That's true, there's something about cars from 90'. Don't get me wrong, new cars are cool, and comfortable, but when you hop in a car from that period of time it feels different, it feels like those happier times...
My ftirend had a new 97 a4 while we were in college. I drove it on a spring break road trip and it was an amazing car! It was so solid. Nothing like the 10 yo hand down Volvo I had.
I know what you mean. 90s Audis were known at the time, at least here in Finland, to have very basic specs, not that many goodies as standard. But what they did so well was their solid build quality and low-key way of doing luxury.
Ah, the Audi A6 C4... It was my first car, with exact same white color ! The only difference, that it was a diesel one, 2.5 TDI. Amazing machine, extremely reliable, built with the quality of those times. Only good memories !
Tedward I like these videos where you drive/review cars from the 80s and 90s, those type of vehicles are definitely signs of what those times were like by the looks of their interiors and some of the things that were considered "luxury" back in their days.
Ashtrays man, all the ashtrays As far as luxury goes modern manufacturers can learn from themselves; Ride quality and comfort doesn't require a foot thick wiring harness, just good engineering
That’s a nice one! I had the opportunity to cruising around in one of these with the 2.3 liter 5 cylinder petrol engine ,5 speed manual front wheel drive. This was in 1998-1999,for those times that car was something unbelievable,very good materials a lot of luxurious options,was riding so smooth,built like a tank,it was a premium car in every way!
I owned a 97 A4 quattro with the 2.8. I miss that car. Absolute tank in the snow and very refined for the year. Probably the smoothest shifting manual I ever drove. Only problematic issues were the cruise control and the pcv crankcase had to be checked, cleaned or replaced every year.
I had a 96 A4 2.6 Avant Quattro for 10+ years, disintegrated in its 24th year of service. Simply the best car I've ever had. This V6 engine note is pure music. Pulls nicely from just 1700 RPM and has a nice consumption if not pushed hard. These 12V V6 engines are indestructible. Looking forward to have a B6 3.0 Avant Quattro.
FINALLY i see this car on your channel! i had this car almost 3 years ago, just as a station wagon, 2.8 V6 quattro manual. i freakin loved this car! unfortunately i got into a crash (with 120 kmh/kmph or 74 mph directly against a tree head on. i need to say, this car was built like a rock! i crashed, was confused looked around and got out and walked away no injuries or broken bones etc, just a gigantic bruise over my breast from the seatbelt. this car saved my life, and i'm glad to see it here!
I don’t subscribe to a lot of channels I’m more of a phantom viewer, but your channel really deserves it. Your knowledge about cars is fantastic, your driving is excellent, the POV is awesome (makes me feel like I’m driving these), and your voice is so soothing, if you read an audiobook or something you’d make millions! Not really 90s luxury but I think some Japanese imports need some love R34 (hard to get in the US), other Skylines, RX7, Supra, Evos, all those lot.
I have a 2004 audi a6 2.7 bi-turbo quattro and it’s big, beautiful and analog. sublimely comfortable with a timeless design. yes, it drinks premium like a drunken sailor but it has personality and style. A car from a different era of motoring
I loved my Audi A6 2.8 Quattro. In it's day it was pretty rapid 'for a normal car' and it pulled all the way through to the limit at 155mph. It also is the best sounding car I have ever driven, just the right amount of growl without being obnoxious. Amazing how you can these days get this performance out of everyday cars. It finally got too expensive to upkeep at 165K miles, was mainly electrical issues, but the gearbox was getting noisy too.
Wasn't expecting this car from this channel, this is what I usually find on my feed As far as gasoline engines on Audi's go that one is about the most solid they've made, it has diesel longevity and sounds beautiful.
Truly a time capsule, what a find! I used to drive a C5 A6 2.8 Quattro back in the day - a Cashmere Grey Pearl over Charcoal example that got me through thousands upon thousands of miles of effortless New England trekking! Even to this day, I consider that car to be one of the best sedans I’ve ever driven, even with substantially more powerful, luxurious, exotic, and unique cars under my belt since then. Loved the vid!
My mom had this car when I was in high school. I spent a lot of time driving it when I got my license. Back then I thought it was slow and boring. I’d love to be able to drive it now and appreciate it.
Such a great looking car then and STILL now! Love my Audi's both A6's. great driving cars and both flawless and bulletproof. Two best cars I have owned.
Hey Tedward, I'm watching you from Brazil, I'm a big fan of your channel, I wish we had some nice roads and cars here to experience more the driving, but I get very entertained watching your videos, you're true car lover with maturity to extract the experience of all types of cars, this is amazing.
I love these kinda videos, just a normal car from a couple years back, great video! I'd love to see some sort of Volvo like a XC90/S80 V8 or a C30 T5 since I never see much content on those gems.
Me when I was a child: I will never be this grumpy adult bickering about good old times Me now: contemplating good old times looking at cars like these
Had a '97 A6 Avant 2.8 Quattro 30V (193 hp) with the 5-speed manual. Was pretty well specced with cruise control, sport steering wheel and the striped sport interior. Loved that car!
