Audi A6

Digest from the reviews

Based on transcripts of 2 reviews

• •Both of the 2 reviewed transcripts call the petrol V6 FSI units (2.4/3.2, linerless Alusil block) the C6's main risk — cylinder scoring plus heavy oil burn: the workshop calls every rear-chain petrol V6 'a lottery', the owner's mechanic names the 3.2 the worst engine of the range, and the oil-bottle-in-the-boot joke is confirmed as reality.
• •The V6 timing chains sit at the flywheel side: the workshop quotes gearbox-off or engine-out labour (~$1,500 all-in if a rattling chain has damaged the phase regulators) and insists on an endoscope check of every cylinder before buying any V6/V8; the diesel V6 chains live longer (up to ~300k km) but carry the same engine-out replacement.
• •Safe picks per both reviewers: the diesels ('a salvation', says the workshop; the owner's mechanic also points buyers to the 2.0/3.0 TDI) and the iron-block 2.0 turbo petrol of the old EA113 family; the workshop adds that early 2.0 TDI oil-pump drive shafts wore down and ran engines dry — a lengthened fix part exists, so check it was fitted.
• •The two reviews split on the Multitronic CVT: the workshop says it defies its bad name (some owners see ~400k km, the later VL380 is sturdier still — avoid cars that jerk or slip), while the owner's mechanic dismisses it outright; both rate the ZF 6HP automatic of the quattro versions as the sturdy choice given regular fluid changes.
• •Rust protection is decent (aluminium wings and bonnet) but both name the same rot spots: sills at the front jacking points, the windscreen frame, door bottoms and rear arch edges — the owner welded sills and repainted, and paint flakes off in coin-sized chips; both also flag the electric parking-brake actuators (workshop: ~$300 original, aftermarket exists; owner: motors and wiring fail).