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Apparently, the head unit is not itself of Bose manufacture and has embedded coding that allows it to work with the downstream Bose components (amp and speakers) or with other brand components. Either your Audi dealer or a properly-equipped audio shop can reprogram the head unit to operate with non-Bose components by changing the fourth digit in the coding from a "1" to a "0".
Most of the evil of the Bose system reportedly resides in its amp, where Dr. Bose's odd equalization theories reign. (He has said that high frequencies are "tiring", and consequently his systems attentuate high-frequency output. I have never been able to decide whether he believes this bunk or just uses it as an excuse to market crappy speakers at a premium price.) The amp can then be changed out using a Blaupunkt harness connector (again, you'd best be using a sophisticated audio shop). The last stage of improvement would be to change the speakers.
This ain't cheap, but it would allow you to get rid of Dr. Bose's eclectic equalization theory (or scam marketing) without having to mess up the look of your dashboard.
Re Nosho's comment in the message above . . . it wouldn't surprise me at all if the stock system sounded better than the "premium" Bose. I've never heard a good Bose sound system in a home, car, or dorm room (where Bose first made his mark in the 1960's with boomy, bass-heavy systems that sounded better and better as you got stoned.)
Sorry I couldn't resist. I do think the Bose is better than the stock however, for what it's worth.
There is a loyalty incentive -- requirements, prior lease with Audi Financial, new car lease through Audi financial. Benefit (was, still could be): no sec dep and first month's payment (capped at $800) made for you. No money down.
So you can lease one of these delightful cars for 30 or 36 months and pay for 29 or 35 months and, based on my experience you can realistically "early out" on your lease 2 - 5 months with no penalty (of course the car has to have less than the equivalent of 15,001 miles per year, no damage and be "spotless" inside (and never smoked in)). Also, it needs to be a car that is "popular" -- for the early out possibility. Popular color, options, etc.
The advantage to such programs is you never pay for service, never have a car that is out of warranty and with the possibility of buying one set of tires, gasoline, plates and insurance -- you have no $.$$ surprises of any kind.
I assume that there are reasons to go 39 months (slightly lower monthly payment) -- but I have found that this lease is too close to the edge of the warranty and too difficult to bail out of.
My wife and I have tried 12 months (it doesn't help because the first year depreciation is huge), 24 months (pretty nice deal for a TT), 27 months (which is difficult because it seems Audi can't bring out its new models at the same time every year so you may end up leasing a 2001 and 27 months later all you can get is a 2002), 30 months (which is like Goldilocks --"just right") or 36 months (which if you drive about 1,000 miles a month normally and take a few "road trips" per year will keep you in warranty, but you will almost certainly have to buy new tires one time). I never tried the 39 month lease because I couln't make the payment versus new tire issue work.
As we are near the end of the build year, I would assume the incentives are perhaps more MSRP based than anything else, in that the MSRP might be discounted somewhat more steeply, especially if the inventory of '02's is a bit fat. If the inventory is a bit lean, I would not expect any more than "normal" MSRP reductions -- from time to time the dealerships have been known to run out of cars, and as Audi of America has been apparently getting more of its customers to take whatever is available rather than special order, you may find discounts aren't as plentiful as you would like (or exactly the opposite).
My wife and I must be relics (in that we have "never" been able to find the exact car we want on the lot and we love the order and wait process (well not so much the wait)), we have already ordered our 2003's and we are anticipating delivery dates for her 2003 TT of October or November and for my 2003 allroad of late November through early January.
Anyway, ask for incentives -- the worst they can say is "no."
It looks like you cannot buy the TT w/ auto tranny. Did Audi change that for '03? I'm assuming your wife ordered w/manual transmission? I hope she will be getting the convertible, I sat in a coupe at the Audi dealer the other day, it felt very "confining" and was somewhat hard to get in and out of. I just can't believe Audi doesn't make a sunroof on that model!
Although generally a live and let live kinda person, this makes my wife unhappy as she thinks the purity of the sports car is somehow undermined when attempts are made to add such conveniences as auto trans. While I do not agree with this, what bothers me is when the choice is removed -- like on my '01 4.2 A6 -- I would get another in a heartbeat if it had a manual tranny.
And no roadster for her -- she likes the room for groceries, books, dogs and golf clubs the coupe affords and is not too interested in a sunroof, which would probably take away headroom unless it was a pop up type.
She loves her TT -- this will be her third!
I hope to love the allroad -- already looking into new wheel/tires, exhaust system, chipping and beefier anti sway bars -- by the way I ordered it with the Full Paint Option! Burgundy Red Pearl with Ecru Cricket leather, and all options but the auto trans and the third rear seat!
