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Comments
Speaking of aftermarket products, oh yeah I agree that it should be no argument that if the CV joint blew they can't blame your chip.....what, cuz it caused the engine to spin the wheels a lot faster during acceleration? LOL. I wish though, Audi has an official aftermarket company, like BMW has Dinan that actually provides a more comprehensive warranty than BMW's if they've done mod work for you. M-B actually sells the finished AMG products.....that's fine with me too if Audi does the same thing.
Samuel70, you can also try asking the 02 A4 owners on www.audiworld.com about their opinions on the 02 A4s.
Billy
The question is...Am I better buying the Loaded VW (W8 excluded) or the semi Base A4?
I drive about 30-36,000 miles per year. Am I better off highway driving with the VW V6 or the Audi 1.8T? I noticed on the 1.8t I tested I was at like 3,000 rpm in 5th doing 60 mph. What's the rpm range going to be at 80 mph?
Need some pros and cons. I'm making my salesman nutso because I almost said ok to the GLX today but wanted to "see" the Audi.
By the way, there's a Joe Hoppen Motorsport, Inc. here in Sarasota. Are there a bunch of them or am I near the only one?
Thanks, (help Meee!!!!), Dave ;^)
The Passat should be bigger than an A4, smaller than an A6 and less money than an A4 3.0 -- and have an 8 cylinder engine to boot!
Hard NOT to at least consider, IMO.
You should really go to www.audiworld.com. They are the experts on Audi, and can answer all your questions and doubts.
I love my car and am thrilled to own it! Good luck!
Thanks
DL
Billy
That really isn't the case here. The Passat has the feeling of a very comfortable family car with exceptional fit and finish. The Audi has a "sportier" feel and corners/handles much better. For roughly the same price, the VW will give you leather, a V6 (although with just a smidge more power than the 1.8T), power seats, and a bit more room (mostly rear legroom). The Audi will give you superior handling, higher grade interior materials, better exterior looks (subjective), included regular maintence, and generally a better dealer/service network.
They are both fine cars. Drive them both back to back if you can.
DL
The new A4 avant looks awesome. I just can't see myself "Buzzing" down the road in a 1.8T with "Leatherette". And to the "Materialistic-Stricken" of the bunch...Yes I can afford a 3.0 but it is not a smart choice due to the fact that I drive 30-36,000 miles per year. It is just simply a waste of money to put that many miles on a nice car like that.
I guess I'm leaning back towards the GLX. Smoother and a better "Family Truckster" (lol). I like the memory seats and other whistles. I need the car for both my business and family.
Maybe someday, when I don't need to tote my business stuff up and down the highway so much I could get and enjoy a sedan with a stick to sport around town with.
Thx, Dave ;^)
I sold my 97 A4 2.8Q and purchased a G35. While I really do like the new A4, especially the cabriolet, I needed something with more back seat room.
I had to get an auto for the wife and something big enough to put child seats in (very difficult in the 97). I was leaning towards the Passat, but when I drove the G35 it was all over. I was very impressed that I could get that performance out of a relatively large vehicle with an auto.
The non-sport package with light color leather and wood really makes the interior look elegant reminded me of my 99.5 A6Q (sold that a while ago)
Anyway with all the new cars coming out you really can’t go wrong just need to find one that is suited for you.
I have had radio issues too. I saw on this board that someone removed the radio fuse (with car off), wiped the contacts and replaced it into the slot and they had no more problems. I have not had a chance to try it, I may do it this morning when I get home from work. Yes, I am a Vampire and it is not as bad working at night as you may think. I'll keep you posted as to my radio adventures.
