Review
The furthest I’ve ventured in it is to a business meeting in Birmingham, about 90 miles from the office. But while there may not be any obvious similarities between the two places, arriving fresh and relaxed is a vital requirement.
And the Audi is such a comfortable motorway cruiser that drivers are guaranteed to arrive fresh and ready to seal the deal.
And they’ll also look good when they arrive, too. The A6 is a stunning looking car and any friends who have been driving in front of me have remarked how beefy the A6 looks in their rear-view mirror. The deep grille sets the car off beautifully and adds to its muscular shape.
Another plus point is how easy it is to switch off the passenger airbag, ideal if you need to carry children in the front. Not all cars have this facility and in those that do it can be difficult to locate the switch. In the Audi, it’s clearly marked in the glovebox and deactivated using the ignition key. A visible warning light stays on when the airbag is turned off so you’re reminded to switch it back on once an adult climbs aboard.
Last week, the car underwent some cosmetic repair after, we assume, someone hit the bumper with a shopping trolley, causing some quite deep scratches. A quick call to Flying Colours and a reasonable repair bill of £55 plus VAT and it’s now as good as new again.
Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro SE Tiptronic
Price (OTR): £31,930 (£37,025 as tested)
Mileage: 12,206
CO2 emissions (g/km): 229
Company car tax bill (2005/6) 40% tax-payer: £328 per month
Insurance group: 16
Combined mpg: 33.2
Test mpg: 32.4
CAP Monitor residual value: £12,450/39%
HSBC contract hire rate: £641
Expenditure to date: £55 (bumper repairs)
