Photography by ©2016 Ron Avery
Driving up to Monterey Car Week is always so exciting. Anticipating what the events will be like this year, what automotive celebrities will attend and if I could possibly have more fun this year than last. Driving up in a great car only helps.
This year, I was offered a 2016 Audi S6 4.0 T Quattro S tronic. This car was equipped with a 4.0 L TFSI V8 engine producing 450 HP and 406 lb-ft of torque mated to a 7-speed S tronic transmission. Without hesitation I jumped at the chance as it provided me with all the must haves for my transportation that week: a comfortable ride, stylish, sporty, and a large trunk. I always over pack for Car Week simply because you never know what last-minute event invites will come your way. The trunk fit all my over packing and even the items I picked up during Car Week.
Right off the bat, the S6 was extremely comfortable to drive long distance. While I normally love to keep a car in the sportiest mode available, I kept the S6 in Comfort mode almost the entire time. Highway cruising was quiet and smooth. The optional adaptive cruise control worked perfectly for the long stretches of highway and occasional slow traffic. The seats were similar in design to those in the S3 and TTS I had previously and were a welcome place to sit after a long day of events.
While I didn’t have to fill up often thanks to the large gas tank, I achieved decent mileage for a car of its size ranging in the high twenties on the highway and the high teens to low twenties when going from event to event in Monterey.
When I was finally able to try out the V8s true power in Dynamic mode and manual shifting, I was thoroughly impressed. The twin-turbochargers work their magic low in the range (1,400-5,700 RPM) helping the car just fly through the gears and sound so good doing it. Getting to 60 MPH most definitely feels faster than the factory estimated 4.4 seconds (more like under four!) It’s definitely a capable car and can keep up with a good majority of the exotic cars driving around Car Week.
Parking is usually a pain at events especially the track where it’s just a dirt lot. The S6 had a nice feature that I used at least once a day; the Audi adaptive air suspension raises or lowers the car just enough to tackle those difficult parking spots or uneven lots. This and the all-wheel drive system made navigating tricky parking lots a breeze. Additionally, the overhead camera and parking sensors assisted in those hard to see parking stops and narrow spots.
From 2015 to 2016, the quality of my press car to MCW and back has jumped significantly. I’m looking forward to what 2017 will bring!
2016 Audi S6 4.0 T Quattro S tronic:
Base Price: $70,900
Options:
Missano Red Pearl Effect (paint), S6 Sport Package, Driver Assist Package,
20″ Wheel Package, BOSE Surround Sound, Carbon Atlas Decorative Inlays
Price with Options: $79,850
Destination Charge: $925
Total Price: $80,775
Fuel Economy: 18 City, 27 Highway, 21 Combined