Brian
Billy
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
First off... I know I'm going to risk sounding very stupid saying this but... I am planning to get a manual because I always told myself that my next car would be a stick... buuut... I don't really know how to drive stick yet... I know, I know, how can I say I love cars and NOT know how to drive stick?!! I've been asking myself that same question. Ok, so, I've asked some friends to teach me, but I know they are all hesitant to teach me in their own cars (and understandably so) or not available to teach me. So the option I seem to be left with is to rent a manual and learn on it very quickly (at least the basics) or learn on my new car! (which is needless to say... ahhh!) I have read on this forum many times that the manual A4s are very easy to drive and very smooth (and a necessity), so I wouldn't mind learning on it, but of course I'd be hurting my new baby! So do you guys have any suggestions? Is it completely horrible to learn stick on my new car?!-- Plus this means I’ll probably have to have someone drive it home for me
Ok, second question I know many of you are in the NW, mid-west, or east coast, but I'm in the Los Angeles area and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with any of the dealerships in the LA area. I’ve called many of the dealerships in Southern California, and even spoke to some in the Bay Area (but of course that doesn’t seem to be better). One of the dealerships I checked out can get me a black/black 1.8tQ, manual with xenons, roof, and sport package. Originally, I just wanted to have xenons and roof (on a budget), but that combo is almost impossible to find without the sport. And after reading many of the comments on this forum it seems that there is a general consensus that sport is almost a “must-have” anyway. So, I decided, maybe I could work it in. So the dealership (Downtown LA Motors) is giving me a good deal, I believe, especially for California. What price is good though? Does anyone know anything about this dealership or if there are any pros/cons to them? Honestly, this is the first time I’ll be going to purchase a car myself, and I’m kind of being very cautious. I don’t want to get my hopes up about this dealership and/or price, and then find out that it’s shady or there are side fees or whatever I don’t know about. Is there anything I should look out for in particular? Also, any comments regarding my option combo or color would be much appreciated.
Third question to all those people who have posted about problems with their A4s (or people who just want to answer anyway), despite problems with the 2nd gear, sunroof noise, trunk, etc. that I’ve read about, are you guys totally happy with your A4s? Like no regrets?
Ok I think that’s it for now. Sorry this was so long, I just want to be thorough with my research before making such a big purchase. And I know that you guys have all been through this before and therefore can lend your experiences to me. Thank you so much! I'll be anticipating your responses!
So to analogize: To get the car moving, you let the clutch pedal up enough while supplying some pressure to the accelerator pedal to slip the clutch slightly until it engages and starts to make the car move. Just as with the rope tow, if you don't slip the clutch slightly and just let it ubruptly engage, you'll kill the engine just as you were thrown off the rope if you didn't let it slip slightly between your hands. The trick is to minimize this "slipping" action as much as possible while at the same time trying to be as smooth as possible while launching the car. The excessive slipping is what wears out the clutch ...to analogize again, if you were to excessively let the rope slip between your hands on the rope tow, you'd quickly burn a hole in your gloves (or your skin if not wearing gloves or mittens *lol*). The engagement point of a clutch can vary by manufacturer and even from car to car so it takes a little adjusting when driving another car than the one you are used to. Changing gears by using the cluch while the car is moving is much easier, of course.
I think it's possible for you to drive your new A4 home directly from the dealership if you've got the principles of the mechanics in your mind. Especially if the terrain from the dealership to your house is flat and you choose a time when traffic is not very busy. Practicing launching the car on a steep hill is something you'll probably want to do afterwards once you've had the chance to get used to the clutch a bit. I read a post over on AudiWorld a few months ago where a guy in the same situation as you're in drove his brand new A4 home from the dealership without ever having driven a manual. I'd probably suggest that you find an relatively empty parking lot or something just to experiment a bit before taking it out on the street, however. I don't think you'll have too much success in finding a rental car with a stick but there might be one somewhere. My personal preference would be for you to talk a friend into letting you drive his/her car around a parking lot somewhere in advance of picking up your new car. Also, clutches can withstand some abuse so it's not likely you'll do a great amount of damage if you excessively slip the clutch or kill the engine a few times.
