Renting an Audi A6 for a week...

[JulesMaximus]

Things I hate about it:

1) The infotainment system is maddeningly complicated and nothing works. Sirius doesn't work, NAV doesn't work, it doesn't even have a backup camera. WTF!!! This is a $50,000 car! And it doesn't have a backup camera? Maybe Enterprise didn't check that box when they ordered it?
2) Nothing is where it is in other cars and the labels for everything are impossible to figure out while you're driving. Honestly, driving this car for the first time after flying across the country to a place I'm actually mildly familiar with this was probably the WORST car I could have chosen to rent. The only thing that was easy to figure out was the window controls, mirror and seat controls.
3) It is not particularly big.
4) It tends to wander a bit on the highway especially in high crosswinds.

Things I like about it:
1) It's an Audi, and it looks classy.
2) It is quite comfortable and quiet in the cabin.
3) Despite the maddening frustration with all the controls it looks and feels really nice inside.
4) It goes and stops and turns nicely.

And we actually rented a black A6 but the trunk wouldn't open so we had to return it before we even left the parking garage for a white one. Nobody could open the trunk on the black A6. We tried the key fob, the interior release, the trunk release at the back of the car. Nice job Audi...

Overall, I'd have to say that this car has lived up to my expectations of Audi and as such I would never ever buy this car... ever.

 

[gorcorps]

The satellite radio not working could be just a subscription thing (I've had rentals with it not working before even though they said it was included). The nav might be a subscription or feature they'd have to "enable" as well.

Not trying to convince you otherwise as I've never been an Audi fan regardless, but there may be reasons for some of this.

 

[Slappy00]

I think that's par for the course for German cars. it seems like they were designed to be leased and not purchased.

I had a friend who had a A4 (mid 2000s) great looking car, had that tight sporty euro handling. But did she ever bitch and whine when that car had to get anything done to it at the dealer. She had the newish (at the time) VW bug before that, thought a luxury car would be more reliable... nope.

My experiences with German tech have been a 2004 BMW K1200GT motorcycle and again: great looks, superb handling, and better than avg comfort (for a stock seat at least... full leather, dished, all that). The K engine by that time was pretty much indestructible, and overall the bike had this classy look with hidden performance that middle-aged men like myself gravitated toward.

The thing is the Germans decided that they are gonna try and one up everyone by

-Putting in extra tech (ABS servo powered brakes, single sided swing arm with a shaft drive) in that is completely unnecessary (nobody else had servo brakes, and BMW did away with them in 2008) , complex, and really didn't add much to the experience.

-Maintenance from hell: Full brake flushes are like 8 circuits and require special tools, the ABS unit is not serviceable and costs $1200, Final drives were prone to failure, and servicing them required the heat of the sun to disassemble and special tools to get the pre-load exactly right when reassembling (Folks just ended up carrying around spares... yup). Changing your clutch requires taking half of your bike off, from the rear tire to the engine.

-Sometimes getting it right: Cruise control, power adjusting windshield, separate L and R buttons for your blinker (I'm not sure why they hell they got away from that, it was the best non-essential feature that BMW created imo)

What I'm saying is that in my experience the Germans lure you win with styling, performance and features but when you get past that you find a hodgepodge of new and old tech, along with a sprinkling of "the hell were you thinking?!" engineering choices that keep BMW mechanics solidly in the middle class.

Although the BMW had NEVER left me stranded (I must admit the PM i did on that bike was absurd, so that isn't surprising). I've since gone Japanese with my bikes I rely on (FJR), because their engineers don't do meth.


but I still keep a Triumph....because I like the abuse.

 

[LTC8K6]

Rental cars are not necessarily representative, though. They tend to get beat on.

Unless you get one with low miles, you should be careful about judging a car from a rental experience.

 

[ControlD]

I thought backup cameras were required these days?

My last trip to Germany I had a A6 rental and that thing was packed to the gills with technology. The backup system actually projects where your car is going with a couple of highlighted lines to give the driver a chance to maneuver around the crazy packing spots there. It also had a ton of collision sensors that could almost drive you crazy when getting in and out of those same crazy parking spots. I like the VW navigation package and how it integrates with the smaller center display near the speedometer.

I like the VW/Audi electronics packages quite a bit, but maybe I am just used to them. The trip before I had a Mercedes GLA as a rental and the electronics package in that vehicle were absolute garbage compared to any recent VW product I have driven. Both vehicles did just fine at 140+ mph on the Autobahn.

