"AstraVanMan" <Peter@SwerveWeb.com> wrote in message news:<2kb0b.15727$yl6.11371@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net>...

> Cheers Jonathan. Most useful info - cheers.
>
> Out of interest what do you drive?
>
> Peter

You may not be too surprised to learn that I drive one of the 140 bhp
A6 5-cyl diesels. Mine's a front-wheel-drive 95N Estate. The quattro
model uses the same engine, IIRC, and may be worth hunting for. Mine
had done 100k when I bought it just over two years ago, and it's now
moved on to 185k. On a 4000-mile round trip to Italy with 5 adults it
averaged 45 mpg at fast (85-95) cruising speeds and with the aircon on
full tilt all the time. You'll find plenty of people out there who
have done far more miles than that, and probably at better economy.
They're good solid middle-aged (the cars, I mean!) buys. The fairest
thing I can say is that I was thinking of getting rid of mine, but
I've decided not to.

Regards

Jonathan

 

> But you just assume that others should take their time out to answer
> what you are too lazy to look up for yourself.

Yes. That's the point of usenet.

> And then, when they do
> answer, you **** and moan because the answer isn't to your liking.
>
> If that's not arrogant, what is?

Arrogance.

Peter

 

> > > Indeed? I got him to actually look up the info, which was my point,
> > > in case you missed it.
> >
> > Don't flatter yourself
>
> I'm not doing anything of the kind. Tech info of the sort you
> required is generally widely available and easy to look up, if all the
> relevant parameters are known. That's why it's easier for *you* to
> look up something than it is for me. Taking a chance in a low-post
> rate forum such as this is kinda dumb, for a question of this kind.

Funny then, that the only answer I got from doing a google search was of
limited use (just describing what the badge would look like, which wouldn't
neccessarily be conclusive), and the only really useful answer I got was
from a contributor to this forum.

> > > Since I didn't know which model year he wanted to know about, I took a
> > > stab at it. If you or he don't like it, you are certainly both
> > > welcome to stuff it.
> > >
> > > Hope that clears up the confusion,
> >
> > I'd recommend you take reading classes.
>
> So that I might determine, somehow, that you had a 1996 car in mind?
> Where was that little bit of info in your original post? Since I'm
> having trouble finding it, it must be because I can't read, LOL.

It wasn't neccessarily a 1996 car I had in mind - it was anything with the
140bhp five cylinder two and a half litre turbocharged direct injection
diesel engine, which was used from January 1995 to August 1997. The fact
that I mentioned 5-cylinder 140bhp diesel would have been enough to imply
that, and if it wasn't, then you could have taken your own advice and used
google.

Peter

 

> You may not be too surprised to learn that I drive one of the 140 bhp
> A6 5-cyl diesels. Mine's a front-wheel-drive 95N Estate. The quattro
> model uses the same engine, IIRC, and may be worth hunting for.

I'd like the quattro, but to be honest, as it's a full-time quattro (you
can't switch it from 4wd to 2wd can you?) I'd rather have the better economy
of the 2wd version.

> Mine
> had done 100k when I bought it just over two years ago, and it's now
> moved on to 185k. On a 4000-mile round trip to Italy with 5 adults it
> averaged 45 mpg at fast (85-95) cruising speeds and with the aircon on
> full tilt all the time. You'll find plenty of people out there who
> have done far more miles than that, and probably at better economy.
> They're good solid middle-aged (the cars, I mean!) buys. The fairest
> thing I can say is that I was thinking of getting rid of mine, but
> I've decided not to.

How's yours been reliability-wise? The only horror stories I've heard are
of cambelt problems (brought on by a seized water pump), but from what I've
read (was browsing through quite a few threads on honestjohn.co.uk last
night), it was a recall (though I might not be remembering this bit right),
and basically it was recommended past a certain date that a new water pump
would be fitted with the cambelt, and as long as it's been done after a
certain time then it should be fine. Sorry if that really makes little
sense, but if it does, do you know when the improved water pump was first
available?

That's basically the selfsame model I'm getting (the one I'm going to be
looking at is an M reg with 135k on the clock, and full Audi service history
up to the last service at 130.5k back in May

Have you done your own servicing, or taken it to a main dealer, or have you
used a specialist? I'll be doing basic things myself (oil changes, filters
etc.) but taking it to a main dealer for cambelts and any other specialised
things. If you've done your own servicing, is there an easy way to reset
the service indicator?? (I believe they have one of these) as it'd be handy
to be able to use that to monitor the quality of the oil.

