[sawnilrules]

22000 KMS update



22000 kms on the ODO, (16.4K) with me after 1.5 years of ownership. As I am spending more and more time with the car, can’t help but observe finer details about the car, which are impressive as well as, somewhere I feel, Audi could have some things better.

Impressive Things

• The looks, I think the way Audi has designed the car, it will keep looking fresh even after years to come. It already is a 6-year-old design and still looks fresh. This I believe is a trademark of any VAG group car.
  
  
• Child Lock is an important feature especially if you have kids around in the car. And with German Cars, the problem is, even if all the four doors are centrally locked, anyone can open the door from behind. Kids tend to be mischievous and playful in the car, whether in Taigun or my Grand i10, I always have the child lock on especially on the passenger door directly behind the driver. This becomes a pain while getting off the car, as every time, I have to get out of the car and open the door. However, I was pleasantly surprised that there are actually individual child lock-unlock buttons on the door pad. This is such a small but significantly important ease to use functionality especially with kids on board. Now it’s easier for me to conveniently have the child lock on or off basis the use case.
  
  
• I have a habit of switching off the headlights if I have just arrived at the signal and the signal is say 120 or 140 seconds long. In the A6 the lights button is not a rotary knob, but a button which activates/deactivates lights related features on every click. In the A6, side marker lights on deactivates the headlights. A simple but thoughtful thing that Audi has done here is, moment the car is set in motion, and it crosses 10 kmph, the headlights come on automatically. Such a cool feature to have as one need not fiddle with the lights switch again.
  
  
• In continuation on the lights, the front cabin lights are pressure sensor lights and can be dimmed or brightened basis the need. Also, another cool feature here is, basis the door, which is open, the cabin light in that section come on. So, for example, if you open the rear passenger left hand side door, the cabin light of that sections comes on and so on so forth
  
  
• Both the touch MMI and Climatronic Control screens can be customized for touch and feel. If you are from the blackberry era and if you remember the Blackberry Storm, both the touch MMI Screen and the Climatronic screen have the same haptic feedback. However, if you are from the iPhone era, and love the sleekness of the new screens, in settings, you can switch off the haptic feedback and now the same MMI Screen becomes and iPhone screen, with same level of finesse in touch, look and feel.
  
  
• Coming from Octavia, where we were used to 2 dim ambient lights emitted from small bulbs from the sunroof panel, getting a car with ambient lights for us is a different experience. However, this lights can get jarring to the eyes if overdone. Point in case, when I drove the C Class during late evening hours, I found the overly done lighting in the car creating unnecessary glare to the eyes and distracting. Thankfully in the A6, the lights are subtly done, and they are present in the form of lines and surfaces. Surface light is kind of a diffused light and lines light is more of in-your-face light coming from edges. Even in their brightest mode, I haven’t experienced distraction while driving.
  
  
• The resolution of the virtual cockpit and the amount of detailing that Audi has done here is top notch. There is a certain crispness to the way the screen comes to live and the sharpness of data on display is phenomenal.
  
  
• When you unlock the car every time from outside and open the driver door the car has a Welcome Sound which is similar to Audi’s trademark audio that they have at the end of every advert.
  
  
• MMI Screen of Audi has icon-based layout, and the good thing is, individually icons can be moved basis your preferences, simple but effective thing to keep your most used icons immediately at your disposal while driving.
  
  
• A rear camera washer, and headlamps washer, both these are extremely handy during road trips especially during monsoons.
  
  
• The cabin of A6 tends to be eerily silent if there is no music playing in the background. It’s a perfect place to relax after a long day at work.
  
  
• For a car which almost weighs 2 tons and churns excess of 200 bhp, is giving me a fuel efficiency of almost 12.5 kmpl during my office runs with moderate traffic and around 9 kmpl with heavy traffic.

Things that could be better

• Audi has jumbled up the software leaving it to be more confusing rather than being user friendly. For example, even after 1.5 years, it is a real struggle to find out which menu has the settings for example to find wiper service position.
  
  
• Odometer is something that should be constantly shown to you as a driver is my fundamental belief. However, in this virtual display, you get to see the ODO only if you are in the trip menu of the virtual display. Moment, you switch to any other display, say maps or music or phone, the ODO meter disappears. I found it silly.
  