 

[SSSnail]

Satellite radio and nav might be something that you'd have to pay for, it is their business after all. But, I'd never buy an Audi, either; never was a fan of their interior, or their even more complicated engineering. Maybe the R8, because dressed down Lambo is better than dressed up VWs.

 

[master7045]

Regarding the Navi piece, Audi has started pinching pennies by putting all the nav buttons in place, but not an actual navigation unit or the maps. I know they do this for a fact as my parents A5 vert is this way. There is a Navi buton on the center console and in the menu, but you can't get to it. I think you can buy the maps for $800 or something and activate it, but thats outrageous.
Sirius doesn't surprise me either, that's a service the car rental agency will have to pay for. Unless your agreement specifically stated all of the above were included w/ your rental, I don't see what the big fuss is about. Other than not liking the car, which you are totally entitled to not like.
The trunk issue I got nothing, broken cable maybe?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Rental cars are not necessarily representative, though. They tend to get beat on.

Unless you get one with low miles, you should be careful about judging a car from a rental experience.

It's a 2016 with a little over 3,000 miles.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Regarding the Navi piece, Audi has started pinching pennies by putting all the nav buttons in place, but not an actual navigation unit or the maps. I know they do this for a fact as my parents A5 vert is this way. There is a Navi buton on the center console and in the menu, but you can't get to it. I think you can buy the maps for $800 or something and activate it, but thats outrageous.
Sirius doesn't surprise me either, that's a service the car rental agency will have to pay for. Unless your agreement specifically stated all of the above were included w/ your rental, I don't see what the big fuss is about. Other than not liking the car, which you are totally entitled to not like.
The trunk issue I got nothing, broken cable maybe?

How about the backup camera? My $30k Camry has a freaking backup camera.

Plus, it is wrong wheel drive and suffers from torque steer when that turbo kicks in. I'm getting used to the car though and it is a pretty nice looking sled. Way better than your typical rental POS. I had reserved a Cadillac ATS which I was actually looking forward to driving.

 

[Ns1]

How about the backup camera? My $30k Camry has a freaking backup camera.

Plus, it is wrong wheel drive and suffers from torque steer when that turbo kicks in. I'm getting used to the car though and it is a pretty nice looking sled. Way better than your typical rental POS. I had reserved a Cadillac ATS which I was actually looking forward to driving.

I've seen civics with backup cameras AND blind spot cameras FFS.

 

[Insomniator]

My friend 2015 civic has both rear and side view cameras and is leased for less than 200 a month.

Luxury car companies make money on the options, in addition to the base prices being too high in the first place as well.

 

[Spicedaddy]

How about the backup camera? My $30k Camry has a freaking backup camera.

Plus, it is wrong wheel drive and suffers from torque steer when that turbo kicks in. I'm getting used to the car though and it is a pretty nice looking sled. Way better than your typical rental POS. I had reserved a Cadillac ATS which I was actually looking forward to driving.

If you like gadgets more than driving, stay with japanese brands. My mom's 25K Sentra has a backup camera while my 50K Q5 only has backup sensors. Doesn't mean I want her car.

And the A6 you got is obviously a stripped model but also FWD? The point of getting an Audi is AWD. Rental cars aren't meant for test drives, go to a dealer and try an A6 3.0T Quattro...

 

[JulesMaximus]

If you like gadgets more than driving, stay with japanese brands. My mom's 25K Sentra has a backup camera while my 50K Q5 only has backup sensors. Doesn't mean I want her car.

And the A6 you got is obviously a stripped model but also FWD? The point of getting an Audi is AWD. Rental cars aren't meant for test drives, go to a dealer and try an A6 3.0T Quattro...

It has nothing to do with "liking gadgets" it is a matter of convenience and when you are in a strange place and doing a lot of driving it's nice to be able to have the assistance of a navigation system so you don't have to drain the batteries on your smart phone. Also, if you have the display already (which this car does) it's a minuscule cost to add a backup camera and they really are helpful, especially at night and especially on the beach in Florida where your car windows are assaulted by ocean air and look dirty 5 minutes after you clean them.

One other complaint: No USB ports. How does a 2016 Audi not have a single USB port anywhere to charge a phone?

And no touch auto lock/unlock? So, I have to fish for the key to unlock all the doors? My wife's Lexus has sensors built into the door handles (all of them) so you only have to touch one of them to unlock or lock all the doors. My Camry has them on both front doors. It's a really nice feature and I can't understand why a car this nice doesn't have it. Isn't the whole point of a smart key so that you don't have to fish around for keys when you're walking up to and starting your car?

