What's my favorite car? It's an Audi

IamEvilHomer submitted on 09/21/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 7:50 PM
from: money.cnn.com

[43] user comments | category: Spy Shots

Tags: Audi S6

Audi S6

A car columnist spends half a decade testing the fastest, swankiest, most technologically advanced rides on the road - and declares a winner.
By John Tayman, Business 2.0 Magazine columnist
September 21 2007: 5:47 AM EDT

(Business 2.0 Magazine) -- After five years of writing this column, I'm about to shed all objectivity. Before I do, however, let's review some numbers. During the past half decade, I've tested - though not always written about - almost 200 cars, worth a cumulative $20 million or so. Although I've logged as many as 1,000 miles in a single car, on average I've driven the things between 100 and 200 miles before handing them back to their corporate overseers, thus clearing the decks for the next new ride.

This translates into 30,000 miles of hands-on experience with some very expensive iron. (Happily, I've not wrecked a one.) When people discover that you've done time in almost every nice car in existence, they tend to ask which is your favorite. To date, I've ducked the question. But now, at long last, I'm ready to spill. So, Audi, could you please send me one 2008 S6 sports sedan, preferably in phantom black? It's my kind of car.

The FSI V-10 cranks out 435 HP, enough to thrust the S6 to 155 mph and beyond.

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A brief caveat. Were money and highway patrolmen not factors, my choice would be the $1.4 million Bugatti Veyron. But since they are, I've settled on something more sensible. Not that the S6 doesn't scoot. Audi took its race-proven 5.2-liter FSI V-10 engine - a brutish power plant similar to the one used in the Lamborghini Gallardo - and camouflaged it within the S6's demure sedan form.

FSI is an acronymic way of designating that this engine utilizes a high-tech fuel-injection system wherein precisely measured and atomized gasoline is blasted directly into the combustion chambers, a technique that boosts torque and horsepower and ups the engine's overall weight-to-power efficiency.

Though it weighs but 485 pounds, Audi's V-10 cranks out 435 horsepower, more than enough to effortlessly thrust the S6 to 155 mph - and far beyond, were the engine not electronically limited. Unfortunate, that. Read Article

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IamEvilHomer - 9/21/2007 7:52:51 PM

+3 Boost

I love my S6. This article is right on the money

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EnnNorak - 9/21/2007 10:19:21 PM

+4 Boost

I love my leased A6 Quattro but I wish Audi would get rid of its inherently-out-of-balance 90-degree V6 and design a proper 60-degree V6 or, better still, follow BMW's example of an in-line 6 engine.

NashuaAirways - 9/23/2007 5:38:13 AM

+2 Boost

Agreed! I've had my S6 for a week now and can't get enough of it. It's our third Audi and the experience keeps getting better. Prior to Audis we owned BMWs. Much prefer Audis!

chris760 - 9/21/2007 8:52:31 PM

-3 Boost

yeah...whatever

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EnnNorak - 9/21/2007 10:20:42 PM

+2 Boost

What's your point chris760 ?

dlin - 9/22/2007 2:28:19 AM

+1 Boost

What's the point of this post?

Threepoint1415926 - 9/21/2007 8:58:16 PM

+1 Boost

I tend to think you cant fully appreciate a car in 100 or 200 miles. It bugs me sometimes when a columnist or car mag editor has so much to say about a car they've had so little seat time with. Or, as is usual in the case of this site, a whole lot to say with zero seat time. I've never driven an S-anything from Audi. They sure look like nice cars though!

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Threepoint1415926 - 9/22/2007 2:41:35 AM

+2 Boost

Let me be clear that I dont doubt they are fantastic, superhot cars. My post wasnt meant to suggest otherwise, simply my irritation with reviews based on "200 miles" as the author tells us is regular. I've found that my very favorite cars of all time tend to be the ones I've fallen in love with over 10 years. It is in those 10 years that I discover every nuance of the vehicle and come to a full appreciation. Even if I just bought a Ferrari, I'm willing to bet my favorite car will still be my 240D.

t_bone - 9/22/2007 9:09:50 AM

+3 Boost

I agree with the 100-200 mile remark. In fact, I would even go so far as to say the measure of a car is in how much you miss it after you've owned it for a few years and then traded it for something else.

