Audi A6 or 5 series

MrBlue111 · 29-12-2017 05:30PM #1

Not sure if this is in the right thread. If ye had the choice between a 2013 A6 or a 2013 5 series what would you chose any why?

Truckermal · 29-12-2017 07:12PM

5 series all day for me even though we have an Audi, they are way nicer to drive as in more of a driver's car. Try and get the M Sport with business Nav.

antiskeptic · 29-12-2017 08:09PM

The Audi, if only because it appears that BMW's are more expensive to repair and at 5 years old you'd be entering that territory.

bazz26 · 29-12-2017 08:11PM

Where did you hear that? An A6 won't be any cheaper to fix than a 5 Series.

Azatadine · 29-12-2017 09:31PM

I've a 2013 A6 and I find it a decent car. I do think it lacks something in terms of steering 'feel' and the ingress of the transmission tunnel into the footwell drives me bananas!! Mines a manual so maybe this wouldn't be as noticeable in an auto? I came from an Accord iDTEC and of they still made them, I'd switch back to the Honda in the morning.

Bif · 29-12-2017 10:12PM

Cortecs wrote: »

I've a 2013 A6 and I find it a decent car. I do think it lacks something in terms of steering 'feel' and the ingress of the transmission tunnel into the footwell drives me bananas!! Mines a manual so maybe this wouldn't be as noticeable in an auto? I came from an Accord iDTEC and of they still made them, I'd switch back to the Honda in the morning.

Why would you switch back to the Accord?

Azatadine · 29-12-2017 10:20PM

The driving position was much better. I sat 'into the Accord but I sit 'on' the drivers seat in the A6. The Accord was better specced too (the A6 is an S-line). I just find the A6 a bit numb. It's not a bad car by any stretch but the lack of legroom does my head in.

I now have a steering error on the A6 which may well require a new steering rack. If it turns out to be the case it'll cost me a couple of grand no doubt. Probably clouding my judgement a little at the moment I suppose......

Bif · 29-12-2017 10:49PM

Cortecs wrote: »

The driving position was much better. I sat 'into the Accord but I sit 'on' the drivers seat in the A6. The Accord was better specced too (the A6 is an S-line). I just find the A6 a bit numb. It's not a bad car by any stretch but the lack of legroom does my head in.

I now have a steering error on the A6 which may well require a new steering rack. If it turns out to be the case it'll cost me a couple of grand no doubt. Probably clouding my judgement a little at the moment I suppose......

Thanks

MrBlue111 · 29-12-2017 11:44PM

Cortecs wrote: »

The driving position was much better. I sat 'into the Accord but I sit 'on' the drivers seat in the A6. The Accord was better specced too (the A6 is an S-line). I just find the A6 a bit numb. It's not a bad car by any stretch but the lack of legroom does my head in.

I now have a steering error on the A6 which may well require a new steering rack. If it turns out to be the case it'll cost me a couple of grand no doubt. Probably clouding my judgement a little at the moment I suppose......

Really? I thought the A6 would be specced nicely. Is the 5 series specced poorly too?

Azatadine · 29-12-2017 11:51PM

MrBlue111 wrote: »

Really? I thought the A6 would be specced nicely. Is the 5 series specced poorly too?

The A6 is specced fine but doesn't have a reversing camera or electric/heated seats (altho they are S-line leather) which a person might expect? Mirrors don't retract either. Silly little things that I'd expect to be standard.

Don't know about the 5 series.

MrBlue111 · 29-12-2017 11:58PM

Cortecs wrote: »

The A6 is specced fine but doesn't have a reversing camera or electric/heated seats (altho they are S-line leather) which a person might expect? Mirrors don't retract either. Silly little things that I'd expect to be standard.

Don't know about the 5 series.

No heated seats in the A6 crazy considering how much they cost.

Heres Johnny · 30-12-2017 12:04AM

It's really down to personal preference OP. Very similar cars and BMW are not the excellent drivers cars they used to be. I am the owner of a 5 series, I like it but I will consider Audi next time.

Get the msport or s-line if you like good looking cars.

After that buy the one that gives best value, spec, condition etc

I'd buy a well specced well looked after car in this range rather than buying the badge.

Azatadine · 30-12-2017 12:09AM

MrBlue111 wrote: »

No heated seats in the A6 crazy considering how much they cost.

Yep. I bought mine second hand so I guess it was just how it was specced by previous owner. In fairness, on the plus side, there's no rattles whatsoever inside the car and I detest rattles so I'd have found them....well put together. Refined too. Very smooth drive. Just lacks a bit of engagement.

Larbre34 · 30-12-2017 12:12AM

MrBlue111 wrote: »

No heated seats in the A6 crazy considering how much they cost.

