B7 or B6? ex-B6 owners chime in!

[audilover]

hello folks.

i know it's kinda lame to ask this question on B7 folks but.....i am in dilemma now....if i should get a B7 or B6.
My last car was E46 M3 and I'd love my next car to be a B7 S4 avant but....since i moved back to Japan..things are so damn expensive. I only can afford an A4...(parking costs $400 a month!!!!!)

anyway, i love B7. No doubt. but i encountered these two cars.
06 B7 A4 2.0T Quattro avant S-line package with 11,000 miles (auto)
and
05 B6 A4 1.8T Quattro avant ultrasport package with 9,000 miles (auto)

both very similar colors (my favorite colors).
both looks immaculate.

the differences are B7 vs B6 and 6k price difference.
I do like B6 also but seems 2.0T is a very good motor (i like 1.8t but i used to drive GTI 1.8t so...i do wanna try a newer version) and all the updates that B7 got seems very attractive. BUT my only problem is the price. B6 is 6k less. I wonder 6k is worth paying....

if there are B7 owners who used to own B6, let me hear your opinion!

well photos....(those cars are in Japan btw).
if you cant see the pix, link is below.

http://www.pbase.com/sogti/next_car_canditates

B7







B6

[pyro]

pix dont work...but i went from a b7 to a b6 oddly enough...then again the only reason i looked at the b6 was because it was an ultrasport, it also had quattro, and the manual, and was red.
my b7 was a turd aside from looks, as it was fwd, cvt, and was silver (very common color around here for some reason).


the b7 looks more modern, but theres something about the b6 i like more. i think either way you are going to come out a winner because avants are teh hotness.

[audilover]

dont know why pix are not showing up...i can see them. anyway, i added link to the photos.

actually, i forgot to write but both car has either S-line package or Ultrasport package...both looks pretty good to me.

so you dont miss any features/functions that B7 got?

[scottykenneth]

B7!!

[aaron1085]

i am having the same dilemma. i dont want an Avant, but have a 2004 B6 and am debating whether to upgrade to a 2006 B7 or get another 04 or 05 B6...

[b6onboost]

Considering those two exact cars, there is NO WAY i'd pay $6000 more for the B7. Those two cars are identical aside from B6 vs B7. In my opinion B7 looks, better brakes, and an extra 30hp are not worth $6000.

You can always buy the B6 and modify it. Upgrading the brakes and adding a chip would cost less than $2000 and make the B6 perform better than the B7.

[rudtf]

i just recently came from a b6 usp to a b7. since you're talking avants... b6 avants usp looks ALOT better than the b7 avant imo. even in sedan form, i like the b7 front but love the b6 rear. interior wise is pretty much the same except stiching on the steering wheel on the b7 and usuable cupholders. mine also has the titanium pkg so a black headliner. the b7 also comes with extra fatures such as auto windsheild wipers and bluetooth. don't think that was even available on the b6 iirc

the biggest difference came in the engine. i had every bolt on for the b6, chip, injectors, intercooler, dv etc etc... and the b7 with just a chip is alot faster but i'm sure i could've gotten a k04 on my b6 to match it though.

for a that much of a price difference... i'd get the b6.

[Alkemix]

wow, talk about a dilemma. Both look great. That B6 is CLEAN. I'm guessing Japanese people don't drive their cars too often. I'm a B7 owner, but it seems like you probably won't drive it that often either in Japan and if thats the case, I'd get the B6. Personal economics and practicality says so.

[pyro]

actually, i forgot to write but both car has either S-line package or Ultrasport package...both looks pretty good to me.

so you dont miss any features/functions that B7 got?

oh then hands down the b6...you cant touch the usp styling, esp on an avant.

there are no options i miss from the b7, they both have identical options packages for the most part. the interiors are unchanged

[aspw]

if you plan on chipping it, the B6
if you don't plan on chipping it, the B7.

I agree, you have quite the dilemma there. I was in your same shoes about a month ago, I went with the B7 base model instead of the B6 USP.

[JMG]

Touch choice... overall I like the B7 better (duh.. I bought one), but the B6 Avant is a looker for sure. Two such low mileage cars you won't have to worry too much about maintenance, except my mechanic says he gets good business with the B6, more so than the B5s used to get. B7s have yet to be proven since they are still relatively new. The real question is if the 6k is worth it to *you*. A little extra power, a little newer... whatever makes you happy.

