New Car options BiTDi?

[Justinos]

I'm due to replace my present A6 Avant (2012 - 3.0 tdi Quattro this year by May as that is when t is 5 years old, which is the car allowance policy I work under. I could probably stretch it out for another 6 to 9 months afterwards if I wanted. The car currently has 85k on the clock and I travel 20-23k per year, 75% motorway miles.

I thought over Christmas I would start to to look at options, and have decided to stick with an A6 as its been a great car, and is very comfortable, and I reckon is the best looking of the other options in its class. Looking at the usual brokers, Cow Wow, DtD, and Orange Wheels.

I have a number of decisions to make.

Engine
I have the 243bhp 3.0 tdi at present, its direct replacement is now 272 bhp, so a decent increase, but as a petrol head, I am drawn to the 320 bhp bi turbo. My head however is saying the 272bhp is the better option, its £4.5k cheaper to buy, and is more economic, which will add up over the miles I cover, but like the idea of the grunt, and the sound resonator exhaust? Any views appreciated.

Timing
I could drag the timing out until the end of the year, but by that stage my car will be beyond 100k mikes, and will need 4 new tyres. If I order now (this week), I avoid this extra cost, and avoid the 2.5% price increase which is imminent. Audi also are contributing £3.5k to the deposit through their PCP at present, and I am not sure how long that will last. I will settle the PCP early though, just use it to get the deposit contribution. So do I wait, or order now? Delivery would be around May/June, but not 100% on lead in times.

Options
I am a bit clear on these, but still some doubts:-

Black Edition
Daytona Grey - present car is silver at present, so will at least look like I have changed cars
Titanium 5 twin spoke Wheels (wondering if silver may look better to give contrast to the Daytona Grey and black styling pack)
Lunar Silver seats (to give some relief as everything else is black inside - inserts are Piano Black)
Tech Pack Advanced
S Line Sports suspension (have this at present)
Quattro Sport Differential
Heated steering wheel (only having this to remove flat bottomed wheel which comes with black Edition)
Smartphone interface (Appleplay)
May opt for a towbar.

The idea is this would be a long term keeper, being retired to the family afterwards, hence want to get the spec correct.

Thoughts appreciated.

[Steve_K]

I'm due to replace my present A6 Avant (2012 - 3.0 tdi Quattro this year by May as that is when t is 5 years old, which is the car allowance policy I work under. I could probably stretch it out for another 6 to 9 months afterwards if I wanted. The car currently has 85k on the clock and I travel 20-23k per year, 75% motorway miles.

I thought over Christmas I would start to to look at options, and have decided to stick with an A6 as its been a great car, and is very comfortable, and I reckon is the best looking of the other options in its class. Looking at the usual brokers, Cow Wow, DtD, and Orange Wheels.

I have a number of decisions to make.

Engine
I have the 243bhp 3.0 tdi at present, its direct replacement is now 272 bhp, so a decent increase, but as a petrol head, I am drawn to the 320 bhp bi turbo. My head however is saying the 272bhp is the better option, its £4.5k cheaper to buy, and is more economic, which will add up over the miles I cover, but like the idea of the grunt, and the sound resonator exhaust? Any views appreciated.

Timing
I could drag the timing out until the end of the year, but by that stage my car will be beyond 100k mikes, and will need 4 new tyres. If I order now (this week), I avoid this extra cost, and avoid the 2.5% price increase which is imminent. Audi also are contributing £3.5k to the deposit through their PCP at present, and I am not sure how long that will last. I will settle the PCP early though, just use it to get the deposit contribution. So do I wait, or order now? Delivery would be around May/June, but not 100% on lead in times.

Options
I am a bit clear on these, but still some doubts:-

Black Edition
Daytona Grey - present car is silver at present, so will at least look like I have changed cars
Titanium 5 twin spoke Wheels (wondering if silver may look better to give contrast to the Daytona Grey and black styling pack)
Lunar Silver seats (to give some relief as everything else is black inside - inserts are Piano Black)
Tech Pack Advanced
S Line Sports suspension (have this at present)
Quattro Sport Differential
Heated steering wheel (only having this to remove flat bottomed wheel which comes with black Edition)
Smartphone interface (Appleplay)
May opt for a towbar.

The idea is this would be a long term keeper, being retired to the family afterwards, hence want to get the spec correct.

Thoughts appreciated.

I've literally just bought the 272 in pretty much exactly the same spec as what you're looking at. It's a fantastic spec and one that I don't really regret not adding anything extra onto. I'd highly recommend the ambient lighting pack. I originally thought it was just a bit of a gimmick but it really is handy. Looks great as well. I'd toyed with the idea of the Bitdi however after seeing the MPG from the 272 I'm glad I didn't. Mine returns 44 mpg on a long motorway run (400 miles) and around 29 mpg round town. Way off what Audi quote

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[Justinos]

Hmmm, the MPG may be an issue. In my present 3.0 tdi, over 65,000 miles I have achieved 37.8 mpg - this is measured rather than off the trip computer, although that is reasonably accurate now after adjusting with VCDS - it was over estimating by 6%. It is generally within 1 to 1.5 mpg now.

