A6 3.0TDI Quattro Le Mans - ride too hard?

[gadgetmind]

We're looking at trading in our aging A8 4.2Q and getting a 2007 A6 3.0TDI Quattro Le Mans. This has 19" wheels and tyres that look like strips of liquorice!

Are we going to find the ride/seats too hard after the A8? The roads in Leeds are the worst I encounter anywhere in the country, so I suspect we might find it hard work.

Thanks

Ian

[cruiser647]

In a word - yes.

Try the 3.0 TDi without the Le Mans stuff and also the Le Mans. See what you think

[gadgetmind]

Reading the brochure again, I see that it won't by default have the 10mm additional lowering of the S Line suspension, so perhaps just the 20mm of the sport suspension.

Is there any way to easily see what it's fitted with? I guess a test drive over some of the really rough bits hereabouts is the only way to see whether it's for us.

A shame as it's a great car, and I think I can make the price work, but we want comfort as well as speed.

Ian

[mfgf]

Hi,

If it's a 2007 car it will be a pre-facelift model. The S-Line and Le Mans pre-facelift all had 30mm drop S-Line suspension as standard. This changed for the facelift models at the end of 2008 - since then, 20mm drop Sport suspension is fitted as standard, and 30mm drop S-Line suspension is a no-cost option when ordering.

Having said all that, I had a pre-facelift S-Line for 3 years, and a post-facelift Le Mans with S-Line suspension for the past year (and I was driving around Leeds on Monday), and I don't find the ride too hard. Admittedly it is an entirely subjective thing, though. All I can usefully suggest is that you have a test drive in the car to see what you think of the ride.

Best regards,

MF.

[gadgetmind]

Thanks all for the feedback. Yes, it does seem to be subjective; some describe the ride as so hard as to be intolerable, and some find it just fine.

We'll have to test drive it and take it over some of Leeds finest. Some of our roads are real wheel benders, so we'll see what shape those 19" alloys are in afterwards.

The Jaguar XF is also calling me, but it's a right lot smaller inside.

Ian

[Cameo]

I've just ordered an A6 Avant Le Man and prior to the demo drive was concerned about the ride quality having had an A4 (B6) S-Line in the past. In fact before I demoed the salesman had said that they'd happily swap the 19" rims for smaller rims from an S-Line/SE.

I didn't find it too bad at all and we did travel along some poor roads in Dorset and the New Forest. As mfgf points out the current model only has a 20mm drop as standard - I didn't opt for the extra 10mm S-Line suspension. There is always the option of adaptive air suspension but that's £1500.

You really need to try it for yourself to see if suits your perception of a hard ride

[gizze]

Have you considered an allroad?? They come with air suspension as standard.

I have to admit that I found the S-Line to hard, well not too hard to be fair, just too crashy, it made the car feel a little hollow. And that was coming from a BMW M-Sport Touring with runflats and an M3.

I went for the SE, which is a first for me, and bought the Votex kit to make it look a little better and S-Line seats, as the SE seats are pants!!!

The Votex kit is a front lip...

Rear diffuser and spoiler....

Although I am now selling my A6 and the kit is being fitted next week!!

The LeMans and the S-Line do look nice and they are still pretty comfy cars, but coming from an A8 I think you might find it a little crashy.

Can you not get a 24 hour test drive??

[gadgetmind]

We're having a short test drive tomorrow, and we're going to take it over some nasty roads, which is easy in Leeds! We'll also sit in a new A8 and also wander along and see a Jaguar XF.

Regards the SE, there aren't really many S Line or Le Mans features that I actually want, but the Quattro A6s all seem to be S Lines. If I could find and SE, that would be ideal.

2-3 year old A8s actually seem to be cheaper than A6s, have more equipment, and a better ride. However, they need more engine to get the same performance.

I suspect we'll like the Jag a *lot* but I'd want the 3.0 TDI engine, and these aren't yet down at prices I'm prepared to pay.

Ian

[gizze]

I like the new Jag, and there were some storming Contract Hire deals on them that made buying a used one seem stupid, but that was back in Feb.

Why do you want diesel? The 3.0tdi in Quattro form is not the most efficient, I do 30-40k miles a year and diesel made no sense to me saves me about £12 a week in fuel but costs me £150 a month more to finance, so I bought the 3.2 V6, a hell of a lot more refined and sounds so much sweeter.

I am currently averaging 27mpg and doing the same journeys in the derv returns around 31mpg, certainly not enough to justify any premium anyway.

I agree the diesel makes sense buying new as they loose less money, but buying them at 3 years old don't write the petrol off completely.

I was lent a 3.0tdi for 3 days when mine was in having the nav unit replaced, and I will admit that while sat crusing at 80mph the diesel was better, it was showing 36mpg where as I would be getting around 32mpg in mine, however, round town and on short (sub 10 mile) journeys it was actually worse than my petrol, this was in January though and diesels do hate cold starts, but you do have to think whether a diesel is right for your type of journeys.

Now the reason I say this is because there are still deals out there for 24 month contract hires on the XF Luxury 3.0 V6 at £300+vat a month with 3 months deposit, so £900+ down and £300+vat a month for 23 months, you couldn't buy one cash as 3 years old and loose less than that!!

Plus it comes with all the toys needed like Nav and Bluetooth.

[Chris_B]

Have you considered an allroad?? They come with air suspension as standard.

Ding! That'd be my choice too. In fact when I had the option of a 3.0 TDI S-Line Le Mans or an allroad, I went with the allroad, a 3.0 TDI Tip.

Then spent a small fortune putting sports seats in it (so I could get alcantara) and the standard A6 black carpet (not the earthy coloured one) and black headlining. And body coloured lower. Plus all the toys.

