4.2 or 3.2

[mattc12]

Hi all, I am just wanting to get a feel for what would be the better engine choice, as I am looking around for a new car and I am seriously considering an A6, however I do not know whether I should get the 3.2 or 4.2 version, I have looked at both and have been smitten by both, I just don't know enough about them to know if there is a true better choice. I am leaning towards the 4.2, mostly because its a V8 and why not, but I am aware of the timing belt guides issue that is common to 4.2s with higher mileage sometimes. Any thoughts or ideas or general knowledge is welcome, thanks a lot!

[wyldkard]

Have a 3.2 and wish it was a 4.2 because of 100 more HP... I can only imagine how much fun it would be to drive the v8

[Sport Line]

I had a 4.2 and I wish it was a 3.2 because being such a nightmare on gas.Yes it had a extra 100hp but it was not the fastest car on the road either.. . 3.0T It is the way to go , so much better mileage on a tank and so much more tunning potential .Also ,even if tq it's similar with the 4.2 , being supercharged delivers power so much nicer

[2010A6]

I would never consider the 3.2 coming from the 3.0T. If anything I'd switch to the 4.2 just for that exhaust note change.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mattc12]

I had a 4.2 and I wish it was a 3.2 because being such a nightmare on gas.Yes it had a extra 100hp but it was not the fastest car on the road either.. . 3.0T It is the way to go , so much better mileage on a tank and so much more tunning potential .Also ,even if tq it's similar with the 4.2 , being supercharged delivers power so much nicer

Sadly it seems no one is selling any 3.0T's in my area as far as I've seen, at least not in my price range. And with the gas mileage, I commute maybe 100 miles a week so a full tank will take me through the better part of the month, notwithstanding any extra driving I do besides my normal commute.

[2010A6]

Sadly it seems no one is selling any 3.0T's in my area as far as I've seen, at least not in my price range. And with the gas mileage, I commute maybe 100 miles a week so a full tank will take me through the better part of the month, notwithstanding any extra driving I do besides my normal commute.

I also commute ~100 a week and I go through a tank every 10 days but I also have a lead foot...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mattc12]

I also commute ~100 a week and I go through a tank every 10 days but I also have a lead foot...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah I wouldn't have the ability to put my foot down unfortunately, hah, all my driving is through residential 30mph areas, but you must have fun going through 20 gallons that fast.

[rollininstyle04]

4.2 no question. I get decent mileage out of the 4.2....then again my other car does single digits, so anything is better than that.

[mattc12]

4.2 no question. I get decent mileage out of the 4.2....then again my other car does single digits, so anything is better than that.

Have you need to replace the tensioners/guides for the timing belt often? Or does that issue boil down more to amount of care given to the car such as oil quality and frequency of getting changed.

[2010A6]

Yeah I wouldn't have the ability to put my foot down unfortunately, hah, all my driving is through residential 30mph areas, but you must have fun going through 20 gallons that fast.

Fun on the road? Yes.
Fun at the pump? No.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mattc12]

Fun on the road? Yes.
Fun at the pump? No.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We don't talk about the pump, it's a nasty place... Yeah these Audi's would be a far cry from the Camry's I'm used to driving.

[rollininstyle04]

Have you need to replace the tensioners/guides for the timing belt often? Or does that issue boil down more to amount of care given to the car such as oil quality and frequency of getting changed.

I haven't, but my car also only has 48k on it.

[Sport Line]

What about a tdi ?

[mattc12]

What about a tdi ?

Honestly haven't seen anything besides these vanilla 3.2 and 4.2 A6s

[2010A6]

I've never seen a tdi either and I'm always chasing down other C6s for a wave. Finally got a thumbs up from a guy on the highway the other day


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[FormulaElement]

There's no TDI C6 A6's in the US. Skip the 4.2, you'll regret it once the incredibly high repair bills start coming in. When they start, they don't stop either....

Get a 3.0T, and if not get a 3.2. You'll miss out on the fun of having the V8, but at least you won't be as broke driving it. Honestly after all of the money I've put into my 4.2 in the past 3 years, i could of afforded a C7 3.0T....

[mattc12]

There's no TDI C6 A6's in the US. Skip the 4.2, you'll regret it once the incredibly high repair bills start coming in. When they start, they don't stop either....

Get a 3.0T, and if not get a 3.2. You'll miss out on the fun of having the V8, but at least you won't be as broke driving it. Honestly after all of the money I've put into my 4.2 in the past 3 years, i could of afforded a C7 3.0T....

Yeah that's the way I've been leaning, going to check out a nice black 3.2 with 130k on it on Friday, going for $5,500 which seems like a pretty good deal to me, but of course I'll try to talk it down as much as I can. But of course there's gotta be someone selling a slightly modded 4.2 to test my better judgement... Just cause I am controlled by the devil on my shoulder, would you say that a 4.2 with 99k miles on it is pushing it, mileage wise, for the parts?

[2010A6]

There's no TDI C6 A6's in the US. Skip the 4.2, you'll regret it once the incredibly high repair bills start coming in. When they start, they don't stop either....

Get a 3.0T, and if not get a 3.2. You'll miss out on the fun of having the V8, but at least you won't be as broke driving it. Honestly after all of the money I've put into my 4.2 in the past 3 years, i could of afforded a C7 3.0T....

Funny I'd say the same for my 3.0 haha. When the thermostat died I was in a world of headaches. The thermostat in these cars is under the supercharger. Such a high repair bill for such a simple fix

Edit: and by these cars I mean specifically the 3.0T I can't speak for the other C6 variants

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kocyk123]

I would pass on 4.2. Had one and sold it quickly due to the rattle. It only had 86k. Rattle wasn't loud or anything but it was there and it would eventually need to be addressed in the future. I had to replace the thermostat, hpfp and few other things. Maintenance on this car is a bitch. It did drive like a dream and had tons of power but I would never get myself into this platform again unless it was a brand new with factory warranty. If you are short on budget you should not be considering buying A6 C6.