travel several very slow miles and the tyre was in a complete state.
Audi’s Roadside Assist had me back in action within an hour, which was not bad at all in the circumstances and had it not been for them I was completely goosed. But I did nevertheless reflect on the rest of the slow (limited to 80 kph on the bicycle tyre) trip to Cork that companies really do need to look hard at this whole aspect of the driving experience and come up with something better than there is now.
Run-flat tyres, as we have often mentioned here, are certainly not satisfactory and neither are those damned repair-it-yourself-kits.
On top of that, car makers don’t ned to over-complicate the tyre changing procedure; do wheel nuts really need covers?
In any event it was a small downside to an otherwise pleasant experience with the A6 which, as we know is part of the quartet of top contenders in the executive saloon class, along with the E-Class Merc, the Jaguar XF and the BMW 5 Series. It may be that many consider it to be at the bottom of that pile, but I have long disagreed with that proposition, particularly so when you consider the sheer quality of what’s on offer here.
The model we had came in S-Line trim and was a fine car, but I have to say if I was buying one, I would not be going for the front wheel drive option as tested. Personally I would pay the extra dosh for the Quattro all wheel drive system.
It’s not that the tester was a bad car or anything, but the front wheel drive is nothing like as stable as its’ 4x4 sibling and while the engine offered decent enough performance, it felt like it was too much for the front wheel drive system. The 0-100 kph time of 8.2 seconds and the 232 kph top speed indicate there is plenty of grunt on hand, but on the road the car felt it had a bit more understeer and was certainly not as planted as a Quattro would be. Torque steer was an obvious issue too, but it was the near total absence of engagement between driver and car left me a little underwhelmed.
On the other hand, you will cheer yourself with potential economy figures of 4.2 l/100 km (66.6 mpg) and CO2 emissions of 110 g/km which result in annual road tax of just €190.
Maybe I’m getting too demanding in my old age, but I while I liked a lot of what the A6 offered, there was enough to quibble about as well. Sure it will munch motorway miles with incredible ease, but on more testing roads you get to the bottom of it rather more quickly than you might like.
The main upside though is Audi’s legendary build quality and it is obvious once you park your bum in the driving seat that you’re in a car which has been afforded the most robust quality control standards. The top drawer nature of the materials used to build it and the comfort levels afforded driver and passengers remain at the top table and are still the standard by which others are judged.
And with standard kit which includes leather upholstery, a 7” touch screen, cruise control and loads of other stuff, most business or fleet users will not feel let down in any way, although Audi seems to be following the path of certain German rivals by asking a lot for anything extra you might want.
This particular model might not be my specific choice in the A6 range, but it is a car which will get you from A to B in extreme comfort but with little feeling of having had a dynamic time while doing so. This car does leave its rivals beaten into a cocked hat in very many pleasing ways, just once you accept it will not provide many ‘wow’ moments.
A very workmanlike executive motor then; just try not to get a puncture in West Cork while driving it.
The Cost: €51,800 — €61,379 as tested
The Engine: A tried and trusted 2 litre turbodiesel with decent performance and great economy
The Specification: Standard kit good, but extras expensive
The Overall Verdict: Brilliantly comfortable and upmarket, but not such a brilliant drive
Star Rating: 3/5
