ArcaMax

What good is a high-powered sport sedan if you're afraid to use the thing? The answer to this question is why I found myself liking Audi's mid-sized super sedan more than I liked two of its main competitors, BMW's M5 and the AMG version of the Mercedes-Benz  E-Class, the E63 AMG.

Those two are quicker - and stunning performers, overall. But they are also screamin' Mimi noticeable to any cop within a two mile radius of you. That makes them less fun to drive - or at least, less fun to drive fast. And if you can't drive them fast, often - what's the point?

The S6, on the other hand, doesn't make an overt statement about its capabilities, so you feel much more comfortable running 75 or 80 on the highway - which, let's face it, is pretty much the highest speed most of us ever run for any extended period of time. If Johnny Law turns up around the next bend, well, he probably won't immediately draw down on you. Especially if there's an M5 or Benz E63 AMG running with you. To me, that's worth losing a few steps, 0-60.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

The S6 is powered by a 5.2 liter, all-alloy V-10 that is actually a corporate cousin of the 5.2 liter V-10 engine used in the Lamborghini Gallardo (Audi has a controlling stake in Lamborghini, so there's some in-house sharing of parts and technology between the two brands). But in the S6 the V-10 is a little larger and set up to deliver less high-RPM power (435 hp at 6,800 vs. 512 hp at 8,000 in the Lambo) and more low and mid-range torque (398 lbs.-ft at 3,000 RPM vs. 376 lbs.-ft. at 4,250 RPM in the Gallardo).

Surprisingly, the Audi 's V-10 produces more total torque than the Italian exotic's V-10 (which is what you want in a heavier, automatic-only sedan anyhow). Zero to 60 in the S6 happens in about 5.5-5.6 seconds; the quarter mile is done with in about 14 seconds flat.

This is plenty quick - but not spine-compressingly so. A BMW M5 (or Benz E63 AMG) is much more brutal. The M5 can reach 60 mph almost a full second sooner (4.8 seconds or so) and abuses the speed laws of the nation with 500 horsepower under its hood. But an M5 also has a base MSRP of $82,900 or nearly $11,000 more than the S6's MSRP of $72,350. Even for rich folk, that's no small change. The Benz E63 AMG is an even hairier mutha - 507 hp and asphalt ripping 0-60 timeslips. With a base price of $85,300 it had better be!

RIDE & HANDLING

As with the car's acceleration, The S6 is not the sharpest blade in the drawer. The standard Quattro AWD modulates the power delivery so it's much more controllable; wheelspin, for example, is virtually impossible (even on wet pavement). In the rear-drive M5 and E63 AMG, the immense power hammers the road through just a single pair of wheels (the back ones) and extracting the most performance (vs. burning the most rubber) involves more technique than it does in the Audi - where you just floor it and go. This is a plus or minus depending on what you're after. 

Same in the corners. With the Benz or the BMW, you can be a hooligan and "throttle steer" the thing like a tire-smokin' '69 GTO Judge (though with far better grip and steering precision), tail-out and heroic-looking. The Audi's back end doesn't come unglued nearly as readily. Which is (again) a plus or a minus depending on what you're into.

Body roll is well-controlled, although steering and the feedback you get from the chassis isn't as precise-feeling - especially compared to the M5. And the Audi simply doesn't have the ballistic thrust of the E63 to launch itself out of corners as you transition from brake to gas.

All these cars are firm-riding. None are harsh, though. The E63 and the S6 both feel like 4,000 pound ingots, their cabins carved out of solid metal, then coiffed and cushioned and quieted with the best materials available. The BMW M5 is more rawboned and serious; though it's a luxury super sedan, the emphasis is still very noticeably on the "super" part. (The M5 is also the only one of the three that can be equipped witha manual transmission; both the S6 and the E63 AMG are automatic-only deals.)

And the biggest difference (to me, anyhow) seems to be in things like the seats - cushioning and bolstering - which in the S6 felt just about perfect. My test car had the optional (at no extra cost) additional bolstering, which tucks you in nicely. But this is a very subjective thing; someone who weighs 40 pounds less than I do - or who is four or five inches shorter - might have a different opinion. You've got to try it out for yourself. 

