Audi A4 (B6) is the second generation of compact cars from the eminent automaker. This generation was introduced to the public in 2000. Serial production of the model began a year later. Audi A4 (B6) was available in sedan, station wagon and convertible versions. The exterior style of the car echoes the style of the older model of the same generation - Audi A6.
Body
The body and, accordingly, the interior of the Audi A4 (B6) has become noticeably more spacious when compared with its predecessor. Thus, in length the car grew by almost 70 mm (body length - 4547 mm), added a little more than 30 mm in width of the car (body width - 1766 mm), and the body also became almost 15 mm higher. The thickness of the metal does not raise questions.
The body is fully galvanized, the factory warranty on corrosion (or rather, on its absence) is ten years. The supporting body is made of stainless steel with additional aluminum elements. This improves performance, reduces vehicle weight and provides additional protection against corrosion.
Security
In this regard, the Audi A4 (B6) is good, it has all the necessary set of modern passive and active safety features. There are driver and passenger airbags, side “curtains” to protect the head of the front and rear passengers, the driver, seat belt pretensioners.
The car also has an electronic stabilization and directional stability system for the vehicle, and an emergency brake booster is also built in. We will say more about this below.
Engine and transmission
The model was equipped with gasoline and diesel engines. Among gasoline engines there are in-line four-cylinder power units, V-shaped engines with six or eight (on models of the S4 series) cylinders with a modern electronic control unit. If we talk about diesel engines, then among them there are in-line four-cylinder, as well as V-shaped six-cylinder. The performance of the Audi A4 (B6) with any engine is good. The motors are perfectly balanced and tuned.
There are A4 models of this generation with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. If we talk about the version of "4x4", they are additionally marked Quattro. On the four-wheel drive cars put the center differential, which is called Torsen and is additionally equipped with an automatic locking system.
Depending on the modification and configuration of the machine, a five-speed or six-speed “mechanics” or “automatic” (Tiptronic or Multitronic) was installed in it.
Running
The chassis of the Audi A4 (B6) is made of aluminum alloy, which provides excellent dynamic characteristics of the car and extremely high precision driving.
The front suspension is independent, multi-link. The rear wheel suspension is equipped with trapezoidal levers. The beam is made of steel, the levers are made of aluminum. This suspension configuration is characterized by reduced weight and reliability. It is noteworthy that this suspension allowed to get in the car a low floor in the trunk with its sufficient width (on front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive).
The steering gear is rack and pinion, the hydraulic booster changes the load depending on the speed of the car. The steering column has a number of adjustments. Spare parts for the Audi A4 (B6) are freely available, they are often available in stores, due to the prevalence of the model. Affordable prices. You can always pick up analogues of original spare parts.
The brakes
The machine has a hydraulic brake system with two circuits, ABS has an electronic brake force distribution (EBV) system, which is additionally equipped with a vacuum booster. Front mounted brake discs with additional ventilation, rear - drum brakes.
The car was equipped with a stability control system on the road - ESP, which in turn combines ABS, ASR, EDS and EBV. We already said above that there is an additional amplifier for emergency braking - BAS.
Audi A4 (B6) reviews
The car is popular. Buyers love and appreciate it for its reliability and maintainability. Judging by the reviews, many repairs can be carried out independently, without going to specialized service stations, if you have certain skills and tools. The device of the car is quite simple and reliable.
The reviews praise the electrical part of the machine, which is also distinguished by reliability and durability. But it is worth noting that in the same reviews, motorists indicate that the electrical part of the car is quite complex. If rare problems arise, then self-repair is almost impossible. The help of a qualified specialist with professional diagnostic equipment will be required.
In general, the car is reliable, inexpensive to maintain and with a strong body. This model should be considered as one of the options when buying a car.
Total
Audi A4 (B6) is almost a legend. In total, more than 700,000 sedans and over 400,000 station wagons were sold during the production of this model. This should tell you something, because not every car reaches the million mark in sales. The machine is in demand all over the world. The buyer loves and appreciates the A4 (B6). This is a classic of the automotive industry of our time, when manufacturers still tried to make very high-quality cars that pass more than a million kilometers without problems and are not stuffed with modern, expensive and extremely complex electronics.
It's a shame when you see the tuning of the Audi A4 (B6), which in the circles of car enthusiasts is usually called "collective farm". Perhaps this situation is observed due to the availability of the car to the young generation of motorists due to the low market price. But there are among the owners of this model true connoisseurs (and most of them) of the classics of German automotive industry of those years!