Such a timeless design, inside and out. I’m super curious what a modern car will be like in 26 years from now with all the screens and other tech. We’re such a “here and now” throwaway society.
had an emerald green 97 a6 years ago. was an amazing car! Was one of the best driving vehicles I've owned yet. super slow acceleration. It was always the road trip car, absolutely bulletproof and never got stuck no matter how much snow there was. hunting down a c4 s6 cause I always wished I had saved up a bit more back then for the performance model... huge fan of Audi i5
What a treat watching this; as a kid I stared at the pics of these in the various auto guides and brochures I collected. I don’t lust after much of anything new today.
Got this model with the 5 cylinder 2.5 TDI diesel engine and a 6 speed gearbox. On the highway it was like a flying carpet. Doing 160 Km\u gently eating the road and being very quiet and comfortable. It had 500K km on the clock before we had to part. Best build and nicest car I've ever owned.
i loved my C4 I bought it a few years ago from the original owner 111k miles it was a brilliant car though not very quick a little slow but it would fly at freeway speeds 85mph no problem
Really enjoyed this one. I've owned a 1994 Audi 90 Quattro, a 1998 A4 2.8 Quattro, and currently have a 2007 RS4 as a weekend fun car. All manuals and all great in their own way. The 90 just begged to be abused. It had a pushbutton on the console between the seats that would lock all three differentials and shut off the ABS for any offroad excursions. The A4 was a super comfortable highway cruiser. The RS4 has one of the best engines of all time with the 4.2 liter n/a V8 that revs to 8250 and sounds amazing. Unbelievably fast and really holds up as one of the great super sedans even to this day. Keep up the great work and more old Audis please!
Just bought one. They're actually fully galvanized, so rust is much less of an issue than on the contemporary Mercedes and BMW models. They're really incredibly comfortable, but not very sporty. They're cars for cruising and driving long distances.
We are still driving our 97 a6 pearl white auto Quattro. 84k miles now. My favorite vehicle for the snow. Only way to get stuck is to get high centered. Otherwise it will plow fresh snow up to the hood. Thanks for doing the video. 😊
Timeless design, that is for sure :) I myself own an A6 C4. A 1995 model, 2.5 TDI Quattro Avant, with a 6-speed manual. What a durable engine, it has 537,000 kilometers (333,000 miles) on the counter. Still going strong, but it does need some TLC to get back to its former glory. Rust is definitely an issue with these, and on salted roads, they are really being eaten by it. These are soon to be classics, and I really want to preserve mine as good as possible, but it will require a lot of work.
My first car was a '95 A4 with the exact same engine but manual transmission. Bought it from an old mans yard, paid 500 Euros for it. I sold it last year, but man, now I hear that engine again, I really miss it :')
No better way to see if a car can stand the test of time other than getting into one! This one passes with flying colors. Love my 17 A4, but give me this, 3/4s of what I paid for and a sound system and I'd be untouchable. This is dripping old money daily for a car enthusiast with a garage that looks more like an art gallery. Good on you Tedward and good on you Audi
What a characterful car. Old Audis have aged so well. I wish the big German luxury brands would focus a little more on making their cars as solid and simple as this again, but that's not the way the world works. So glad this one has survived.
This car has an interesting engine, the 2.8L 30v (also in other Audi cars late 90's) replacing the terrible 2.6L, what was interesting about it was that Audi tried to match the BMW 2.8L (E36 etc) and ended up with EXACTLY the same HP and Torque as the BMW (193 hp 142Kw) but the Audi engines lasted longer :)
True. The 30V is a neat engine for what it is. Has been serving us well in an AWD B5 Passat Variant for the past 23 years. And although the 2.6 and 2.8 12V engines never made the claimed HP and torque numbers, they weren't terrible either. ✌
Yeah, I guess the BMW engines do eventually blow the head gaskets with the iron block and aluminum head. E46 engines though last forever when maintained.
Nick, this car has the 12 valve SOHC V6 with 172 semi-raging ponies. The 30V never saw use in the C4 A6 in the States. We also never had the 2.6 here in the U.S., just the 2.8.
