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Car Report: The Audi A6 TDI — a diesel that still runs great

By Mike Parris

WASHINGTON — The Audi A6 midsize luxury sedan offers a good-looking car with a large interior and either a turbo four-cylinder engine or a sweet supercharged V6. But would a 3.0 TDI clean diesel engine detract from the sporty luxury car that the A6 really is? Could I lose the gas engine and live with a diesel?

Driving the Audi A6 TDI Quattro was a surprise. With 240hp, I wasn’t expecting much, but diesels pack a lot of torque — 428 ft-lbs. will throw you into the back of your seat. The nice 8-speed automatic kept the power in check and very smooth.

I really liked the power; I didn’t miss not having a regular gas engine at all. You really couldn’t tell that my A6 was TDI save for the large TDI clean diesel lettering on the side.

It was quiet both inside and outside the car — no smoke or smell, like the diesels from years ago. I liked how smoothly it ran, and the fact that I got great gas mileage. I got more than 37 mpg for my 50-mile trips.

Even using it as a commuter car, I was near 30 mpg, thanks to the stop/start feature that shuts down the engine when the car is stopped. When you take your foot off the brake, the car restarts.

The brakes are very good and the all-wheel-drive system will get you where you need to go.

My tester was smart-looking — a prestige model that adds aggressive S-line exterior treatment from the 420hp Audi S6. My tester also carried the sport package, with nice-looking 20-inch wheels and sport suspension, which gives the A6 an aggressive stance.

Also, the Audi came with the Driver Assistance Package, which includes a nifty adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go you set, and the car’s cruise control will do the rest. But those options plus a few more take a $57,500 A6 TDI close to $66,000.

The interior is just as nice as the exterior, with comfortable heated and cooled leather seats and plenty of room for five adults or two car seats and adults in the back. I really liked the ash wood trim — it warmed up the big A6 TDI interior. I drove nearly 400 miles, and the car got more comfortable the longer I drove it. I found Audi’s MMI touch — which controls the NAV, radio and climate control — takes some getting used to, but it got better the more I played with the system.

I couldn’t get the hang of the climate control until I visited my local Audi dealer, where Scott, an Audi brand specialist, set me straight in less than a minute.

After spending a week with the 2014 Audi A6 TDI Quattro, I came away impressed. It might cost a few grand more, but if you do some driving, that extra initial cost could save you when it comes time to fill the tank only every 600 miles or so. I now see why Audi is putting clean diesel in a luxury sedan, because, unless you need a 420hp V8 S6, this Audi A6 TDI diesel is efficient and still powerful enough to help forget the normal gas engine.

Editor’s Note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI ,FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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