As above really... I'm considering swapping the Octy for a 2007/2008 A6 S-Line with a Multitronic box. Now depending on what you read, theres a load of horror stories but of course, nobody jumps on the internet to have a rant when they're fine.

 

So, does anyone have any real life experience?

I've not heard anything good about them. They're CVTs I believe so that sums it up.

 

I looked at 3.0 TDI A6s but the horror stories I'd read about those gearboxes put me right off.

 

Its only experience in window shopping for them

They are CVT, but only the first generation ones drove like a CVT. More recent cars have fixed ratios that it moves between so you feel like you are driving a traditional auto.

Nissan have copied this design for the new qashqai.

Excuse my ignorance... CVT?

Continuously variable transmission, as used on automatic scooters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuously_variable_transmission

On traditional cvt, if you accelerate hard the revs will rise and stay at the same level and then the gear ratio changes as the car picks up speed which can feel a little odd in a car.

Pretty sure thats the box in a friends parents A6 (2005 MY?) 3.0tdi. Goes like stink (for a barge) and had done 120,000 miles without issues, still drives perfect. 

The multitronic only comes in an A6 with front wheel drive. Not the quattros. They have a tiptronic box, which is a 6 Speed automatic with a torque converter. 

The multitronic can give a lot of problems, is still the weakest of the available gearboxes.

 

It can be combined with the smaller engines. Which A6 are you looking for?

The newer the A6 the better the multitronic.

Looking at a (C6?), 2008'ish so pre-FL as well (I think). Theres a cheap 2.0 TDI near me but theres a newer, slightly higher mileage Quattro 2.7 TDI with more bells and whistles fora  bit more. Looks absolutely stunning though. Might go and look at the cheaper one this afternoon to just check it out size wise etc.

I had a A6 2 ltr Tdi multitronic in about 2009 as a courtesy car for a couple of days. I didn't like it much to be honest as it lacked finesse compared to a tiptronic box, or even a DSG. Slow witted and never seemed to settle in a gear in give and take traffic. It may have been because I wasn't used to an auto then. On the other hand, The 2.7 is a peach of an engine...

My Dad has had three multitronic boxes, loved them. Zero issues with his.

The 2.7 is the most reliable engine of all diesels.

And Quattro means tiptronic and no multitronic.

So if the price is right and it has got the goodies you want, test drive it and decide.

But be carefull the options list on an Audi is huge and there are a lot of options available.

If possible try to find a face lift C6 (4F). Production started the end of 2008 (september).

Easily recognised by its LED drls.

Quattro means AWD actually.

http://www.audi.co.uk/audi-innovation/our-technologies/quattro.html

Anyway, the multitronic boxes aren't nice to drive, very sluggish.

Tiptronic is better (I drove the new RS 6 with one and it was pretty good).

S-tronic I think are even better. My car has this (being replaced next week at a cost of 10k) and I love the shifts.

Edited 10 November, 201312 yr by Nicky boy

I think what magic meant that with Quattro the auto is a tiptronic rather than Quattro indicates auto gearbox.

I have driven an RS 6 and quite liked the gearbox, but I am sure to get the best out of the permutations available you need to spend longer in it than I had. Enjoyed driving a S4 as well, although whilst liked the sound of the previous V8 version better, the V6 is more efficient.

Ah ok.

Where did you drive the RS 6?

I have been fortunate enough to drive quite a few fast Audi's through the generosity of a friend. The RS6 was the V10 biturbo Avant in which I had about an hour on local roads, ditto the R8 V8's ( manual and original robotised manual - forgotten what they called that but is wasn't a patch on the S-tronic) and the V10 S-tronic. Never on a track or on motorways so driven with restraint

Edit, also driven the V8 and V6 S4's, both Avants.

Edited 10 November, 201312 yr by Bristolf2b

Ah, I was talking about the new RS 6 being a tiptronic. I got to drive that and the R8 V10+ at Milbrook proving ground last week. Had 150mph with 4 people on board and 162mph out of the V10+.

Also drove loads of other things but a lot of the S cars I found quite boring. You get used to more when you've got it and what you used to think was fast no longer is.

A friend of mine has an A6 with multitronic, so far he knows all Audi dealers in a 100 mile radius of Liverpool as it has been nothing but trouble it is now known as MULTICHRONIC and that is the name the Audi garage gave it!

2.7 quattro manuals are rarer than unicorn dung

There are a few 3.0 Q manuals about but not many at all.

I also read enough about multronic boxes to scare me off when I was looking.

I sort of know what you mean in a much lesser way. My previous car was an A4 3.0 Tdi Quattro manual which I drove for 4 years and you do get used to the pick up of a large capacity motor with a lot of torque until it becomes 'normal'

Edited 10 November, 201312 yr by Bristolf2b

Hmmm. OK, this and other stuff I#ve read has put me right off! So now the choice is 3-series or maybe a FL vRS with DSG.

Good choice.