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Call Ralph or Bill Fleihman (SVC MGR) and ask the tire question. Then order the AVS db's from Tirerack and ship them to Northland, tell Bill when the new car comes off the truck to mount the AVS's on the factory rims and do a balance job. Then take the tires (they may arrange for a pick up) to the tire store who will probably make your total cost of new tires relatively low since they will give you something for the new/used tires. They will be considered new/used even with no miles on them as they have been mounted already.
But, do you actually know what tires are coming on the 2002 A6? As long as they are not the same crappy tires that the 2000's and 2001's (w/17" option) had on it, you may not need to replace them.
Just a thought.
Love to know when your new one is coming in so that I could go see it!
Mark
On a related note: My new cross-drilled rotors are presumably arriving at the dealer on Monday Sept 10th. I have meetings that preclude my dropping the car off until the 11th -- and if history is any indicator, I should have my "new rotors and pads" and any other service items that are due completed by September 12th.
If I had tire issues, I suspect they might be masked, unless they were REALLY obvious by my ever worsening chattering, shuddering and purring brakes. They are now back to full normal status which is they are symptomatic at any speed above 40MPH.
The praise for the new A4's brakes in the new C&D magazine have me envious.
So, I will dutifully report my experience with the AVS db's as time passes -- AT THIS POINT, I still give them "thumb's up." But with regular rotations, alignment and balancing, to say nothing of almost fanatical tire pressure checking, I do not have any reasons to suspect issues other than perhaps disappointing tire life -- but, after all, they are Ultra High Performance tires -- and all season or no, my experience has always been that the higher the performance of the tire, the shorter the tread life.
I would love to know if anyone on this board has any direct personal experience (on a quattro) with Pirelli Rosa tires -- in the last issue of European Car magazine there was a mini-magazine (an advertorial) devoted to all things Pirelli and they claimed that the Pirelli Asymettrico Rosa had "all the performance advantages" of the original Asymettrico plus it was quiet. With my experience with the originals -- which is to say they were "OK" in the noise department -- I was encouraged to think the Rosa's might be worth looking into next time. I am, however, hoping that my now 11 payments of 30 2001 A6 4.2 leased car will be replaced in about 15 months with a 2003 New A6 or New S4 4 door coupe (with a rumored V8 and interesting transmission choices). This would mean I hope not to have to replace my AVS db's before then.
Finally while we're on the subject of tires -- don't you think Audi should either offer or make standard tire pressure monitoring at a minimum and tire pressure automatic maintenance as an optional extra?
And, while dreaming, it seems that the allroad suspension, with appropriate modifications for more sporting sedan intentions, is just about ready for prime time across the entire Audi lineup. And I hear we are very close to full electric/electronic brakes (at least Bosch is working hard on this technology, so I've read -- which will probably mean Mereces first, Audi later).
So many advancements, so little time, and not enough money.
The thrill of the hunt.
Well it's been some time since I have visited here, but thought that I'd cross-post this link in hope of getting a couple more people to come out for a little car-talk, drive, etc. day.
Please go to the link below (on AudiWorld.com) for further information.
http://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/83763.phtml
Nice to be here and read up on what everyone's been doing - a lot of reading!
Best Regards,
-Larry
Might just be a rumor, but who knows?
I am in Florida.
My service rep reported that they are impressed with your knowledge and passion for the marque.
I know that this is an A6 board but what's your feeling about the 2002 A4 3.0 plus CVT frontrack vs the 3.0 6 spd quattro. I'm leaning toward the CVT but am concerned about resale down the road. The sales rep said he felt it was to early to venture a guess.
I am looking at an '02 A6 2.7t 6-speed in black/tungsten/PCC/PPX/17". After 2 years of driving a 300M I am ready to step up.
Last weekend when I test drove his last '01 I was truly amazed by this car. I was also amazed to have the salesman continually urge me to "push it harder" through the winding parts of the road.
Now, here's my question for you experts: I sell Real Estate and put Huge miles on my vehicles which has usually precluded leasing (I average about 30,000 miles each year). The salesman said I would be better off leasing and paying for the extra miles than buying. I was planning on paying cash, but perhaps a single-pay 2 or 3 yr lease would be better?
Also, has anyone out there dealt with Carousel Automobiles in Minneapolis? Any word on their service dept? Any info would be helpful before I write a rather large check...
Thanks in advance!
Does this information include the A6 TT2.7 list price before any options? And any other specific options? I have not seen 2002 pricing posted anywhere yet...
Thanks,
- Ray
Who is taking a break from watching the TV coverage of a horrific day......
For those of you who are waiting for the '02s, here is the info that I got:
2002 A6 2.7t Quattro Manual or Auto $39,750
Options:
N1H Leather $1,550
D4D4 Pearl White $1,200
PPD Convenience $ 730
PCC Preferred Luxury $1,800
PPX Premium Pkg $1,275
PST Sport Pkg $1,425
PQP 17" wheels/tires $ 675
7Q9 Audi Nav System $1,350
3FE Sunroof $1,000
8RY Bose Sound Sys $ 750
4A4 Heated F/R Seats $ 550
3Y5 Rear Sunshades $ 450
4X4 Rear Side Airbags $ 350
That's all I recieved. Now i'm just waiting for the cars to arrive, as I do not wish to wait 3-4 months to order one. Have a good one!