I particularly like Road & Track's Long Term Reviews for this reason.

ATrain - 9/23/2007 8:14:37 AM

+1 Boost

t_bone, 3.1416, you guys are soooo dead-on.

I have never test driven a car for the same reason 3.1416 mentions. I figure that if people in mags and sites such as this one rave about a car, I can rely more on this than an hour drive.

I have never been disapointed and I've had north of 20 cars so far. However. only one has left me with the "gee, I wish I still had it..." feeling.

It was a '99 Boxster that I got rid of in 2003. Can't wait to see another car do the same.

Threepoint1415926 - 9/23/2007 5:06:30 PM

+1 Boost

Everyone seems to say that about Boxters... People can rag on them all they want, "poor man's 911" but I've never, ever found someone who wasnt totally in love with their Boxter.

t_bone - 9/24/2007 12:27:45 AM

+1 Boost

LOL! Without me mentioning it my personal experience was misery after selling my '01 Boxster. After 18 terrible months, I bought my present '04 Boxster S.

Also am missing my wife's '04 MINI Cooper S, but not quite as much. I'd get another one.

EnvyofyouRS5 - 9/21/2007 9:03:02 PM

+3 Boost

Great article.

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jmrA480 - 9/21/2007 11:01:39 PM

+5 Boost

please stop, you have no clue what you are talking about.

Lexus is a 2nd tier luxury car, behind the 3 germans. PERIOD. Just because they sell more cars here in america means squat! I am american, and hate to admit it, but we are suckers for advertisements, and lexus advertises better then anyone, and it doesn't hurt that there cheaper also.

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Matthew1 - 9/21/2007 11:23:08 PM

+5 Boost

A few sandwiches short of a picnic describes nicad quite well I think.

And nicad is from Europe, however that makes no difference to his I.Q, he is a dim as they come.

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S4cabriofoxone - 9/22/2007 1:01:20 AMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

I OWN A LEXUS AND AN AUDI AT THE SAME TIME. THEY ARE BOTH UNDER MY TITLE. MY WIFE DRIVES THE LEXUS MOST OF THE TIME, AND I DRIVE TWO AUDIS. WE HAVE OWNED ONE OTHER LEXUS AND TWO OTHER AUDIS.

Just so that's clear, nicad, let me give you the perspective of an OWNER, and not someone who can't actually afford any of these cars:

We have had very smooth owner's experiences with our RX300 and current RX330. They are stylish, comfortable vehicles that can get by without a problem for the first three years. However, after further inspecting our four-year-old 330, I've concluded that although it has excellent mechanical reliability, its construction is poor. The interior door panels can easily be punctured, as they are hollow. The wood trim near the transmission lever is clearly fake- just touch it. The "aluminum" look trim gets old quickly and is just unflattering. The rubber lining on the inside of the door frame came off on the right rear.

I don't have to go on. You get the point. They're good cars, but they're nothing to write home about. I think we should have bought the BMW X5 those years ago.

As for the Audis... each one I've owned has been nearly flawless. The used A4 may have had one mechanical niggle in its second year of ownership, but the rest (A6 2.7T, S4 Cabriolet, A3 2.0T DSG) have been pristine. And not only that, but the overall experience is simply more rewarding. They drive better. They look better. They feel more substantial- that's because they are. The interior designers did not cheap out ANYWHERE. They are swathed in only the highest quality wood, leather, and yes, real aluminum. They have worn commendably well over time. They deserve respect.

Simply put, they have been better than the Lexuses. My wife won't be getting another one. She refuses to test drive any of them.

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david999 - 9/22/2007 9:53:45 AM

-5 Boost

S4,
the wood in all Lexus vehicles are real, not fake. You expect people to believe
because your wife may have had some issues with her 330 (if she really drives
one), "its construction is poor". Yet your Audis have "been nearly flawless" means that they must be a better constructed vehicle. Ask anybody with experience owning Audis over the last 10 years, and you soon realize why they have limited sales appeal in North America.

