B6 Vs B7 A4 what do you think?

[skymaster]

Hi

I currently own a 2003 TDI Quattro A4 saloon, it's an SE 130 BHP version. It's a lovely car but I have a hankering to change it for a newer one, possibly petrol (insane I know given that we might be paying £1.25 a litre by the spring).

A brand new shape A4 is way out of my budget so I am looking at 2005 - 2007 B7 models. I actually think this shape looks the best out of all of them, I am not taken by the new ones.

My quandry is that I will be shelling out a fair old wad (around 10k on top of whats mine is worth) to buy a car that is basically the same as mine with a different body and grill. Is this the case or are the B7s largely different in any way from the B6s? I know the dash is essentially the same with a few trim upgrades. What about the underpinnings and technology in them?

Any help or advice appreciated

[a8 tech]

stick with the b6 or buy a better spec/styling B6.If I choose a B7 it would be rs4 only.The 2.0 pd engine is more refined but unreliable with heavy repair bills, as with the b6 the electrics and body build are superb with very few issue's the 2.0 tfsi engine is a great engine.Find a 2004 s line b6 full spec,they look better in my opinion and seem to be holding there value far better than B7 to those who know.I have a soft spot for the B7 s line avant style but a good b6 s line is just as good looking and less common.

[skymaster]

Thanks for this info... So the 2.0 TDI is best avoided then?

To be honest I think I might give diesel a break, I have been yearning for something high reving and smooth. Although last time I had that I yearned from something torquey and with Good MPG... Never happy.

I was originally thinking of either a 2.0T Quattro S line special edition (220 BHP instead of 200 on the usual ones) or going mad and getting a 3.2 V6 FSI 250 BHP.

[a8 tech]

2.0T wise choice. 3.2 underwhelming and very rare

[skymaster]

Yes, I think there are about three 3.2s with manual gear boxes in the whole of the UK on the Audi used network... B7s with Quattro anyway...

The other option is the 3.0 TDI... again very rare and I would have to be prepared to travel far... My friend has this engine in his A5 and I am constantly impressed by it...

My thinking behind the 3.2 petrol is the lack of turbo... having recently had one blow on me! The cost of repairing that would have easily paid for higher fuel bills for 2 years or more! But if it's not got a fair bit of grunt then it will be out... the awful MPG would be doubly awful if there isn't some serious performance to match.

There is certainly plenty of choice with the 2.0 T engine in Quattro...

It would either have to be B7 or just stick with what I have for another couple of years...

[El Guapo]

What about the 2.7 V6? Not sure if they do that in petrol though? I also agree that the new A4 is just not right somehow. I have looked at them a lot but just don't like the shape and how it looks. I wonder how long before Audi make some changes to it? I like the A5 4 door better to be honest.

[MeAudi]

I moved from a B6 to a B7 at the start of 2009 and found a number of improvements, particularly with the handling and grip.

The ride is also better but still not brilliant, particularly on the 18" rims.

I looked at the B8 but really couldn't justify the extra money and I'm not keen on what they've done with the inside.

The 2.0 TFSI engine is great but don't expect good economy. As mentioned by others, have a look at www.spritmonitor.de to get an idea of mpg especially since you are coming over from the dark side!

Hopefully, you can take you time to find the spec you want. Changes were made to the B7 in 2007.

If I was buying again then I would probably have gone for a 2.7TDI with a good remap.

[skymaster]

Hi

The 2.7s are rare as hens teeth with Quattro... I don't think I have seen one yet. As I already have quattro I want another one with Quattro, a 2WD would be a downgrade in many respects.

Yes, I did assume that the petrol 2.0 T would be a bit of a guzzler, it's not a light car either so MPG is going to be fairly pants.

I am glad I am not the only one who doesn't like the brand new ones. The inside seems to have taken on a slightly flimsey plastic like quality and the styling is all wrong in my opinion. They got the A5 so right... but the new A4 so wrong in terms of looks... but thats just my opinion obviously.

I think I would sooner buy a 220 SpecialEdition S line than buy a 200 version and get it re mapped. Try to keep it standard. I have also thought about R32 golfs or a GTI but the A4 seems like a far higher quality beast from the outset... and much better value on used examples.

[El Guapo]

Mine is the 2.7 tdi sline and was thinking of getting it mapped but it is still under warranty.

[DBSK]

I looked at doing the exact same thing, ive got a 2004 1.9TDI B6 Avant and looked at changing to a 2.0TDI S-Line B7.

However the interior is very similar with only a few small tweeks here and there.

The 2.0tdi engine is a big improvement on the 1.9 in terms of refinement however its not in a different league therefore i could not justify the extra £££ it would take to get into a B.07 so im going to save money by keeping mine going and spend the rest on mods.