Anyway, sorry to bombard you with questions, but any advice you've got would
be appreciated.

Cheers,

Peter

 

"AstraVanMan" <Peter@SwerveWeb.com> wrote in message
news:4dw0b.15429$Kx1.239369@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...

> I'd like the quattro, but to be honest, as it's a full-time quattro (you
> can't switch it from 4wd to 2wd can you?) I'd rather have the better
economy
> of the 2wd version.

No, like all quattros it's permanent 4WD. The economy penalty is probably
about 5-10%

> How's yours been reliability-wise? The only horror stories I've heard are
> of cambelt problems (brought on by a seized water pump), but from what
I've
> read (was browsing through quite a few threads on honestjohn.co.uk last
> night), it was a recall (though I might not be remembering this bit
right),
> and basically it was recommended past a certain date that a new water pump
> would be fitted with the cambelt, and as long as it's been done after a
> certain time then it should be fine. Sorry if that really makes little
> sense, but if it does, do you know when the improved water pump was first
> available?

This is basically the same potential problem with all five-cylinder Audi
engines, petrol and diesel. The cambelt drives the water pump as well as the
camshaft, so if the water pump seizes, it breaks the belt. Result - pistons
hit valves.

> Have you done your own servicing, or taken it to a main dealer, or have
you
> used a specialist? I'll be doing basic things myself (oil changes,
filters
> etc.) but taking it to a main dealer for cambelts and any other
specialised
> things.

I've tended to do the odd-numbered ones (130, 150 etc) myself, as it's
basically just an oil and filter change. I've usually used a main dealer for
the 160 etc but I'll probably start doing it all myself now - except for the
belts, which are a pain as the access is tight. The fuel and air filter
changes are quite easy.

> If you've done your own servicing, is there an easy way to reset
> the service indicator?? (I believe they have one of these).

In theory you need the special tool, though I believe there are pattern ones
available. I just ignore the flashing, as it only goes on for about one
minute on start-up.

Generally on reliability it's been fine. I expect it will probably suffer
the usual Audi problem of seized rear calipers or handbrake mechanism,
though so far it has not. This is actually an update of what is basically a
1982 design, and that applies for good and ill. To be fair, some of the
weaknesses of the A100 have been eliminated, but some persist - e.g. only a
two-point centre rear belt. Conversely, there isn't much electronic wizardry
to go wrong.

The SE, with leather trim and climate control, is probably worth finding.

HTH

Jonathan

 

> This is basically the same potential problem with all five-cylinder Audi
> engines, petrol and diesel. The cambelt drives the water pump as well as
the
> camshaft, so if the water pump seizes, it breaks the belt. Result -
pistons
> hit valves.

Well surely any engine with a cambelt driven water pump.

> > Have you done your own servicing, or taken it to a main dealer, or have
you
> > used a specialist? I'll be doing basic things myself (oil changes,
filters
> > etc.) but taking it to a main dealer for cambelts and any other
specialised
> > things.
>
> I've tended to do the odd-numbered ones (130, 150 etc) myself, as it's
> basically just an oil and filter change. I've usually used a main dealer
for
> the 160 etc but I'll probably start doing it all myself now - except for
the
> belts, which are a pain as the access is tight. The fuel and air filter
> changes are quite easy.

A friend was telling me that he thinks that there's a big undertray that
needs to be taken off to do oil changes - is this true? Have you just left
it off?

> > If you've done your own servicing, is there an easy way to reset
> > the service indicator?? (I believe they have one of these).
>
> In theory you need the special tool, though I believe there are pattern
ones
> available. I just ignore the flashing, as it only goes on for about one
> minute on start-up.
>
> Generally on reliability it's been fine. I expect it will probably suffer
> the usual Audi problem of seized rear calipers or handbrake mechanism,
> though so far it has not. This is actually an update of what is basically
a
> 1982 design, and that applies for good and ill. To be fair, some of the
> weaknesses of the A100 have been eliminated, but some persist - e.g. only
a
> two-point centre rear belt. Conversely, there isn't much electronic
wizardry
> to go wrong.

Is the handbrake mechanism a drum-inside-the-disc type jobbie, like the
Carlton (don't know if you're familiar with them) ?

> The SE, with leather trim and climate control, is probably worth finding.