Concerning options, etc., if you are really cost conscious and you don't need the car immediately, I'd suggest you factory order the car. Most Audi dealers seem quite amenable to custom ordering for their customers out of their allocation. It might be few months before you have your "baby" but you'll have exactly what you want. I'm in the minority here for I don't necessarily believe the sport package in the new '02 A4 is for everybody. The standard suspension is supposedly equal to the pre-'02 sport suspension and with the 16" upgrade would probably be an ideal combination for those who want comfort and excellent handling ...plus, you'll save a few bucks ordering it this way. Xenons and quattro, however, are a must!
As far as LA area dealerships, you might want to join us and pose that question over on the ClubA4 forums for I know there are a lot of Socal members there and also the moderator is from Socal. Click here for the ClubA4 Forums AudiWorld would also be a good place to get input about dealerships and the kind of deals that are being made in your area. I think in California, there are certain mandatory state fees that are tacked on to the final negotiated price so I'll let someone else comment on that. In Washington, where I'm located, nothing but sales tax and license fees are required to be added onto the final negotiated price. However, no matter where you're located, added dealer mark up items such as prep fees, etc., or any second sticker items should be disregarded and/or absorbed into the negotiated price. Use the Edmunds calculators to determine the invoice price and the TMV in your area and be sure you're negotiating from the invoice price up ...in-other-words, as a percentage over invoice price. Use this method consistently as you shop for it's the only way you can accurately compare prices. There is no holdback on Audis so you'll definitely be paying above invoice but how much over invoice will depend on your area's supply and demand. For example, here in Washington state, we're paying somewhere in the 4.5-7.0% range over invoice for A4s.
As you probably know, Audis have free maintenace during the first four years so your maintenance and repair costs will be very minimal during the first few years of ownership. But as you also know, Audis are not rated as reliable as Japanese brands so if you plan on keeping the car for a long time, you'll in all likelihood have repair costs exceeding most Japanese cars. We all know this going in so it's the compromise we're willing to take in having a German made and engineered car which has that certain character that just puts a smile on our faces each time we're behind the wheel. I test drove many Japanese luxury cars before I bought my B5 A4 and none seemed as fun to drive and your car will be even more fun to drive! Yes, there's more of a possibility of things going wrong with an Audi than say a Lexus or Infiniti but I don't regret my decision.
Good luck and if you have any other questions, ask away. There are many more participants here that are much more knowledgeable than I am and hopefully they'll respond too.
--'rocco
First of all, a round of *applause* for Rocco. His 2 cents worth a lot more than that.
I just wanna add something. Knowing how to drive a stick shift car is not a prerequisite for loving cars. My B5 01.5 A4 is a stick but I had not owned a stick shift car before. It'd sound funny, but I learned stick shift from a VW dealer about 4 years ago when I had absolutely no idea I will own an Audi now. After that, it's just on and off stick shift "self-taught" lessons from test driving with friends. Like Rocco said, learning stick shift is not difficult. However, it takes some practice to make it as smooth as automatic. I'd recommend you to drive your new baby home with a friend who knows how to drive a manual car and he/she can give you some pointers on the way. After you start to pick up, you can go practice on your own, starting from a slope, rev matching, etc.. Plus the new clutch needs some break-in anyway *wink*.
I had been to the LA area and DEFINITELY get the sports pkg. The only thing that held me back here in Chicago not to get it was that it comes with summer high perf tires and it lowered the ride height, which means I'd definitely need winter tires and I don't want to be the "Snow Plough of the Back Alley". Over in LA you guys got some nice twists and definitely no snow to worry about. I'd slap myself in the face for not getting it if I were in LA. And yes, definitely Quattro, sunroof and xenons.
About color combo, I LOVE the Dolphin Grey with the Platinum interior. Definitely brings out the classy looks and the brushed aluminum. I would say black/black in LA might be a little too warm under the sun (coworker got a new Passat with black/black and it was TOASTY getting in her car when it was 88F a few days ago), but hey, if you like that color combo, you should get it.