Kurt
Are you sure that Carousel will have the car you want? I too am dealing with them and took a look at their incoming '02's list. I decided to wait until November, which I am told, for my new '02 since they had 6 coming that were mostly silver and black. I might have missed the pearl white. However, I ordered the ming blue 2.7T.
You may want to reconsider the performance tires driving in our MN winters. I have a friend who bought an S4 last year and he had to purchase all season tires since he had trouble stopping. (granted the S4 is lighter, it may be worth investigating)
R
I ordered our second A6, a 2002 3.0 quattro, well over a month ago. My salesman faxed me the order codes. He called me this past week and informed me that the vehicle was at the port; he was not sure when it would be released, but surmised 2-4 weeks. However, he was going to an "Audi" conference on Friday and indicated that he would have a definitive date next week.
While I am gratified with my dealer/salesman's candor, I am disappointed in Audi's lack of same. We are all aware of the significant changes to the A6 posted on the Audi World web site. There are no secrets, here. Further, it is understandable that a company would want to dispose of the 2001's as rapidly as possible. However, the lack of official information is inappropriate. On the other hand, this is not unique; a friend recently went through the same scenario with a Volvo S60. C'est la vie.
All the more reason to be grateful for the internet and message boards such as this.
vty
Michael
The various reliability difficulties have been well documented on this message board (front suspension, brakes, fuel sensor, etc). Most, but not all, were the subject of recalls. However, my main complaint and/or difficulty involved electrical gremlins. These were not the type that disable the vehicle; they emotionally inflict themselves upon the occupants. In our case, the brake warning light and chime would regularly trigger, for no apparent reason. This went on for about a year. It may sound humorous, until you are on a thousand mile trip, with an obnoxious ringing every 5-10 minutes. Eventually, Audi dispatched an engineer from the factory to tour the States, looking for intriguing electrical problems. He looked at our vehicle and, after almost a full day of exploration, replaced the entire instrument cluster/module: problem solved.
While this may come across as gross dissatisfaction, it must be interpreted in light of the fact that over one month ago I ordered a 2002 A6 Avant for my wife. I have no excuse for this irrational behavior; other than to say that buying a German vehicle is not a dispassionate, logical experience. Where else can I combine quattro and abuse at the same time?
In all seriousness, the Audi has been, for the most part, a reliable vehicle. Further, if you will permit me a BMW opinion: while I have no current experience with the 530, my background does allow me to state that bimmers have their own set of challenges, reliability wise. You may merely be comparing one set of problems with another.
To that end, I would choose the vehicle that best meets your practical (quattro) and subjective (irrational) needs best. For me, that is an Audi; your emotional mileage may vary and differ.
While it may be heresy, I sometimes envy friends with their Toyotas, Hondas, Lexus' or Acura's; I am not sure that the envy is reciprocal, nor do I care. If life was meant to be simple, I would drive a toaster and be warm in the winter. Instead, I have the Audi, with four (4) Michelin Arctic Alpins. I prefer the latter.
vty
Michael
1. Is your vehicle a 2000?
2. Were all the problems repaired under the warranty? No additional cost? Free loaner car?
3. How long was your car out of action, on average (other than the brake light warning issue)?
I agree with your conclusion that the driving experience outweighs the distractions of some reliability issues, especially if they are totally and completely covered by the warranty. However, a person can take only so much, so I am trying to get some measure on whether Audi has fixed any of the issues this board and others talk about relative to the 2000 models.
Thanks for the continued feedback.
2.) no cost, and always a free loaner;
3.) only once, overnight. all the rest, only a full day.
I do not want to scare you to the point of distraction. With the exception of the aforementioned warning light/chimes, the car has been reliable, but not perfect. My suggestion for any first time Audi buyer: lease for a period not to exceed the warranty; make your decision regarding long term ownership at the lease's termination. There is a sense of peace and calm that soothes the soul when you realize that your commitment is finite. There are no guarantees (only warranties); it is, however, a most enjoyable vehicle.
Best of luck.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. SJF
P.S. This particular guy knows Audi's very well, as he monitors the "Wheels and Tires" forum at Audiworld.com, so he's very familiar with how each tire will work on your vehicle.
(Disclaimer - I get no benefit whatsoever out of this recommendation, which is based on personal experience only!).
To me,the LS430 is truly an original creation,in that Lexus has taken the English "ball of silk"concept about as far as you can go.But for sportier sedans,Lexus just seems to be a follower.
I really like the A6;I considered one last spring.The turbo changes things,but the bade car has a very pleasing sereness to it.But the wheel wouldn't tilt up quite high enough for me.But it has a large back seat,and in genaral impressed me as a superlative.