Oh yes. Leather is sadly the only thing missing from the one I'm getting,
but it's got everything else - it's the SE spec, and it's got climate +
aircon, and cruise control, which is basically exactly what I was after.
I've phoned up about countless A6s (being after an SE 140bhp model with
cruise) and they've either been sold, only had the 115bhp engine, or not had
cruise. I've finally found one, and now I'm going to get it before someone
else does!! Sounds mint as well. Ideally I'd like a nice cream leather
interior, but that can easily be bought and bolted in at a later date (or,
if I'm feeling flush, I may get the seats retrimmed).

That brings me onto a little gripe I have with Audis (and the more prestige
brands in general) - there are so many options and you can never guarantee
what you're getting just by the model (well you can to an extent, but I'll
explain). When I was looking for a Carlton Estate to replace my old
battered up one (rusty shed, that had been smacked in the side) I wanted one
with all the toys - front fogs, electric everything, fuel computer, cruise,
and ideally leather. Basically all I had to do was find a CDX (no guarantee
of leather, but everything else as standard). Ok, so the only thing not
standard with the A6 is cruise, but basically it would have been a whole lot
easier if cruise was a standard part of the SE spec.

Also, out of interest, how much does oil (enough to do an oil change) and
filter cost from an audi dealer (genuine parts) ?

Peter

 

> But you just assume that others should take their time out to answer
> what you are too lazy to look up for yourself. And then, when they do
> answer, you **** and moan because the answer isn't to your liking.
>
> If that's not arrogant, what is?
>
> Spider

Give it a rest. You failed to read the title of the original post so your
clever reply/put-down fell a bit flat. But you did post a link you thought
would be helpful - good for you. Can we move on now please?

Rach

 

"AstraVanMan" <Peter@SwerveWeb.com> wrote in message
news:ycx0b.15485$Kx1.240502@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...

> A friend was telling me that he thinks that there's a big undertray that
> needs to be taken off to do oil changes - is this true? Have you just
left
> it off?

True, getting it back on is the worst part of the job, ideally requiring
about five hands. I bet there are a lot of older A4s and A6s out there
without them. I keep mine on, though.

> Is the handbrake mechanism a drum-inside-the-disc type jobbie, like the
> Carlton (don't know if you're familiar with them) ?

No, it's a Girling (??) caliper and the design is similar in most (if not
all) rear disc-braked VWs and Audis of that age. The handbrake cable is
attached to a lever on the caliper which operates the piston manually.
There's a seal where the mechanism enters the caliper, and in the end it
goes and the piston seizes. This tends to be a weakness of these cars and
even if the calipers are OK the discs and pads often don't last as long on
the rear as on the front. Mark II Golf GTIs suffer in a similar way. Not
helped by all the crud being thrown up by the front wheels straight on to
the rear brakes. I know this is the same in theory for all cars but it seems
especially bad on VWs and Audis.

Exchange calipers are available from independent specialists such as German
Swedish and French. Ensure that you are sitting down before enquiring about
the price of genuine OE calipers from a main dealer...

> Also, out of interest, how much does oil (enough to do an oil change) and
> filter cost from an audi dealer (genuine parts) ?

Not sure. Try German and Swedish - www.gsfcarparts.com - who certainly do
the real thing as well as cheapos. But the parts desks at some dealers are
only too happy to do a deal. They vary. In the midlands, Autohaus in
Northampton always used to be excellent.

Jonathan

 

"Rachael" <rfearnhead@mybra.btinternet.com> wrote in message news:<bhu9a3$an$1@hercules.btinternet.com>...
> > But you just assume that others should take their time out to answer
> > what you are too lazy to look up for yourself. And then, when they do
> > answer, you **** and moan because the answer isn't to your liking.
> >
> > If that's not arrogant, what is?
> >
> > Spider
>
> Give it a rest.

Who made you Queen of USENET?

Ahh, OK. Good, well - run along, then.

Spider

 

"AstraVanMan" <Peter@SwerveWeb.com> wrote in message news:<2dw0b.15427$Kx1.239369@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net>...
> > But you just assume that others should take their time out to answer
> > what you are too lazy to look up for yourself.
>
> Yes. That's the point of usenet.

You have quite a self-important view of what USENET is, then.

> > And then, when they do
> > answer, you **** and moan because the answer isn't to your liking.
> >
> > If that's not arrogant, what is?
>
> Arrogance.

And you're filled with it.

HTH,

Spider