The power ( in this case 174hp same as 2.8VR6 ) or 193 for 30V same as BMW 24V 2.5 isn't a coincidence, if you look over the years you'll find many similar common power levels , 163BHP diesels are another. I suspect it's linked to Bosch engine managment set ups, but just a hunch
Great review and amazing car. Next you need to review a C4 S4/S6! A few quibbles; The 'cheap' clunky center stack buttons are anything but. If you feel the quality of those buttons compared to any other car (especially your Civic), you'd have to be a bit biased to not recognize the quality of those buttons. Soft touch, EXTREMELY durable plastic (30 year old buttons often look brand new), the text and icons are 'engraved' from the backside, so there is literally no way to wear off the text of the button, and they are made from black ABS plastic, so even if you scratch part of the button away, it is still black underneath, unlike a lot of buttons that are white underneath a black outer coating. These bodies generally don't rust. There is only one location that's at risk of rust, behind the front wheels because wet leaves/dirt can accumulate there. Audi mastered the galvanization process in around 1986. Mercedes still hasn't figured it out, just for comparison. Generally longitudinally mounted engines have a smaller turning radius than transverse mounted cars. This car might seem similar to the C3 underneath like you said, but it's not. Vastly different engines (this was Audi's first V6), different quattro iteration, it also uses ABS/EDL for the differential instead of manual differential locks, it has nothing in common structurally, nothing in common when it comes to body panels, etc. No shared components either, except maybe bolts here and there. This was a ground up project, and if you look at the history of Audi, the C4 (and D2) was a massive turning point for the company. Yes the B5 was responsible for tons of sales and turned the perception of Audi around in the US (After the 60 minutes faked tests), but the B5's don't have the special quality sauce the C4 and D2 did. Audi didn't really have any competition when these were new. The Acura Legend was beat by the Audi 100 (C4) in road tests and didn't come in AWD. Their only issue in the US was more anonymity compared to Mercedes and BMW, and like I mentioned what 60 Minutes did. Aside from a Bentley, Rolls Royce, Maybach, you will be hard pressed to find a modern car that has the build quality of this car. I've been in brand new S classes, 7 series, and A8's, and they still have little noises or cheapness. And yes once you're in the snow, you will change your tune even further. I've driven trucks, SUV's, Subarus, and nothing compares to the older Audis, especially those with the locking differentials. The trucks were front heavy, the SUV's were stable, but too heavy in general, and subarus were ok, but most of them use a weaker non-mechanical viscous coupling that adds delays when you don't want delays. Plus they are actually much more unreliable than the A6 here.
It’s so gorgeous. When I was 17 I had an 01’ A6 2.8 (C5 gen?) and it was a great car. Did a full suspension overhaul and valve cover gaskets at 200k miles, then I sold it to my landlord who drove it till 240k before it was totalled. 2.8 V6 was gutless but was reliable. I’d killllll to own a C4 generation.
One of these is actually my first car. I’m still getting my license as I’m 16 and need to be 17 to get it (currently in driving school). Mine is a 1995 with front wheel drive and the 2.6 V6. Bought it for 3100 euros and it came with 2 years of valid TÜV (strict German inspection). It’s a 1 owner car, the lady that bought it new died in 2013 and her husband sold it this year. Came with all the documentation and books and a fully stamped service book (up to 2022 it was serviced at the dealer that sold it new near Munich). It needs some cosmetics and a little surface rust taken care of but that won’t be a big issue. I’m planning on keeping it and when it becomes 30 years old taking it to classic car events. Gonna get myself a daily as soon as I have my license so that the A6 won’t see any road salt. I’ve driven it on some private property and the automatic transmission (recently serviced) shifts super smoothly and it’s really comfortable. The few downsides mine has is that it basically has 0 options, doesn’t have the modern climate control, no front armrest, manual cloth seats, hubcaps and all that. Only really notable option it has is a power sunroof that actually works perfectly (for now). It’s done 210k kilometers (like 130k miles) and has some typical older cars stuff. Gave me a flashing check engine light that then disappeared and never appeared again (post purchase inspection at our local dealer revealed it’s in perfect mechanical shape)
Those things are bomb proof by comparison with early 2000's cars, my C4 is on 330k miles with no big repairs and you will see these for sale in Europe still with even more miles on. Lower miles S6 etc. are beginning to command serious money compared to 5 years ago but spares are getting hard.
Have the same car just one year newer. In the five years I've had it I've only seen a handful of cars with the same paint color. Love my c4, gonna drive it to the grave and back
I have an identical one but europa blue on black leather and manual. I swapped my e39 530 out for it. Just as good in some ways and cheaper to drive. Such a proper business car.
My uncle had one of these from around 2010 to 2018. A '96 2.6, but it wasn't a Quattro. Loved the sound of the engine, as in, for a luxury car, I think it's perfect. Just a little noise from the V6, while keeping NVH low. I remember some random details, like the front part of the rear side windows doesn't just sit between rubber window trim. It's actually fixed to a rail or something by a piece that looks like an intake/exhaust valve, with the face of it fixed to the window and the stem connecting into the window frame. Headliner was really nice, much nicer in fact than modern Mercedes, like a GLE 450 or a GL. What felt like solid chrome interior door releases, those clicky window switches, narrow door armrests below thick cushioned fabric door trim. The transmission kind of wanted to lug the engine, putting it as low as 1600 or 1800rpm going up hill, not quite enough torque with 4 or 5 people in the car but very respectable for the numbers it produced - only 110kW (@5,500rpm) and 220Nm (@3,500rpm). The sunroof also stopped working. It had some engine work done to it in his ownership - new pistons and a few other bits I believe). The indicator stalk also wore out. It wouldn't stay centred, so you'd have to hold it up so it wouldn't continuously activate the indicator. Also got an exhaust leak at one point, and even then it didn't sound bad, surprisingly decent actually.