If you are attracted to overt performance,what about a BMW 5-series?Back seat should be bigger,but it is very performance.But really,if you are looking at an automatic,isn't the turbo A6 approaching Mercedes E320 territory?That is a very fine car,in my opinion.
One final thought: I noted your comment "Lately..."; Have you checked your tire pressure? That is a primary cause of "new" tire noise. Of course, you could also have a defective tire, or two.
vty
Michael
Other pluses? Roomier interior than GS. More luxurious interior with better materials. (About the best there is.) No Pokemon styling. Quattro!
BTW, '02's have been thoroughly reworked, and as it's about 2/3 of the way into the car's product cycle, it should be the most reliable, best driving A6 ever.
If you're interested, make sure you take at least a couple of drives in both the sport and non-sport versions. Most performance oriented drivers prefer the sport suspension.
About the 17" tires, what do the experts recommend for our less-than-wonderful Minnesota winters?
Thanks,
Kurt
I am looking at a 2.7t with the following options:
6 disk changer
bose
guidance package
mobile phone
premium package
rear seat air bags
enhanced sport package
Thank you!!
Regarding 4.2 vs. 2.7T, it's a matter of preference. You have to drive both, and see which you prefer. Of course, 6sp is 2.7T only. Most think the 4.2 looks best. I agree, though I love my 2.7T.
mike
Problems have included:
1. Fuel Tank sensor - Fixed.
2. Front suspension - Fixed.
3. Windshield Distortion - Tends to be slight but can still be found.
4. Drivetrain vibration - Believe it's been addressed for '02.
5. Misc. electronic problems - Largely addressed
6. TBB on 2.7T - Fixed
7. Tiptronic Program - Changed for '02.
As stated, earlier model years tended to be more problematic. Any manufacturer can make a lemon. A few were, the vast majority weren't. My car has #3 and #4. #3 is slight and not noticeable from the driver's seat. The slight drivetrain vibration I had largely subsided after the 5K service, and is now usually unnoticeable. Earlier model years appeared to be more problematic, and I believe this issue has been addressed for '02. It appears it may be a byproduct of the application of the Torsen limited slip differential in the A6 quattro application.
BTW, I LOVE my 2.7T compared to the Japanese cars I've had. Surveys have shown that even owners with significant problems, have tended to love their cars. I suggest you drive one.
A word about the much maligned "2.8": I like performance (my personal choice is the 2.7T); however, I think that the criticisms have been excessive. The zero-30 time is more lethargic than I would like; on the other hand, once rolling, the performance leaves little to be desired; unless you are into M5's or S6's.
You should, prior to deciding, look at the content of the 2002's, both standard and optional. I specified the Avant with the premium package (multi function steering wheel, xenon and parktronic). There were many other options, bring the msrp to $44,405.00. The standard features include ESP. Another feature I like: in dash cd changer.
These differences may, or may not, be important to you. I do not see how you can make a mistake with either choice. My suggestion: drive both and choose the one that makes you smile more.
One more thought: if you are well prepared, dealers will negotiate agressivley even with the 2002's. You will not get quite the discount as on the 2001's, but not as far off as you think. Let us know what happens.
So, I read every post on this and the previous A6 sites and found every one of timcar's post 1838 issues and problems. But once I drove the 2.7t and 4.2, the ride, driver comfort, sporty suspension and all wheel drive made the decision fairly easy. I chose the 4.2 because I wanted the bigger engine for smoother highway driving, found it almost as fast off the line as the 2.7t, and think it looks materially better than the 2.7t. Yes, I miss the Nakamichi stereo (vs. the Bose) and the 5.7 zero to 60 mph speed of the Lexus GS400, but the Audi is so much more enjoyable to drive, those are minor sacrifices to make. Fortunately, I have had zero problems in my 10 months of ownership.
However, don't fool yourself - Audi service will NEVER be in the same class as Lexus service. And the fit and finish of the A6 will NEVER compare to that of the GS400. But the enjoyment you will get from the German engineering and feeling at one with the road and the car will be so rewarding the few annoyances you will have to deal with will be easily overlooked.
Good luck in your decision - it's a great one to be able to make!
Certainly must agree with Robert about service though, while I have a "good" Audi dealer (Some are problematic.) Lexus can't be bettered, from top to bottom.
I am just having a difficult time pulling the trigger on the purchase due to recent events and their effect on the economy. Seems a little silly, I know. It took a long time to get my wife to relent to my impulsive ways...
Now with my new (and correctly rated) tires and 4 new rotors and pad sets, all finally seems to be back to normal.
It is sad that it only took about six to eight months and as many sets of rotors to solve the problem. I have not really driven the car hard yet as I want to make sure that I break these rotors in correctly, but so far so good.
Are the changes only re: options and the addition of 3.0 vs. 2.8? Or has the body changed? I don't really want to buy a car that will be dated within a month or two.
Love any thoughts.
A recent conjecture by a knowledgeable poster @ AW suggests that the former sport suspension may now be the standard suspension. May include 3/4" lower ride height. I'd like that, if they retain the availability of the non-sport seats.
http://www.audiworld.com/news/index.html