Considering a 2009 Audi A6 TDi

ZV Yoda

We’re in the market for a large family car, so my beloved Alfa 166 2.0 Twin Spark is getting traded against a newer family motor. Even though I don’t need a diesel (well under 10k miles per year), this seems to be all that’s out there at the minute. I’ve tested a few already (Passat, Accord, Optima, Superb) & have narrowed it down to:

2011 Mondeo 2.0 Titanium - 50k miles. Good spec, very practical, well laid out & spacious interior, enormous boot. Felt really solid. UK import with full UK dealer history
2009 Audi A6 TDI Sport (facelift) - 90k miles, UK import with full Audi service history. Fully loaded, leather, sat nav, media pack, parking sensors etc. Great to drive, very comfy, big boot… felt a bit like my 166.

Both cost the same. The A6 is 2 years older, but a lot more car & I reckon I’d be happier with it in the long run – especially coming from the 166.

Before I commit to buy, is there anything in particular I need to look out for with the A6?

Thanks

Hootanany

How much are they.

ZV Yoda

Final figures will depend on trade-in value (to be agreed tomorrow), but the list price for both is €17k

goochy

The Audi may have better image but the mondeo is better car and looks great in top spec form it will be better to drive too be careful with a6 the seats can be very hard and ride is hard if it has larger wheels

bazzachazza

goochy wrote: »

The Audi may have better image but the mondeo is better car and looks great in top spec form it will be better to drive too be careful with a6 the seats can be very hard and ride is hard if it has larger wheels

I drove an A6 for 4 years and my wife had a mondeo for 3 years at the same time. If given the choice EVERY morning I would take the A6 every time. The mondeo is cheap and tacky rubbish poorly designed interior with poor engines. The poor quality of materials used is very obvious. At least with the A6 you feel you have got a good quality product for the money you have paid. I had very little trouble with my A6 towards the end of the lease on my wifes mondeo it had problems galore with cold engine starts.

A6 every time. I would prefer it now to my new Santa Fe.

_Kaiser_

I'd also say the A6 (but then I'm slightly biased as I just bought one too )

But seriously, they are 2 different classes and a Mondeo for me would lose every time as well. Cheap, poor quality feel and not as big as it looks.

Only reason I'd buy a Mondeo myself would be it might be handy to get around the place - buy a silver/white one with a D-reg and debadge it and leave a high-viz jacket in the parcel shelf = instant unmarked car

ZV Yoda

Thanks for the replies so far. To be fair, the Mondeo feels very well made & while it may not have the premium image, it's a very good car. It gets excellent reviews & ticks all the boxes.

The A6 is better spec'd & will probably hold its value better over the next 3-4 years I'm likely to keep it.

Each has its pros & cons depending on your viewpoint.

What I'm really trying to figure out is if there's anything specific I need to watch out for with a 4 year old A6 that has 90k miles. Would love to hear from anyone else who has experience with the A6.

bazzachazza

ZV Yoda wrote: »

Thanks for the replies so far. To be fair, the Mondeo feels very well made & while it may not have the premium image, it's a very good car. It gets excellent reviews & ticks all the boxes.

The A6 is better spec'd & will probably hold its value better over the next 3-4 years I'm likely to keep it.

Each has its pros & cons depending on your viewpoint.

What I'm really trying to figure out is if there's anything specific I need to watch out for with a 4 year old A6 that has 90k miles. Would love to hear from anyone else who has experience with the A6.

The multi tronic gearbox has the odd issue.

_Kaiser_

Sounds to me like you've decided on the A6 already OP.. you just want someone to talk you out of it

I wouldn't think 90k miles on an A6 is anything to worry about if you can verify the service history and if everything was done on time and correctly and the HPI Check comes back clear. My own has 100k miles on it (albeit an older pre-facelift 2005 model)

You should probably check out honest john as a starting point. Also it can't hurt to have a look over on vagdrivers.net and vwaudiforum for info on common issues and feedback.