I hope its fun -- my A6 4.2 has spoiled me in many ways!
I'm eager to order the '03 w/"tip" or hopefully the "CVT" and the ragtop model! I hope the ragtop can take the long,cold, Minnesota winter!
My current 2nd drive is the '98 Toyota XLE w/50,000 miles. I have "negative equity" in the vehicle for about 15 more payments assuming I keep the miles low and the condition good. The trade-in or private sell at that time towards the '03 or '04 TT should let me "out" of the Toyota w/o shelling out any "extra." The reason I'm still making payments on a '98 car is because I leased it for 3 years and then bought the vehicle at the end of the lease. I was way over on miles and couldn't see paying $1500 just to give the vehicle back.Bought the vehicle w/ nothing down and $364.00/mo.Found it impossible (last summer) to find a better "2nd drive" for that monthly payment with absolutely nothing down!
Any questions. . . .
Basically, for '03 -- the last year before the "big change" (excluding the A4 and possibly the TT), the lineup will be, relatively speaking, decontented. This is not new to Audi or even cars. For example, you used to buy a box of cereal and it said 16oz on the side of the box. Now, the box says 14.8oz, but has the declaration "Same low price!" on the box somewhere.
In 02 you ordered heated seats (and this is THE one example that really ticked me off, personally) and you got front and rear heated seats and a heated steering wheel.
For 03 you get front heated seats, and since there is no mention of a heated steering wheel, and the option line is very specific -- heated seats, front only. You can't have heated rear seats -- there is no option to buy them. Instead, in this and other subtle ways, the car has fewer features, options and functions and is the "Same low price!"
I have NO problem with any car company wanting to raise revenue and income -- but, and I am an endless loop on this -- I have a big problem having choices taken away from me. How much extra could rear heated seats cost? Why not offer heated front seats as an option and heated rear seats (with heated front seats) as an option? For an extra $50 add the heated steering wheel.
Why not allow the full sat nav option (at an extra cost) instead of sat nav lite (which, for the record, I do like very much -- but also I would opt to pay for Sat Nav Plus!)?
Also, the other A6 based cars now have bi-Xenon lites -- the allroad specifies low beam only.
Now, low beam Xenons are a MUST HAVE -- but I would like at least the option to buy them (bi-Xenons on the new car.
On the other hand, the regular Avant will now be available with the 2.7T (which carries over into the allroad for 03). The allroad still comes with manual (6spd) standard. This one feature alone made me decide to go for an allroad. If it turns out to be too SUV like, well I'll keep it until I can "get out of the lease with little or no penalty."
There is a picture of the full paint option over on www.audiworld.com.
There will be an auto trans for the TT -- I assume it is on the FWD models only, I do not know.
There is, currently, no S4 sedan -- but this is supposed to change in calendar year 2003.
Also the new A6 body will (so they say) come out next year as an 04.
You had a '99, Mark. That was/is a truly well-equipped car; mine has every option except the phone and warm weather pack. But that's the way 90% of them on the dealer lots around here (Seattle) were equipped anyway. I have heated seats front and rear, and a heated wheel that (egad!) works! Rear airbags. Auto-dimming mirrors,etc. What I don't have are some of the dynamic enhancements like ESP which didn't show up until '00, but in terms of amenities I certainly don't want for much. And I'm sure in your '99 you didn't either. Of course we both wanted more power,but I've learned to live with that. Rowing along with the Tip makes that a tad more palatable.
At any rate, I've already invested in the extended warranty and so I plan to keep her when the Audi Advantage goes away in August. She's a lovely car, and I never tire of getting into her to go anywhere. And she sure has a lot of toys!
The color has not changed one bit, and you can barely spot any impact points - if anything they look like a tiny little bubble; hardly noticeable.
It has not shrunk at all. In fact, I tend to forget I even have it but when looking at the car from certain angles and in certain light you'll see the lines. I'm particularly glad they install it on the door edges because I've let mine hit a wall a few times but the Stongard protected just like it's supposed to.
I first heard about the product on Audiworld.com. It was also very reassuring to know that their headquarters was nearby (like 10 miles from my office).
Cabin ergonomics and build quality are generally suberb -- excellent fit and finish; beautiful detailing; supportive, comforable, and infinitely-adjustable seats; low road and wind noise. Although the dashboard cupholder will not hold a 20-oz soda bottle, I finally figured out a way to force one into the center console cupholder (although it does splash occasionally). And Audi should rethink the parking brake handle location. It's awkward to release with the armrest down.
Handling is tight and predictable -- but the weight does show. Even with the sport suspension, the car leans a bit more in the twisties than my recent Jaguar S-Type with sport suspension. And Audi could still improve the weight distribution. Why not start with simple steps, like moving the battery to the trunk?
