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View Full Version : 2016 Audi A7 TDI - 10K miles report.



JaQ
09-10-2020, 02:34 PM
Spoiler Alert - I love the car!

Bought the car with 3K miles last November in Portland at an Audi dealer and drove it back home (Oakland, CA) with a few detours (910 miles). 2016, Rare Oolong Gray with Black Leather interior, Black Optic/S Line Sport package, Bose, Cold Weather package. Since then I managed to get the odometer to 13K miles. I bought the A7 after a lengthy search: I wanted a family car (2 kids - 10 and 8 years old) that provided style, versatility and fuel economy for what used to be my daily commute to work (70 miles that I don't miss at all). I am not into SUVs and always appreciated the versatility of hatchbacks. I had a budget of $40K for the car and the A7 TDI fit the bill perfectly for me. Here is my summary of the car plus the obligatory pic:

Pros:

Style and Versatility of the hatch. I prefer this last generation of A7 versus the new one.
Engine! 428 lb-ft of torque makes cruising and passing a joy and and effortless proposition.
Gas mileage on the freeway is stellar - 32-40+ mpg. In the city it's acceptable around 22-25mpg.
Simplicity of the interior layout - knobs and dials are a dying breed. I don't mind the old tech of the MMI. I added CarPlay which for me was a must.
Quattro rocks - I took the car to several snowy drives here in Northern California and even with the 20" AS tires, it performed really well. It's very stable in the rain.
Reliability and fit/finish so far - Only had 1 oil change to perform. No rattles so far.

Cons:

It's a heavy car - 4,356 lbs are evident in the twisties. It's a grand touring car not a sports car at all which is fine by me.
Not much feel from the steering - it's a bit numb and doesn't have much feedback.
20" rims + Sport Suspension + Low profile tires = harsh ride on poor roads. I also scratches all 4 rims against curbs. It is what it is with this set-up.
Tire noise in the cabin from the tires. Would love to swap tires soon.
The back-up camera quality is awful for a car of this caliber. The Bose sound is mediocre.

I would love some recommendations on brakes upgrade. Even though the dealer inspected them and they look fine, they feel strange when braking at speed. Could it be the pads? I'd love to have the S6/S7/S8 brakes installed unless there is a better set-up out there.

Other than that, I am planning on keeping this car for a while. The extended warranty on the engine is a nice plus. I just love driving it, looking at it and just enjoy it. If you are in the market for one, be patient!

Cheers!

IbisA7TDI
09-10-2020, 03:26 PM
Beautiful car! I picked mine up with a lot more miles at 50k recently and also a '16 A7 TDI. Love the fuel economy and torque on it and no rattles, which hopefully is good news for you too :)

Did you go through @carplay_audi for the CarPlay add?

Enjoy!

5000S
09-10-2020, 05:17 PM
Why did you guys buy a diesel vs. a gas ?

ruifeng.li.94
09-10-2020, 05:27 PM
I pick up mine with even more miles 88k 2016 a6 TDI. Still no rattle and still have great mileage.

How ever coming from a s7 it's a bit lacking.

The s6/s7 brakes are direct swap but bleeding them are a pain.


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A6sport
09-10-2020, 05:29 PM
Why did you guys buy a diesel vs. a gas ?

Will, I wish I could have had the choice, after watching TDIs kick ass at LeMans, it proved the reliability and tech... too bad the smog was a little too much.

My choice would have been the 3.0 BiTDI, we didn't see this motor in NA. Watch "truth in 24" and you'll get it.

JaQ
09-10-2020, 05:39 PM
Beautiful car! I picked mine up with a lot more miles at 50k recently and also a '16 A7 TDI. Love the fuel economy and torque on it and no rattles, which hopefully is good news for you too :)

Did you go through @carplay_audi for the CarPlay add?

Enjoy!

Yes - It was painless effort and it's best mod I can think of. It's was the #1 (and only) thing I missed when I got the A7 coming from an E400 Mercedes.

JaQ
09-10-2020, 05:42 PM
Why did you guys buy a diesel vs. a gas ?

For me it was a combination of gas mileage (and corresponding range), reliability of the diesel engines in the long term, and rarity which translates to better resale value. The torque is also addictive!

JaQ
09-10-2020, 05:43 PM
I pick up mine with even more miles 88k 2016 a6 TDI. Still no rattle and still have great mileage.

How ever coming from a s7 it's a bit lacking.

The s6/s7 brakes are direct swap but bleeding them are a pain.


Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the feedback on these brakes. I am wondering what other alternatives exist out there...

