Models · Audi
Audi S6 C6 buying guide
The C6 S6, built from 2006 to 2011, uses a 5.2-litre V10 with direct injection, quattro four-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic, in saloon and Avant forms. It's a fast, understated car, and its known faults are mostly about maintenance and the engine's age.
The versions
- 5.2 FSI V10, naturally aspirated with direct injection, 435PS
- quattro permanent four-wheel drive with a Torsen centre differential, biased to the rear
- 6-speed Tiptronic torque converter automatic with paddles; no manual was offered
- Saloon and Avant bodies, with a mild facelift in 2009
What to check on a C6 S6
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Smooth running at speed
What to look for: On the test drive, hold a steady speed on a main road and then accelerate firmly through the mid range. Feel for hesitation, flat spots or uneven running, and note any engine warning light.
Why it matters: The V10 has variable-length intake manifolds, and the parts inside them are known to break up. The symptoms are running problems that show up at speed rather than at idle. Replacement manifolds put it right.
A rattle on a cold start
What to look for: Ask for the engine to be completely cold when you arrive, and listen at the front of the car for the first few seconds after it starts. A brief noise as oil pressure builds is normal; a rattle that carries on is not.
Why it matters: The V10 has four timing chains at the back of the engine, against the bulkhead. The chains themselves are durable, but the plastic guides and tensioners can wear, and reaching them is a major job. A quiet cold start is reassuring.
Carbon build-up and the intake
What to look for: Ask whether the intake valves have ever been cleaned, and look in the history for it. On the drive, note whether the engine feels as strong as you'd expect at the top of the rev range and whether it idles evenly.
Why it matters: With direct injection, fuel no longer washes over the intake valves, so carbon builds up on them over time and costs power and smoothness. A full clean means dismantling the intake. Evidence that it's been done is a sign of a car that's been looked after.
Also in the full guide
- Misfires and the injectors
- Exhaust leaks
- Gearbox fluid and how it shifts
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the C6 S6
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Audi.