  
• Wireless Apple CarPlay is a sore miss, but what is more of a miss is the positioning of the USB slots, they are just behind the wireless charger and not at-all wire friendly. In continuation, of the wireless charger, I am facing issues of phone heating up on the wireless charging dock leading to the suspension of wireless charging. I tried solving this issue by keeping the armrest open to allow the cool cabin air to pass in, but it does not seem to work.
  
  
• Practically there is no place in the car to place your phone safely. The only slot is inside the arm rest which houses the wireless charger.
  
  
• A VAG group car, does not have a ticket holder on the screen, like in Skoda cars. Ticket holders are handy, especially if you don’t want to stick the parking stickers on the glass, just placing them against the ticket holder does the job. But the A6 does not have one. Thus I am forced to keep the sticker on the front speaker grille.
  
  
• Occasionally that I have sat in the rear seat, I found the backseat too upright for my liking. The recline angle could have been better, especially for a car designed for rear seat occupants.
  
  
• While the front row has touch sensitive lights with intensity control, however at the rear, Audi has given regular on-off switches for the lights, looks medieval in today’s day and age. Ideally a touch sensitive lights could have been given at the rear too.
  
  
• U-turn in general is a pain on single lane roads, the length of the car aggravates the pain, may be Audi could have given a rear steering axle, like the one in the global A6.
  
  
• “Vorsprung Durch Technik”, is what Audi is famous for, lights are one area that Audi truly excels amongst its competitors, especially the drama and character they bring to the car especially while unlocking or locking the car. But in Indian versions sadly, there is no such drama, its simple lights on and lights off with coming home function. So much in the name of cost saving. Thus in India, why "No Vorsprung Durch Technik" Audi?

These are some of the observations that I have had as I am using the car.

Overall, a very satisfying 1.5 years, and in the near horizon at-least, I am not looking at changing the car, not till 2027 for sure.

[sawnilrules]

BMW 5 Series- A Knife To A Gun Fight

The team at Infiniti BMW had invited me to their dealership to take the new 5 for a quick spin. I have been talking to them intermittently about the X5, as the lease of my Taigun gets over next year. Right now, I am in two minds, whether to continue to hold the Taigun or hand it over back to the company and upgrade to a proper SUV. Thus, these conversations.

Coming back, last week I had to attend a meeting towards town which was bang opposite the BMW dealership, and that is how is decided to drop by to check out the 5 LWB and take a hard look at the X5 once again.

With much fanfare BMW India announced and launched the 8th generation 5 Series in long wheelbase guise, to take the new generation E Class head on.

But has BMW India done enough and more, because the new generation E Class is coming well prepared.

Here are things that I loved in the new 5 and things I felt BMW should have done differently, after a quick spin on Mumbai’s famed coastal road.

Positives

• Seat cushioning front or back is phenomenal, the car wafts you in utmost comfort.
  
  
• The five link suspension front and back keeps the occupants unfazed with what’s underneath.
  
  
• The illumination bar feels suave and modern, and the M Sport steering wheel feels funky.
  
  
• Yes, the looks are subjective, but when viewed in certain angles, the car looks good.
  
  
• Managing 50-50 weight distribution with this length is surprising

Negatives

• While the seats have natural 30 degree recline, but still, reclining seats could have been wow
  
  
• Bowers and Wilkins is good, but not Volvo good, the audio setup does not come with B&W sound staging features, that is available only in the 7 Series.
  
  
• Blinds, Blinds, Blinds… many have spoken about it, it’s a glaring omission here, common BMW you are selling an executive sedan for the CXO’s and expecting them to travel without any privacy.
  
  
• Those 18-inch alloy designs look yuck, less said the better, however the 19-inch profile does make up for the losses, but at an additional cost of 4.5 lacs.
  
  
• This and in bold DOES NOT DRIVE, like how a BMW should, thanks to the omission of adaptive dampers and super soft suspensions
  
  
• Not much to keep the rear Sethji occupied with the car, he/she is soon going to be bored sitting behind, no rear tablet, no touch screens or even the fancy centre screen that the 7 Series gets.

Priced approximately at 86 lacs on road Mumbai, while the pricing isn’t steep at all and in line with the competition, but then the car feels properly incomplete.

There is something missing and what’s missing is that pure BMW DNA, that we all love BMWs for.

