1996 Audi S6 Plus Avant 4.2 from Estonia
Summary:
The first N/A super-Audi from Quattro GmbH, and it still outperforms 90 percent of new cars
Faults:
Nothing really.
Had the timing belt changed, with all that's mandatory.
Xenon on the passenger side failed.
I have had the coolant; brake fluid; oil and rear brake pads changed.
General Comments:
Seriously quick point to point vehicle, day in day out.
Blistering all-weather tool with loading capacity of a regular Avant.
If you start using all the power, be ready to pay at the filling station.
Its best at high speed motorway driving in very bad conditions.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 21st June, 2006
4th Jul 2007, 13:38
I need to revisit this review, as its not the end...
The Big Audi served as my daily driver for over 1 year, during which I covered 35k miles, including a trip to the nurburgring. I spent money on it, giving it whatever it needed, but it never broke down, and took the miles well.
In fact was mechanically excellent, and now has 170k on the clock.
I got a Mondeo in the meantime to take the daily grind, and considered selling the Audi to fund a track day car. It must have known what I was thinking because...
Then, a long term water leak killed things. I am informed that many Audis of this age leak, due to simple design flaws. However with Audis legend build quality, don't rust. This meant, that without knowing, I was carrying around 2-3 inches of water in the footwells.
Now, would anyone like to guess what sensible place Audi mount the ECU?
Yup, under the seat.
Net result, the electrics have gone and probably killed the car.
ECU failed, and when it did, it blew all 5 coil packs. Now neither the ECU or coil packs are cheap, and the result is that if I were getting new parts, the repair would be costing me a total of £2500, when that is probably all the car would be worth running.
Like I said, the car is mechanically sound, engine, clutch, gearbox all great. I had most the suspension replaced so it drove brilliant. But the Electrics failure has possibly killed the car terminally.
Now on the lookout for crashed/S6 for parts, will pop back and tell you what the final damage has been :(