I have a B5 A4 wagon that is two years younger than this. I think this has the 24v 2.8 whereas my Avant has the 30v 2.8. Very fun car, certainly can't keep up with modern cars, but it sounds, looks, and drives very fun. Someday I'll have the money and opportunity to buy one of the aftermarket superchargers that was made for it to take it from ~200hp to ~300hp.
Love the C4 chassis as well. I had a 93 black on black Audi 100 CS quattro, with the 5 speed manual, and I tinted the windows and put 18" wheels on it. Shouldn't have sold it. Should have kept it and 4.2L V8 or 2.7T swapped it. Also had this 2.8L 12 valve V6 in a 97 A4 quattro. Not the most powerful but ran good and were reliable as long as you changed the timing belt on schedule.
Audi leather seats in the 80s and early 90s were super comfortable and supportive. I love that steering wheel, but it’s essentially the same one that Audi used starting in the 1984 5000S.
Almost bought a '96 once but it was FWD so I skipped it. Yeah they were rugged, not sure if they still had the diff-lock in these, but I took my '91 200TQ on actual jeep trails by accident, had it up on 3 wheels several times and drove home quite happy afterwards.
I dont understand why they didnt offer the 3.7l v8 as an option in these cars. The C4 S6 had the 2.2 AAN I believe, but still would be nice to have a v8 option. The C5 did offer the 4.2 v8.
I own a 97' B5 A4 2.8 30V (5 valves per cylinder, the successor to the 12V V6 in the A6 from the video) FWD (unfortunately manual quattros were not sold here) with a 5-speed manual, such an awesome car, i would only sell it to get a B5 S4
The reason this car isn't corroded away is because it has been treated with a thick coat of zinc from factory. Audi started galvanizing their cars in the 1980's with the Audi 80 B3 and the 100 C3. You will not find any rust anywhere - these generations of Audis are most likely the most rust-resistant cars to ever be produced.
honestly hard to say with this one. I think the Auto fits its really well. It's not really sporty and it allows for a seamless and almost mindless limo-like drive
Which other 90's Luxury cars do you want to see on the channel?
Volvo
W140 Mercedes S please !
Mazda 929
The original Audi S8 (and also an early S4)
Please do a lovely Saab 9-5! (manual if possible)
Man, these older cars just remind me of the happier times
fax
That's true, there's something about cars from 90'. Don't get me wrong, new cars are cool, and comfortable, but when you hop in a car from that period of time it feels different, it feels like those happier times...
I grew up in the 80/90s so these older reviews remind me of my childhood. Love it!
The 2008 scrapping of old cars is tragic
Had more money in my pocket those days
This era of Audi interior is my favorite
My mom had an A4 of this time period. Pleasant comfortable cruiser that was austere luxury. No flash and just the business.
My ftirend had a new 97 a4 while we were in college. I drove it on a spring break road trip and it was an amazing car! It was so solid. Nothing like the 10 yo hand down Volvo I had.
No flash, just ugly 😂
I know what you mean. 90s Audis were known at the time, at least here in Finland, to have very basic specs, not that many goodies as standard. But what they did so well was their solid build quality and low-key way of doing luxury.
Reminds me of my childhood. Seeing these on the streets in the late 90s and admiring them. The good ol’ days.
i remember seeing them in the 70s too
I am seeing every day cause my dad’s brother have like this video car but manual gearbox
Love these 90s gems
Ah, the Audi A6 C4... It was my first car, with exact same white color ! The only difference, that it was a diesel one, 2.5 TDI. Amazing machine, extremely reliable, built with the quality of those times. Only good memories !
except the camshafts which are a failing by consuctrion
@@1GTASANANDREASCJ camshafts are failing on V6 TDIs, but not on 5 cylinder ones !
@@PasiemuKasMano yes
Had one for 9years, was my best car ever, thanks for sharing 👍
We can shake hands, got the same TDI, what a great car and the engine so smooth!
Tedward I like these videos where you drive/review cars from the 80s and 90s, those type of vehicles are definitely signs of what those times were like by the looks of their interiors and some of the things that were considered "luxury" back in their days.
Ashtrays man, all the ashtrays
As far as luxury goes modern manufacturers can learn from themselves;
Ride quality and comfort doesn't require a foot thick wiring harness, just good engineering
I have the smaller 2,6 and its just so soothing to drive. No bings or alerts no screens just you and the car.
That’s a nice one! I had the opportunity to cruising around in one of these with the 2.3 liter 5 cylinder petrol engine ,5 speed manual front wheel drive. This was in 1998-1999,for those times that car was something unbelievable,very good materials a lot of luxurious options,was riding so smooth,built like a tank,it was a premium car in every way!
Я до сих пор езжу на Audi Q 2.5 TDI C4
I owned a 97 A4 quattro with the 2.8. I miss that car. Absolute tank in the snow and very refined for the year. Probably the smoothest shifting manual I ever drove. Only problematic issues were the cruise control and the pcv crankcase had to be checked, cleaned or replaced every year.
Maan, I had one too! Not a quattro, but also manual. The gearbox was a blast!!
I had a 96 A4 2.6 Avant Quattro for 10+ years, disintegrated in its 24th year of service. Simply the best car I've ever had. This V6 engine note is pure music.