Below are some pictures I managed to click at the dealership.


5 Series with 18 inch alloys



Same 5 Series with 19 inch alloys (looks so much better)





The Aggressive Looking Front




5 engraved on the c-pillar




A Very Disproportionate rear, not to my liking




I quite liked this particular angle of the car, looks really long



Front seats are quite supportive, notice there are no thigh extenders like the outgoing car




The dashboard looks modern with the illumination bar and a very futuristic and funky steering wheel




No blinds at the rear, but a comfortable 30 degrees pitch angle and soft cushions




The Parting Shot

[sawnilrules]

Key Chain Update

A week back I was scrolling through the Audi Connect Apps, Merchandise Section, and I came across a nice-looking key chain for the car.

On the Audi Connect App



The retail price for it was INR 3500, however there was some 20% off on the price and I had roughly additional points worth INR 500, so net-net, this costed me around INR 2300.

While booking through the app is seamless, however unlike the traditional e-commerce players, the Audi Connect App has not evolved yet. For example, there is no way to trace the shipping status of the order. What I knew is, that the product will be shipped by the dealer, as I had chosen preferred dealer through whom the delivery was to happen.

Considering, I had chosen Audi West, and that was the dealer I had purchased the car, two days later, I sent the screenshot of order to the CRM lady at Audi West, and she was quick enough to update the delivery status of the product.

The product was delivered yesterday evening via blue dart, as committed.

The box pack, looks neat and reads- Made in Germany



Overall, the keychain does feel good in hands. The product quality is top notch, no complaints there. Without a doubt there are other e-commerce platforms (eBay etc.) which would have similar keychains at much cheaper prices, however, I went via this route coz, there was an ease of buying via the app, the payment was seamless, and more so, A6 is engraved on the keychain, looked subtle & neat.

Below is the picture of the keychain.

The Key Chain




One trade off here is, I had to remove the key cover to accommodate this key chain.

[MiamiBlue]

Looks classy! Gels very well with the key and car's character

[sawnilrules]

Mumbai Rains, Chaotic Traffic & A Dent

Over the last few days, evenings have gotten chaotic in Mumbai, considering it starts pouring in the evenings, and moment it starts pouring, the city gets crazy.

One thing that I have never understood about some bikers, is that, why can’t they carry raincoats/windsheeters and leave the house in the morning irrespective of the weather, especially during the monsoons.

Moment, it starts pouring, two things happen with these bikers, either they randomly side by the side of the road in hoards and then create a jam or they continue to drive in rain, trying to balance themselves, their pillion and their bike.

Last week on Thursday, instead of starting at my standard time, I left a bit late around 6:15 from office and it started to pour and as usual, the biker community started going helter-skelter. I was waiting at the signal patiently for the signal to turn green, in the right most lane, and there I saw a biker in my rear-view mirror on his Royal Enfield with larger than life front and rear leg guard trying to make his way in the right most lane. Moment I saw him, I tried veering off to slight left, just in case to protect the car, but as I was just trying to veer off, this guy ended up losing the balance and as he tried to balance himself, he ended up his larger than life rear guard into the rear door, and considering I was just veering off, the rear leg guard not only managed to create a dent on the door, but due to the car in slight motion, the guard left a deep scratch too.

There was no point in getting out of the car to check the severity of the damage, as it was anyways pouring heavily. However, what irked me was this chap did not even have an audacity to apologise, he just picked his bike and since by that time the signal had turned green, just moved on. What a dumb ass I said to myself…

Once home, I examined the dent, only to realise, had I not moved ahead, there could have been just the dent without a scratch. However there is the dent on the door with a line of scratch which starts on the door and ends at rear quarter panel.

Not sure if this pic is doing any justice



I took the car to a friend of mine, who runs his own service center and only does work on German Cars. He has inspected the dent and scratch, sometime this week, as I get some free time, I will be dropping the car at his garage. I don’t see any point in dropping the car at Audi ASS, as they will take more time, but I don’t want to claim insurance for such a small thing. Will update the thread once the car is back after the work.

The New E

Meanwhile, I took the new E for a very short 5 kms spin last Friday, could not take it for a long spin, due to high turn up at the dealership. The SA will be getting the car for a detailed test drive sometime next weekend, will update the thread with my first impressions about the new E, till then enjoy the 2 photos that I managed to click.

