Vrosprung Durch Technik

THE AUDI A6: One of the largest load bays in its class

A Disillusioned Lady and a problem-solving Car!  

Robert Govender on the A6s’ engaging qualities. 

When strangers, many of them not generally given to expressing their feelings openly, come to one and admire the car and question one about its performance, price etc., a motoring correspondent’s task is considerably lightened.  This is what happened to me when I took the Audi A6 on shopping trips.

The people’s judgment, considered or instinctive, must never be underestimated.

Handling is first rate. Road holding is solid. Fuel consumption is eminently reasonable.

On a crowded motorway, the Audi showed its mettle. I have always been of the view, given the irresponsibility of some drivers, who either tail-gate or cut in front of you without adequate warning, which can sometimes result in a concertina-type crash, it is best to get on the fast lane.  The trick is to distance yourself from potential hazards. The Audi is powerful and agile enough to achieve this safely and comfortably.

The car is spacious, plenty of room for passengers and driver to stretch their legs. The boot is most accommodating. I tend to travel light, but some of our friends are not so considerate.  Even on a weekend break they pack everything except the kitchen sink into their over-stretched bags. The A6’s boot was sufficiently capacious for all that.

Most people like cars that appear to be tailor-made for large families. Not just mother, father and two children but gran and granddad too. They don’t mind the initial investment on a quality car as long as the long-term returns are satisfactory. They like a spacious, economic, reliable and safe car. The A6 is one of those cars that seem to have been made for over-fussy people who want the best that is going like the Audi, the Golf, the Focus, the BMW 318i and the Astra. 

The A6 is well endowed and equipped to make the most favourable impact on the design and performance conscious  driver. The A6 is not crudely macho; it also has a gentler, more urbane side, best reflected in its attractive design and smooth handling. It is refreshingly free of gender bias.

 The 1999 Audi A6 is powered by what its manufacturers describe as “a comprehensive choice of eight engines.”  With six spark ignition, five valve petrol engines and two turbo-charged diesels, you have a democratic choice.

In the petrol division, you have the 1.8-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder engine, and three V6s – a 2. 4 litre with 165bhp, a 2.8 litre with 193 bhp and a 2.7 litre-bi-turbo with 230 bhp. Two 4.2 litre V8 petrol engines power the A.6 4.2 Quattro and the new S6 Quattro with 300bhp and 340 bhp respectively.

The diesel consists of Audi’s 1.9 litre TDI direct injection turbo diesel with 110 bhp and the 2.5-litre V6 turbo diesel, 150bhp.

All A6s come with alloy wheels, sports suspension, automatic climate control, electric seat height adjustment, electric front and rear windows and mirrors, a leather rim airbag steering wheel, driver, front passenger and front side side airbags, radio wave remote control central locking and a Concert radio.

Other unusual features are: enhanced intelligent electronic climate control and a navigation system devised jointly by Audi and Bosch.

Also original are the Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) Traction Control that is standard on the 2.4, 2.5 TDI and 2.8 Quattro models. When does ASR come into play? “If the driven wheels are likely to spin, the engine’s output is steadily reduced until it develops only as much torque as can be effectively transmitted to the road surface. The fuel injection process for individual cylinders is faded out and, and if the engine is still cold, the ignition timing is adjusted. ASR further aims to avoid understeer that may occur as a result of excessive drive torque. The system is therefore active at all road speeds.”

An up-dated version of this report appears in the New World.