I suppose these features are only available on the $65,000 A6 3.0T?

I have no use whatsoever for AWD. So, with this car I get the hump but still the wrong wheels are driven. Granted, both of my cars are FWD but I thought the whole point of a car like this was the driving experience?

That said, after spending a few more days with the car I do rather like it. But I'd still never buy an Audi.

 

[Thump553]

My eight year Prius, base American model, has a backup camera as standard equipment. It's outrageous that the Germans, who pride themselves on safety, leave that out of an expensive sedan. Backup cameras are one of the best features added to cars in the last decade or so (followed closely by pushbutton start).

Sometimes I think the design team from VW is straight out of Dilbert. Congrats on renting the Audi, it's a much better way to get the experience than owning one. Of course you miss the part where you walk into the dealer for maintenance/electronic bug repairs and have to second mortgage the house.

 

[Spicedaddy]

It has nothing to do with "liking gadgets" it is a matter of convenience and when you are in a strange place and doing a lot of driving it's nice to be able to have the assistance of a navigation system so you don't have to drain the batteries on your smart phone. Also, if you have the display already (which this car does) it's a minuscule cost to add a backup camera and they really are helpful, especially at night and especially on the beach in Florida where your car windows are assaulted by ocean air and look dirty 5 minutes after you clean them.

One other complaint: No USB ports. How does a 2016 Audi not have a single USB port anywhere to charge a phone?

And no touch auto lock/unlock? So, I have to fish for the key to unlock all the doors? My wife's Lexus has sensors built into the door handles (all of them) so you only have to touch one of them to unlock or lock all the doors. My Camry has them on both front doors. It's a really nice feature and I can't understand why a car this nice doesn't have it. Isn't the whole point of a smart key so that you don't have to fish around for keys when you're walking up to and starting your car?

I suppose these features are only available on the $65,000 A6 3.0T?

I have no use whatsoever for AWD. So, with this car I get the hump but still the wrong wheels are driven. Granted, both of my cars are FWD but I thought the whole point of a car like this was the driving experience?

That said, after spending a few more days with the car I do rather like it. But I'd still never buy an Audi.

It doesn't have backup sensors? No camera or NAV isn't Audi's fault, it's your rental company who ordered the stripped model... Same thing for no keyless entry. Same thing for no Quattro.

You say you have no use for AWD, yet knock it for being FWD. So make up your mind... Quattro would be RWD biased and be 100 times more fun to drive. It would feel like a different car. You got the crappiest A6 configuration ever created that nobody with half a brain would buy, except for rental companies.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It doesn't have backup sensors? No camera or NAV isn't Audi's fault, it's your rental company who ordered the stripped model... Same thing for no keyless entry. Same thing for no Quattro.

You say you have no use for AWD, yet knock it for being FWD. So make up your mind... Quattro would be RWD biased and be 100 times more fun to drive. It would feel like a different car. You got the crappiest A6 configuration ever created that nobody with half a brain would buy, except for rental companies.

Yet it costs $5k more than a Lexus ES which is bigger, more powerful and better equipped.

If I want a RWD car I'll just buy a BMW or Mercedes. I have no use for AWD.

 

[JackBurton]

Yet it costs $5k more than a Lexus ES which is bigger, more powerful and better equipped.

If I want a RWD car I'll just buy a BMW or Mercedes. I have no use for AWD.

Yeah, but the Lexus is uglier.

 

[Mark R]

It's pretty standard for German cars. Base specification gets you basically a chassis, engine and wheels. Everything else is an option. Even the top models don't often come with that much as the standard spec. I've just ordered a new S3, and considering that it's a top-spec model, it comes with none of the following as standard.

Rear camera - option.
Cruise control - choose from none, standard cruise, adaptive cruise
Parking sensors - choose from rear only, front/rear, front rear and side.
Heated mirrors - option.
Auto-dimming mirrors - choose from none, rear view mirror or rear view and wing mirrors.
Acoustic glass - option.
USB port for phone charging - option.
Touch lock/unlock - option.

There are even loads of software only options, which you have to pay for if you want (e.g. traffic sign reading and speed limit reminder - which uses the lane guidance/auto high-beam/adaptive cruise camera to read traffic signs, and then displays the speed limit on the dash). All this is is a configuration flag in the firmware (assuming you have one of the options with a forward facing camera). $250 if you want it though.

