E estate v Audi A6 avant... what do you think?

[C240Sport97]

Interesting thread - surprisingly timely.

We're about to swap the CLS (sob sob) for an E Estate. I consider the A6, C Class, BMW 5 Series Estate as well.

Drove all of them.

E Class - surprisingly agile, didn't feel huge, but it's enormous inside and an incredible ride (should add it had airmatic - which makes a difference).

A6 - nice car, but didn't feel the value. price seemed to be out of proportion with the car.

C Class - lovely car - really nice. However would only want one in 63 form as it's a total hoot in that regard. Otherwise with the options we're going for the E makes more sense fiscally.

5 series - expensive ! Really expensive - if you do like for like with an E and look to have a reasonable number of options - E wins. In my spec the 5 series came out nearly 7k more. Plus I think it's very ugly.

E wins - new one to be ordered shortly, for 12 plate....

which E estate? Spec?

why not wait for the CLS shooting brake ?

 

[Borys]

Correct me if I'm wrong.For audi's I driven a4-6 and 8 it feels like they are the same space wise.The bigger class looks like they made the middle console bigger leaving the seat same size.I was was very disspointed with 07' a8 compere to my old w140.My merc felt much roomier and more comfortable and it is 11 years different.
Reading posts thru either I would stick to ML as I really love them or E class for sure.
Once my merc was is a bodyshop driven a4 6 speed manual ( it was better to start from 2nd gear LOL) - 3 weeks timing belt's tensioners when bang,was after service.I coverred the cost of repair-will rather stay away from audi bad experience.
My m8 had s4,rs4 and TT all round 07' plate - only thing I heard was complains then he got himself sl55 was happy like a baby.
Cheers

 

[Oli]

Their both nice cars, I think personally I would go for the E Class,mainly on I like the interior more, although I'm not really the best person to comment on the A6, the only Audi I've ever owned was an A3 1.8T quite a while ago, good car though.

 

[ace571]

Nice post gIzzE, good points well made. As you say comparing the A6 with the S4, they have different purposes as cars and so the expectation is quite different. Certainly for hum drum motoring many Audi models are fine, but at the cooking end the shortcomings are more apparent.

Your old S4 certainly looks nice

 

[BTB 500]

Audi has a serious issue with their cars that are FWD, for some reason they just can't get traction on anything but a completely dry road, and with their autos it is almost dangerous.

That's strange ... we have an A4 Avant 1.9 TDi auto (110 bhp) and traction is great; it's even coped fine (on normal tyres) with the snow/ice we've had for the last few years. Perhaps your comment only applies to newer models

 

[bpsorrel]

Interesting thread - surprisingly timely.

We're about to swap the CLS (sob sob) for an E Estate.

Funnily enough, I'm about to do it the other way round!

E estate is/was a great car and to be honest, I can't fault it, I just fancy the CLS - hopefully the one I choose will be as reliable and great to own as my trusty E! Good luck!

 

[gIzzE]

That's strange ... we have an A4 Avant 1.9 TDi auto (110 bhp) and traction is great; it's even coped fine (on normal tyres) with the snow/ice we've had for the last few years. Perhaps your comment only applies to newer models

Yeah, I had the 90bhp 1.9tdi, 1995 model and that was fine, then had a 1.9tdi 110bhp and that was fine.
Then when I got the 2.5tdi it was terrible, and it was also that multitronic gearbox so you had a delay of nearly a second before it went and then it would scrabble for grip.
Pulling into a busy roundabout was lethal.

Then had a 2.0tdi A3 and that was the same.
I think there is obviously a point where there is too much torque for FWD, although other marques manage it OK so not sure what it is.

It gets discussed a lot on the Audi forums, but most just say you get used to it, and to be fair you do. But that is back to the whole thing of taking things for granted when they are right.

 

[BTB 500]

Yeah, I had the 90bhp 1.9tdi, 1995 model and that was fine, then had a 1.9tdi 110bhp and that was fine.
Then when I got the 2.5tdi it was terrible, and it was also that multitronic gearbox so you had a delay of nearly a second before it went and then it would scrabble for grip.
Pulling into a busy roundabout was lethal.

Excellent, I'll tell Mrs BTB since she's always nagging me to get her a newer A4 estate!

 

[Aterrasse]

Very useful and informative insight gents.

have I made my choice?? .... not a brainer, really

Alex

 

[saorbust]

which E estate? Spec?

why not wait for the CLS shooting brake ?

