Acceleration A4 VS A6
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,514
Likes: 1
From: Orwigsburg Pa.
Acceleration A4 VS A6
Looking for reports on which is quicker, from a launch, thru the gears when left in drive or sport mode , and from various rolling speeds under full throttle downshifts. I'm not looking for smoothness, or any info on the paddle shifters ,but rather from owners who have experience with both A4'S and now A6'S.
I make the suppostition that they are fairly close from a stop with each having ''advantage areas'' from a roll. For example 80 mph the A4/3.15 DOWNSHIFTS TO 3RD in a low rpm zone and I would envision the A6 at 80 hits 3rd in a much sweeter spot.
So if anyone out there has some first hand experience with both set-ups I would be grateful to any info--also with any criticisms or regrets.
I make the suppostition that they are fairly close from a stop with each having ''advantage areas'' from a roll. For example 80 mph the A4/3.15 DOWNSHIFTS TO 3RD in a low rpm zone and I would envision the A6 at 80 hits 3rd in a much sweeter spot.
So if anyone out there has some first hand experience with both set-ups I would be grateful to any info--also with any criticisms or regrets.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 13,733
Likes: 66
From: Hurst, TX USA
All the reports I've seen say that the two are very close under all conditions. It is a difficult thing to quantify. Two cars, one A4 and one A6, would probably also have other tiny differences that would make the results questionable, given the differences in performance are so small. All the results I've seen are two car's results at different places and times. Hardly a scientific approach.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
I have an 06 A6. My Uncle has an 05 A4. This past weekend we took them out and cruised down route 22 (obeying all traffic rules and speed limits). When we came to a stop light together, he was right there with me on the acceleration when I was in D. When I put the transmission into S, same result. When Paddle shift was enabled, I was able to notice a difference. The nose of his car was at the back of my door as he was unable to keep up with the shifts -- I was holding out until about 5500-5700 RPM to switch gears. In the end, his transmission had to shift less so he picked up lost ground, thus giving the cars nearly identical performance.
When we got back home, he informed me that he had changed his exhaust system to Corsa. Mine is still stock. I doubt that this makes much of a difference without intake mods, but just for you to consider.
The performance is nearly identical
.
When we got back home, he informed me that he had changed his exhaust system to Corsa. Mine is still stock. I doubt that this makes much of a difference without intake mods, but just for you to consider.
The performance is nearly identical
.
Last edited by JAB210; Jan 8, 2006 at 05:13 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,262
Likes: 4
From: Manhatten Beach, California
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '11,'18,'20,'21,'24,'25, '26
Originally Posted by JAB210
I have an 06 A6. My Uncle has an 05 A4. This past weekend we took them out amd cruised down route 22 (obeying all traffic rules and speed limits). When we came to a stop light together, he was right there with me on the acceleration when I was in D. When I put the transmission into S, same result. When Paddle shift was enabled, I was able to notice a difference. The nose of his car was at the back of my door as he was unable to keep up with the shifts -- I was holding out until about 5500-5700 RPM to switch gears. In the end, his transmission had to shift less so he picked up lost ground, thus giving the cars nearly identical performance.
When we got back home, he informed me that he had changed his exhaust system to Corsa. Mine is still stock. I doubt that this makes much of a difference without intake mods, but just for you to consider.
The performance is nearly identical .
When we got back home, he informed me that he had changed his exhaust system to Corsa. Mine is still stock. I doubt that this makes much of a difference without intake mods, but just for you to consider.
The performance is nearly identical
.Nice info
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,588
Likes: 6
From: Montreal Qc
So if performance is neally the same, I guess the deal breaker would be mileage. I had a '99 A4 that got great mileage, but it would be my guess the A6 would still do better under reasonable conditions, ie: a 1,000 mile trip.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by Miaugi
So if performance is neally the same, I guess the deal breaker would be mileage. I had a '99 A4 that got great mileage, but it would be my guess the A6 would still do better under reasonable conditions, ie: a 1,000 mile trip.
A6 window sticker = 17 mpg city, 27 mpg highway
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 787
Likes: 0
My A4Z51 got exactly 25.4 mpg on a short 200 mile trip that included 20% town driving and the rest on 50 -55 mph two lane roadways.
I was still in the 500 mile break-in period on the trip.
I am very pleased with the gas mileage and performance. I'm sure both will continue to improve with more use.
I was still in the 500 mile break-in period on the trip.