The New E, head turner for sure



I would have loved more subtle tail lights




Dusshera Puja

It is believed that the light of Dusshera brings in lot of peace, joy, and positivity, and puja of the cars on the Dusshera day is a customary ritual.

Managed to click the photos of the car post the Puja. Posting the pictures of my drool machine.


I love those DRL's, somehow I am never able to capture them right



Interiors may not feel properly modern in front of the new 5 or E, but look classy for sure



Tail Lights illumination is not to be missed, when you are trailing an A6

[BrakeDancer]

Man, this is sad. This biker menace during rains is very real. Hope your ride is sorted soon!

I was returning from work in the evening on one of these rainy days and suddenly noticed a massive traffic slowdown at a point where there usually isn't any slowdown.

Turns out, these bikers had parked their rides on one side of the road ahead below the flyover to save them from the rains, creating a bottleneck where there isn't any. The level of entitlement and selfishness is off the charts. We are a fundamentally uncivil country and that reflects on the roads as well.

[RishabhMunjal18]

Hey,
Can you tell me the garage name as i also own an Audi A4 and have a few paint chips marks.

Attached photos for the same

[amanvarma]

Hi,

I've read your the entire journey you've had with the A6 and I'm glad to see you've had a great experience with the car. I wanted to take your adbice on this - Currently drive a GLC 300 and want to purchase a second car, was thinking of the 3 series but did not honestly love the interiors and for a price of 67L for the Pro version, doesnt feel worth it. On the other hand I'm getting a Demo Car A6 for 59L On Road with 6km done and I was thinking if its a better idea?

Also, seperate convo - do you think it's worth it to sell the GLC and upgrade to the E200 or 530Li as well as I'm getting a great price of 70L on the GLC?

Would love some help on this. Been confused sinc e a few weeks.

[sawnilrules]

Originally Posted by RishabhMunjal18

Hey,
Can you tell me the garage name as i also own an Audi A4 and have a few paint chips marks.

Attached photos for the same

H Rishabh,

I have DMed you the details.

Originally Posted by amanvarma

Hi,

I've read your the entire journey you've had with the A6 and I'm glad to see you've had a great experience with the car.

Thanks buddy

Originally Posted by amanvarma

I wanted to take your adbice on this - Currently drive a GLC 300 and want to purchase a second car, was thinking of the 3 series but did not honestly love the interiors and for a price of 67L for the Pro version, doesnt feel worth it. On the other hand I'm getting a Demo Car A6 for 59L On Road with 6km done and I was thinking if its a better idea?

Couple of questions here, which year A6 are you getting? Is it a technology pack or premium plus version? Are you getting additional services packs and extended warranty at that price? Critically, is the warranty starting post your purchase or has it already started and is this is MY24 car?, If you get satisfying answers to these questions, then you can go for it provided you get the car thoroughly checked by the technical team at Audi Authorised Service Centre. Also keep in mind, the demo cars tend to be abused a lot.

Originally Posted by amanvarma

Also, seperate convo - do you think it's worth it to sell the GLC and upgrade to the E200 or 530Li as well as I'm getting a great price of 70L on the GLC?
Would love some help on this. Been confused sinc e a few weeks.

So you meant A6, plus another sedan or just one car?

Also, not too sure, these questions you may want to ask yourself.

1. How old is your GLC300?, I am assuming it is either the current generation one or just one generation earlier...
   
2. Are you a sedan person or an SUV person?
   
3. What is the real purpose of upgrading?
   
4. What new features are you expecting from the new car as an upgrade? Which are missing in the current car?
   
5. Will 2 sedans serve the purpose?, or do you still need a SUV/Sedan combo?

While the E200 has all the shebang, but it is does not pull away inspiringly, like say the BMW, and while BMW does pull away, neither does it have the wow factor of the E200 nor does it drive like a BMW. So are you looking for power or comfort?

I hope I haven't confused you more.

[mgastor2022grey]

Hey Sawnil, loved reading your review. A great deal you had negotiated, hearty congratulations!

My friend is purchasing a pre-loved car too and is torn between a 530i M-Sport and an Audi A6 Technology with Matrix. He is inclined towards the 5 as it has the adaptive dampers and offers a better driving experience (he loves driving). But, he also loves the A6 for the beautiful ambient light, awesome interiors and the overall VFM factor.

