2010 Audi A6 2.0L Diesel · NL10 LHX

The 2.0 TDI diesel engine typically returns 45-55 mpg in real-world driving for the A6 saloon, giving reasonable fuel economy for a vehicle of this size. Road tax for a 2010 diesel of this engine size falls in a higher band than modern equivalents — expect around £200-£300 per year depending on exact CO2 figures, though post-2024 changes to VED rates for older diesels may have increased this. Insurance for an A6 of this age sits in groups 30-35 typically, so premiums of £500-£700 annually are realistic for a standard driver.

Maintenance costs are where this vehicle is likely to sting. Audi parts and specialist labour are significantly dearer than for mainstream brands, and the recurring suspension and corrosion issues seen in the MOT history suggest imminent spend. A single front coil spring replacement is £150-£250 including labour, suspension arm bushes add further cost, and subframe corrosion treatment or replacement can run into four figures. Budget conservatively at £1,200-£2,000 per year for routine maintenance and wear-and-tear items on top of any major work.

Overall estimated annual running cost is £2,500-£3,500 once fuel, tax, insurance, and typical maintenance are combined. This is notably higher than the running costs of a comparable non-premium brand saloon of the same age.

Begin with a thorough inspection of the front and rear subframes, which were flagged for corrosion on three separate occasions (January 2025 and both May 2026 entries). Subframe corrosion on a 16-year-old car in the UK is common but, if extensive, can render the vehicle uneconomical to repair — have the car jacked up and inspected from underneath by a professional. The coil springs, noted as corroded on both the May 2026 test and the December 2025 failure, should be checked visually for cracks; failed springs are dangerous and a fail item. Likewise, the offside front lower suspension arm ball joint was flagged as excessively worn in May 2026 and the various bushes were noted in December 2025 — a full suspension overhaul may be due.

Examine the offside front headlamp lens (defective on both December 2025 and May 2026 failures), the offside front direction indicator (not working on both failures), and the offside front bumper damage noted in both failures. These may indicate either unresolved bodywork issues or a recurring electrical fault with the offside front lighting circuit. The CV boot split on the offside front inner drive shaft joint (flagged on both recent failures) is a fail item that, if left, destroys the joint — replacement joint and labour typically costs £200-£350.

Also check the offside front wheel bearing (slight play noted), inspect all tyres for condition and age (the offside rear inner tyre was flagged twice for cuts/tears), and verify the auxiliary belt condition (flagged as poor in December 2025). The engine MIL light was also flagged as inoperative in January 2025 — this is itself a fail item and should have been resolved. Finally, lift the carpets and check for damp or water ingress, as headlamp cleaning device failures can sometimes indicate electrical gremlins.