I found all 3 sites very useful when researching mine

ZV Yoda

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Sounds to me like you've decided on the A6 already OP.. you just want someone to talk you out of it

I wouldn't think 90k miles on an A6 is anything to worry about if you can verify the service history and if everything was done on time and correctly and the HPI Check comes back clear. My own has 100k miles on it (albeit an older pre-facelift 2005 model)

You should probably check out honest john as a starting point. Also it can't hurt to have a look over on vagdrivers.net and vwaudiforum for info on common issues and feedback.

I found all 3 sites very useful when researching mine

I'm still on the fence, but leaning towards the A6 alright. Those sites were very helpful - thanks.

Enjoy the 3.0 Quattro - nice!

Bandara

You need to get the fuel pump in the A6 checked, otherwise your facing a 16k bill

Loads of them have an issue where tiny bits of metal is pumped throughout the system resulting in everything having to be replaced.

(I'm not sure what the technical term for it is)

George Dalton

bazzachazza wrote: »

The mondeo is cheap and tacky rubbish poorly designed interior with poor engines. The poor quality of materials used is very obvious.

I couldn't agree more. I do not understand how the Mondeo has such a good reputation. I wouldn't drive one if you paid me tbh.

George Dalton

Hammertime wrote: »

You need to get the fuel pump in the A6 checked, otherwise your facing a 16k bill

Loads of them have an issue where tiny bits of metal is pumped throughout the system resulting in everything having to be replaced.

(I'm not sure what the technical term for it is)

The same applies to any modern common rail diesel if you are unlucky. It is not just the A6.

goochy

Well that's ur loss ! It has a gud rep for a reason ! Makes me wonder how u can run a garage when u come out with statements like that u don't hear rave reviews of any Audi really do u ?

George Dalton

goochy wrote: »

Well that's ur loss ! It has a gud rep for a reason ! Makes me wonder how u can run a garage when u come out with statements like that u don't hear rave reviews of any Audi really do u ?

I don't base my opinion on "rave reviews" found on google. I base my opinion on my own experience, which I think I can honestly say is pretty considerable when it comes to the two models which are the subject of this thread.

bazz26

To be fair the A6 is a mid size executive car whereas the Mondeo is a large mainstream family car so there is no direct comparison between the two. Worlds apart.

166man

Ah go on keep the 166......:D

MidlandsM

bazz26 wrote: »

To be fair the A6 is a mid size executive car whereas the Mondeo is a large mainstream family car so there is no direct comparison between the two. Worlds apart.

totally, apple's and oranges.

ZV Yoda

166man wrote: »

Ah go on keep the 166......:D

The 166 is hands down the best car I've ever owned/driven. Really breaks my heart to sell it. Unfortunately, the rear middle seat only has a 2 point lap belt. We have 3 kids, so it's just not practical as a family car.

I can't really hang about trying to sell it privately, so I'm trading it against the new car. Somebody's going to end up with arguably the best 2002 166 in the country. Never gave me any trouble. Fully documented 65k miles (main Alfa dealer history to 40k miles, TI Autos since then), NCT till Feb '14, 4 brand new tyres, timing belt & water pump just replaced... sob sob sob.

goochy

Considered a 159 ?

R.O.R

goochy wrote: »

Considered a 159 ?

159 would be very cramped in the back with 3 kids.

Was going to suggest an S80. More width in the back than an A6 or 5 Series, but the ones around the budget are all 1.6d's

MidlandsM

If you want room in the back for the 3 kids OP, consider a skoda superb.....

goochy

Passat cc ?

R.O.R

goochy wrote: »

Passat cc ?

Bit more leg room than the 159, but less than ideal for loading 3 kids in to the back as it's a very low roof line in the rear.

Better if the kids can get themselves in to the car, and they aren't too tall, but the kid in the middle will complain as it's not really a seat. Early ones were only 4 seaters and they've really just put a seatbelt in the middle and put some padding where the cup holders used to be.

bazz26

With 3 kids and all the stuff that comes with them I'd really be looking at an estate, to be honest:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Skoda/Superb/2.0-TDI/36113705177289820/

ZV Yoda

Change of plan... I've tested a heap of cars at this stage (many of those listed above). The last one I tried was an '09 Alfa159 JTDm 16v with 150BHP.

