A6 / S6 (C5 Platform) Discussion Discussion forum for the C5 Audi A6 and S6 produced from 1998-2004

Why an S6 over an A6?

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Old Apr 7, 2000 | 09:22 PM
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Default Why an S6 over an A6?

I recall reading an European auto magazine, which featured the S6 against the E55? The S6 had a twin turbo V8 and 369 hp I believe. This was back in Nov/Dec time, with a 0-60 time of 4.7sec. What I'm curios to know is why Audi would only put 340 hp in the S6, which gets to 60 in what, 5.7 and the A6 2.7t does the same thing in 6.0 flat. Yes, the S6 is a better handler, for a much higher cost; but If one was to put a chip in the 2.7t it would surely offer more performance than the S6 then upgrading the suspension, anti-swaybar and tires would surely make it a better performer than the S6, with mucho money left for whatever. Could that be the reason why the S6 isn't ok'd to show up in the US. Yes, one could argue you get a V8 and exclusiveness in Audi, but if the 2.7 is faster, why buy an S6? Performance comparing the S6 to the 2.7t, the S6 comes really close to not being a good or bad value, but when you compare the M5 to the 540 there is a sizable difference in performance, worth the price. Would love to know what others think?
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Old Apr 7, 2000 | 09:31 PM
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Default I have not driven an S6 but drove the 4.2 and the 2.7T. For me the driving experience

was good in the 2.7T but felt as if I were in another car altogether in the 4.2. Comparing both with sport packages makes it even more of a choice for the 4.2 and thats what I got 3 weeks ago. While the 2.7T felt a little lighter on its feet, especially at low speeds, the 4.2 felt more hunkered down. The response of a V8 engine is incomparable to the blown V6. I plan on chipping my car with air filter, maybe adding an exhaust system and changing the final drive to shorten the gear ratios. If the 4.2 had the final drive of the 2.7T it would blow it away. I keep asking for help in how to accomplish this. I want to know what, where, when and how much.
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Old Apr 7, 2000 | 09:39 PM
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Default

The S6 is a normally aspirated V8. No turbocharging. I forgot earlier.
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Old Apr 7, 2000 | 10:42 PM
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Default Re: I have not driven an S6 but drove the 4.2 and the 2.7T. For me the driving experience

I don't dismiss the 4.2, but with the manual turbo and a chip upgrade with suspension tweaks and larger wheel/tire package, you could have a car that outperforms the S6 with less money to fork over. Personally, I think Audi shouldn't have boosted the hp in the US 2.7 model, but drop the 2.8, so that there would be more differences between the V8/V6 than there are now. Then move the S6 in. Sorta like the performance gap between the M5 to the 540 to the 528.
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Old Apr 7, 2000 | 11:34 PM
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Default It's possible

The rear diffs can be swapped in the B5 chassis and this has been done with A4's. I can send you additional information on the swap completed on my A4 1.8T via email (email me if interested) but it's a lot to post here. The tuner that did the work was Vortrag Motorsports in Michigan.

Also note that the tips and manuals work from different ratios, something else to keep in mind with the swap you are considering.
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Old Apr 8, 2000 | 12:36 AM
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Default Much of the difference is marketing and...

... ability to use special services (Quattro GmbH, etc.) that are more readily available to S-car owners. Also, the S6 is not horribly more expensive keeping in line with the S4 at about the same price as an A6, S6 at about the same price as an A8, S8 at about the same price as the Brabus E-classes.

Cameron
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Old Apr 8, 2000 | 02:14 AM
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Default Re: Much of the difference is marketing and...


The S6 around the price of an A8, that's alot of money between the 2.7, for not much of a major perforance gain with the manual. I don't know if the S6 5.7 (EVO) was with the auto or stick, but a nonchipped 2.7 would without a doubt run with an S6 if it had a stiffer setup than the sport pkg w/16inches. All of the quotes I've seen for the S6/S8 5.7 was manual, yet they don't have much more hp than the reg. 4.2. But use a stage 1 or 2 upgrade and you could have about the same performance as the S4. It just doesn't sound like a great value like the 2.7 and 4.2.
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Old Apr 8, 2000 | 07:48 AM
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Default Always been tough to make a case for s-cars as "value buys" though :-) (nt)

nt
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Old Apr 8, 2000 | 05:08 PM
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Default Weight is the primary concern with Q cars

Therefore, horsepower/torque gains can be aided by lightening the load; so to speak. The 4.2 achieves this by liberal aluminum use, however it still comes in over 4k lbs. An S6 uses even more aluminum and a 13% stronger engine to gain about a sec. 0-60 over the 4.2. And I think that is with the manual S6 tranny.?

So the S6 really is a slightly modified 4.2 is the way I look at it. Compared to the E55 and M5 which look to me like heavily modified E430's and 540i's respectively.
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