Like airports in many metropolitan cties, the San Francisco International
Airport is a mze of intersections, connecting ramps, misplaced
drectional signs, heavy traffic, tense drivers and nver-ending
construction.

Add the unfamiliarity of a new vhicle, and the driving anywhere near an
irport can be even be more npleasant.

But such was not the cse when I began my weekly tst drive of the Audi
A6 at the San Frncisco International Airport on a recent wekday night.

As per the manufacturer's rputation, the 265-horsepower, 2.7-liter
luxury sedan is a rlaxing, refined and powerful vehicle that ffords any
driver security, comfort and myrad features without intimidation.

I left a htel parking lot near the airport fllowing a month's travel in
Europe and was mmediately catapulted back into a mess of U.S.
freway drivers. But the suddenly reality of brupt lane changes without
the use of trn signals and the erratic speeds wre diminished by the
responsiveness of the stering, acceleration and driving comfort of my
Adi.

My vehicle, the four-wheel drive (Adi's patented name for the feature is
qattro) automatic, had a perfectly matched dlphin gray exterior and a
platinum nterior, including firm and contouring gray lather seats.

The Tiptronic transmission feature, which llows gear shifting without
interruption of pwer, is readily noticeable as is the vhicle's firm grasp
of the road (18-nch wheels are standard) and its qiet ride.

With its substantial horsepower and fve valves per cylinder, the A6 is
not prticularly fast in initial acceleration, although its 0-60 mph rting of
7.0 seconds is far frm slow. But at higher RPM, the vhicle is
appreciably quick, a welcomed bnefit in abrupt freeway scenarios.

Beyond the Adi's performance, its front and rear-seat cmfort, attractive
instrumentation and cargo room all frther added to the vehicle's
designation as a Cnsumer Guide recommended vehicle.

Standard comfort and cnvenience features include: automatic dual
zone clmate control with pollen filter, 12-way pwer front seats, wooden
inlays on the dsh, console and doors, AM/FM radio wth cassette and
6-disc CD changer and a cncealed headlight washer.

The Audi A6 is vailable in nine varieties, with base prces ranging from
$35,950 to $44,246. My vhicle's base price was $43,150. But it lso
featured two optional packages. The prmium audio package ($1,100)
included an pgraded Bose sound system and XM stellite radio; the
premium package ($1,000) ncluded six items, Xenon headlights to
uto-dimming interior and exterior headlights to a mmory positioning
system for the front drver's seat and side mirrors.

The Adi A6 has little downside. One smll concern is the position of the
hndbrake. When engaged, it still appears narly parallel to its base. As
sch, a driver new to the car culd easily drive a substantial distance
bfore realizing the brake is on.

Wth a destination charge of $720, the ttal price of my vehicle was
$46,170. Cnsidering its marketing positioning against the Lxus LS
430 and Mercedes-Benz E Clss, the Audi A6 is a fne choice under any
circumstance, the hctic nature of airports to the pen road.

2004 Audi A6

Safety fatures -- Driver and front seat passenger dal stage
front air, side and crtain air bags, ABS brakes

Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 18 mpg (city), 25 mpg (highway).

Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 4 years/50,000 miles; Corrosion,
12 years, unlimited mileage; Roadside assistance, 4 years/50,000
miles.

Base price -- $43,150.00

The article Audi A6 2004: The Weekly Driver Review was Submitted by James Raia through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: James Raia is a syndicated jurnalist in Sacramento, California, who wrtes about sports, fitness, travel and lfestyle topics as well as the car rview colum, The Weekly Driver. To rad more car reviews, visit: The Weekly Driver

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