Big mistake!... I absolutely loved it. Not as practical as the others I looked at, but sure the kids can squeeze in the back. This one was a saloon & the small boot is a showstopper. However, a Sportwagon would solve that problem.

So, now I know what I want - an '09/'10 159 Sportwagon with the 16v JTDm engine. Ideally in TI spec. Now, if only I could find one for sale...

goochy

Great to hear as a big vw / Audi hater I am glad u are going by ur heart !

MidlandsM

if only Alfa had more repeat customers like you! Fair play.

goochy

Alfa have built some pretty good cars last couple of years pity that Plp had too many problems with 156 models !

ZV Yoda

Yip, I think it'll be the 159 Sportwagon, but there's not a single one for sale anywhere in the country.

Might have to import from the North, but I think it'll be worth it.

166man

More than welcome to pop by and have a look at Dad's 2010 Alfa 159 1.9JTDm Estate if you wish?



In return you can give me your 166 as a charitable donation....:pac:



Seriously though, more than welcome to check it out!

ZV Yoda

166man wrote: »

More than welcome to pop by and have a look at Dad's 2010 Alfa 159 1.9JTDm Estate if you wish?



In return you can give me your 166 as a charitable donation....:pac:



Seriously though, more than welcome to check it out!

Ah, thanks for that, but I'm already converted! If you can convince your Dad to sell me his 159, then then I'm sure I could work something out with the 166 for you

Turns out, there's another Alfa head who's interested in taking the 166, so at least I know it's going to a good home.

ZV Yoda

Looks like I'm staying with Alfa after all. I was ideally looking for a red 2010 TI Sportwagon with the 16v JTDm engine, but I could be months waiting for one to come up for sale.

On Fri, I spotted a red 2009 Lusso Sportwagon that had just gone on sale up north. It has the JTDm engine I wanted (& leather interior). I took it for a spin over the w/e & everything seems to check out. One owner, 84k miles, FSH with timing belt change 2k ago. Paid a deposit & should be collecting it early-mid next week after I get my own mechanic to check it out.

Also managed to sell my 166 privately to a real Alfa nut last night, so everybody's happy.

goochy

Congrats and best of luck ! Do u do low miles ? Mileage is high so from a resale point you would not want to be putting much up unless ur keeping it for many years

ZV Yoda

goochy wrote: »

Congrats and best of luck ! Do u do low miles ? Mileage is high so from a resale point you would not want to be putting much up unless ur keeping it for many years

Thanks.

Yeah, it's a tad higher than average, but 20k miles per year for a UK car doesn't bother me too much. I do very low mileage - usually about 4k miles/yr. I plan on keeping it for a few years, so by then, it should be lower than avg mileage.

166man

ZV Yoda wrote: »

Looks like I'm staying with Alfa after all. I was ideally looking for a red 2010 TI Sportwagon with the 16v JTDm engine, but I could be months waiting for one to come up for sale.

On Fri, I spotted a red 2009 Lusso Sportwagon that had just gone on sale up north. It has the JTDm engine I wanted (& leather interior). I took it for a spin over the w/e & everything seems to check out. One owner, 84k miles, FSH with timing belt change 2k ago. Paid a deposit & should be collecting it early-mid next week after I get my own mechanic to check it out.

Also managed to sell my 166 privately to a real Alfa nut last night, so everybody's happy.

Must see pics! Delighted to see you staying with Alfa, the 159 is a very underrated car even now with it 7 years old! Sportwagon is much more roomy than many on here make it out to be as well.

ZV Yoda

Update... the Sportwagon didn't work out in the end (after waiting almost 3 weeks, the NI dealer couldn't locate the log book, so I walked away from the deal). It wasn't meant to be...

... but the good news is I fell for a mint '08 159 Ti saloon (black with tan leather interior) in Dublin and bought that instead. Happy days.

MidlandsM

pics?

ZV Yoda

Alfa 159 Ti front.jpg

Alfa 159 Ti rear.jpg

Alfa 159 Ti interior.jpg

These are taken from the original ad

MidlandsM

that is one right tasty motor!

enjoy and many happy safe miles in her!