Audi S6 2006-'11

"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen) 11/07/2018 at 11:26 • Filed to: None

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Hey oppo, what are your thoughts on this particular Audi? This has the 5.2L V10. From what I’m reading it may not actually be the most unreliable thing that Audi has put out. With the most major issue being carbon build-up and the havoc that can wreak on engine components. Unlike the S8 it does not have air suspension, so that’s a big plus in my eyes. Another concern of mine is that replacing/pulling the cats is an engine-out job, as well as the O2 sensors that are hiding near there somewhere.

One of the cars I found online.

On a related note, would there be any decent warranties available for a car like this? Would it be even worth it considering the $13k to $20k price of entry. My thought is that at this cost it’s an easy price of entry and I’d only drive it for 1 to 2 years and it wouldn’t cost me too crazy much to add V10 powered to my car ownership resume. The trade-in value on my current car would make up over 2/3rds of the purchase price if I pick one up for $15k-ish.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 11:40

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“ From what I’m reading it may not actually be the most unreliable thing that Audi has put out.”

Thats like saying standard shits dont smell as bad as diarrhea.

Yes I still have a grudge against Audi

WilliamsSW > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/07/2018 at 11:42

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I came to post more or less the same thing.  Sure, it’s “more reliable” than a 1st gen Allroad, but goddamn that’s a low bar.

marshknute > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 11:42

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My dad had an 09’ S8 and it was extremely reliable. The only issue I can remember is that he did have to change the O2 sensor, which was an absurd $1200 (admittedly at the Audi dealership).

The only other unexpectedly expensive thing was getting snow tires. You need 21” wheels to fit around the calipers, and t here’s only like 2 brands that made 21” snow tires. But the S6 m ay have more normal sized wheels with more affordable options.

WilliamsSW > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 11:43

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Do your homework on the forums - these do have some expensive issues, although they’re better than a 1st gen Allroad, so yay.

Also, any company that would warranty this car would be a company that I would not trust (f**k 3rd party warranties), and might cost as much as the car.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 11:46

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how lucky are you?

i think that should be the deciding factor.... if you reckon you can do 2 years without it breaking... yeah.. might be worth a shot

if it does break you’re wallet may never forgive you

also... if car max does bumper to bumper warranty on whatever dougs driving.. they’ll probably do it for that car too

nermal > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 11:50

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An extended warranty, if available, will probably cost more than the car. You’re better off Spinning the Wheel of Destiny and buying as-is . Try to avoid one that has had 7 owners and is sold at a shady lot.

All the cars really need is a straight pipe exhaust and some tape to put over the warning lights on the dash. Make sure you change all fluids when you get it as a precautionary note, and have fun!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > WilliamsSW 11/07/2018 at 11:55

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Yeah, I’ve been reading quite extensively on forums, but I also always like to get an oppopinion!

Haha “better than an Allroad”, that’s not a very high bar.

And I’ve heard some warranties out there can work out quite well (on somewhat newer cars I suspect though) , sadly none of these are available on Carmax though.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > WilliamsSW 11/07/2018 at 11:55

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haha, I read your comment first, and said exactly the same thing as far as “low bar”.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > marshknute 11/07/2018 at 11:56

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Yeah, the S6 has a more manageable 19" wheel size. I’ve never had snows on my cars, I’ve always made do with all-seasons.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 11/07/2018 at 11:59

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I hear you on the luck. Honestly I’d attempt to mitigate it as much as possible by being very picking with getting a car with an exemplary service history and verification that it has had a recent carbon cleaning. Also tires and brakes, I’d probably want those to be recent.

And yeah, I wouldn’t ask it to last for more than 1 or 2 years. So I can hopefully get out before any (more) big things start to need attention.

I looked into carmax and they don’t currently have any S6's available, either they got smart, or they just currently happen to be clean out of them.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > nermal 11/07/2018 at 12:01

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Haha, I wasn’t planning on going full straight pipe, but I’d definitely plan on either cutting out two of the four resonators and/ or the muffler and/or replace with a more free-flowing muffler. In other words I want to open it up as much as I can get away with without introducing drone.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 12:07

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I looked into carmax and they don’t currently have any S6's available, either they got smart, or they just currently happen to be clean out of them.

probably the latter.... you know they make enough bank selling bumper to bumper warranty on unbreakable tanks like camrys and crown vics to cover the occasional s6 :p

ToyotaFamily > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 12:14

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They’ll only have an S6 that old if it’s got under 60k miles, so that’d be pretty rare. Even then, it’s gotta make it through their shop.  

They have a couple of newer ones I saw recently.

Shoop > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 12:20

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My dad had one and loved it. His current s6 with the turbo v8 is like a second faster to 60, but doesn’t feel as fast cause lag and things. Also THAT NOISE.

Also i think its aged extremely well. 

Textured Soy Protein > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 12:40

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My  mechanic back in Madison had a customer with one of these. The last couple times I was there, it was up on a lift with everything from the front bumper support forward removed to access some part of the engine. The mechanic said there was some set of hoses that needed replacing and he couldn’t source them from anywhere in the US so had to jump through a bunch of hoops to find them from Germany.

WilliamsSW > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 12:40

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My honest opinion is that these cars are cool AF, but not worth the headache for * most* people.

However, if you go in with your eyes wide open and a proper budget to deal with the issues this car has, I’m sure it would be a lot of fun - if you find a well sorted example, hopefully with some of the major items already addressed recently. 