[Hockenheim]

hello folks.

i know it's kinda lame to ask this question on B7 folks but.....i am in dilemma now....if i should get a B7 or B6.
My last car was E46 M3 and I'd love my next car to be a B7 S4 avant but....since i moved back to Japan..things are so damn expensive. I only can afford an A4...(parking costs $400 a month!!!!!)

anyway, i love B7. No doubt. but i encountered these two cars.
06 B7 A4 2.0T Quattro avant S-line package with 11,000 miles (auto)
and
05 B6 A4 1.8T Quattro avant ultrasport package with 9,000 miles (auto)

both very similar colors (my favorite colors).
both looks immaculate.

the differences are B7 vs B6 and 6k price difference.
I do like B6 also but seems 2.0T is a very good motor (i like 1.8t but i used to drive GTI 1.8t so...i do wanna try a newer version) and all the updates that B7 got seems very attractive. BUT my only problem is the price. B6 is 6k less. I wonder 6k is worth paying....

if there are B7 owners who used to own B6, let me hear your opinion!

well photos....(those cars are in Japan btw).
if you cant see the pix, link is below.

http://www.pbase.com/sogti/next_car_canditates

B7







B6

B7 strictly for the grill

[Tristen]

Owned both and it's no competition....B7 hands down!

[audilover]

if you plan on chipping it, the B6
if you don't plan on chipping it, the B7.

I agree, you have quite the dilemma there. I was in your same shoes about a month ago, I went with the B7 base model instead of the B6 USP.

and reason being?

[audilover]

Owned both and it's no competition....B7 hands down!

i would like to know why!

based on all of your comments and my own thoughts, i am leaning towards the B6. B6 is a slightly better looking and 6k is a lot of money. i am thinking of chipping it but i won't do anything else. if i want more power....i'll just get B8 S4 avant in a few years! i just wanna know if there are any difference between B7 and B6 besides motor and styling. something worth 6k.....if not, i'll just get the B6.

wanting more comments!

[Tiesto]

i would like to know why!

2.0T and the fact the car doesn't have curvy girly looking edges. That was enough for me to not even consider a B6.

[Scott Evil]

Save the cash and get the B6. Upgrade the brakes though. The B6 brakes are lousy compared to the B7's.

[toaster]

i have loved all audis since i was young.

i thought the b5 s4 was the most beautiful car i'd ever seen when it came out. it would be a few years before i would actually have the privilege of owning an audi.

when the b6 came out ii was ready to get an audi. but i thought it looked like crap, then i saw a usp b6 and was stunned. it was pretty much the cleanest car i'd ever seen. i ended up picking up a stock b6 and spent the 3 years i owned it completely converting it to usp and was convinced i was driving one of the nicest looking cars ever made, inside and out.

now, i see tons of b7s and they have surely grown on me, but the b6 is just so much cleaner all around than the b7 and the lines just flow much better. the flat rear of the b7 just does not match the curvy front at all. and the headlights on the b7 are just a mess. every time (and it's quite rare) that i see a b6 usp, i am reminded of how much i love audi's design on it. i think audi just created a completely captivating design in the b6 usp, with no aesthetic visual distractions. i can't say the same for the b7.

in all honestly though, audi has done such a great job with the as/5 and the new as/4 that at this point t's hard for me to imagine purchasing an audi now, without getting one of those.

good luck, you can't go wrong with any audi you choose.

[aspw]

audilover:
I find the B6 1.8T a little bit lacking in oomph and peppiness compared to the B7 2.0T, it felt a little fat and out of breath sometimes. I see you had a 1.8T GTi, so you have some experience with that, but just know that Audi is and feels heavier.

(note: We're talking about not chipping or doing any engine modification, just straight out of the box, and pardon my lack of technical explanation haha)

When I sold my B6 1.8T (it was 5 speed, 3800 rpm at 80mph gets old real quick), I know I wanted a more lively engine, so it was either to get another B6 1.8T and chip it, or a B6 3.0, or a B7 2.0T. I ruled out chipping because we only have APR here and well, I just am a chicken.

In the end it was a toss up between the B6 3.0 USP and the B7 2.0T, I would've been driving a white 3.0 USP now had that private party deal worked out but it didn't (found out CPO wasn't transferable), so I picked up a CP0 2.0T from the dealership.

So if I were you... I think I would go for the B6, as I agree with the others, the B6 USP is all around one of the best looking Audi out there. Save the 6k for mods or something else like real estate, stocks etc.

However, to quote Toaster: "good luck, you can't go wrong with any Audi you choose.". True true.

[CyberPMG]

The B6 USP is more exclusive. Ultrasports were only made for 2 years (and only 10-15% of total A4 production). The S-Line package on the B7 has been available for, what, 4 years? Also, the S-Line exterior portion became standard for ALL A4s for 2008.

If I were to have a B7, the S-Line package is the way to go. Between the two, I'd go for the B6 USP.

[B7A4Sport]

If you plan to mod immediately, I would recommend a B6 - there are MANY more mods for the 1.8t platform, mostly because a lot of B7's are still under warranties that the drivers don't want to void.