Does the absence of adaptive dampers really be felt when driving? He absolutely is confused right now as its like a 50-50 choice between them.

Cheers!

[sawnilrules]

Originally Posted by mgastor2022grey

Hey Sawnil, loved reading your review. A great deal you had negotiated, hearty congratulations!

Thanks a ton buddy

Originally Posted by mgastor2022grey

My friend is purchasing a pre-loved car too and is torn between a 530i M-Sport and an Audi A6 Technology with Matrix. He is inclined towards the 5 as it has the adaptive dampers and offers a better driving experience (he loves driving). But, he also loves the A6 for the beautiful ambient light, awesome interiors and the overall VFM factor.

Does the absence of adaptive dampers really be felt when driving? He absolutely is confused right now as its like a 50-50 choice between them.

Cheers!

530i is a dynamically sorted car, so if purely, driving dynamics is in first priority, then the 530i does the job, however, overall comfort, convenience, luxury is his priority, then A6 will do the job as well.

Check if he is getting the car with 18 inches or 19 inches alloys, coz with 18 inches, the A6 is all over the place when it comes to driving dynamics. However, with 19 inches, the car has become much better, and you can occasionally push the car through the corners. Again, not to the extent of the 530i, but gets the job done decently well.

[soarersc300]

Originally Posted by sawnilrules

Few on my mind are below

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Updated 2024 maps for Gracenote
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Audi Official 360 camera
• ACC module complete with blind spot assist, front & rear collision assist

I will keep adding to what has worked and what isn't as I start these projects.

Thank you Swanil on the regular updates about your A6. See that you have already worked on the 2024 map update and Wireless Apple CarPlay. Thanks for sharing it on the forum. Was wondering wouldn't something like Carlinkit solve the issue of wireless Apple CarPlay?

Also was wondering how are you going about the ACC module with blind spot and front / rear collision assist.

Congratulations on the A6 and wishing many happy miles on it.

[sawnilrules]

Originally Posted by soarersc300

Thank you Sawnil on the regular updates about your A6. See that you have already worked on the 2024 map update and Wireless Apple CarPlay. Thanks for sharing it on the forum. Was wondering wouldn't something like Carlinkit solve the issue of wireless Apple CarPlay?

Also was wondering how are you going about the ACC module with blind spot and front / rear collision assist.

Congratulations on the A6 and wishing many happy miles on it.

Thank you for the wishes.Honestly Carlinkit did not come to my mind earlier. Also, off late I have realized, I hardly use Apple Car Play in the car, Usually, in my Taigun, I use Apple Car Play only for Google Maps, especially for the time taken to reach the destination. Having said that, whenever I take the Audi out, I am not in a hurry to reach the destination. In Audi it is more about the comfort, or the audio quality, so most of the times I am ok to spend more time to reach the destination.

For ACC, I first need the car to have 360 camera, I have been contemplating on it for long now, maybe first upgrade for 2025 is going to be the 360 camera. The reason for first getting the 360 camera is that both the modules share the same sensors, what I will have to add later is the hardware for ACC.

[vroomingahead]

Originally Posted by sawnilrules

However, somehow the wireless Apple CarPlay does not activate in the India models. Anyone here can throw some light or has tried this, happy to know if it worked for you.

My understanding is wireless ACP needs wifi module (hardware) in the car which is absent in the Indian cars and hence it does not work.

[sawnilrules]

Update-

I have started using the A6, almost regularly to work now, and I have kind of started enjoying the comfort that the car brings to the table. While maneuvering the car in Mumbai traffic is definitely painful, but that is a short-term pain for a long-term gain.

Considering the car has become daily driver, I have been tinkering with my throttle inputs to the car, just to see how efficient the 2.0 litre turbo charged TFSi engine of Audi can be. And you will be surprised, my last best fuel efficiency figure was around 15.4 kmpl and last time around I was able to eke out 16.5 kmpl.

Previous Best



Current Best



I also ensure to give the car a proper wash at a detailing store atleast once a month, however work commitments had kept me occupied and I was not able to take the car for foam wash. Luckily took the car this Sunday to get the car foam washed.

Detailed Foam Wash




PS- the dent removal work is still pending; I will be sending the car over on coming Tuesday. Will keep the forum updated on the progress there.