New-to-me 2000 A6 4.2
04-06-2002, 05:50 AM
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New-to-me 2000 A6 4.2
<center><img src="http://webpages.charter.net/aurum314/img1.jpg"></center><p>Last weekend I flew to Pittsburgh, PA and picked up my new-to-me silver 2000 A6 4.2 on Saturday morning. For the past few months, I was looking for a 2001 S4 Avant to replace my 1986.5 Supra, but priorities around rear seat legroom steered me toward an A6. As I ran through the A6 possibilities, I was somewhat surprised that I found myself looking much more seriously at the 4.2 over the 2.7T. I have to admit to some amount of "turbo aversion" as I tend to buy cars and keep them for 10 or more years. Well, I admit the flared fenders had something to do with it, too!
The 3 day drive from Pittsburgh back to Yakima was a great time and an excellent way to quickly learn about my new car. I'd recommend that anyone picking up a lease return at the right price from a *trusted source* not be too averse about a long distance in-person delivery.
The car is nearly pristine -- only two small scratches and a handful of minor stone chips on the front bumper and hood. The first mod will be an XPel clear bra and headlight protection that I'll put on next week. The second mod will be to replace the Pie Pan 17" wheels with Ronals R-28s. Finman's A6 4.2 sold me on the Ronals as the "right look". The Pie Pans will get wrapped in winter tires for use come November.
My impressions after 2500 miles of driving are 1.) Damn, its a fast car! and 2.) Damn, hustling 4000 lbs of Audi around a corner is a way different experience than with either my A4 Avant QSTip or my Supra. The 4.2 gets around the corners at quite high speed in its current configuration, however, my impression is of driving a Z-28 with a rear solid axle that wants to hop laterally at imperfections in the curve. My Supra has a set of TRD springs and shocks, and is supremely composed right up to the limit (which approaches 0.9g). I don't expect the A6 could ever corner as hard because the A6's center of gravity is a bit higher (it is 8 inches taller than the Supra) and even the sport suspension on my A4 is quite a bit softer than the Supra's TRD setup. Does anyone have a specific comment on whether the PSK sway bar upgrade improves this aspect of the 4.2's handling?
Some other "significant" observations from my 2500 mile journey.
1. Thanks to the State of Ohio for the SBUX concession at each travel plaza along the turnpike.
2. Thanks to Barnes and Noble in LaCrosse, WI for locating there (with SBUX).
3. The best McCoffee along the way was at Bozeman, MT -- they did the first decent Seattle's Best I've ever had at a McDonald's.
4. My condolences to all Audi-driving Illini that have to stop on the freeway at 10 mile intervals to throw $.40 at the toll machines for the opportunity to drag race whatever vehicle happens to be next to you.
5. As between I-70, -80, and -90 from the Rockies to the Mississippi, I propose that I-90 is the most enjoyable. Could it have something to do with the car?
The 3 day drive from Pittsburgh back to Yakima was a great time and an excellent way to quickly learn about my new car. I'd recommend that anyone picking up a lease return at the right price from a *trusted source* not be too averse about a long distance in-person delivery.
The car is nearly pristine -- only two small scratches and a handful of minor stone chips on the front bumper and hood. The first mod will be an XPel clear bra and headlight protection that I'll put on next week. The second mod will be to replace the Pie Pan 17" wheels with Ronals R-28s. Finman's A6 4.2 sold me on the Ronals as the "right look". The Pie Pans will get wrapped in winter tires for use come November.
My impressions after 2500 miles of driving are 1.) Damn, its a fast car! and 2.) Damn, hustling 4000 lbs of Audi around a corner is a way different experience than with either my A4 Avant QSTip or my Supra. The 4.2 gets around the corners at quite high speed in its current configuration, however, my impression is of driving a Z-28 with a rear solid axle that wants to hop laterally at imperfections in the curve. My Supra has a set of TRD springs and shocks, and is supremely composed right up to the limit (which approaches 0.9g). I don't expect the A6 could ever corner as hard because the A6's center of gravity is a bit higher (it is 8 inches taller than the Supra) and even the sport suspension on my A4 is quite a bit softer than the Supra's TRD setup. Does anyone have a specific comment on whether the PSK sway bar upgrade improves this aspect of the 4.2's handling?
Some other "significant" observations from my 2500 mile journey.
1. Thanks to the State of Ohio for the SBUX concession at each travel plaza along the turnpike.
2. Thanks to Barnes and Noble in LaCrosse, WI for locating there (with SBUX).
3. The best McCoffee along the way was at Bozeman, MT -- they did the first decent Seattle's Best I've ever had at a McDonald's.
4. My condolences to all Audi-driving Illini that have to stop on the freeway at 10 mile intervals to throw $.40 at the toll machines for the opportunity to drag race whatever vehicle happens to be next to you.
5. As between I-70, -80, and -90 from the Rockies to the Mississippi, I propose that I-90 is the most enjoyable. Could it have something to do with the car?
04-06-2002, 07:47 AM
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congrats on an excellent choice. But I'm just surprised that
you had to fly across the continent to find the car of your choice. Not many pre-owned 4.2's on the west coast??
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04-06-2002, 08:39 AM
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It wasn't that I couldn't find 2000 A6 4.2s in the west, but ...
I chose not to rule out others that were farther away. My priorities were something like: 1.) options, 2.) color, 3.) price, 4.) location.
04-06-2002, 09:49 AM
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Excellent, you're clearly psycho...I'd trade you my R28s for the pie-plates...
except my Ronals are not perfect...they have a couple curb rashes (not my doing) and some clear coat that has been scrubbed off (my doing, but they were stained first (not my doing))...
Enjoy the fine ride...that is a cool way to get a new (to you) car
Enjoy the fine ride...that is a cool way to get a new (to you) car