And no regrets whatsoever. To be honest, I wanted a BMW 325ci. However, after looking at the price/value for the money, $5k over the Audi with comparable equipment minus Quattro AWD, I said no. My girlfriend supported me of the idea but warned me that I better don't whine if I don't like the A4 down the road and want to get the BMW 325ci instead. Nope, and in fact, if I were to do it again, I still won't go for the 325ci.
And yes, definitely check with the guys at www.AudiWorld.com. There are quite a large audience from SoCal there and I'm sure you can find more advice from people there.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Billy
Learning to drive a stick is not brain surgery. It does take some coordination between when your right (clutch) foot comes up and when your left (gas) foot goes down. It also requires you to pay more attention to the engine speed. For the first few days, I would recommend driving with the radio off. listen to the engine and get to know it - it will quickly become obvious to you when to shift. You will stall the engine a few (maybe more than a few) times, but that's OK. A few times you will get a loud raspy sound of the gears not engaging properly, and that's OK too. You will get nervous whenever you have to stop on a hill, but after a few stalls, you'll learn to cope. The main point is that there are no doubt many things that you do in life that are harder and more complicated than driving a stick. It's just another skill, one that has been learnable by some of the complete idiots that you see on the road al the time. You are also not going to do any horrible damage to the car while learning. Maybe the clutch will expire a few thousand miles before it otherwise would have - so what?
As far as options, I have dolphin/platinum which I think looks great. The only color I would avoid is anything with the beige interior, which just does not look right with the aluminum accents in the 1.8T. You will have a hard time getting an A4 without a sunroof. I did not get the sports pack, but I live in occasionally slushy Cincinnati and did not want to bother with dedicated winter tires. Despite my comments above, I have an automatic - I've done the stick thing an decided I would rather be lazy. Xenons are grea and make a big difference in visibility. The Premium Package is about $300 and worth it for the autodimming mirrors alone (so as not to be blinded by the headlights of the SUV behind you).
Finally, after about a month of driving it I can say that I love this car, and everyone who has ridden in it has been equally impressed (including my 4 year old:) ). Handling, interor, ride, and comfort are all top-notch. While the car is not cheap by any means, it is an excellent value for the money.
Good luck, hope this helps!
I like most AUDI owners, considerd a BMW 325. Though they to are great car's I found myself a bit disappointed with the test drive. The Bimmers handling was excellent however I found the acceleration to be a bit lacking. I dont know if it's the altitude here (Denver) or what but it needed the turbo boost my A4 has! I also prefer the AUDI interor hands down. I now love all German cars but I think Audi has more to offer for less money than BMW more features+quattro+awsome engineering. BMW has added AWD as an after thought but AUDI'S are made around Quattro from the ground up. AUDI'S the winner in my book! Thanks again fellow AUDI owners.
*Raising hand*
Billy
P.S. Myers12, mine just celebrated her 1st yr anniversary 2 months ago. Running great, 18,800 miles.
I've taught a few people to drive stick before, and I make them do one thing before driving. Put the car in first and, with your foot off the gas, let out the clutch pedal as slowly as you can. At some point the car will start to move. This is where the clutch starts to engage and it is important that you learn where it is. Do this 5 or 6 times so you become familiar with it. You probably want to do this in a parking lot where you can pay more attention to the tachometer than what's in front of you. Now you're ready to drive. Your goal is to have the RPMs at around 1000 when the clutch starts to engage, then you will notice that they are going to drop as the clutch engages. You need to modulate the gas pedal so that the RPMs stay above 1000 RPM but below 2000 RPM until you've completely let the clutch pedal out. Once you can do that easily, aim for a max of 1500 RPM. Once you do that, work on letting the clutch out faster and faster. Now you're ready to drive on the streets, no more than 2 hours after you've first driven stick. If you keep it below 2000 and then 1500 RPM while you learn engagement, clutch wear will be minimal - your friends have nothing to worry about.