Pulls nicely from just 1700 RPM and has a nice consumption if not pushed hard.
These 12V V6 engines are indestructible. Looking forward to have a B6 3.0 Avant Quattro.
FINALLY i see this car on your channel! i had this car almost 3 years ago, just as a station wagon, 2.8 V6 quattro manual. i freakin loved this car! unfortunately i got into a crash (with 120 kmh/kmph or 74 mph directly against a tree head on. i need to say, this car was built like a rock! i crashed, was confused looked around and got out and walked away no injuries or broken bones etc, just a gigantic bruise over my breast from the seatbelt. this car saved my life, and i'm glad to see it here!
A lot of money spent in that vehicle for tactile interior buttons, and under hood presentation. Beautiful and timeless.
I don’t subscribe to a lot of channels I’m more of a phantom viewer, but your channel really deserves it. Your knowledge about cars is fantastic, your driving is excellent, the POV is awesome (makes me feel like I’m driving these), and your voice is so soothing, if you read an audiobook or something you’d make millions!
Not really 90s luxury but I think some Japanese imports need some love R34 (hard to get in the US), other Skylines, RX7, Supra, Evos, all those lot.
Thank you Luke! I really appreciate this
It's an absolutely beautiful sedan,just like the first A8.
Nice to hear you mention the D2 A8 as I have a 1999 Audi A8 quattro 4.2, actually a nice car
@@stanleyadams2046 it's as much as beautiful as it is understated
I have a 2004 audi a6 2.7 bi-turbo quattro and it’s big, beautiful and analog. sublimely comfortable with a timeless design. yes, it drinks premium like a drunken sailor but it has personality and style. A car from a different era of motoring
I loved my Audi A6 2.8 Quattro. In it's day it was pretty rapid 'for a normal car' and it pulled all the way through to the limit at 155mph. It also is the best sounding car I have ever driven, just the right amount of growl without being obnoxious. Amazing how you can these days get this performance out of everyday cars. It finally got too expensive to upkeep at 165K miles, was mainly electrical issues, but the gearbox was getting noisy too.
Wasn't expecting this car from this channel, this is what I usually find on my feed
As far as gasoline engines on Audi's go that one is about the most solid they've made, it has diesel longevity and sounds beautiful.
Truly a time capsule, what a find! I used to drive a C5 A6 2.8 Quattro back in the day - a Cashmere Grey Pearl over Charcoal example that got me through thousands upon thousands of miles of effortless New England trekking! Even to this day, I consider that car to be one of the best sedans I’ve ever driven, even with substantially more powerful, luxurious, exotic, and unique cars under my belt since then. Loved the vid!
My father used to drive one of these as a FWD. Beautiful car. Seeing the interior gives me a nostalgic feeling.
Owned two A6 C4's back in the day a Seadan and Avant, a real tank on wheels loved everything about it.
That diagnostic port there is definitely something that should have been copied, I'm tired of fishing around a footwell 😂
I bet a lot of drinks got spilled in that port lol
I agree. Add a snap cover with a little seal and it should be fine
@@TedwardDrives That just means it's a litmus test for how well taken care of a car was!
I love these older car reviews!
Wow the center console working like new in a 90’s-Early 00’s VW/Audi? A true gem
My mom had this car when I was in high school. I spent a lot of time driving it when I got my license. Back then I thought it was slow and boring. I’d love to be able to drive it now and appreciate it.
Such a great looking car then and STILL now! Love my Audi's both A6's. great driving cars and both flawless and bulletproof. Two best cars I have owned.
Audi C2 and C3 with the legendary five cylinder engine is... magical. Audi died for me with this V6.
Hey Tedward, I'm watching you from Brazil, I'm a big fan of your channel, I wish we had some nice roads and cars here to experience more the driving, but I get very entertained watching your videos, you're true car lover with maturity to extract the experience of all types of cars, this is amazing.
Don't know what it is, but anytime I see an Audi from the mid-90s/early 2000s era I get the urge to watch Jason Statham in Transporter 2 😂
I bought a 99 bmw 328i because of the transporter lol. I couldn't afford the Audi ha.
I still drive mine, same color. I love that car!
I love these kinda videos, just a normal car from a couple years back, great video! I'd love to see some sort of Volvo like a XC90/S80 V8 or a C30 T5 since I never see much content on those gems.
Me when I was a child: I will never be this grumpy adult bickering about good old times
Me now: contemplating good old times looking at cars like these
Old Opels and VWs also rust like crazy.
Nice V6 sound. I swear they used that for several Audis in Racing Games.
Had a '97 A6 Avant 2.8 Quattro 30V (193 hp) with the 5-speed manual. Was pretty well specced with cruise control, sport steering wheel and the striped sport interior. Loved that car!
Lucky! My A4 with the same 2.8 30V engine is a manual but only FWD, i'm trying to find an S4 in good condition to fulfill my need for an AWD Audi hehe
@@pedrolucan4006 depends on what gen of s4 c4s are so expensive nowadays
next generation was even better and is probably my favorite Audi A6 of all times, with beautiful V6 engine...
