Review
Whereas our car currently racks up an annual bill of £2,837 for a 40% tax-payer, today's equivalent, powered by the uprated 161bhp V6 TDI, would see an annual saving of £340, or £1,020 over three years. Such is the effect of the removal of the 3% diesel tax penalty for Euro IV diesels.
Unfortunately, of course, the savings don't apply to us as our car is the previous 153bhp Euro III spec, which is frustrating.
Still, there is some good news in that last month's misery at the thought of replacing all four tyres in one go has been redeemed after a second tyre depth check by ATS Euromaster revealed there is plenty of life left in the rear tyres. So at least we won't be faced with a duplicate of the £377.42 bill we got for the new fronts, at least not for the time being.
As the miles have piled on – the Audi has clocked up more than 27,000 miles in less than 12 months – so I have noticed more and more squeaks and rattles in the cabin.
The annoying creak from the nearside dash is the biggest offender, and it has got steadily worse over the last few months with seemingly no hope of a cure from our local dealer, Cook's of Peterborough.
Added to that has been the complete failure of the luggage blind locator tabs on the blind itself. Both these have sheared off, and although replacements were under a pound for the pair, I would have thought they could be more substantially made. Such a tiny detail, yet it meant everything in the boot was exposed to prying eyes until I could fit new ones.
Other than this, it has been business as usual in the A6 – comfortable, long-legged cruising with impeccable reliability and decent economy. Just the ticket for our annual family holiday to France, on which I shall be by the time this appears in Fleet News.
Company car tax bill 2003/04 (40% tax-payer): £236.42 per month
