What was tested? 2007 Audi A6 Sedan 4.2 Quattro AT6 ($55,300).
Options: Technology package ($4,000), S Line sport package ($3,350), front sport seats ($500), power rear and manual side sunshades ($400).
Price as tested (including $720 destination charge): $64,270.
Let's suppose, just for giggles, that you want to rob a bank.
You'll first scout out the right place for your holdup, probably picking one of those stupid banks that leaves the vault open in plain view. You'll carefully plan ahead and create a checklist with everything you'll need to do the job.
Plastic play gun — check.
Black ski mask — check.
Bag for carrying the loot — check.
Getaway car — well, that's not so simple.
You'll need something quick, obviously, but quick cars often attract too much attention, something a fleeing bank robber definitely doesn't want. If you escape in a bright-red Ferrari or canary-yellow Viper, you'll be caught within minutes. What you need is urban camouflage. You'll also need it to be comfortable and roomy for those long days and nights you'll spend running from the FBI on your way to a life of luxury in Acapulco. And besides, people with newfound wealth deserve to splurge a little.
Might I suggest an Audi A6?
This car is definitely fast when equipped with a V8 engine that makes 350 horsepower — a lot more than a Crown Vic cop cruiser. With all-wheel-drive and a sporty, nimble suspension, you'll be out of town and headed for Mexico in no time, aided by a navigation system that might help you avoid roadblocks along the way.
Better yet, its styling won't get you in trouble. The A6 looks classy, as it should with competitors like the BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Unlike the Merc and the Bimmer, though, the Audi doesn't draw much attention to itself. And that's just what you want.
To top it off, the A6's cabin will be a great place to relax after your adrenaline-fueled heist.
With big, deep seats up front and a back seat like a leather sofa, this car will coddle you on your way to the border checkpoint. Thanks to the quiet cabin and excellent stereo belting out "Money for Nothing," you'll be perfectly cool as you bribe the guard.
Then, when you reach your seaside haven, you'll have a car you'll want to keep. You can pull onto the beach every night, roll down your windows and tune the satellite radio to the mariachi channel while sipping margaritas in the sand.
And how much will this getaway car cost you? While the 255-horsepower V6 version starts at $41,950, you'll want to spend $55,300 for the V8. That may seem like a lot of cash, but compared to the Mercedes or BMW, it's a steal.
Pros: You could make the perfect getaway. It's fast, roomy and comfortable, and it looks good without drawing attention to itself.
Cons: We hate to say it, but "I drive an Audi" doesn't have the same cachet as "I drive a Muh-say-dees."
RATINGS (1-10) Style: 9 Performance: 10 Price: 8 Handling: 9 Ride: 9 Comfort: 9 Quality: 10 Overall: 9
