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I think there are three different plug-in relays that have been used throughout the current generation A6's run. If you have the most current, which is also the least boosted, you can make the steering heavier by pulling the relay altogether. I haven't experienced it, but this evidently makes the steering MUCH heavier, though not like a total absence of power steering.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I also noticed that the S4 is not mentioned in the '02 Audi lineup and that the A6 4.2 now has 16" 235/50 all-season tires as standard equipment.
Most of the fuel burns cleanly except at the fringes where lean burning occurs and the pollutant NO is generated. A separate NO catalytic converter/chamber is present to meet pollution requirements.
Needless to say, the LeManns car burns slightly rich for full chamber combustion (but less so than if it were using standard fuel injector technology, thus better fuel economy) and has no catalytic converters.
Hope this helps....
P.S. - a TDI model is available in Europe. Don't know if it meets USA ULEV standards....
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec35.shtml
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Have a great trip! I think you'll find that the A6 loves to eat up miles, irrespective of the lighter steering. When I had an '02 3.0 loaner, I didn't get a chance to take it on the highway, but people who've driven with both pre and post '02 steering say the '02 steering is much firmer on the highway than previously. Audi's are great highway cars too. My wife has always chided me for driving too fast. Since becoming an A4 1.8T driver, she gets annoyed with drivers who are doing under 75mph is the passing lane!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Likes: Awesome car. VERY powerful. Very difficult to hold it down to some reasonable "break-in" speeds and rpms. Great handling. The A6 4.2 (my other choice) with the sports package was a little too stiff for me. This suspension is awesome. No dips, dives or rolls. Reasonable road noise (especially considering those BIG tires), people turn and look and ask, what kind of station wagon (grrrr)is that? but once the see it up close it's "WOW what an awesome car!"
Dislikes - I didn't get the Telematics package so the cell phone situation is a little hard to solve. Hate to add another antenna and refuse to "bolt" anything to the dash. Scuff plates inside doors should by metal, not plastic as they will get heel scuffs from in and out. And with the silver mirrors and roof rails, would have all tied in nicely.
I understood the 2002's had less steering assist than earlier A6's. Has anyone heard about boost level changing within this model run? I plan to take this question up with the dealer next week, but I'd first like to check on this forum to see what info I can pull together. Thanks.
Having an '01 2.7T and having driven an '02 3.0, I can attest that the steering is firmer. But that sure still doesn't mean firm. I had my old Lexus for about a month after I got the 2.7T, and when I drove it after about 2 weeks with the Audi, even the LEXUS steering felt heavy by comparison! So a little firmer, still is pretty light.
I also know that my perceptions can differ a lot on different days. Maybe it won't feel as light after spending a little time with it.
Anyway Mike, I hope you really enjoy it.
I've checked Audiworld and found numerous references to the 605 relay and how to pull it. However, there has been no mention of whether the heavier steering advertised for the 2002 derives from using a different relay or no relay.
I'm not really disappointed in the steering, since I haven't been able to run the car on a road that will reveal the subtleties of road feel yet. I have been on a few streets that cause the car to benefit from heavily-assisted steering's ability to resist the pulling of wide tires in wavy pavement.
My real concern is that Audi's assembly disciplines might be somewhat erratic. I mentioned in an earlier message that my car was delivered with burled walnut trim instead of the sycamore trim specified in the sales brochures. The dealer checked his ordering database and confirmed that Audi was still specifying the sycamore trim. So my guess is that, since my car was assembled near the end of the model run, they switched trim to something they still had in supply rather than ordering another batch of trim from suppliers. (The dealer disagrees. He thinks they simply made an assembly error.)
Either way, I can live with non-standard trim. However, if something similar happened with steering components, I get more worried. If Audi randomly switches components during assembly, what implications might that have for future repair and maintenance?
http://www.audiworld.com/search/
BTW, Richard Solomon, who provides the info. in the above AW post, seems to have more specific detailed info. about the A6 than anyone I've come across and is very helpful.
While understand your concern about the build for you 4.2, and don't think I'd worry too much about it because of the substitution of walnut for sycamore. Elsewhere in the world, people can order Audi's with all kinds of mix and match details. It easy to see someone assembling one thinking walnut was intended rather than sycamore.
Yes, the extra boost does reduce the feeling of tramlining and also any possible sense of torque steer. I did notice that '02 3.0 I drove had just the slightest suggest of FWD feel, which is entirely absent in my '01.
I think as you spend a bit more time with this car, you will become increasingly awed. It's hard to remain sedate during break-in.
