And now for something completely different...........

We've had our 1998 A6Q for almost three years (Jan '98), and we have not fallen out of love with it yet.

Have done all the warranty items but nothing else, and nothing else has gone wrong. NOTHING!!!! We change the oil every dealer-recommended interval, we service the car when Audi tells us to, and we drive it like a sedan should be drive, hard and fast, but not irresponsible; no jack rabbit starts, so boy-racer stops, no swerving into and out of lanes, but trying always to maintain an average speed of 80 MPH on the highways, and go with the flow on the byways.

Is it better than the Benz that it replaced? Yes, but also different.
Is it better than the Mazda commuter car? Absolutely YES!!!
Is it better than our 911? The 911 is for trekking and tracking. Sedans are not racers!
Is it better than our Miata? Nope, at least not for the wife when she's alone.
Is it better than the VFR 750? Not around the curves and the canyons!!!!
Is it better than the VF750S? Not when Yo Mama wants to go for crabs and beer.
Is it great in the snow? It is with the winter tires and wheels! It gets us up our hill!!

So how do we like the A6Q? A LOT!! It is not perfect, but it is pretty close to it. And so we enjoy, and enjoy, and enjoy, and enjoy. The Everready Bunny has nothing on us!!!.............Andras

 

Thank you. This forum is like most things in life: it's easier to throw onions than orchids.

I hope, in two more years, to be able to totally echo your sentiments. So far, so good.

 

Encouraging info

 

Great for you. At 48.5K, my 98 is still troublefree. Two questions:

Are you bothered by the 2.8's lack of power? For my taste, and I'm not a boyracer, the 2.8 is too slow for this car. Not nearly enough acceleration, so I'm using the Tip a lot. Wish the 2.7T or 4.2 were available in '98.

I have had occasional trouble with plugs fouling and subsequent rough idle. One dealer replaced the plugs (which promptly fouled again in their parking lot), another replaced plug wires. Seems to be a mystery. And yes, the gas cap was on tight (duh!). Anyone else had this problem?

Enjoy your car. I love mine.<p>98 A6 2.8Q-Tip blk/onyx.

 

Mr. Pickle:

1. We have never been bothered by any lack of power, for we get our jollies on the race track with the 911. However, when we DO go up our hill, and don't kick-down the shift (even in Auto mode), then it will bog down. There simply is not enough torque to climb the hills without a kick-down, either with the pedal or with the Tip.

We ALWAYS cruise at about 80 MPH, as our radar detector helps here, as well as maintaining the flow with other traffic. The car can do this effortlessly hour after hour after hour.

As to acceleration, we have nothing to prove to other drivers, and have never felt a need to beat anyone in drag races beween stop lights. Sedans are not designed to do this, and we have other means to get our need for speed. We have seen other Audi, specifically 2.7T, doing this, but we have also seen them do it right after start up, before the oil and turbos are warm, and cringed. We'll see them at their next engine melt-down.

2. Have never had the plugs foul; this is usually a sign that you are running too rich, or that your plugs are the wrong heat range. You might want to check with your owner's manual, and your mechanic.

In conclusion, yes, the 2.8 is not the same as the 2.7T, but it is sufficient as the family "hauler", used to take four people from here to there and back again, in style, in comfort, and with a high rate of velocity. And that's why we got the 2.8 and not the 2.7T or the 4.2. Every car to its own purpose - there are compromises in all of life.....Andras

 

I experienced a similar problem, noted on my posting "A6 Carbon Build-up" dated 2000-06-25. I copy the text here:

"My concern is the continual carbon build-up within my 1998 A6. Since the beginning of the year 2000, I have returned the vehicle to the dealership for correction three times. The initial indication would be poor running, indicator displaying alarm code etc. The apparent cure was performed in February and I was back on the road. I run with premium fuel, but was later advised by the dealership to use mid-grade.

It was only a matter of weeks later when it was once again indicating a running problem. This time, one of the plugs was found to have excessive carbon build-up and was replaced. This problem was discussed with the service manager and we each concluded that a “good run” would be advantageous.

I took an extended trip to California and I truly exercised the vehicle to clean out any excess carbon. Following that trip on June 8th, the vehicle would not start. The engine would spin over OK but no firing. Next morning, the vehicle was placed upon a flat deck to be delivered to the dealer. The problem was found to be a carbon build-up once again, this time preventing the valves from seating correctly. This build-up had followed a perfect scenario of high-speed highway driving for extended periods.

Now I am no mechanic, but even I can smell a problem. I would venture to say that no engine manufactured in today’s world should exhibit the carbon build-up which has been displayed in the Audi 2.8 V6. The service manager indicated that this problem is showing up in many of the 2.8 V6s".

Since that time, the vehicle has had the injectors, thermostat and the plugs replaced (again) together with the temperature sensor. I am now in the "see if it works now" mode. 1 month and still OK.

 

Run up the RPM's a lot more than you have been. Add a bottle of Techron to a full gas tank.