Great car though - comfortable in town, capable of tackling fords, floods and fields with aplomb, and still surprisingly good fun to hoon about in on the optional 18" 10-spoke wheels I put on it. Economical enough when driven sensibly (650 miles to a tank, easily on a run) and still faster than a good 90% of other cars on the road.

I very nearly had one on order again. Very nearly.

[gizze]

650 is pretty good actually, I get around 480-510 on a run at the very best, so quite a bit more in the big derv.

Then I get around 380 using it for nippy about, that was were I found the difference between the petrol and diesel narrowed considerably.

[Chris_B]

650 is pretty good actually, I get around 480-510 on a run at the very best, so quite a bit more in the big derv.

Then I get around 380 using it for nippy about, that was were I found the difference between the petrol and diesel narrowed considerably.

That's steady motorway running, certainly. If I remember rightly, I used to get about 400 to 450 miles out of a tank round rural Lincs. Seems quite good compared to 200 to 250 at the moment!

[gizze]

Blimey! Is that all the 4.2 is returning?

Still, lifes too short to worry about it.

[gizze]

Actually what are you driving??

Was the 4.2tdi V8 Q7 yours or a loan car??

[Chris_B]

Actually what are you driving??

Was the 4.2tdi V8 Q7 yours or a loan car??

Loaner. I've got an RS 6 V10 at the mo, at least until a couple of weeks time when I am swapping it for an S4 Avant.

The RS 6 claims 17.2mpg over the last 36k miles, though I think it's a bit too fair on itself. 15mpg would probably be more about it.

The Q7 V8 TDI loaner did "loaner mpg" - about the same as the RS 6!

[Dave]

I get around 24mpg from my Q7.. bit less in town, bit more on a run!

[cruiser647]

650 is pretty good actually, I get around 480-510 on a run at the very best, so quite a bit more in the big derv.

Then I get around 380 using it for nippy about, that was were I found the difference between the petrol and diesel narrowed considerably.

Is that the BMW 650?

[gizze]

Haha, no, I meant 650 miles from the 3.0tdi allroad is pretty good.

[gadgetmind]

I don't know much about the Allroad. I'm not much of an "off road" vehicle lover. <- That was an understatement!

Anyway, test drove the A6 3.0TDI Quattro today and it didn't feel too hard despite us crossing some railway tracks. It's also an even higher spec than I realised; it's the 240PS S Line Le Mans with memory seats, rear airbags, folding and dimming side mirrors, glass sunroof, DVD dat nav, and 6 CD changer, and AMI system. 2007(57) with 17k on the clock with a cheeky sticker price of £23850.

They reckon my A8 is worth £2k and I'm forced to agree with them. Their first offer was £21850 with the trade-in, but I'm wanting sub £21k, ideally closer to £20k. They say that won't happen, so I left them my card and walked away.

Well, actually, I drove away and popped into the Jaguar dealer. Boy that AF is a looker! A tinge cramped inside, but gorgeous. But they only way I could afford one (such that it only costs me £2k pa in depreciation rather than £4k+ on contract hire) is to keep the A8 going for another few months to let the 3l TDI XFs to come down closer to £20k.

Ian

Edited April 17, 2010 by gadgetmind

[gizze]

So they were saying they would not give any discount at all on the A6??

Seems a bit off.

I don't get how a £20,000 XF will only depreciate £165 a month, even if you paid cash it will loose more than that.

A £20,000 XF will still loose just under £300 a month over 2 years surely??

In two years time it will only be worth around £13,000 as a trade in and maybe £14500 privately??

[gadgetmind]

Who mentioned two years? I'd really have to hate a car to ditch it after just two years; the last two cars I've bought have been with me over ten years. One was an MX-5 that I souped up somewhat, and the other is the A8 that we still have.

I reckon that most £20k 3yo cars will still be worth £10k after five more years if you only stick 10k miles per year on them.

Ian

[gizze]

I don't reckon they will, not a Jag anyway. If you look at a 4 year old S-Type diesel, which go back to 2004, one with 60k miles can be had for under £7000.

You can buy a 4 year old 60k mile one for £8500.

8 year old XF will be about £7k with 80k miles on it I reckon if sold privately as I think it will do a little better than the S-Type, so around £2500 a year??

[cruiser647]

8 year old XF will be about £7k with 80k miles on it I reckon if sold privately as I think it will do a little better than the S-Type, so around £2500 a year??

I can understand that on the old S-Type, but the new XF with the 3.0D engine should still be desireable after 8 years?? (unless it's proved to be unreliable once out of warranty...........??)

[gadgetmind]

It's the 3.0D coming down the line that puts me off buying a 2.7D XF right now.

As for losing 2.5k per year, that would be bad, but not so bad as the 4k++ depreciation from buying new. And if I find myself looking at a 2.5kpa loss, I'll just keep it a few more years to let things settle out. It's worked with the A8.

All the time I have a car, I stash money into a regular saver account to cover the eventual replacement. Beats borrowing money at mega interest from someone else.

Ian

[gizze]

My point is, in 8 years all these engines will look pretty out dated.

Everyone was raving about the BMW 3.0 diesel with 231bhp that got the 330d to 60mph in 7.3 seconds and returned 40mpg all day long 2 years ago, the new alu block one with 245bhp that gets the 330d to 60mph in under 6 seconds and will do 50mpg now makes that look a little old hat.

Is it the twin turbo XF diesel you are after??

That will be the one everyone will really want in 8 years time I would guess.

Just look at how much more a 2005 535d is over a 530d, in touring guise you pay around £5k more for the same spec. 535d, new there was only about £1700 in it.