 

[lxskllr]

It's pretty standard for German cars. Base specification gets you basically a chassis, engine and wheels. Everything else is an option.

As it should be. Included "options" are just a mandatory money grab.

 

[ultimatebob]

It's pretty standard for German cars. Base specification gets you basically a chassis, engine and wheels. Everything else is an option.

Yeah, and the rental car companies always seem to buy the base model car. As long as it has air conditioning, a radio, and an automatic transmission, they're happy.

It drives me nuts when I rent something like a Chevy Cruze and it doesn't have things like Bluetooth and XM satellite radio like my Cruze has at home. I instinctively push the button, and nothing happens... grr.

 

[iCyborg]

Yet it costs $5k more than a Lexus ES which is bigger, more powerful and better equipped.

If I want a RWD car I'll just buy a BMW or Mercedes. I have no use for AWD.

Lexus ES length/width is 4.91m/1.82m
Audi A6 is 4.93m/1.87m
Why do you think ES is bigger? Even if it has bigger passenger volume, the difference would be marginal, and the odds are A6 is bigger.

And V6 ES 350 may be more powerful than 4-cyl A6, but A6 has more torque and better performance. From what I could find 0-100kph(automotive catalogue which gives power curves as well):
ES350 6.8s
A6 2.0 6.3s
Better fuel economy too.

I'd probably go with 3.0T, but that's another ~7K price bump.
Anyway, I'm sure ES350 is a better value, but so are Camry/Accord/Maxima compared to Lexus. And AWD can come in handy in Canuckistan.

I've been tempted to buy a new car for the last year or so, I hope I have the restraint to push it to early 2018 as my current car is serving me just fine. Mercedes just came out with a new E class, BMW and Audi are coming with new 5-series / A6 in 2017, so 2018 would be a good time to buy. Right now Audi is the front runner for me among MB/BMW/Audi/Cadillac/Lexus/Infinity in this class, I have the smallest number of personal quips with it.

Lack of USB is the only thing disconcerting from your list, I was really taking this as a given these days. I don't care about charging, but it should be supported as a media source. Size-wise, I wouldn't mind if these cars were a bit smaller, they've been growing over the years, even entry-level cars are now decently sized (new Audi A4 is 4.72m).
All these luxury cars have some niceties included standard, but the really useful things like a backup camera are in some optional packages that come with a bunch of stuff I don't care about (Lexus ES is no better regarding this, it's a 5K package in Canada to get backup camera). Not much one can do except bend over, maybe put some vaseline...

 

[JulesMaximus]

Lexus ES length/width is 4.91m/1.82m
Audi A6 is 4.93m/1.87m
Why do you think ES is bigger? Even if it has bigger passenger volume, the difference would be marginal, and the odds are A6 is bigger.

And V6 ES 350 may be more powerful than 4-cyl A6, but A6 has more torque and better performance. From what I could find 0-100kph(automotive catalogue which gives power curves as well):
ES350 6.8s
A6 2.0 6.3s
Better fuel economy too.

I'd probably go with 3.0T, but that's another ~7K price bump.
Anyway, I'm sure ES350 is a better value, but so are Camry/Accord/Maxima compared to Lexus. And AWD can come in handy in Canuckistan.

I've been tempted to buy a new car for the last year or so, I hope I have the restraint to push it to early 2018 as my current car is serving me just fine. Mercedes just came out with a new E class, BMW and Audi are coming with new 5-series / A6 in 2017, so 2018 would be a good time to buy. Right now Audi is the front runner for me among MB/BMW/Audi/Cadillac/Lexus/Infinity in this class, I have the smallest number of personal quips with it.

Lack of USB is the only thing disconcerting from your list, I was really taking this as a given these days. I don't care about charging, but it should be supported as a media source. Size-wise, I wouldn't mind if these cars were a bit smaller, they've been growing over the years, even entry-level cars are now decently sized (new Audi A4 is 4.72m).
All these luxury cars have some niceties included standard, but the really useful things like a backup camera are in some optional packages that come with a bunch of stuff I don't care about (Lexus ES is no better regarding this, it's a 5K package in Canada to get backup camera). Not much one can do except bend over, maybe put some vaseline...

I could easily sit behind someone my height with the front seat adjusted all the way back in the ES but not in the A6.

I'm also looking to replace my midsize Camry within the next 6 months and I'm considering either an E class coupe or possibly a pre owned CLS Mercedes.