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Rupert - 9/22/2007 1:32:49 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

You're telling me the wood in an RX and ES is real?
Then why do they make it look like something out of Fisher Price My First Forest?

It looks like plastic!

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david999 - 9/22/2007 10:04:44 PM

-3 Boost

Yes Rupert, the wood is real, not plastic.

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S4cabriofoxone - 9/23/2007 2:45:08 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

david, that is incorrect. You do not own an RX. In the main areas of the car, of course, the wood is real. But in places they'd rather you didn't touch- such as behind the gear shift lever -it's fake. Either that or they have plasticized it to the point that it's just terrible.

I am not lying about the cars I have owned. When the RX330 is replaced, I will include a few pictures of it as well as our new vehicle (whatever that may be) in an article.

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S4cabriofoxone - 9/23/2007 2:47:50 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

"the wood in all Lexus vehicles are real, not fake. You expect people to believe
because your wife may have had some issues with her 330 (if she really drives
one), "its construction is poor". Yet your Audis have "been nearly flawless" means that they must be a better constructed vehicle."

By the way- you are not understanding the point of my post.

If you actually read through it, you would notice that I commented on how the Lexuses have perfect mechanical reliability. The only electronic problem we've had is the speedometer freezing on the RX300 in our last year of ownership. Otherwise, no problems.

However, construction is very different. It includes panel gaps, quality of materials, craftsmanship, etc. It just so happens that this is where Audi shines. Interestingly, I have had only one electronic problem with an Audi, too: the headlight washer cap coming off on the highway (A6 2.7T), when the lights were being cleaned.

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bulldogz - 9/24/2007 10:39:25 AM

0 Boost

Lexus has never used fake wood S4, EVER. If you knew anything about the company (ya know, since you OWN one) you'd know this. When I argue that the S4 had alot of plastic compared to other cars I've or my wife owned (M5, SC430, 335CiC, E class), you act like I have no idea what I'm talking about. Yet just 2 weeks ago I'm at Audi in Natick, MA and there is a new A4 cabrio with the same crappy plastic everywhere. Nice try though, keep tooting the Audi horn.

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david999 - 9/24/2007 3:14:07 PM

0 Boost

S4 Hello,
Lexus cars have REAL WOOD in ALL their vehicles, not fake.

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S4cabriofoxone - 9/24/2007 5:33:24 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

You have an interesting definition of "crappy plastic," bulldogz. What do you think Lexus, BMW, Infiniti, etc. dashes are made of? Machined aluminum? Nope. They're all plastic- and none of them are processed with the same perfect damping and texture of soft-touch Audi plastic. Lexus tries to disguise it by passing it off as "aluminum look-" but it's even cheaper than it sounds. I could probably pull the "aluminum look" off of the center stack.

I like Lexuses, but you make me rant. There is nothing cheap about Audi interiors. Everything they do goes above and beyond on the inside.

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bulldogz - 9/24/2007 8:02:44 PM

0 Boost

S4, I'll say it yet again: look at the center console of the A4, ALL PLASTIC except chrome around the shifter, just boring plastic. Now look at the 3-series, wood, chrome and 2 pop-out draws. Now look at the IS, the entire thing is wood and chrome!! And you say you own an Audi??

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Smooth7 - 11/8/2007 12:30:47 PM

+1 Boost

I've owned 3 GS300's in a row and thought they were fabulous cars. I put 130k miles on my last one and never had even a shred of trouble with it.

In deciding to move up a notch, I felt that the LS was a little too bland. Luxurious, no doubt, but not that pleasing to the eye and just a little too isolating while while driving. I wound up buying an A8L because I liked the interior better than the competition (I really didn't like the 7-series at all and the S-Class was just as nondescript as the Lexus). Now, I don't expect the Audi to be as trouble-free as the Lexus would have been... that just wouldn't be possible, but I think that all of these cars are marvelous in their own ways. It just depends on your driving preferences and what you like to look at and be seen in.

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EL34allroad - 9/22/2007 10:29:23 AM

-1 Boost

^I will say that Lexus does not do an outstanding job of designing the interiors of cars under 50K. The ES, GS and even LS could all use some of form of sybaritic enhancements.