I do have a question for those with the 1.8T manual. When cruising at 80mph in 5th, what are the engine RPM? I remember someone saying 4000 or so, but that seemed really high and I didn't know if it was accurate. My Focus is at about 3250 and I think that's high. My bro-in-law's Monte Carlo cruises at 80 at less than 2000 RPM!
Billy
Also, I kind of need to get a car soon because I got into an accident (someone hit me up in Tahoe—my goodness that ordeal was such a hassle) and I need to be able to get around. So, I'm trying not to rush into buying this car as much as I can, (which is why I'm asking you guys a lot of these questions), but I do need the car pretty soon. Otherwise I would think about ordering it too.
When I called the dealerships I did ask for a percentage over invoice, and *I believe* the invoice for this car is $27,126 (according to edmunds) and if so, this dealer is giving it to me for around 4.5% over invoice. I just got the total out-the door price today and that would be just shy of $31,000. Sooo... this is a pretty good deal for California right? No other dealership could give me a price as good as this, at least the ones I've checked so far. Now I just need to decide if I’m really going to do this, and if this is the one I want.
Billy- yeah I do like the dolphin grey (as do many other people it seems), but I kinda wanted to save that color for a different car I want in the future
Rick- do you mean right (gas) foot and left (clutch) foot??
Brian- that's really nice of you to offer to teach me! thanks! and thanks for the details about rpms. That should be very helpful for me (when I convince someone to let me learn on their car!)
Everyone- thanks so much for all your comments and helpful suggestions. I really appreciate all you have to say. And if anyone else wants to add anything, please do. I would love to hear and learn more.
I decided to place an order because I wanted an Avant and there weren't many to choose from--I would have been stuck with a lot of options I didn't want--plus too few dealers seemed willing to negotiate.
Southern California is the place to have the sport package. I wanted it too at first until I found out I'd need an extra set of winter tires.
I think you're going to love this car, and I think it's great that you want to teach yourself to drive a manual. More women should. If you want to be able to, you'll figure it out.
As far as learning to drive stick on a new car, go for it. I learned back in '90 (My wife taught me!) when we bought our first new car as a couple, which was an Acura Integra. The first gear in the Integra really had to be finessed, and I still managed. BTW, I still have the car, and have yet to replace the clutch! This, despite spending a few awkward days learning how to shift gears. The 2002 A4 1.8T gearing is so smooth and the clutch so effortless, that you'll have a much easier time.
One last comment, if you are a stickler for perfection and dust/scratches on your finish bothers you, get Silver. Dolphin Gray is beautiful, but it's almost as bad as dark colors when it comes to showing dirt and scratches. Down side to silver is that you'll have a hard time finding your car in the parking lot. Seems like everyone is buying silver cars nowadays.
Enjoy,
Walt
Good luck!
Billy
I got mine at McDonald and have been happy. Their service dept. isn't as good as Infiniti's (wife has an I30), but still better than most.
I think the 1.8T A4 is faster up here than the 325i is (or at least as fast). I'd love to see a 325i do what I did last summer - myself, one passenger, and a full backseat and trunk full of camping gear (at least a few hundred pounds), doing 85+ up I-70 in 5th gear. I got to Glenwood Springs from Denver in under 2 hours (I think it was about 1 hour 45 min). That turbo hauls a** up in the mountains where normally aspirated engines really lose their giddy-up. And Quattro was outstanding this winter, even with the stock all-seasons.
1) Black on black is very cool looking but brutally hot when it's hot out. We just had 3 days of record +90 degree heat (april!!)here in CT. and I am facing 3 summers ahead. We currently have another black car but with beige leather and I am convinced it makes huge difference in keeping the interior cooler. In the 1.8, Beige looks horrendous with the aluminum trim so that leaves grey which is a nice way to go. As mentioned before dark colors are tough to maintain but I'm ones of those who likes to "detail" so I'd be doing it regardless. Upside of black is it hides what I consider to be a design flaw - the Aztek /Cross Country-like body side molding. What a cheap looking, visually grating, down right poor decision to add this design idea.