I am very pleased with the gas mileage and performance. I'm sure both will continue to improve with more use.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Start from a rolling 45 MPH and the A6 will tear the A4 a new one! The A4 will refuse to downshift at that speed and will have to take second gear all the way to 90+ MPH starting out at a relatively low RPM. The A6 will take off like a bat out of H and will keep the engine in the sweet RPM range. Taking off from a start or very slow, the two will perform similarly over time, but if you start at "random" speeds and do some testing, the A6 will pull the A4 more often and you'll be hard pressed to find a spot where the A4 is accelerating faster. Granted we're only talking about a car length or two, but not having the car bog when you mash the go pedal is worth its weight in gold in the A6. The A4 just has too many bog points IMO and you get used to that instant acceleration at any speed with the A6. Don't own either one... just driven both.
Mike
Mike
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,514
Likes: 1
From: Orwigsburg Pa.
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
Start from a rolling 45 MPH and the A6 will tear the A4 a new one! The A4 will refuse to downshift at that speed and will have to take second gear all the way to 90+ MPH starting out at a relatively low RPM. The A6 will take off like a bat out of H and will keep the engine in the sweet RPM range. Taking off from a start or very slow, the two will perform similarly over time, but if you start at "random" speeds and do some testing, the A6 will pull the A4 more often and you'll be hard pressed to find a spot where the A4 is accelerating faster. Granted we're only talking about a car length or two, but not having the car bog when you mash the go pedal is worth its weight in gold in the A6. The A4 just has too many bog points IMO and you get used to that instant acceleration at any speed with the A6. Don't own either one... just driven both.
Mike
Mike
I really appreciate this input from you and the post above you with the ''real world'' outcomes. Looking for a reason to pull the trigger on a new A6. So far the best info seems to indicate they are really close out of the box with the A6 holding rolling rights at most---but not all speeds.
Thanks for the info guys and anybody else please add on.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 566
Likes: 0
From: North Port, Florida
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
Start from a rolling 45 MPH and the A6 will tear the A4 a new one! The A4 will refuse to downshift at that speed and will have to take second gear all the way to 90+ MPH starting out at a relatively low RPM. The A6 will take off like a bat out of H and will keep the engine in the sweet RPM range. Taking off from a start or very slow, the two will perform similarly over time, but if you start at "random" speeds and do some testing, the A6 will pull the A4 more often and you'll be hard pressed to find a spot where the A4 is accelerating faster. Granted we're only talking about a car length or two, but not having the car bog when you mash the go pedal is worth its weight in gold in the A6. The A4 just has too many bog points IMO and you get used to that instant acceleration at any speed with the A6. Don't own either one... just driven both.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,514
Likes: 1
From: Orwigsburg Pa.
Originally Posted by Nort
I've owned both a 2005 and a 2006. I agree that the A6 seems more aggressive from a rolling start. It seems to grab the correct gear simply because there are more of them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 881
Likes: 0
From: San Diego Ca
Originally Posted by SHOOTER 49
Looking for reports on which is quicker, from a launch, thru the gears when left in drive or sport mode , and from various rolling speeds under full throttle downshifts. I'm not looking for smoothness, or any info on the paddle shifters ,but rather from owners who have experience with both A4'S and now A6'S.
I make the suppostition that they are fairly close from a stop with each having ''advantage areas'' from a roll. For example 80 mph the A4/3.15 DOWNSHIFTS TO 3RD in a low rpm zone and I would envision the A6 at 80 hits 3rd in a much sweeter spot.
So if anyone out there has some first hand experience with both set-ups I would be grateful to any info--also with any criticisms or regrets.
I make the suppostition that they are fairly close from a stop with each having ''advantage areas'' from a roll. For example 80 mph the A4/3.15 DOWNSHIFTS TO 3RD in a low rpm zone and I would envision the A6 at 80 hits 3rd in a much sweeter spot.
So if anyone out there has some first hand experience with both set-ups I would be grateful to any info--also with any criticisms or regrets.
It looks like for the most part they are close to the same,(besides a rolling speed of 40mph) I don't remember if the A4 that went with the A6 was a 3.15 or not, but is that little difference going to make you want to sell your car, (probably loose money) pay for the A6 transmission, really worth it? Enjoy it until you get the Z06
That would be the only reason that I would sell mine!!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by SHOOTER 49
All things being equal , would you trade an 05 a4 and lose a lot of cash for an 06 A6----IS THERE AN improvement worth the outlay?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
Don't own either one... just driven both.
Mike
Mike