On the motorway on a run, I am similar to you, perhaps a bit better. Best I have ever seen was 54 mpg on a run from Derby to Leeds, but 50% of the run was in the roadworks, so running at 55 mph.

The manufacturer figures are never achievable, I think their only use is to allow comparison of cars, as the test is the same.

[Justinos]

Quoted combined for my 20012 car is 47.9 mpg, so I am achieving 21% less at 37.8 mpg. If applied to the Bitdi figures of 44.1 combined, it would be real life 34.8, or on the 272bhp quoted 52.3 mpg, real life 41.3. ​Food for thought!

[Steve_K]

Quoted combined for my 20012 car is 47.9 mpg, so I am achieving 21% less at 37.8 mpg. If applied to the Bitdi figures of 44.1 combined, it would be real life 34.8, or on the 272bhp quoted 52.3 mpg, real life 41.3. ​Food for thought!

Yeah exactly. way off what Audi state. 20% is a large margin. The Bitdi would be a great option if you and work locally but I travel 800 miles a week and it just wouldn't make much sense.

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[robbyg]

I haven't checked the specs but i assume the 272 bhp is a 7 speed DSG? Remember the bi tdi is an 8speed ZF auto. I get just under 1400rpm at 70mph.

Just driven york to Cambridge this evening 85 where traffic allowed down the A1. 4 up. boot full of bags/christmas presents. 42mpg. It only get less than 40 if i rag it or in town. Actually, Its rubbish on fuel in town, but i dont often do town.

Honestly though, it hardly seems worth the extra £4k, i assume the performance is similar, and you know the sound is fake. I still love my bitidi no after almost 5 years. This is the longest i ever kept a car.

[Justinos]

It is difficult to rationally justify the extra cost, the extra 48bhp helps though! Any views on the S Tronic (DSG) v the ZF in day to day driving?

[JSRed]

I've just placed an order for an A6 Black Edition BiTDi avant and I'm waiting for confirmation of build in mid feb for delivery in March through Autoebid who bettered the prices I'd found everywhere else.

I've gone for similar options (plus the parking pack advanced to get the 360 camera), the advanced key and the led ambient lighting and initially I too was thinking along the lines of the 272. I then noticed Audi put the future value of the BiTDi about £5k more than the 272, and given they do seem to hold their value better; along with being a petrolhead as well and will be changing from a MK7 Golf R; I felt the BiTDi was the way to go. Also, I'll stick a detachable towbar on if I decide I need one as the factory one is quite costly (and I'll happily fit it myself, plus I've got another car I use for towing so not essential for me).
I'd love the SS seats but I realised I wouldn't be able to easily mount an iPad to the front seat headrest so they went out the window quickly...

I don't do masses of miles so mpg isn't that important but really wanted plenty of grunt and all wheel drive as the grip in the Golf has been addictive. Also, it seems the real world mpg between the 272 and the 320 engines isn't that different. I'm used to 20mpg so anything in the 30s will be great!

I'd like your views on the S-line sports suspension, which I've also opted for. I've read some say the ride is far too harsh, but I prefer a firm suspension set up so hope it will be as firm as I want it to be. although I like the idea of a comfortable suspension it just doesn't suit my driving style.

I've not opted for the Quattro sports differential - how much difference does this make to the performance when driving spiritedly?



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[ukgroucho]

A few thoughts...

Forget fuel consumption - seriously! You're talking about a couple of £100 per year on fuel vs. MUCH bigger overall cost in terms of depreciation and so on. Sometimes we lose perspective on this. If you are a petrol head and - as you say you are a petrol head - AND you plan to keep this one when you retire then get the BiTdi. I suspect that if you do not then you will always wonder whether you made the right decision.

Don't compare the 272 BHP with the 320 BHP purely on BHP - the real measure is in the torque and the way it is delivered. I am still amazed at the way my 313 BHP performs on occasions where I open it up. It is sublime and quite astonishing. And the noise, whilst artificial, is still very satisfying. And (we should remember) it's actually part of the performance of these BiTdis - lighter, optimised exhaust back pressure etc. - not just a gimmick. I've driven a 272 BHP allroad relief car and it was very nice but I missed the grunt of the BiTdi.

As a "keeper" after retirement I'd definitely say "think gearbox" - the ZF8 speed is pretty bulletproof... the 7 speed S-tronic has mixed reviews. I do like the very direct power delivery of the S-tronic but the ZF8HP is very good for a torque converter auto - much better than the previous ZF6HP I had in my C6 3.0 TDi quattro. Having said that it may need a gearbox oil change at some stage despite "sealed for life" assurances from audi - i did my C6 at around 80k and it solved a number of grumpy change issues.

From a toys perspective I have little to add. I would add the tow bar, wish I'd done it to mine even though I do not tow - but I think it will make resale easier.

Oh and get an allroad sport

[AD72]

What he said, the A6 Allroad sport BiTdi is awesome and with £13k off list price is a lot of car for the money. Having air suspension is what made my mind up to go for an Allroad.


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