Now I am driving Audi A6

"Jimmy Tango" (jimcalliu) 12/25/2014 at 01:09 • Filed to: None

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This must be my Christmas.

I had a 7 day rental of 5 Series or the same class. I was driving a 328xi (voluntarily, I don't really care for XTS) the first day, 528xi 2nd through 4th day. Below is my mini trip with 528xi.

Today, the 5th day, I swapped to an A6.

Of course when I was on the phone, she told me it's a 6 cylinder, but when I drove home and check the vin decoder, it's 4 cylinder. Guess I am calling to complain tomorrow...(had to paid $20 since they need to "clean" the car)

http://www.audiworld.com/forums/vindeco…

But I would still try out A6 when I can. Been looking primarily in BMW family, I haven't even thought about Audi at all. Grew up in Taiwan, it was always Benz and BMW; not until last decade, Audi are in the same class (at least in perception.)

So far in my search I have driven 5 series extensively, that includes 528i/xi, 535i/xi, 535d. I drove XF yesterday but other than in love with leather dashboard, not too impressed. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ; and now I am in a A6.

It's already dark so pictures in three days (on a two days road trip begin tomorrow). First driving impression is... quite odd. The chassis is stiff, but suspension is floaty. It's slightly quieter than 5 series, but I don't feel a thing via steering feel. At least BMW put on a theater, Audi doesn't even try to fake it.

I mostly drive in "Dynamic" mode, whatever that means. In 5 series, I actually try to measure the noise in the cabin, and on the same road, 528 in sport mode tops out 80dB, mostly 76dB with 63dB in idle; Audi tops out 77dB with 55dB in idle.

I haven't get to experience the sport pedal gear shifter behind the wheel but since it's a CVT I am not holding breath. As I said, I couldn't really turn corner "flat" as there is vertical movement goes up and down slightly. It's a quattro so not really front wheel drive, but I can't explain the feeling as it's quite foreign to me. Maybe some Oppo who drives A6 can chime in?

More to come as I am taking the car to Vancouver. Let's see how it does on highway.

treesmakewater > Jimmy Tango 12/25/2014 at 03:51

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I drive an A6, but a c5 platform one. I have driven the v6 (diesel) of the newer platform, but I have not driven a newer 5 series. I would definitely test drive a non cvt, non four cylinder model, Audi should (in my opinion) never put a cvt in the a5-a8L ranges.

Cé hé sin > treesmakewater 12/25/2014 at 05:00

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They've listened to you and dropped it. Most models get the 7 speed DCT now, from the same supplier as it happens.

Jimmy Tango > treesmakewater 12/25/2014 at 23:13

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thanks for chime in. Yeah this 2.0T one is not particularly inspiring. Highway cruiser she is, but not something you look forward to take it on curly road. Even left turn upon green light required work, argh.