I personally just made this decision, and went in to my buying experience looking for a B6 A4, Quattro, Turbo, manual, etc.

However, the 2006 year in particular is a great call; you can usually find them used (CPO highly recommended) and they come with Audi Care included. This means you get all scheduled maintenance FREE, which includes oil changes and any other normal maintenance items during those stops. Now that I'm in a B7 2.0T Quattro, I wouldn't go back and change my mind one bit. I'm even happy I went with a tip instead of stick, cuz I do a lot of driving in San Francisco.

In the end, I'd drive both and see if you notice a difference. Personally, the look of the B7 will keep up much better with the times and the direction that Audi is going w/ its styling (in my extremely biased opinion ).

Best of luck with your decision, hope this helps!

[QTC]

If its an Avant, I would get the B7 (it carries the lines better), but otherwise I like the B6 better. Better engine, better steering, better suspension (although that's irrelevant to me now...)

[Six Speed Turbo]

B7 hands down. There is so much more potential in the B7 as opposed to the B6.

[Moore00]

I agree with the styling part. The B6, while a good looking car, does look a bit older now. The B7 still looks very modern and new, along the same lines as the B8. I drove a B6 a few times and enjoyed my B7 much more, but overall it wasn't a huge difference. The interior is very close, though I would say slightly more modern in the B7 (little things here and there).

[muffinman]

If its an Avant, I would get the B7 (it carries the lines better), but otherwise I like the B6 better. Better engine, better steering, better suspension (although that's irrelevant to me now...)

The B6 1.8T is a better engine than the B7 2.0T? That's news to me.

The suspension is the same in B6/B7

[DeMOROlized]

and reason being?

B6 1.8T is a slow like a pig without a chip. B7 2.0T in stock form, while not a sprinter, is much better than a stock B6 in normal traffic.

I speak from experience. I've owned both.

[audilover]

how much chipped 2.0t is faster than chipped 1.8t?

in 1/4...highway pulls...etc...

i was looking at REVO homepage...chipped 2.0t is pushing more than 250hp while 1.8t is only achieving 200HP....ok, 50hp is A LOT. so that made me think 6 grand more for B7 isn't THAT bad considering better brakes, better value...ok let's forget about styling. my previous car was M3..so i care about the power....if i get B6 i would def. chip it right after get it...for b7 i can wait for chip and do other mods like suspension first. man, my mind was almost set on B6 but....this 50hp difference made me start thinking about this all over again!

what do you guys think?

[Audized]

how much chipped 2.0t is faster than chipped 1.8t?

in 1/4...highway pulls...etc...

i was looking at REVO homepage...chipped 2.0t is pushing more than 250hp while 1.8t is only achieving 200HP....ok, 50hp is A LOT. so that made me think 6 grand more for B7 isn't THAT bad considering better brakes, better value...ok let's forget about styling. my previous car was M3..so i care about the power....if i get B6 i would def. chip it right after get it...for b7 i can wait for chip and do other mods like suspension first. man, my mind was almost set on B6 but....this 50hp difference made me start thinking about this all over again!

what do you guys think?

a chipped 2.0T is roughly the same as a K04'd 1.8T. I'd get the B7. As someone previously pointed out, B7 has a better stock engine and brakes. B6 stock brakes are simply too weak to stop the pig, so you will have to upgrade your brakes. Brakes are at least 1k depending on what setup you get. K04 will set you back for another 2-3k with all the supporting mods. You can do the math!

If you really like the B6 styling, then there's no reason not to buy the B6.

Oh, forgot to say that B7 also has a better tiptronic transmission that can handle much more torque.

[Audi Juice]

Id go for the B7 after all you are probably overpaying for both cars anyway. Might as well spend a little more for the one you really want.

Btw, where in Tokyo do you live? I used to live right next to the Audi dealership in Roppongi.

[fromGMCtoAUDI]

Don't forget the B7 will have a higher resale value when you sell it.

[a4fsi]

What a classic dilemma...went thru the same thing and ended up going B7 s-line. Be that as it may the B6 Ultrasport is one of the most attractive sedans I have laid eyes on, and the avant is even sicker. They both are great looking with different strengths and weaknesses, you really can't go wrong either way. It really depends on what your long term goals are (performance a big part of that) and which one you can see yourself driving and not staring at the guy with the other and wishing you got that one instead .

B6 Ultrasport avant: timeless, classic, german touring styling at it's best.
B7 S-line avant: great lines, very "new" and "fresh" aggressive styling and current technology sure to keep it up to date for a while.

Aesthetics/overall appearance: B6 Ultrasport by a few inches
Performance/technology: B7 S-line by a few feet

Hope that helps...good luck