5000S
09-10-2020, 05:49 PM
For me it was a combination of gas mileage (and corresponding range), reliability of the diesel engines in the long term, and rarity which translates to better resale value. The torque is also addictive!

The TDI is not rare and it is not as desirable. The resale value is less than the gas models. I think you are mistaken....

JaQ
09-10-2020, 06:16 PM
The TDI is not rare and it is not as desirable. The resale value is less than the gas models. I think you are mistaken....

I am not sure I am mistaken. There are currently 10 A7 TDIs on Autotrader (2013-2016) vs. 168 non-TDI A7. They do command a higher resale and that's also a fact.

Anyhow who cares, that's not the main reason why I bought the car!

IbisA7TDI
09-10-2020, 06:26 PM
The TDI is not rare and it is not as desirable. The resale value is less than the gas models. I think you are mistaken....

Haha it's never this clear cut...to each their own no?

To myself and others it is far more desirable. The torque is addictive, I love the spool and whine of the turbo against the backdrop of the diesel clatter.

And, I searched for my color combo and specs w/ TDI for almost 5 months on CarGurus, while multiple 3.0T's came and went during that time. So, it is far more rare than a comparable 3.0T.

Additionally, can't complain as these engines have a nice 10 year/120k warranty attached to them, covering the engines, exhaust system, turbo, etc.

And, I get ~550 miles a tank to top it off. On a 4000+ lb car? I'll take it!

ruifeng.li.94
09-10-2020, 06:28 PM
I am not sure I am mistaken. There are currently 10 A7 TDIs on Autotrader (2013-2016) vs. 168 non-TDI A7. They do command a higher resale and that's also a fact.

Anyhow who cares, that's not the main reason why I bought the car!Don't forget 2016 is the only year they have for c7.5 in TDI so it make it even more rare.

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JaQ
09-10-2020, 06:41 PM
Don't forget 2016 is the only year they have for c7.5 in TDI so it make it even more rare.

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Great point!

Kevin1
09-11-2020, 03:36 AM
Here are a couple of articles comparing the TDi to the gasser.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15108595/2014-audi-a6-tdi-diesel-test-review/

https://www.autoweek.com/drives/a1869846/2016-audi-a7-tdi-quattro-tiptronic/

AndreiMTM
09-11-2020, 05:33 AM
The TDI is not rare and it is not as desirable. The resale value is less than the gas models. I think you are mistaken....

As everyone else has already stated, the TDI is more rare and it has a much higher resale value. Desirability depends on the person, but the other two are fact.

For me the TDI is just an overall amazing engine. There’s no other luxury sedan in the US that is AWD, fits 5 adults, and will get you 33+mpg on a road trip averaging 87mph and with multiple passes in the triple digits. Best car I’ve ever owned by far. Glad to see that all other TDI owners are enjoying them as much as I am


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A665
09-11-2020, 07:21 AM
Audi's diesel engines offer remarkable torque and fuel economy. And I gather that diesel engine technology in general promises great longevity.

ramses333
09-17-2020, 07:41 PM
As everyone else has already stated, the TDI is more rare and it has a much higher resale value. Desirability depends on the person, but the other two are fact.

For me the TDI is just an overall amazing engine. There’s no other luxury sedan in the US that is AWD, fits 5 adults, and will get you 33+mpg on a road trip averaging 87mph and with multiple passes in the triple digits. Best car I’ve ever owned by far. Glad to see that all other TDI owners are enjoying them as much as I am


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkMy previous E250 BlueTEC sits 5, 4matic and had wayyyyyyyyyy better fuel mileage than my A7. But it was a 4 cylinder so not much fun there. I believe the BMW 535d offers similar fuel economy. Even more rare is the Panamera diesel!

Just pointing out that there are other similar cars. But you're right, the C7.5 A7 is a great car!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Audizine Forum mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

JaQ
09-18-2020, 07:56 AM
My previous E250 BlueTEC sits 5, 4matic and had wayyyyyyyyyy better fuel mileage than my A7. But it was a 4 cylinder so not much fun there. I believe the BMW 535d offers similar fuel economy. Even more rare is the Panamera diesel!

Just pointing out that there are other similar cars. But you're right, the C7.5 A7 is a great car!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Audizine Forum mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

Was the Panamera diesel ever offered in the US? I only recall the Cayenne Diesel...

ramses333
09-18-2020, 10:33 AM
Was the Panamera diesel ever offered in the US? I only recall the Cayenne Diesel...You're right. I seemed to believe the cayenne and Panamera were both available in diesel but I was wrong

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