Such a timeless design, inside and out. I’m super curious what a modern car will be like in 26 years from now with all the screens and other tech. We’re such a “here and now” throwaway society.
had an emerald green 97 a6 years ago. was an amazing car! Was one of the best driving vehicles I've owned yet. super slow acceleration. It was always the road trip car, absolutely bulletproof and never got stuck no matter how much snow there was. hunting down a c4 s6 cause I always wished I had saved up a bit more back then for the performance model... huge fan of Audi i5
What a treat watching this; as a kid I stared at the pics of these in the various auto guides and brochures I collected. I don’t lust after much of anything new today.
Got this model with the 5 cylinder 2.5 TDI diesel engine and a 6 speed gearbox. On the highway it was like a flying carpet. Doing 160 Km\u gently eating the road and being very quiet and comfortable. It had 500K km on the clock before we had to part. Best build and nicest car I've ever owned.
i loved my C4 I bought it a few years ago from the original owner 111k miles it was a brilliant car though not very quick a little slow but it would fly at freeway speeds 85mph no problem
been someone who grow up with Gran Turismo, I find something really cool and relaxing about these videos... Love it.❤🚗
Really enjoyed this one. I've owned a 1994 Audi 90 Quattro, a 1998 A4 2.8 Quattro, and currently have a 2007 RS4 as a weekend fun car. All manuals and all great in their own way. The 90 just begged to be abused. It had a pushbutton on the console between the seats that would lock all three differentials and shut off the ABS for any offroad excursions. The A4 was a super comfortable highway cruiser. The RS4 has one of the best engines of all time with the 4.2 liter n/a V8 that revs to 8250 and sounds amazing. Unbelievably fast and really holds up as one of the great super sedans even to this day. Keep up the great work and more old Audis please!
Just bought one. They're actually fully galvanized, so rust is much less of an issue than on the contemporary Mercedes and BMW models. They're really incredibly comfortable, but not very sporty. They're cars for cruising and driving long distances.
We are still driving our 97 a6 pearl white auto Quattro. 84k miles now. My favorite vehicle for the snow. Only way to get stuck is to get high centered. Otherwise it will plow fresh snow up to the hood. Thanks for doing the video. 😊
Timeless design, that is for sure :)
I myself own an A6 C4. A 1995 model, 2.5 TDI Quattro Avant, with a 6-speed manual. What a durable engine, it has 537,000 kilometers (333,000 miles) on the counter. Still going strong, but it does need some TLC to get back to its former glory.
Rust is definitely an issue with these, and on salted roads, they are really being eaten by it.
These are soon to be classics, and I really want to preserve mine as good as possible, but it will require a lot of work.
Looks higher quality, classier, and a more unified interior than anything they make these days.
My first car was a '95 A4 with the exact same engine but manual transmission. Bought it from an old mans yard, paid 500 Euros for it. I sold it last year, but man, now I hear that engine again, I really miss it :')
No better way to see if a car can stand the test of time other than getting into one! This one passes with flying colors. Love my 17 A4, but give me this, 3/4s of what I paid for and a sound system and I'd be untouchable. This is dripping old money daily for a car enthusiast with a garage that looks more like an art gallery. Good on you Tedward and good on you Audi
ahhhhh that's a lot of glass. and what a simple & classy interior, void of any screen...wow.
where have the times gone...
What a characterful car. Old Audis have aged so well. I wish the big German luxury brands would focus a little more on making their cars as solid and simple as this again, but that's not the way the world works. So glad this one has survived.
I recently purchased a 2016 Audi s6, it’s awesome to see this, wild how some of the design is still present in the modern model!
when the cars doesn't have a big screen and bunch of electronics 😂
Great driving cars! I remember seeing that the 2.8 in my 98 A4 had 5 valves per cylinder and thinking it was somewhat exotic in a passenger sedan.
so does the 1.8t :)
This A6 only had 2 valves per cylinder. But they were reliable.
love this channel so much, really appreciates driving for what it is
This car has an interesting engine, the 2.8L 30v (also in other Audi cars late 90's) replacing the terrible 2.6L, what was interesting about it was that Audi tried to match the BMW 2.8L (E36 etc) and ended up with EXACTLY the same HP and Torque as the BMW (193 hp 142Kw) but the Audi engines lasted longer :)
True. The 30V is a neat engine for what it is. Has been serving us well in an AWD B5 Passat Variant for the past 23 years. And although the 2.6 and 2.8 12V engines never made the claimed HP and torque numbers, they weren't terrible either. ✌
Yeah, I guess the BMW engines do eventually blow the head gaskets with the iron block and aluminum head. E46 engines though last forever when maintained.
Nick, this car has the 12 valve SOHC V6 with 172 semi-raging ponies. The 30V never saw use in the C4 A6 in the States. We also never had the 2.6 here in the U.S., just the 2.8.