Only one item so far needing dealer attention: when I back out of a parking space and then engage forward gear, there is a slight thunking somewhere under the car as I move forward. It sounds almost as if a rotor had bound to a pad and was popping loose. I cannot feel anything in the steering or drivetrain, and the noise only occurs in this situation . . . but it occurs invariably. Anyone else had this experience?
The audio system . . . it's a Bose, and it sucks. But a lot has already been said on that topic in this forum. I knew what to expect when I bought the car. Audi marketeers just ought to spend a few days with a Lexus Mark Levinson system or even Jaquar's premium audi option (priced about the same as Audi's). The contrasts in tonal balance, soundstage, and clarity would pin their ears back.
The On*Star Telematics package . . . the new phone is tiny and feature-laden. The whole set-up is also very expensive (over $1600 counting Telematics option, phone, mounting bracket, and labor). The voice activation is convenient but not as sophistacted as I would have thought. My 2000 Jaguar S-Type had a voice activation system that managed not only the phone, but the audio and climate control systems as well. It very seldom mistook a voice command, even though you could speak a telephone number straight through. When inputting a number to the Audi system, it requires you to speak each digit separately, waiting for a confirmation beep after each digit -- much more time consuming than the Jaguar. And when I use nametags to dial, the Audi system frequently mistakes the input. (For instance, it gets "information" confused with "Larry Caruso" almost every time . . . and my accent is not that odd.) And one last problem -- if the voice activation misinterprets my speech and I break the connection to start over, sometimes the phone will not make a new connection until I remove the phone from its cradle and re-insert it. That's not a safe thing to do while driving. Had I not had the Jaguar system before, I'd still think the Audi Telematics system was "way cool." Having had a better (and cheaper) one in a three-year old car, I'd grade the Audi system about a C+.
Looks . . . now, that's subjective. But with the flared fenders, the fat tires, the exposed twin tail pipes, and the SSR Competition wheels (aftermarket upgrades), this is one very nice-looking automobile, IMHO.
Overall . . . I LOVE THIS CAR. Every car I've had had strengths and weaknesses, and this one is no exception. But, so far, the strengths outweigh the weaknesses by the widest margin I've yet experienced. And I haven't even driven it in the snow yet.
http://www.audiworld.com/news/02/rs6detail/
M
My "grand plan" is to replace the exhaust system (from Joe Hoppen Motorsports), the wheels and tires (plus one to 18" x 245 x 45) and a stage one APR chip (306HP and similar torque), beefy anti sway bars, and a K&N airfilter. I will then have a combination SUV and avant to play with for a couple of years whilst I await with baited breath the new S4, which will hopefully have either the marvelous (so I am told) 6spd tiptronic or a manual transmission.
The RS6 only comes with an automatic -- as does the S6 avant. I just turned 51 last week and I am bored with my 2001 4.2 automatic transmission car. Before you tell me I am out of my mind, I do love my 4.2 A6 (it is my second one). I had in the following order some Audi's that I really love -- '95 S6 (manual) '97 A8 (5spd non tip) '99 A6 2.8 (tip) 2000 A6 4.2 (tip) and 2001 A6 4.2 with sport package (tip) -- I am ready to return to the feeling I remember when I drove that 1995 S6!
And, the allroad will be $50K and the RS6 will be $70K. This gets my attention, too.
I think myples1 's issue with the "flared fenders" is a valid one. It does make the car "stand out" from the "pack." Sometimes the smallest issue can derail/make the deal! I was ready to buy (2years ago) the Chrysler 300 sedan when I noticed my left foot would not stay "flush" w/the floor. The floor has a "tilt" to it(on the driver's side) and my left foot was sitting at an uncomfortable angle as I drove the vehicle!
So, while I grant the 2.7T (especially with manual transmission) is just about the fastest Audi in the kingdom (TODAY), the 4.2 feels "just right."
I have liked both of my 4.2 A6's better than my A8 -- and after I put the full S8 suspension and tire treatment on my A8, I loved that car too (footnote, I really prefer manual transmissions, but obviously it has not prevented me from buying 4 auto trans Audi's). The A6 4.2 with sport package is terrific -- and while the radio/stereo does get knocked here a lot, I actually don't have too much to complain about there. But, when I hear my friends systems, I know that the Audi Bose system should be the standard system and that a "real" stereo should be on the option list.
Tim really likes his 2.7T, and my soon to be allroad will have a 2.7T engine -- in fact if one could have an A6 4.2 with a 6spd manual and the 2.7T engine, I bet the balance and performance aspect would make this the "more desirable" performer.
