After a used European family sedan? Cold blooded Canadian after something in an AWD to stick it to Mother Nature’s most miserable work? Sort of sounds like you’re looking for an Audi, doesn’t it? After all-- competing with BMW and Mercedes for the dollars of Canadian shoppers is more easily accomplished when you’ve got a quarter-century-long reputation for All Wheel Drive (AWD) performance.
So here it is: the last-generation Audi A6. Offering more space and size than the smaller A4 while maintaining excellent driving dynamics and year-round operation, the last generation of Audi’s mid-range hauler was sold to us Canadians from 1998 to 2004 in both sedan and station wagon variants. Six or eight cylinder power was available depending on the year in question, and most models came standard with Audi’s ‘Quattro’ AWD system.
Look for a standard 2.8 litre, 200 horsepower V6 with five-speed automatic with ‘Tiptronic’ manual-mode shifting. Eventually, a three-litre, 220 horsepower V6 hit the A6’s engine room, as did a 4.2 litre V8 with 300. For enthusiasts, there was even a 2.7 litre, twin-turbo V6 with 250 horsepower that was available with a six-speed manual transmission.
On board were all the goodies like heated and motorized leather seating, wood trim, premium audio, dual-zone automatic climate control, a CD changer, a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, and a driver computer display.
Owners taking to the internet to share their last-generation A6 experiences typically use the words ‘beautiful’ or ‘gorgeous’ to describe the interior and exterior styling. These owners also typically rave about a smooth and comfortable driving experience, great year-round traction, generous room, great features and smooth performance from the powertrain and chassis. Ultimately, where comfort, luxury and performance are concerned, the A6 shouldn’t disappoint.
Complaints common of the model include cupholders, a dated-looking driver computer, and meek performance with the smaller 2.8 litre V6 engine on board. Gas mileage isn’t said to be the heavy A6’s strongest attribute, either.
When shopping used, decide which powertrain best suit your needs, and then arrange to test-drive several models with that powertrain on board. Note that the engine is referenced in terms of displacement and aspiration in the A6’s name badge. For instance, an A6 2.8 has the small V6, while an A6 4.2 has the V8 on board. The A6 2.7T has the twin-turbocharged V6 under the hood.
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| 2002 Audi A6 (Photo: Audi) |
So here it is: the last-generation Audi A6. Offering more space and size than the smaller A4 while maintaining excellent driving dynamics and year-round operation, the last generation of Audi’s mid-range hauler was sold to us Canadians from 1998 to 2004 in both sedan and station wagon variants. Six or eight cylinder power was available depending on the year in question, and most models came standard with Audi’s ‘Quattro’ AWD system.
Look for a standard 2.8 litre, 200 horsepower V6 with five-speed automatic with ‘Tiptronic’ manual-mode shifting. Eventually, a three-litre, 220 horsepower V6 hit the A6’s engine room, as did a 4.2 litre V8 with 300. For enthusiasts, there was even a 2.7 litre, twin-turbo V6 with 250 horsepower that was available with a six-speed manual transmission.
On board were all the goodies like heated and motorized leather seating, wood trim, premium audio, dual-zone automatic climate control, a CD changer, a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, and a driver computer display.
Owners taking to the internet to share their last-generation A6 experiences typically use the words ‘beautiful’ or ‘gorgeous’ to describe the interior and exterior styling. These owners also typically rave about a smooth and comfortable driving experience, great year-round traction, generous room, great features and smooth performance from the powertrain and chassis. Ultimately, where comfort, luxury and performance are concerned, the A6 shouldn’t disappoint.
Complaints common of the model include cupholders, a dated-looking driver computer, and meek performance with the smaller 2.8 litre V6 engine on board. Gas mileage isn’t said to be the heavy A6’s strongest attribute, either.
When shopping used, decide which powertrain best suit your needs, and then arrange to test-drive several models with that powertrain on board. Note that the engine is referenced in terms of displacement and aspiration in the A6’s name badge. For instance, an A6 2.8 has the small V6, while an A6 4.2 has the V8 on board. The A6 2.7T has the twin-turbocharged V6 under the hood.
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| 2002 Audi A6 (Photo: Audi) |