Just got my A 6 back from the body shop...
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Just got my A 6 back from the body shop...
and am I glad. Ten days of driving a white Caddy deVille made me feel like I had borrowed Dad's car.
Total cost to repair front bumper from going over a cement parking lot bumper and backing up was $900. A very expensive lesson. Maybe I'll have those little "feelers" put on the front of my car!
Love my Audi in spite of that design defect.
Total cost to repair front bumper from going over a cement parking lot bumper and backing up was $900. A very expensive lesson. Maybe I'll have those little "feelers" put on the front of my car!
Love my Audi in spite of that design defect.
AudiWorld Uber User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 52,895
Likes: 1
Used to drive one of these.
Made you shnoz paranoid.
'88 and '89 Lotus versions were a blast if you could handle the torquey but low revving heavy Trooper 4cyl engine ( no turbo for me ) , and the tranny that would grind itself to death. I've often thought about swapping the motor and trans. The handling was incredible to say the least.<ul><li><a href="http://www.isuzuperformance.com/isupage/feature/vdum.html">Long nose car.</a></li></ul>
'88 and '89 Lotus versions were a blast if you could handle the torquey but low revving heavy Trooper 4cyl engine ( no turbo for me ) , and the tranny that would grind itself to death. I've often thought about swapping the motor and trans. The handling was incredible to say the least.<ul><li><a href="http://www.isuzuperformance.com/isupage/feature/vdum.html">Long nose car.</a></li></ul>
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,703
Likes: 0
front spoiler very poorly designed...
I almost ripped mine off on a cement parking stump as well.. have yet to get it fixed/replaced and not looking forward to it. hopefully after that I won't make the "operator error" anymore.
I wonder why they don't warn you about this at time of delivery.
they could have saved a lot of trouble had they added a piece at the bottom (where it currently ends) that slopes up at an angle, that way it wouldn't catch, it would just scrape (which is no big deal since nobody I know is a leprechaun who likes to run under cars)
that bumper is probably the worst thing about an A6 imo. more of a problem for those with Sport package to be sure...
dog = )
2001 A6 2.7T Sport
Brilliant Black/Ebony
17" BBS RCs
Xenon/Bose/yadda
I wonder why they don't warn you about this at time of delivery.
they could have saved a lot of trouble had they added a piece at the bottom (where it currently ends) that slopes up at an angle, that way it wouldn't catch, it would just scrape (which is no big deal since nobody I know is a leprechaun who likes to run under cars)
that bumper is probably the worst thing about an A6 imo. more of a problem for those with Sport package to be sure...
dog = )
2001 A6 2.7T Sport
Brilliant Black/Ebony
17" BBS RCs
Xenon/Bose/yadda
New Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Keep 2x4 in trunk. Live and Learn!
Yep... I've done that on just about every AUDI I've owned... first time, rookie mistake...the rest have been "operator error"... Now I keep two foot long 2x4's in the trunk.. When I roll up and over some damn berm, I just place them under my front tires and back UP and over the damn thing..
Live and learn!
AVUSgreg
Live and learn!
AVUSgreg
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 16,036
Likes: 1
I think we're missing the big point though. If you don't drive over anything
you won't have a problem. In other words, you have to screw up for the car to get damaged. It's not like the bumper just fails which is why I don't consider it a design defect. Why do you have to pull in that close anyway, it's not like parallel parking or anything?
-st
-st
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,703
Likes: 0
the bumper does fail though, fails to clear standard everyday obstacles...
when you have knowledge of this "deficiency" that's one thing... but if you were never made aware of it and it happens... one shouldn't have to park differently because their stock-equipped car can't handle a stationary object...
parking in a spot as you would normally screws up the bumper (at least here in SoCal). I have to park my car sticking out of spots to avoid the concrete Slab of Crap (I think that's the technical term for it...) so I wouldn't necessarily term it "screwing-up"
perhaps the term "flaw" is more apropos in this matter... a defect, like you alluded to, results in a failure.. a flaw in the design (poor design was my point- not a problem with my particular bumper having a manufacturing defect) leads to a shortcoming, in this case not being able to park fully in spots due to location of concrete S.o.C.
its at these times (parking) that I wish I had the allroads adjustable suspension <sigh>
dog = )
2001 A6 2.7T Sport
Brilliant Black/Ebony
17" BBS RCs
Xenon/Bose/yadda
parking in a spot as you would normally screws up the bumper (at least here in SoCal). I have to park my car sticking out of spots to avoid the concrete Slab of Crap (I think that's the technical term for it...) so I wouldn't necessarily term it "screwing-up"
perhaps the term "flaw" is more apropos in this matter... a defect, like you alluded to, results in a failure.. a flaw in the design (poor design was my point- not a problem with my particular bumper having a manufacturing defect) leads to a shortcoming, in this case not being able to park fully in spots due to location of concrete S.o.C.
its at these times (parking) that I wish I had the allroads adjustable suspension <sigh>
dog = )
2001 A6 2.7T Sport
Brilliant Black/Ebony
17" BBS RCs
Xenon/Bose/yadda
Trending Topics
AudiWorld Stories
Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans
10 Strangest Audi Designs That Actually Made Production
Joe Kucinski
2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7: Audi Upgraded EVERYTHING!
Michael S. Palmer
Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!
Verdad Gallardo
The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 21,851
Likes: 1
If we were all perfect...
..you would not need:
1. Bumpers
2. Door moulding.
3. A horn.
4. Seatbelts.
5. Airbags.
But if you're going to put these things in a car, they should do as intended. The damage an A6 suffers from a curb pull-back is ridiculous.
1. Bumpers
2. Door moulding.
3. A horn.
4. Seatbelts.
5. Airbags.
But if you're going to put these things in a car, they should do as intended. The damage an A6 suffers from a curb pull-back is ridiculous.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
Have to agree with these posts...
I had the same problem with the '98 A4. The problem has two aspects. First is the fact that the bottom of the bumper is at just the right height that you can pull forwards over these barriers without noticing any bumping sensation or hearing a scrape, but when you back out, it gets caught & rips off. Second is the fact, as previously mentioned, that you have to park with the car's tail hanging out in trafic, feeling very vulnerable, in order to make sure that you haven't pulled too far forward. I definitely think this qualifies as a design flaw.
Incidentally, I know this is a problem with A4 & A6, but wonder if the S4's air dam is lower and removes the problem? How about A8?
Incidentally, I know this is a problem with A4 & A6, but wonder if the S4's air dam is lower and removes the problem? How about A8?