Ha - good q! I wanted massive load carrying capability - and to be candid I'm changing my mind on the CLS shooting brake everytime I see pics of it - to be negative ! I also suspect it's going to be very pricey.

for the E - its the following:

E350CDI Sport Estate
Obsidian Black, with Almond Beige leather
Lux Pack
Comfort Ventilated Seats
Lane Track Pack
HK Audio
DAB Radio
Privacy Glass
Airmatic
5 spoke AMG Alloys
Dynamic Multi Contour Front Seats
Tele Pre Wiring
Reversing Camera
Black Ash Trim
Lux Climate
Memory Package
Tyre Pressure Monitoring
COMAND
Panoramic Sunroof


Can't wait !

 

[C240Sport97]

Ha - good q! I wanted massive load carrying capability - and to be candid I'm changing my mind on the CLS shooting brake everytime I see pics of it - to be negative ! I also suspect it's going to be very pricey.

for the E - its the following:

E350CDI Sport Estate
Obsidian Black, with Almond Beige leather
Lux Pack
Comfort Ventilated Seats
Lane Track Pack
HK Audio
DAB Radio
Privacy Glass
Airmatic
5 spoke AMG Alloys
Dynamic Multi Contour Front Seats
Tele Pre Wiring
Reversing Camera
Black Ash Trim
Lux Climate
Memory Package
Tyre Pressure Monitoring
COMAND
Panoramic Sunroof


Can't wait !

CLS SB no actual pic, so could still be fabulous or hideous

Very high spec!

UK dealer or EU?

Didn't know you can now get 5 spoke AMG alloys ..

 

[saorbust]

UK Dealer.

5 spoke AMG alloys are an option - costs an extra 350 or so.... I didn't want the 19's!

 

[prprandall51]

I too am just about at the point of needing to choose between the new E estate, the 5 Series or the A6. I priced up an A6 Avant on the web a couple of days ago and almost fell off my chair. To get a high-spec car I found that the A6 is about £8000 more than the MB.

I found the 5 Series was going to cost a couple of thousand more, which is more acceptable.

And then I specc'ed up a Jaguar XF (and made an allowance for the uplift to an estate). Now I have decided to wait until the Jaguar comes out next year (earlier rather than later, I hope) and see what that is like.

My main motivation was that I am bored rigid by the dull interiors of all the German cars - all of them only avaialbe in black, grey or cream (or variations thereof). The Jaguar interior to my mind has a bit of drama (and theatre) about it.

 

[Borys]

Actually you are right.My m8 works in local jaguar dealer so he let me drive and have a look on all new models.Jag really is on fire,great feel to the car and design spot on.W221 S class for example or new XJ - I think I would go with the JAGUAR.

 

[Satch]

Audi owners get very, very defensive about their marque, they are an extremely blinkered crowd for the most part.
But then who wants to hear they have bought a boring car for £40,000!

I spent a week earlier this year driving around Scotland in an A6 Avant S-line,3.0TDI quattro.

Comfortable car well suited to the conditions, went well enough, had a pretty good really sound system. Nothing wrong with it whatsoever although a bit of the reverse Tardis effect at work: boot space seemed limited considering the size of the vehicle.

I cannot say it was really "boring" but when contemplating the interior got to say it was very much less than inspiing, not helped by a grey/black (with bits of added doom black) interior with brushed metal trim.

 

[saorbust]

Small update. We didn't place the order.

Interesting part is why...

Wife spotted a spy pic of the CLS SB, and immediately liked it. Dealer picks up on this, and says due in May. Wife is very keen on it....

So now we are waiting..... With our name on a list.

 

[neilrr]

Does the ML disintegrate after 48 months?

 

[gIzzE]

Does the ML disintegrate after 48 months?

No, Mercedes say it is 54 months.

 

[gIzzE]

I spent a week earlier this year driving around Scotland in an A6 Avant S-line,3.0TDI quattro.

Comfortable car well suited to the conditions, went well enough, had a pretty good really sound system. Nothing wrong with it whatsoever although a bit of the reverse Tardis effect at work: boot space seemed limited considering the size of the vehicle.

I cannot say it was really "boring" but when contemplating the interior got to say it was very much less than inspiing, not helped by a grey/black (with bits of added doom black) interior with brushed metal trim.

I actually think the interior is its redeeming feature.

This was my 3.2fsi SE interior...

Big bus like steering wheel though...

Boot looks big...

However, due to the sloping roofline it doesn't fit much in there at all....

Had to buy some sport seats for it as the SE seats were really poor...

As I said it is a pretty comfy car, but after a few weeks of ownership the boredom sets in.


Hearing some very good things about the new one though, but then you always do, but will test one next week as a mate works there and asked me to take one out.

 

[mb320cdi]

I was an Audi owner for 10years had 4 of them, last year I changed to a Mercerdes E320cdi, I def prefer the Merc over the Audi, its just a better vechile in every way!