That's not a 30V its the earlier 174 HP 12V the C4 version of the A6 got both, only the next C5 only had the 30V V6
The power ( in this case 174hp same as 2.8VR6 ) or 193 for 30V same as BMW 24V 2.5 isn't a coincidence, if you look over the years you'll find many similar common power levels , 163BHP diesels are another. I suspect it's linked to Bosch engine managment set ups, but just a hunch
This video made me miss my old C4 2.8 30v avant.
Great review and amazing car. Next you need to review a C4 S4/S6!
A few quibbles; The 'cheap' clunky center stack buttons are anything but. If you feel the quality of those buttons compared to any other car (especially your Civic), you'd have to be a bit biased to not recognize the quality of those buttons. Soft touch, EXTREMELY durable plastic (30 year old buttons often look brand new), the text and icons are 'engraved' from the backside, so there is literally no way to wear off the text of the button, and they are made from black ABS plastic, so even if you scratch part of the button away, it is still black underneath, unlike a lot of buttons that are white underneath a black outer coating.
These bodies generally don't rust. There is only one location that's at risk of rust, behind the front wheels because wet leaves/dirt can accumulate there. Audi mastered the galvanization process in around 1986. Mercedes still hasn't figured it out, just for comparison.
Generally longitudinally mounted engines have a smaller turning radius than transverse mounted cars.
This car might seem similar to the C3 underneath like you said, but it's not. Vastly different engines (this was Audi's first V6), different quattro iteration, it also uses ABS/EDL for the differential instead of manual differential locks, it has nothing in common structurally, nothing in common when it comes to body panels, etc. No shared components either, except maybe bolts here and there. This was a ground up project, and if you look at the history of Audi, the C4 (and D2) was a massive turning point for the company. Yes the B5 was responsible for tons of sales and turned the perception of Audi around in the US (After the 60 minutes faked tests), but the B5's don't have the special quality sauce the C4 and D2 did.
Audi didn't really have any competition when these were new. The Acura Legend was beat by the Audi 100 (C4) in road tests and didn't come in AWD. Their only issue in the US was more anonymity compared to Mercedes and BMW, and like I mentioned what 60 Minutes did.
Aside from a Bentley, Rolls Royce, Maybach, you will be hard pressed to find a modern car that has the build quality of this car. I've been in brand new S classes, 7 series, and A8's, and they still have little noises or cheapness.
And yes once you're in the snow, you will change your tune even further. I've driven trucks, SUV's, Subarus, and nothing compares to the older Audis, especially those with the locking differentials. The trucks were front heavy, the SUV's were stable, but too heavy in general, and subarus were ok, but most of them use a weaker non-mechanical viscous coupling that adds delays when you don't want delays. Plus they are actually much more unreliable than the A6 here.
I have an urs4!!! It’s the same car with a turbo 5. You gotta do a review on the first generation s4 it’s really a different experience
I owned the 1991 12v with "only" 174 CV, a really good car, quiet, fast and all time thirsty...🤣🤣🤣 Good video!!
It’s so gorgeous. When I was 17 I had an 01’ A6 2.8 (C5 gen?) and it was a great car. Did a full suspension overhaul and valve cover gaskets at 200k miles, then I sold it to my landlord who drove it till 240k before it was totalled. 2.8 V6 was gutless but was reliable.
I’d killllll to own a C4 generation.
I had a dark red 1994 Audi Quattro. They were still called 100's. Otherwise the same car . It was a wonderful daily driver for a long commute
oh wow 🇩🇪
One of these is actually my first car. I’m still getting my license as I’m 16 and need to be 17 to get it (currently in driving school). Mine is a 1995 with front wheel drive and the 2.6 V6. Bought it for 3100 euros and it came with 2 years of valid TÜV (strict German inspection). It’s a 1 owner car, the lady that bought it new died in 2013 and her husband sold it this year. Came with all the documentation and books and a fully stamped service book (up to 2022 it was serviced at the dealer that sold it new near Munich). It needs some cosmetics and a little surface rust taken care of but that won’t be a big issue. I’m planning on keeping it and when it becomes 30 years old taking it to classic car events. Gonna get myself a daily as soon as I have my license so that the A6 won’t see any road salt. I’ve driven it on some private property and the automatic transmission (recently serviced) shifts super smoothly and it’s really comfortable. The few downsides mine has is that it basically has 0 options, doesn’t have the modern climate control, no front armrest, manual cloth seats, hubcaps and all that. Only really notable option it has is a power sunroof that actually works perfectly (for now). It’s done 210k kilometers (like 130k miles) and has some typical older cars stuff. Gave me a flashing check engine light that then disappeared and never appeared again (post purchase inspection at our local dealer revealed it’s in perfect mechanical shape)
Those things are bomb proof by comparison with early 2000's cars, my C4 is on 330k miles with no big repairs and you will see these for sale in Europe still with even more miles on. Lower miles S6 etc. are beginning to command serious money compared to 5 years ago but spares are getting hard.