2) Sport suspension - as mentioned before consider the fact that Audi admits the current standard suspension is as stiff as the pre "02 models "sport suspension" that's pretty stiff so I'd really drive both types and determine if the extra money is worth it. Not making a judgment call but someone who has never driven a standard is most likely not the most aggressive driver -yet- so maybe the already performance oriented base suspesnion wil be enough. I choose not to purchase the sport because: a) 16" option is enough grip with the already stiff standard susp and quattro b)I did not want to buy snow tires and because truthfully c)the roads where I live are so terribly maintined, potholes, frost heaves etc, that the Sport suspension is an extremely, extremely uncomfortable ride to the point where I might choose not to buy the car if it was the only option offered. Now I must admit that LA is probalby nowhere similar in road condition so maybe itw worth it.
3) Learning to drive a 5 speed - I know that several local driving schools here offer the choice of standard or auto so give a few in your area a call.
4) I paid 4.1% over invoice so I think your geting a great deal to and remeber to alwasy shop at the end of the month - it makes a big difference in price no what anyone tells you.
enjoy
The strange thing about turbo's is that they do indeed seem to be oblivious to high altitude.I've driven cars with far bigger engines over mountain passes and they've doged down big time compared to my A4.I remember someone telling turbo's were originaly engineered for airplanes which might explain their mountain climbing ability.
THANKS
After that, I decided it was worth the money to take a few driving lessons with an unbiased person who could teach me how to drive a stick. I went ahead and did that, bought the Prelude with a stick, and loved it for 12 years. Didn't want to go back to an automatic, but got married and the husband didn't want a stick, so we thought the tiptronic was a good compromise.
I suggest go for at least one driving lesson to see if you like it, and just get down the basic principles. You should have no problems after that!
I have a '00 A4 1.8TQ/Tiptronic and am considering a new CVT when my lease is up. I'm not happy with the mileage on my current A4 (especially considering the ridiculous gas prices and the requirement of premium fuel) and am wondering what real world mileage CVT owners are getting. Audi claims the CVT gets better mileage than the Titptronic. I haven't had a chance to drive one, so am also curious as to acceleration, any tranny lag when kicking it to pass, etc.
Any personal experience with the 1.8T CVT will be appreciated.
I haven't test driven an Audi CVT yet. Did a test drive on the Civic CVT and the acceleration feel is just different. You can see the speedometer climbing and yet you don't feel the acceleration.
Billy
Bad news...no Quattro, not a big issue in Alabama, I would guess.
I believe the CVT is more efficient mechanically than a regular AT, it should get a little better mileage and acceleration. See what they say at Audiworld.com
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Those whom are familiar with my posts in the past know that I'm a proponent of quattro regardless of whether the car will be driven in snow or ice. Anyone who disagees should scroll back and read some of Mark's posts about this subject on this forum and the A6 forum.
Yes, the CVT is 188 lbs. lighter than a quattro with Tip but the gas mileage figures reflect only a one (1) mpg difference in both city and highway figures ...20 mpg city/29 mpg highway for the CVT and 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway for the quattro Tip. I'm getting these figures straight from the AoA web site:
Curb weight (lbs)
multitronic, FrontTrak: 3362
Manual, FrontTrak: 3252
Manual, quattro: 3406
Tiptronic, quattro: 3550
EPA fuel economy estimates²(city/highway)
manual, FrontTrak: 21/29
multitronic, FrontTrak: 20/29
manual, quattro: 21/29
Tiptronic, quattro: 19/28
Personally, I'd gladly give up that one (1) mpg difference for the advantages that quattro affords. I truly believe that quattro should define Audi. Subaru now markets all their vehicles in North America with AWD and I really desire that Audi would do the same. I know I'm not alone with this thought for many Audi enthusiasts have expressed similar sentiments. What's an Audi without quattro??? If I were in charge of running VW AG, the Audi division would produce nothing but quattro equipped cars. I really didn't feel this way until I became an owner of a quattro equipped car. The feeling quattro gives is difficult to explain in writing. It gives me that certain mechanical (?) "oneness" (?) --with the road ...knowing that all four wheels are playing a part in providing motion to the machine. And the feeling that you are glued to the road inspires that certain confidence which I've never experienced in any other vehicle I've owned. Yes, I guess I'm becoming a true quattroholic.