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S4cabriofoxone - 9/23/2007 2:49:12 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I agree. They are very nice interiors, but they're all too similar in design and construction. The ES350 has essentially the same interior as the LS600hL, minus the extra space. There should at least be a varying level of materials.

Hose - 9/22/2007 10:33:27 AM

+1 Boost

I've had 2 leased A6 Trubos and driven them a combined 60K miles or so. As for drive and interior presentation/quality, they are my favorites over BMW, MB (though only had one), and Infiniti. Audi has in recent years had mechanical reliability and warranty issues, so no more for me until there is evidence they've improved.

Currently driving an '07, M35x... decent on mountain highways and a nice highway cruiser. Interior nearly as spiffy as the A6, too.

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S4cabriofoxone - 9/23/2007 2:50:11 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Did you, yourself have any reliability problems? I did not get that from your post.

If you want evidence, just check all the latest reliability figures. In almost every test, they are the second-highest-rated European brand, only behind Jaguar.

r_driver04 - 9/23/2007 9:05:46 PM

-1 Boost

What self respecting performance car is built on a front wheel drive platform?? Hello FronTrak. Audi's playing second fiddle...always has...always will.

But they do have very nice interiors, too bad they can't be judged on that alone.

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Rupert - 9/24/2007 9:38:25 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Don't you drive an S60 R, a front drive based performance car?

S4cabriofoxone - 9/24/2007 5:34:06 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

"What self respecting performance car is built on a front wheel drive platform?? "

RS4.

GermanNut - 9/23/2007 11:55:35 PM

+3 Boost

The Audi R8 is clearly not second fiddle. It has defeated the Porsche 911 along with a host of other top competitors 9 TIMES.

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alfistiDK - 9/24/2007 1:39:24 AM

+2 Boost

Im still amazed with the results of the R8....Audi wasent excatly kown for super balance, neutral steering and awesome corner speeds before. I really like Audis new designline too, cudous to Audi.

amazinBimmer - 9/24/2007 7:22:58 AM

-6 Boost

objective? hahah. best ride .... an audi?? keep talking dude.. we are all laughing...hhahahh

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IamEvilHomer - 9/24/2007 5:36:13 PM

+1 Boost

amazingidiot finishes off a great post with another stupid comment

way to ruin a good website

AUTO_UNION - 9/24/2007 11:06:33 AM

+1 Boost

amazinIDIOT:

And everyone is laughing at your stupidity....hahhahahhah! Retard!!!!!

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moto - 9/24/2007 10:51:01 PM

+1 Boost

It is truly amazing how a subjective article that elaborates on one journalist's personal automotive taste can boil down into an argument by Lexus fanboys insisting that all wood inside all Lexus vehicles is genuine. Can't you let S4cabriofoxone have his opinion?

If you prefer the styling of your favorite Japanese luxury car, then MORE POWER TO YOU. Lexus was never mentioned in the article. Author John Tayman mentioned Bugatti, Lamborghini, Bentley, Maserati, Ferrari, and Rolls Royce -- and even a hint at computer maker Apple -- but this bit of Audi gushing is in no way a comparison to Lexus, so let it go!

If you are an Audi fanboy, then stop touting how great they are ... the cars speak for themselves.

Those of us who know Audi's and Lexus' strengths and weaknesses already respect them both. Must we nitpick over interior trim pieces???

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bulldogz - 9/29/2007 10:09:23 AM

0 Boost

well, moto it's fine to have an opinion when it's based on facts. To come right out and say "this is fake wood, I know because I own a Lexus", isn't actually true. If I said that Audis use fake aluminum trim because I think it looks or feels that way, doesn't make it fact. If you want to nitpick over how they "look" fake, fine but don't come out and declare it as fact when it is actually a false statement.

moto - 10/5/2007 1:14:43 PM

+2 Boost

you have a good point, bulldogz. yet i don't think that two wrongs make a right. the very word "Lexus" doesn't belong on this page, and yet somehow every single blog here becomes a Lexus discussion.

For those who are fans of woodcraft in automobiles, then feast your eyes here:

www.rau-autowood.com

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