Audi A6 Quattro For '97 Has all the Right Moves

03/03/97

It weighs in at close to 3900 lbs, does 0-60 in a leisurely 9.9 seconds, has a motor that only puts out 172 HP, BUT IT'S AN AUDI, the height of Tuetonic thoroughness in car manufacturing. It doesn't need any more power because it is so darn smooth on it's way through its four-speed automatic trans to 130 mph or an EZ cruising speed of 100mph in cruise control.

With a bunch of new exterior colors for 1997, rounded countenance, chrome luggage rack and trick mag wheels, the A6 holds its own with any other luxury car in the looks department. At $35,000, the price is just about right for this type of car.

It carries five passengers (seven if you use the kiddie seats) and has a luggage/cargo area of 34 cubic ft (65 with seats folded). The engine is a V6 90 degree, and it gets 25 mpg on the highway. The electric sunroof is a "one touch" affair. The radio with eight speakers displays the stations call letters AND format: Jazz, KTWV, 94.7. Neat.

Wood paneling abounds and everything in the car, as is always the case with Audi, is ultra first class: power seats, windows, memory seats. The value package for 1997 offers 16 inch alloy wheels and all-season tires. It has tilt and telescoping steering wheel, air bags, ABS, and the windshield washers are heated, as is the door lock on the drivers side. Audi offers a three year/50,000 mile warranty plus a 24-hour roadside assistance plan.

We drove it for nine straight hours on west coast freeways, and our only complaint is that the ignition switch is too Adjacent to the windshield washer switch--just about every time you turn the key, your wrist clips the arm for the wipers. That ain't no big deal. Audi does it again.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel