2002 Audi S6 Avant & A6 CVT | Retro Review

[@springvisuals]

thanks for uploading this! 250k miles on my '02 S6 currently and still going strong. best car i have ever owned.

[@desmondbaxter2449]

Spot on I have a 2002 S6 Green, I have had my car now. 7 yrs, the car that I ever had 260 miles

[@fernandochaves9665]

That S6 Avant is an absolute beauty. Both very fast.

[@gregmayled]

What a bloody fantastic hosting voice

[@foxtrot685]

That is actually impressive as this was pretty early mass production CVT technology, so 221 lb ft of torque from a V6 going through it isn’t anything to sneeze at. Remember, this is back when CVTs couldn’t tow, couldn’t be driven on hilly terrain on hot days, couldn’t handle torque from a turbo (Audi later addressed this to!) and couldn’t power all 4 wheels.

[@basshead.]

still crap tho lol

[@dontelindsey5846]

I think Subaru tried the CVT in the 80's. I still can't get into it.

[@pureblood1978x]

My s6 is probably the best car I've ever owned.

[@McBeamer94]

I had no idea the early 00s Audis were available with a CVT in the US. I only knew the Tiptronic from back then, they had the latter as an auto option here in the EU.

[@josephgoeke4359]

they are front trac only i believe

[@AIRDRAC]

The Multitronic CVT was available in the EU as well for this generation. A friend of mines parents had one for a brief time, before they had a fourth child and had to get a minibus instead.

[@kevinbarry71]

He actually said good things about a CVT. So naïve back then he was

[@mediocreman2]

These aren't as bad as a Nissan CVT that's why.

[@Youcallthesebagels_]

Yeah because it was new technology. How was he to know it could be problematic? Cvts actually drive great, it’s just the reliability that gets them. Guess you’re gen z or something.

[@aaryeshg.6526]

It's because Nissan programmed fake shifts automatically and attached it to engines that don't have torque, this Audi actually worked smoothly as it should. Still breaks if you neglect maintenance. It's like an early Maxima.

[@johndriscoll213]

A CVT is fine when it does what it should: hold revs. When it fake shifts it's bad.

[@chrisbrianjeremiaholsen9787]

@@Youcallthesebagels_ Reliability isn't a thing either. I have a LS600hL with a e-CVT and it's just awesome.

[@Planetary13]

Thanks for posting. That gen 4.2 was great! I love my manual 01E swapped C5 S6!

[@MarkoMarkovina]

Enjoy your car mate! It's a great car...mine is original 6 speed manual

[@henryovalles1163]

The 220 hp 6.9 15.3 92mph 340hp 6.1 14.5 14.5 99mph More impressed by 220hp

[@papa_pt]

extra weight of v8, wagon and awd. I think you'd feel most of the improvement if already at speed I. E. metrics like 30-70, 60-100mph

[@lcb4082]

thats with the auto too if it was 6 speed it prolly be in the mid to low 5's but yea its prolly got an extra 2-300 lbs over the a6 so that doesnt help much either

[@Divine_Serpent_Geh]

It’s heavier and the old 5 speed was VERY slow at shifting. Other than that the 4.2 annihilates the 3.0 in any metric, it’s a world of difference. Plus, 20 years ago, trapping 100mph in the 1/4, and in a wagon was serious business. And it wasn’t even the top model, the RS6 Avant which never came here in C5 body trapped about 10mph higher.

[@fredrce]

@@Divine_Serpent_Geh in Germany they also sold the RS6 avant plus that got 480hp instead of 450 hp of the regular RS6 avant

[@ic1815]

Always forget about the available CVT because they’re all Quattro here in Canada so finding a FWD A6 would be a tough challenge.

[@damilolaakanni]

I never even knew they made a FWD A6.

[@kevinbarry71]

You wouldn't want it. And I doubt there's any CVT equipped vehicles left running

[@ic1815]

@@damilolaakanni yes, and they still do in Europe. I believe Quattro is now standard on A6 in USA. Has been in Canada for a while.

[@ic1815]

@@kevinbarry71 oh I most definitely would *not* want a CVT, FWD A6. lol

[@yeoldegamer5112]

@@damilolaakanni In other countries FWD was (and still is) the default. You only got Quattro in higher performance versions or if you specifically wanted 4WD because of the higher costs, lower mpg and servicing requirements. Edit: Or if you despised Audi's FWD understeer setup which was mitigated slightly by having 4WD.

[@lightsout6552]

Loved my 2001 A6 with the 2.7t. That car ripped for back then. But had to let it go when it hit 104k miles and the turbos started to go.

[@martymar7578]

Please, please please post the road test of the 1984 5000s sedan and wagon. I loved that episode! Also, did you all ever road test the Peugeot 604?

[@brianlee9233]

I'll definitely buy this CVT in the A6! Just as long as it's not Nissan's nor Infiniti's. Another CVT I'll take along with Honda's, Subaru's and Toyota's.

[@CarringtonHollister]

Nissan owns INFINITI and I’m sure since Nissan is currently in bed with Renault, I believe Renault also uses the CVT as well.

[@brianlee9233]

@@CarringtonHollister That's what I mean.

[@bpearr8266]

Can’t forget Kia, they gave the best cvt imo

[@Kiss__Kiss]

NEVER a fan of a CVT, but ALWAYS a fan of the C5.. C5 Nation right here..

[@mediocreman2]

C5's weren't good until about 2005, and that was too little, too late.

[@Bigincologne]

@@mediocreman2 I own a last Model Year (2004) Avant 2,5 TDI V6 Manual. In 2005 they only produced the ALLROAD C5 afaik...

[@thetechlibrarian]

Whew! them prices where steep even in today’s money

[@fitfogey]

Just commented the same thing. Whew. Those prices seem like they would be today’s prices but they were 20 years ago lol.

[@thetechlibrarian]

@@fitfogey I know right. That’s like 100k

[@donaldwilson2620]

I knew that the FWD A4 from that era had a CVT, but I never knew the FWD A6 came with one as well. Most of the A6's I've seen had the Quattro option, I don't think I've hardly seen too many FWD A6's.

[@jareknowak8712]

Much better looking than next C6 generation.

[@emilianocruz11]

We need the 2003 audi rs6 road test from motorweek

[@bspep3]

The matco guy that used to come by our shop had an S6 Avant wagon. Didn't see many on the road

[@fitfogey]

61K in 2002. Sheesh. Expensive ride.

[@Handle_gravel]

I was very surprised when I heard that number.

[@StevenEveral]

Admit it: You clicked on this to see the review on the S6 Avant.

[@toraja04]

It’s was for me too as I started reading it, then I saw A6 and CVT together I got even more curious!

[@thataudiguy3006]

I did since I own a 2002 S6 Avant! I love my C5 and will even more after I 6 speed swap it!

[@that_camo_bronco_guy]

Surprisingly no, I thought the a6 had a normal automatic

[@gregorizi]

CVT is used in many machines and if design is good they last.

[@TopSecretVid]

love my B5.5 Passat wagon..in manual

[@gunsandcars3648]

Im I the only one who likes these Audis, but not the CVT, never a CVT ever, but the avant is still very collectible.

[@jareknowak8712]

Half of Europe loves this Audi.

[@Bigincologne]

@@dr.jiIIaIicecooper2587 Heres a German that ownes and love one ;-)

[@mikojarvinen6273]

@@dr.jiIIaIicecooper2587 It’s not junk. They’re solid cars and parts are affordable. The 1.9TDI is the national favorite. They sold really well and are still common sight on the road. I owned one it was the cheapest car ownership experience I ever had.

[@bghoody5665]

John complains that turning the traction control off causes the car to lose traction. Weird. I heard about someone who bought the Avant as a sleeper - he apparently had a lot of fun with it.

[@punemax]

I didn’t know the avant came in a V8. I must be confusing it with the twin turbo V6.

[@damilolaakanni]

The S4 and A6 Allroad had a 2.7 twin turbo V6.

[@blackshadow7192]

@@damilolaakanni The A6 was also available with a 4.2 NA in all body styles.

[@janinstuning5495]

@@damilolaakanni it also came in the a6 base model. The avant wasn't sold with the twin turbo

[@Bigincologne]

Dont forget the RS6 ;-)

[@mikeisaacs2314]

Wow a CVT in 2002! And he said it was good 😂

[@jake20479]

speaking of CVT.. i bet you money you wont see a 4cylinder saturn Vue on the road. not one made it past 50k on those cvt's. only the v6 vue made it because it doesnt have one lmao

[@JDMHaze]

correct lol

[@thetechlibrarian]

@@JDMHaze yeah and it’s a Honda v6 at that

[@jayda1k_]

Thank god my old ‘05 was an Auto and not the CVT

[@JDMHaze]

never knew audi was dumb enough to use a cvt in a a6… must’ve been absolutely ghastly

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

It absolutely is and everyone on the internet will tell you to stay away from it

[@JDMHaze]

@@imnotusingmyrealname4566 like most cvts lol…

[@blackericdenice]

Hey, I remember you. I had forgotten Audi put a cvt in their cars. The only Audi I ever driven was the 225 hp 1.8 TT.

[@JDMHaze]

@@blackericdenice sup pops🦾 i know someone that had this A6 2.7tt ,,

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

@@blackericdenice 1.8T is a legendary engine. 🙌

[@Nooobcub]

Am I the only one bothered that a 2002 is a retro review? I was in middle school when this came out.

[@alexvieira7945]

2000 CELICA DANG IT!!!!!

[@CountryCarReviews]

Front of this Audi is BEST Audi!! The front says Audi.

[@itzed]

I have no memory of a CVT ever being offered by Audi back then.

[@johannesfranck1770]

I remember the Elvis Commercial, was quite funny

[@CountryCarReviews]

Do the A4 convertible for this same era next

[@dontelindsey5846]

Does anyone know how these transmissions held up?

[@damieg82]

Not very well, but opinions are split as to why. The general consensus is that the CVT wasn't durable enough to last in the long run. As with most things, they're fine when new, but add a few years and tens of thousands of miles, and problems start to develop. Others contend that the transmissions were in fact durable, but they were introduced in the peak of the "lifetime filled" era, which meant most owners did not have the fluid changed ever, when CVTs actually have much shorter service intervals than traditional geared units. Whatever the reason, most of them failed regardless. Depending on when the failure happened, the CVT would either be rebuilt, or the car might have been junked if it was not financially viable to repair it.

[@mikojarvinen6273]

The control module was known to fail but otherwise they were fine. S tronic that replaced them was far less reliable. Multitronic wasn’t as reliable as tiptronic but not as bad as people say. I personally owned an Audi A6 with a multitronic

[@revelare_xvii6269]

2:10 I lowkey wish manufacturers kept making this type of transmission.

[@aaryeshg.6526]

You mean a CVT with manual mode you can use anytime? They still exist

[@revelare_xvii6269]

@@aaryeshg.6526 I don’t mean the ones with paddle shifters.

[@MandusahRamirez]

& Audi still offers a CVT on the FWD “Smart Trak” A4 2.0T

[@wolfsburvviann]

No longer. It is discontinued with the introduction of the B9 A4.

[@MandusahRamirez]

@@wolfsburvviann You’re right

[@mikojarvinen6273]

@@wolfsburvviann Audi A6 C7 was the last Audi with multitronic

[@devinbiz]

Oddly, I don’t recall an Audi CVT, guess I maybe wasn’t paying attention

[@mediocreman2]

Such a hard time for Audi. The engineers had more freedom in design, but the accountants had way more power. What you ended up with was an odd combination of cars that had all the amenities you could want, but were built with cheap materials and didn't hold up well. Compared to the previous generation C4, the C5 would fall apart everywhere. Cheap plastics, stupidly designed integrated headlights (which could mean replacing the entire thing if the marker bulb melted the housing), dash pads that couldn't handle the sun, transmissions that failed left and right, engine chains in stupid locations on some models, inaccessible turbos, etc. It was happening in the D3 chassis as well. Beautiful cars that drove wonderful, but unfortunately weren't able to hold a candle to the C4 and D2 build quality. It wasn't until the very last C5's and not really until the C6 that Audi started to get back on their feet. But this is just how it was at this point. Look at Mercedes during the same time. They nosedived even further. The 30V V6 performance was actually very impressive due to the torque curve, but the myriad of reliability issues ruined the reputation. The twin turbo V6 is legendary as a powerful POS. How far they fell. Fortunately the did recover somewhat with the 3.0T.

[@mikojarvinen6273]

Having owned an Audi A6 C5 I cannot agree. The quality and reliability were great. During the time Audi used one of the most reliable engines. 1.9TDI was excellent and got class leading fuel economy. The interior was good, reparability easy and parts cheap. Plenty of them still on the road and finding a high mileage example is easier than one with less than 200 000km.

[@Balkanmotorsports]

John fukkin Davis!

[@scaleartsg]

CVT?! sacrilege!

[@PhillyDee215]

😎

[@marcossteves3758]

01J 🤮

[@napraznicul]

Nobody was so stupid to buy audi automatic of those years, but mostly that GARBAGE CVT which was and still is THE WORST GEARBOX which ever existed, especially for sporty driving and sporty cars.