It's got an interesting note when accelerating hard - sounds like a light, whining, buzzy turbo or light, small freewheeling gear on top of normal engine sound. Audi mechanic gave it the okay. Apparently it's normal. Anyone got comments? Anything else I should look out for? Everyone talks about the transmission and electrics, so I was sure to purchase a full extended warranty. Think I'll take it to Audi for a full check-up before the first long drive!
Also, anyone know of any good Audi clubs in Houston? I'll join Audiworld and get into their forum as well. Now, for that supercharger.....
I put a few dozen more miles on the car this afternoon on a few twisty roads. The steering may be light, but this car has astonishing handling for a sedan. My biggest hesitation in deciding on the Audi was the high curb weight (4024 lbs.) and the front-heavy distribution. But for the life of me, I cannot detect any significant handling glitches arising from either. In fact, the car feels lighter than my 3770-lb. Jaguar.
One thing is driving me crazy, though. I'm going to keep the revs below 3500 for the first 600 miles, but the car just seems itching to scamper. It's going to take me at least a week to hit the 600 mile mark. I'm trying to watch the speed, too, a bit . . . but while watching the tach, I didn't notice I had gone north of 80 mph at one point. The tach was still under 2500!
The car can fly, and that can be a problem. Twice today on a twisty two-lane conservatively zoned at 45; I got stuck behind cars doing 35. The passing zones are short, and since the road is curvy, it's necessary to get around the cars quickly. I don't know about where you live, but it seems around here that many people react to someone passing by speeding up. Can't figure that out, since I always slow and pull to the right. Anyway, each time I caught the kickdown button, and by the time I pull back into the lane, I'm pushing 80, and need to seriously brake, or risk getting zapped by a possible speed trap with instant-on that is now the norm. The odd thing is that the 80 feels like maybe 50. Much of the time when I can, I use the cruise while traveling local roads where I know speed traps are often set up. Radar detectors are invaluable, but if you're the only car and the officer has instant-on, it's not going to do you much good if you're doing 20+ over.
Is the 2.7T really worth the extra $$$'s? There doesn't appear to be any other suspension, tire, options, etc. changes with the upgrade in engine.
By the way, I've had a Valentine One on my '98 Lexus GS since the week after I got it back in '98 and it is the absolute best detector I have ever owned; and I've use various models before getting it for years. Escorts, Passports, BEL, etc., none demonstrated the features or warnings that I get consistently from V1. I can't tell you the $$$'s it has saved me and my lead foot!
In fact, I picked my new car up Saturday morning and drove it straight to the audio shop to have the detector hard wired into the Audi. (I found a dealer who keeps Valentine's in stock, although he purchases them through direct mail order like everyone else.) The shop also now sells a lidar blocker which, to my surprise, is legal. It mounts within the front grille and supposedly scatters the incoming laser beam. Has anyone had any experience with these?
As for a radar detector, it's just like Mastercard . . . "don't leave home without it."
I've read tests of lidar jammers, and evidently, some DO work, though most don't. I think I recall that some of the transparent shields you can put over the license plates actually help a bit in tests. It seems that's the aiming point the officers use. I think C&D has done one or more tests. You might want to try a search of their website.
Is the 2.7T worth the extra money? That's a good question. Before the advent of the 3.0, that was easier to answer. It also used to be that the 2.7T included equipment as standard that was optional with the base engine. This made the price difference substantially less when comparing similarly equipped cars. It's pretty much impossible to find an A6 stripper anyway, and I wouldn't want the car without the options.
I've driven the 3.0, and the base engine still doesn't compare with the 2.7T or a 4.2. Certainly, the 2.7T is worth the difference to me. I think the only way one can really tell is to drive the cars back to back, at least a couple of times. If the 2.7T or 4.2 doesn't make you feel something special, I'd get the 3.0
Now all the other readings are suspect. Has anyone else had this problem? Does something already need replacing on Day 3?
My 2001 A6 4.2 ("sport") has crossed 25,000 miles. Here is my report:
I had so many brake problems -- which I shared with this erudite forum -- I thought for a time I was just going to dirve it that way until the '03's or '04's come along (I leased for 30 months and am now down to 10 or 11 months to go). Now, I am happy to report that -- and if I'm lyin' I'm dyin' -- the brake issues are 99.999% gone! The last set of REAR rotors and my third set of tires (Falken Azenis 255 x 40 x 17, Z rarted), an all wheel alignment and a Partridge in pear tree, have virtually solved any remaining problems in this regard that I have had with this car.
And, I have noticed at 25K miles, the engine seems as if someone sneaked into my garage and added a supercharger! The acceleration -- heck maybe it's the weather -- has really improved noticably. This happened first at around 5 or 6K miles (which is Audi normal break in) but I hadn't really noticed it until the past few weeks.