STYLING & UTILITY

It's not obvious that the S6 is a very much-massaged A6. Very much unlike the M5 - which is manifestly not a standard 5 Series; or the E63 AMG - which doesn't require "car guy" credentials to sniff out.

There are subtle differences - for example, the S6 comes standard with 19 inch rims and very aggressive, short sidewall high performance tires. It seems to sit a little lower than a regular A6 - and there are specially finished chrome quad exhaust tips, larger brake calipers - plus S6 badging. But it is all very low-key. And also very tasteful. If it's flash you want, the M5 or E63 will be more your speed.

Inside, you will find an equally tasteful, very high-quality layout that is pretty much a given with any new Audi. The S6 gets trim enhancements such as special stitching for the leather seats, steering wheel and dash, brushed alloy accents and a unique gauge package to monitor the doings of the V-10 up front. The car comes loaded with power tilt-telescoping steering wheel, adaptive xenon headlights, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, Bose surround-sound stereo rig and Bluetooth. Big options include GPS, a sunroof with automatic (solar powered) interior ventilation, windows shades and iPod integration for the audio rig.

The Audi's trunk capacity, at 15.9 cubic feet, beats out the M5 (just 14 cubic feet) by a not-small margin. It also drinks fuel at a slightly less rapacious rate - 14 city/19 highway vs. 11 mpg city, 17 highway for the M5 (and 12 city, 19 highway for the E63). Again, it's a question of being at least a little bit practical - if that matters to you.

QUALITY/SAFETY

At this price point, quality is (almost always) a non-issue. Cars like the S6 are built to very high standards and often over-engineered to the nth degree. You won't find a sub-par bit or piece anywhere. The trunk carpeting/trim is nicer than what you'd find up front in most ordinary cars.

In addition to the electronic stuff - traction/stability control, the high-capacity ABS brakes, the rumpus room number of air bags (including curtain and side-impact bags), the standard Quattro AWD system has to be considered a safety system all its own. An inexperienced or over-enthusiastic driver can quickly get into very deep water in an M5 or E63 - indeed, any RWD sedan with Ferrari-level horsepower under the hood.  You can get in over your head in the S6, too - but it's harder. And even if you do, it's easier to save yourself.  Again, a pro - or a con - depending on who you are and what you want in a super sedan.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

The S6 is a very different kind of sled relative to either the BMW or the Benz. Speed builds quickly, but not as noticeably. Drop the hammer from a standing start in an M5 or E63 and you (and everyone around) will know it. These cars lunge forward like Great Whites going for a surfer chow-down. Tires bark, exhaust roars - necks snap back. In the S6, you hardly realize much is going on; only that the needle now reads triple digits - and climbing. This car has long - but very quiet - legs. It almost feels lazy at 130-plus (the fastest I drove the thing). The V-10 produces muscle car torque as well as high-RPM horsepower, so you can go fast without drama. I liked it a lot.

But what I liked even better is that no one paid much attention - cops included. I drove right by a Virginia State Trooper doing close to 65 in a 55. Nothing. Not even a hard look. Believe me, had I been in a n M5 or E63, it'd have been another piece of payin' paper for me.

You get sick of that after awhile. And come to appreciate the virtues of stealthy packaging - visual discretion. I drove the S6 I had for a week with gusto - as such a car ought to be driven. A few months earlier, I had an M5. It made me feel Doomed every time I took it out - and I drove accordingly. Kinda ruins the fun of it. 

THE BOTTOM LINE

The S6 is not the studliest super sedan, but it may be the smartest. The fact that it is also considerably less expensive sways me, too. People who have money generally aren't dumb with their money - and that $11-$15k price disparity between the Audi and its two main rivals has to be considered.

Young guys in their early 20s may swoon over the M5 and the E63 AMG. But when they're a little older, they may come to realize that putting show and go together often ends up ugly.

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www.ericpetersautos.com or EPeters952@aol.com for comments.