How is that an equation? Depending on spec an A6 is anywhere between 40 and 100k! As we all know, Irish cars are poverty specced for tax reasons, if youre buying one new, simply option them.

As for the buyers dilemma, the F10 5-er is a really lovely car to drive, but avoid the m-sport spec, its uncomfortable in daily driving in Ireland.

Myself, for overall practicality in my daily Dublin routine, space, comfort, fit and finish and overall long term cost, Id go to Britain and negotiate directly for a nice S-Line Black edition with the 177 engine and stick it on the driveway for €18k all told.

Azatadine · 30-12-2017 12:14AM

Mine is a black S-line 177 and yes, they really look much better than the SE. They look good.

Avatar MIA · 30-12-2017 12:16AM

MrBlue111 wrote: »

No heated seats in the A6 crazy considering how much they cost.

I've had heated seats in my cars for donkeys and could count on one hand the amounts of times I've used them. My wife, on the other hand, loves them.

And... A6 for me.

Leonard Hofstadter · 30-12-2017 12:29AM

antiskeptic wrote: »

The Audi, if only because it appears that BMW's are more expensive to repair and at 5 years old you'd be entering that territory.

My admittedly limited understanding of repairing premium make cars (based on talking to some mechanics) suggests that in general BMWs are the easiest of them to work on; all the main parts are easily accessible and most jobs are quite straightforward and not too labour intensive.

Obviously there are some exceptions (the fact that they put the timing chain at the back of the newer diesel engines being the obvious example) and there are some things that you really need someone who knows what they're doing (bleeding the cooling system in the older BMWs after say changing the water pump is not for the faint-hearted and if you don't do it right you will get air locks and consequently overheating) but something like an engine swap can be done in 10-11 hours in a BMW whereas the same job could take over 25 in an Audi.

That said, if I were the OP I'd be looking at a late 2014 5 series; cars from 2013 and early to mid 2014 will be using the N47 which has a well known design flaw with the timing chain - now if you change the oil every 10,000 miles you'd probably get away with it and never have to replace the chain but personally I'd rather get a newer car with the B47 engine, which doesn't have the problem - as an added bonus it's got a bit more power and mpg is a bit better as well.

MrBlue111 · 30-12-2017 12:32AM

captainspeed wrote: »

My admittedly limited understanding of repairing premium make cars (based on talking to some mechanics) suggests that in general BMWs are the easiest of them to work on; all the main parts are easily accessible and most jobs are quite straightforward and not too labour intensive.

Obviously there are some exceptions (the fact that they put the timing chain at the back of the newer diesel engines being the obvious example) and there are some things that you really need someone who knows what they're doing (bleeding the cooling system in the older BMWs after say changing the water pump is not for the faint-hearted and if you don't do it right you will get air locks and consequently overheating) but something like an engine swap can be done in 10-11 hours in a BMW whereas the same job could take over 25 in an Audi.

That said, if I were the OP I'd be looking at a late 2014 5 series; cars from 2013 and early to mid 2014 will be using the N47 which has a well known design flaw with the timing chain - now if you change the oil every 10,000 miles you'd probably get away with it and never have to replace the chain but personally I'd rather get a newer car with the B47 engine, which doesn't have the problem - as an added bonus it's got a bit more power and mpg is a bit better as well.

Have heard about the timing chain problem , does the 2014 models not have this problem?

JohnBoy26 · 30-12-2017 12:32AM

bazz26 wrote: »

Where did you hear that? An A6 won't be any cheaper to fix than a 5 Series.

In fairness audis tend to be more reliable and better built.

mickdw · 30-12-2017 12:34AM

MrBlue111 wrote: »

No heated seats in the A6 crazy considering how much they cost.

Consider also that an all new A6 is coming so while values of 3 to 5 year old A6 seem to be holding well, they will take a dive on arrival of new one. This will effect more recently regd ones most but worth considering anyway.

166man · 30-12-2017 02:44AM

I still giggle at the “better drivers cars” phrase that gets bandied about on here. Given we are talking about the smallest engine in the line up the 2.0 TDI vs the 520d and with both being auto there really isn’t any noticeable difference driving these cars day to day.

They are so similar these days that the differences are so small. This idea that a 520d is a drivers car because it’s got M badges all round is also silly.

Buy whatever you like the look of, they will both do the job perfectly fine.

bazz26 · 30-12-2017 02:47AM

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

In fairness audis tend to be more reliable and better built.

Not sure what Audis your seeing but in my experience their reliability is no better or worse than BMW these days. Yes the ones like the A4 from the last decade may have been more reliable but these days they are pretty much on a par with other German makes. Build quality was always a big selling point of Audis, I'll give you alright.