Otherwise, no real service problems -- the sunroof needed lubricating after the winter to stop a minor squeal when it opened. This car has been solid in all aspects (except the afforementioned brake rotor issues which were annoying more than anything).
My wife has ordered her 2003 TT (Dark green pearl 225HP with all the options) and I have been "itching" for the current generation (2003) allroad with a 6spd manual. Now, however, with "only" 10 months to go, the 4.2 seems like the best Audi I have ever had. And, considering that I was so annoyed with the brakes on this car, that is really a major turnaround for me to say that.
Anyway, my experience with the company, the car and my outstanding dealership (both sales and service) means that I can say "goodbye old friend, I hardly knew ya!" But, on the other hand, if I decide to keep it, 10 months is almost a whole year -- a year that will be filled with the joy of driving this car.
Sorry this wasn't as left brained as usual -- but WOW this car has GRUNT!
Conversely, I had the pleasure of a loaner A6 3.0 and found it a very nice car -- but I like the availability (from the factory) of a sport package, which is currently not available on the 3.0.
More's the pity.
This one was easy.
The odd stone still gets by the barriers, but not nearly to the degree that would have happened without it. And I don't even notice it anymore.
Call 'em and they will direct you to a franchised installer, hopefully in your area. Check out their website www.stongard.com for a description of the product.
I'll be getting a valet key soon, but I wish Audi made it a little more obvious that they are available for an extra fee. I'm not sure what I'll do with the emergency key, but I've used the valet key semi-regularly on other cars and I don't think the emergency key is meant to be twisted many times.
But, on the off chance that it could happen is this car equipped with a manual or automatic transmission. Every turbo I have ever owned has been a manual transmission and I have never noticed this behavior.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
As long as your diverter valves are in good shape, and there aren't any leaks in the turbo plumbing, what you are experiencing is probably normal.
Based on my informal survey the most common power for the A6 and A8 appears to be the 2.5 diesel. Little wonder after looking at fuel prices. I did see the occasional 2.7T and 4.2, though. (Also spotted other economy conscious models like the BMW 518, the Audi A4 1.4T, and the MB A140). There are lots of fast models of all German makes there, too. Not uncommon to have a car (or two or three bumper to bumper) passing by well in excess of 100 mph. Normal speed - average in the right lane - was about 140 kph (~88 mph).
I wish American drivers would respect the left lane as a passing lane. Drivers who do pass are quick to return to the travel lane (unlike the US interstate system where some clown in a mini-van with a trailer settles in the left lane at 64 mph).
I any case, I'm ready to change cars and have been pining for an A6 for a year. I'm ready to buy an A6 Quattro with the preferred package and possibly a few other options. I could use some advice on a few issues:
1. What price (margin over invoice) should I hope for at this time of year? There seem to be quite a few A6's on the lots and the end of the model year approaches. I hoped with hard bargaining I might get to $1000 over invoice.
2. Can anyone compare the standard sound system with the Bose? I've read the comments on the Bose and agree it is a bit muddy but have not been able to hear the standard system. I'm a great music fan and hope for at least a mid-fi level of sound quality.
3. Any comments on whether the Convenience and Premium packages are worth the money? Also, any comments on paint and leather colors? Wine glass wheels? I'm having a tough time deciding. I realize these are largely personal preferences but any observations or opinions would be of interest.
4. Lastly, any other comments on areas I haven't mentioned would be appreciated.
I've really enjoyed looking over the posts from the last year. You are a devoted lot. Thanks in advance for your help.
The wine glass wheels are the wheels that used to come on the old 2.8 (I'm sure you've seen these). The standard wheels on the 3.0 are the 5 spokes that come standard on the 2.7T. Stick with the stock wheels.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I just LOVE this car so far (only 420 miles on it, though). . . fast, quiet, taut, comfortable.
Only three downsides . . . the Bose audio system sounds as muddy as every other Bose system I've heard; cupholders will not hold a 20-oz bottle of soda (which I habitually consume on a long drive to work); and parts are wickedly expensive: oil filters $52.95 each; OnStar/Telematics package $695; telematics phone $625, mounting bracket $250, labor to install $112.65 . . . for a grand total of $1,682.65 for a phone!#!?
Camps
auto-dimming mirrors are a must, which in turn
makes the convenience package a must.
Premium Package - The parktronic is nice.
If you find yourself often in tight parking
situations then its worth it. The low beams
on my 2000 are weak so the HID lamps would be
nice. I don't care for nor use the multifunction
steering wheel - the button position/layout seems
wrong/awkward to me. I REALLY wish cruise control
was on the steering wheel.
Bose - I recall someone shopping for an A6 posting
that the stock sound system actually sounded better
than the Bose. I have the Bose and can't say I'm
impressed, but that's what the car came with so
that's what I have.