I’ve owned a 1996 (exactly my age) a4 1.8L petrol with quattro traction. The best car I’ve ever driven, you could feel it came from a different era
Have the same car just one year newer. In the five years I've had it I've only seen a handful of cars with the same paint color. Love my c4, gonna drive it to the grave and back
I have an identical one but europa blue on black leather and manual. I swapped my e39 530 out for it. Just as good in some ways and cheaper to drive. Such a proper business car.
To me at least, this is one of the most timeless designs on a sedan ever
Finally you reviewed the car I own😂👍🏼 Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪
my late great best friend had this. remember like in 2006 we were going home after club and run in to big road pothole and front wheel tore off
So fun to watch you drive around in my neighborhood
My uncle had one of these from around 2010 to 2018. A '96 2.6, but it wasn't a Quattro. Loved the sound of the engine, as in, for a luxury car, I think it's perfect. Just a little noise from the V6, while keeping NVH low. I remember some random details, like the front part of the rear side windows doesn't just sit between rubber window trim. It's actually fixed to a rail or something by a piece that looks like an intake/exhaust valve, with the face of it fixed to the window and the stem connecting into the window frame. Headliner was really nice, much nicer in fact than modern Mercedes, like a GLE 450 or a GL. What felt like solid chrome interior door releases, those clicky window switches, narrow door armrests below thick cushioned fabric door trim.
The transmission kind of wanted to lug the engine, putting it as low as 1600 or 1800rpm going up hill, not quite enough torque with 4 or 5 people in the car but very respectable for the numbers it produced - only 110kW (@5,500rpm) and 220Nm (@3,500rpm).
The sunroof also stopped working. It had some engine work done to it in his ownership - new pistons and a few other bits I believe). The indicator stalk also wore out. It wouldn't stay centred, so you'd have to hold it up so it wouldn't continuously activate the indicator. Also got an exhaust leak at one point, and even then it didn't sound bad, surprisingly decent actually.
hands down I would drive this over an Lexus, infinity etc from that era. This is a beautiful car
This is in way better shape than my 2009 A6
It’s not everyday you find a 20+ year old Audi that still works.
That OBD port placed at the absolute back-friendly place!
Audi was ahead of interior design! Still fresh in this time
8:20 Back in the days when it wasn't all about touch screen and led.
I have a B5 A4 wagon that is two years younger than this. I think this has the 24v 2.8 whereas my Avant has the 30v 2.8. Very fun car, certainly can't keep up with modern cars, but it sounds, looks, and drives very fun. Someday I'll have the money and opportunity to buy one of the aftermarket superchargers that was made for it to take it from ~200hp to ~300hp.
What an amazing car. I would drive this if I had the space and a 35 car garage. lol. I had a 2013 A6 and this is real nice.
Love the C4 chassis as well. I had a 93 black on black Audi 100 CS quattro, with the 5 speed manual, and I tinted the windows and put 18" wheels on it. Shouldn't have sold it. Should have kept it and 4.2L V8 or 2.7T swapped it. Also had this 2.8L 12 valve V6 in a 97 A4 quattro. Not the most powerful but ran good and were reliable as long as you changed the timing belt on schedule.
Audi leather seats in the 80s and early 90s were super comfortable and supportive. I love that steering wheel, but it’s essentially the same one that Audi used starting in the 1984 5000S.
absolutely love 90's Audi's
C4 is my favourite Audi generation. Since they came with inline 5, V8 and inline 4 engines it makes the V6 sit far back in the engine bay.
the condition of that car is insane, my 2007 R32 Golf has more wear on the leather wheel then that by a huge margin.
Damn these old German saloon cars are smooooth
True class & luxury
Almost bought a '96 once but it was FWD so I skipped it. Yeah they were rugged, not sure if they still had the diff-lock in these, but I took my '91 200TQ on actual jeep trails by accident, had it up on 3 wheels several times and drove home quite happy afterwards.
I dont understand why they didnt offer the 3.7l v8 as an option in these cars. The C4 S6 had the 2.2 AAN I believe, but still would be nice to have a v8 option. The C5 did offer the 4.2 v8.
Those long tail lights are awesome I love the styling, and that engine bay look almost fake, is amazing
I own a 97' B5 A4 2.8 30V (5 valves per cylinder, the successor to the 12V V6 in the A6 from the video) FWD (unfortunately manual quattros were not sold here) with a 5-speed manual, such an awesome car, i would only sell it to get a B5 S4
The reason this car isn't corroded away is because it has been treated with a thick coat of zinc from factory. Audi started galvanizing their cars in the 1980's with the Audi 80 B3 and the 100 C3. You will not find any rust anywhere - these generations of Audis are most likely the most rust-resistant cars to ever be produced.
If you aren't an old AUDI guy, you should become one.
At last. 90's airbags are the best
This makes me miss my b6 3.0 avant so much 😩 it had the 5 speed zf auto as well
Would you rather have a manual or auto?
honestly hard to say with this one. I think the Auto fits its really well. It's not really sporty and it allows for a seamless and almost mindless limo-like drive
Awesome car and what a survivor. I haven't seen one of these in ages. This must have been well taken care of.
4:26 ooh late 90s Audi chime
Solid sounding doors. Love that about older German car.