JohnBoy26 · 30-12-2017 04:55AM

bazz26 wrote: »

Not sure what Audis your seeing but in my experience their reliability is no better or worse than BMW these days. Yes the ones like the A4 from the last decade may have been more reliable but these days they are pretty much on a par with other German makes. Build quality was always a big selling point of Audis, I'll give you alright.

Nah I definitely think they are a more reliable car even though id prefer bmw's styling and the way they drive.

Leonard Hofstadter · 30-12-2017 11:24AM

To be fair if reliability is of high importance I don't think the OP should be buying either an Audi or a BMW.

BMWs need quite a bit of minding and the stupidly long service intervals should be ignored.

mickdw · 30-12-2017 12:16PM

166man wrote: »

I still giggle at the “better drivers cars” phrase that gets bandied about on here. Given we are talking about the smallest engine in the line up the 2.0 TDI vs the 520d and with both being auto there really isn’t any noticeable difference driving these cars day to day.

They are so similar these days that the differences are so small. This idea that a 520d is a drivers car because it’s got M badges all round is also silly.

Buy whatever you like the look of, they will both do the job perfectly fine.

There is a significant difference between front drive or rear wheel drive. Maybe not to someone who just goes slowly from A to B but for anyone who actually drives there car, its a big difference. You refer to the smallest engine. That is true but at 180 190 bhp, its still well within the range where playing with throttle will effect balance / cornering and as such front / rear drive is a big part of that.

SBPhoto · 30-12-2017 11:02PM

I had that choice last year but ended up buying the 190 A6 SLine My brother has a 520D, lovely car to but the timing chain issue was a big negative for me, The interior of the A6 is nice place to be and has all the extras like Heated electric leather seats, Sat nab, 4 zone climate control with individual controls, LED Headlights, folding Mirrors, adaptive cruise control and a very good sound system.
Lovely car to drive and i would really recommend the automatic. having drove my brothers 520d don't really see that big a difference between front and rear wheel drive. Both cars are 161 i had no problem with the Audi, brother had a few minor issues with the BMW but were fixed under warranty. both motors are excellent to be honest but i prefer the styling of the Audi.

Phil.x · 30-12-2017 11:07PM

I'd find it hard to pick either of them, they are so everyday boring.

Blazer · 31-12-2017 12:35AM

Avatar MIA wrote: »

I've had heated seats in my cars for donkeys and could count on one hand the amounts of times I've used them. My wife, on the other hand, loves them.

And... A6 for me.

man I love the heated seats in my 5'er. I use them a fair bit during the year and can honestly say I wouldn't get a new car without them.

JimmyMcGill · 31-12-2017 12:37AM

Blazer wrote: »

man I love the heated seats in my 5'er. I use them a fair bit during the year and can honestly say I wouldn't get a new car without them.

Agree. Have them in both cars and would use them a lot. I've a bad back so get good relief from them.
Ditto not buying something without them.

Blazer · 31-12-2017 05:49AM

JimmyMcGill wrote: »

Agree. Have them in both cars and would use them a lot. I've a bad back so get good relief from them.
Ditto not buying something without them.

definitely.
I work 12 hour shifts at the weekend and on night shifts during my hour break I just pop into my car and turn on seats heating and fall asleep within minutes...so damn cozy

I actually have to set the alarm on my phone to wake me up.

MarcusP12 · 31-12-2017 06:53AM

166man wrote: »

I still giggle at the “better drivers cars” phrase that gets bandied about on here. Given we are talking about the smallest engine in the line up the 2.0 TDI vs the 520d and with both being auto there really isn’t any noticeable difference driving these cars day to day.

They are so similar these days that the differences are so small. This idea that a 520d is a drivers car because it’s got M badges all round is also silly.

Buy whatever you like the look of, they will both do the job perfectly fine.

There is definitely a difference between M sport and SE for beemers which makes them far more sporty to drive even if they don't have big power output. I went from an M Sport 3 series (318, slow as a hearse but lovely to drive and great handling once it got going). The M sport has stiffer suspension and sharper steering and this makes a big difference to handling. I assume its similar for the audi also between SE and S Line. If there are concerns over the stiffness of M Sport suspension, variable dampers would be the way to go but they are very rare I think. Mate of mine has them in his M Sport 5 series touring. like the idea of going from SE to M-Sport with a change of setting. Again, i'm pretty sure there is the same option for the s-line but equally rare.

I think for most people, 520d or 2.0tdi is decent enough power to work with. I'd like a bit more myself but anytime I've tested a X20d (I have a 523i) I've though it was decent enough.

5 series for me by the way but since i'm on my 3rd beemer, if I was changing, I'd look at audi too.....

Audi A6 or 5 series

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