But, then I hasten to add, there is no sound as sweet as the 4.2 under full throttle through the first three gears on a wide open freeway! Whoooosshhhhh! (bosso profundo!)
Hopefully the 4.2 has not "ruined" me for the 2.7T engine.
Time will tell.
You mentioned the "special order" Allroad you are buying and planning to "chip" the 2.7T engine. I mentioned "chipping" to the Audi service advisor and he told me all warranties are off on the engine if this is done. Audi won't cover a single engine problem w/chip.
This doesn't discourage me from chipping my 2.7T A6(I bought instead of leased), but should I wait one more year when the warranty is expired anyway? Thanks-Max
I don't know what state you are in but I am in Florida in Fort Lauderdale. Prestige Imports will give you a good price on the car but then go somewhere else to buy or lease it. I was going to lease it at Prestige but the idiot salesman never called me back after going to the dealership and several times drooling over the cars. So, went up to Champion and they did the deal there (in Pompano). Hope this helps you.
I was a little concerned since the noise sounds exactly like a noise my '98 Corvette developed. However, that noise occurred going over bumps. It turned out that a locking nut had backed off the front left tie rod, and the rod was about to let go . . . just one of the many, many problems I had with that piece of junk.
The special order is because there is no mention anywhere of "full paint option" even being available on allroads (here in North America). I got the color chart for the '03's and found a dark red pearl (with Ecru leather interior) was available (I tried for pearl white -- not available). I asked my dealer if I could have the car "fully painted" -- I saw it on the AudiWorld web site. The answer was "yes" but only in these 10 colors (red pearl was on the list). The price that I will be charged keeps changing, but it is around $1,500 (MSRP).
As far as the chipping goes, I am somewhat worried about this due to all the "noise" here on the town hall pertaining to warranty, etc.
I have contacted Joe Hoppen and asked what the effect is of just replacing the exhaust system. And, I have reviewed and read articles on chipping. APR apparently has a chip that you can have two programs, factory normal and Stage one. It is completely encrypted and is therefore invisible to the diagnostic computer.
But, before I lead you to believe I am going down the "Covert" road, let me tell you that my wife had an MTM chip and a K&N air filter installed in her 2000 TT 180hp coupe -- BY THE AUDI DEALER. I figured, "go overt" -- I also had the dealer completely remove the entire suspension on my A8 and replace it with the S8 suspension ( which came in Audi boxes -- in German ) I bought from Joe Hoppen motorsports.
Now, therefore, however, nothwithstanding -- I certainly do not want to "get sideways" with AoA or my dealer, and for all I know, things may have changed with respect to the policy and/or attitude pertaining to "aftermarket" stuff. But, recently in response to my issues with my 2001 A6 4.2's shuddering brakes, the local Audi dealer bought (with Audi's money) two cross drilled aftermarket front rotors from a Canadian company -- they installed them, too.
Perhaps there were some abuse issues with respect to chipping -- blown engines or something, I don't know.
Now this goes back a bit, but in 1998 a member of the quattro club I belong to put a SUPERCHARGER on his 2.8 A4 -- the warranty on his car, apparently, still was honored (but whenever something went bump, he did mention that the dealer wanted to make certain that what needed fixing could not be linked to the supercharger -- his AC went out, for example, and it was fixed free under the Audi warranty -- no connnection with the supercharger, i.e.)
Since the allroad with a stick shift is rated at 0-100kph in 6.8 seconds and my current A6 4.2 with tip is 6.7 seconds, it will hardly be much of a sacrifice,( if I have to go chipless). I will, then (if "forced to go chipless"), go for larger wheels and tires and the exhaust system and motor off quite happily I presume.
I have read many reports that those with the 2.7 engine with manual transmissions are quite pleased with the factory set up too! Autoweek was less than 100% complimentary of the 2.7T when coupled with the tiptronic -- saying there was "noticable" turbo lag.
The only 2.7T's I have driven for any distance were both manual transmissions (an S4 and an A6) -- they were GREAT!
Joel, I agree with and appreciate the comments!
Have you seen the Letter from the Town Hall Manager on the Town Hall Welcome page? If not, you might want to follow that link to have a look.
And hang on to your seats. Change is never easy - for any of us - but resolving the Search problems we've had will be worth the pain.
Pat
Sedans Host
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
NYCcar guy -dtwleungnyc (what kind of a name IS this?) is absolutely correct, you will find yourself going 100mph and thinking it feels like 70! The A6 has been extremely smooth, quiet and stable. The 3.0 motor has been a dream once it winds up a little. I have seen 33MPG on a tank of gas @ 75-80MPH w/cruise and air on. Let us know what you think when you get back.