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 11/07/2018 at 13:00

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haha yeah, I’ll keep an eye on it.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > ToyotaFamily 11/07/2018 at 13:01

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Yeah, I saw the newer ones too, they are about twice as expensive. Although they may end up costing the same due to less maintenance and repair work, haha.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Shoop 11/07/2018 at 13:03

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Yeah, it’s a very handsome car and as far as the 0-60, I’m buying it for the noise, haha. My current car is actually faster, a turbo like your dads, a 2010 Taurus SHO with a tune, it’s a sub 5 second 0-60 whereas the C6-S6 is more like 5.5 seconds.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > WilliamsSW 11/07/2018 at 13:04

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if you find a well sorted example, hopefully with some of the major items already addressed recently.

That’s the only way I’d consider buying one. I want that soundtrack badly . Haha.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Textured Soy Protein 11/07/2018 at 13:06

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oh, that’s a pain. I bet Turboyota could just go through the Subaru catalog and find me one, haha.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 13:07

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Another thing to bear in mind is that the S6, while not slow, isn’t all that fast. Like, a period ML550 puts down similar 0-60 times.

Every Audi/European car expert or mechanic that I’ve ever talked to has advised giving these as wide a birth as possible. The only reason it’s not “ the most unreliable thing that Audi has put out” is because the A llroad exists. Hell, our dealer friend has one for sale now . My dad looked at it briefly before buying his Genesis a couple months ago, but the dealer, being a friend, told us it was a terrible horrible bad idea.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/07/2018 at 13:10

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Yeah, I’m aware they aren’t as fast as they should be, that’s one of the other things holding me back (aside from carbon build-up concerns) . It seems very strange that a 435hp car has a 5.5 0-60. I know it’s heavy, but damn. My 365hp Taurus does that stock and I’m currently in sub 5-second territory thanks to nothing but a tune.

I figured next one up from the Allroad would be anything with a 4.2 V8 that has the plastic timing chain guides (S4 and S5 come to mind) .

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 13:27

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Yeah, I can’t speak personally to the reliability of the C6 S6 but I know it would scare the shit out of me.

Still, they’re pretty quick and comfy, sound good, and they’re cool as hell, so if you make it work I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Plus, toss a set of Blizzaks on it for the ultimate winter toy.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 14:01

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I think you’re correct in your Audi Estimated Reliability Hierarchy

rock bottom: Allroad

just off the bottom: Anything with the 4.2 v8, but especially the B6/B7 (typ 8e) S4

slightl y better than that: V10 S6.

JustPostingThis > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 14:53

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

One of the funniest things I’ve ever done in life. Got electronic exhaust cutouts linked with a carbon fiber matched toggle switch type  thing on the center console. Felt like James Bond every time I switched over to beast mode. 

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 11/07/2018 at 15:02

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Haha thanks, I’m only an entry level expert at this point as I’ve only recently started obsessing about performance oriented Audi’s.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 15:08

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Ug I want a RS6 C6 Avant so badly. Nothing like a V10 Twin Turbo dadmobile *lust eyes *

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JustPostingThis 11/07/2018 at 15:08

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Awesome, I’ve always wanted to have exhaust cutouts on a car.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > CaptDale - is secretly British 11/07/2018 at 15:09

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Yeah, that would be the pinnacle of Audi’s I think. Especially if it came with a manual, or else manual-swapped.

Arrivederci > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 15:54

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Hah - was going to suggest waiting to find one available at Carmax

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Arrivederci 11/07/2018 at 16:06

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yeah, I’m hoping for one to pop up.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 16:35

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It is the one car I am ok with an auto in

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > CaptDale - is secretly British 11/07/2018 at 16:50

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I’m okay with it in a lot of them, but what I would prefer is another subject entirely, haha.

OmerCarrothers333 > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 11/07/2018 at 17:05

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There’s a caveat to that list: what if you have the money to pay for the repairs?

A friend had a V8 powered RS4 in 2005 in the SF Bay Area, and he pretty much told me that if you have one of those, much like a house in Sausalito, you don’t really care about money.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > OmerCarrothers333 11/07/2018 at 17:15

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The problem these days is that the used values are low enough now that people who CAN'T afford the repairs might be able to afford the car. 

OmerCarrothers333 > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 11/07/2018 at 17:18

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No doubt. Every time I see a cheap Audi Q7 or Porsche Cayanne on Car Gurus, I have to remind myself that if I think my wife’s MDX is a pain the balls, one of those machines c ould be worse.

I mean, I knew what I was getting into when I got my GTI, it’s why I didn’t commit seppuku when I had to get it’s exhaust leak fixed (broken bolt where the turbo bolts to the exhaust manifold).

CaptDale - is secretly British > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 17:42

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Yeah I would prefer more manuals, but this is one of the very very few autos I would buy

Spanfeller is a twat > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 17:54

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I feel fear

wafflesnfalafel > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/07/2018 at 22:38

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W atched a guy get a ticket in a black one of those once - got off the ferry and hammered it back past the oncoming waiting lanes (where we were sit ting.) State Patrol at the toll booths was not pleased and chewed him pretty good before handing him the ticket. But is sure sounded cool.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 11/08/2018 at 06:30

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do you have deep pockets?

did you win the lottery?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Spanfeller is a twat 11/08/2018 at 09:17

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Audi V8's and V10's are to be feared.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > wafflesnfalafel 11/08/2018 at 09:24

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Yeah, I want that v10 sound! I want supercar noises from a sedan.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > pip bip - choose Corrour 11/08/2018 at 09:31

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With them being $15k-ish I don’t exactly need to be a man of extraordinary means or have recently won the lottery, I just need to know that the cost of the thing could quickly balloon to $25k. But again, my plan is to have it for 2 years tops so I don’t run into too many major repairs and maintenance. I tend to drive about 10k miles per year or less. So I would take on of these from like 60k to 80k miles tops.

Shoop > JustPostingThis 11/10/2018 at 11:30

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I have them on my truck. Easily the best money of spent on a csr in a long time.