Some other points: quattro, especially here in the NW, traditionally holds its value much more than a FrontTrak would ...almost to the point of making up the extra price you pay for it initially. Who knows if this will continue to be the case with the CVT. The other point is that the CVT is so new in an Audi and such a disappointment when other manufacturers have tried to market it that it is unknown how Audi's will fare as far as reliability, long term driveability and durability. Personally, I'd be nervous about buying one until it is absolutely proven reliable with no adverse longevity concerns. Additionally --even though it's getting much better as advances in engineering progress-- any FWD vehicle will have a certain amount of torque steer in certain situations which can be very annoying. Myself, I don't know if I could ever again own a FWD vehicle for that reason ...you really don't realize it until you do go back to a RWD or AWD vehicle.
You've also probably read over at AudiWorld that the CVT is experiencing hesitation upon initial acceleration. I don't know if this is a widespread problem or if it's just happening on a few select cars but I'd have to assume that it would also be annoying if you happened to get one that did that.
For me personally, I'm a die-hard manual tranny guy. But even if I were considering abandoning manuals, I'd be a little skeptical of the CVT at this point until it has been established and proven reliable.
I just thought I'd give you some food for thought, Denny ...sorry. And flame away folks, I deserve it!
Yes, I'm pitiful ...I'm a quattroholic ...a true quattroholic that needs a manual tranny. *tsk*
sincerely,
--'rocco
Think about it when you launch hard on a FWD car. The front wheels will slip, and the ASR (anti-slip regulation??) on VW/Audi FWD cars will kick in and stop the front wheels from slipping by limiting the power to the wheels.
Now think about it if you have CVT working to your advantage. If you don't have the computer program, you can have the lowest gear possible by the chain, you WILL spin the wheels if you just floor the gas, and you need ASR to stop the wheel spinning AGAIN. What I'd do if i were the engineers is that I will not choose the lowest "gear ratio" by the chain at launch, so at the initial moment you will launch slower but yet without slip. After maybe a second or so, after the computer acknowledged that there's no slip on the front wheels, THEN the chain can change to the lowest "gear ratio" possible and launch the car. That way you don't have two things.....no front wheels spinning and no ASR working. Of course the launch time might be just a tad slower but heck, how many of us launch at every stop light or red light?
I think that's what a lot of CVT owners call a "hesitation" at launch. Just my 2 cents.
Billy
No need to apologize for liking quattro and 5spd or 6spd. That's why we bought the car we did. DRC4, I agree with others that you may want to wait on the CVT and go with Tip. Tip is a proven technology right now, CVT from Audi is at version 1. We all know how version 1 software runs on a computer don't we? :-)
I also agree that quattro is just superb no matter what the weather or driving condition you put the car through. And I have driven or been in many new cars lately and will not go back to FWD, maybe RWD but not FWD. Audi should sell their lineup as an AWD car first. Subaru is really pushing the "The beauty of AWD" ads hard. Audi should take note, because there are fewer and fewer cars with AWD.
My friend just bought a new Maxima SE 6spd. Nice car, fast, and a stiff sport suspension. (Until pushed.) The bad for me is the front end weight causes massive understeer which I don't get because his car is lighter than an A4. Massive torque steer, the VVT technology is nice much like Hondas VTEC but it doesn't kick in until 4000 rpm, and it is too boy racer or California modded looking for me. Especially in the rear end. Some of these issues you will not have due to engine design and quattro. Of course, Audi styling is very understated as well.
So, I would drive as many different versions of the car as you can. One with CVT, one with Tip and FWD, and one with Tip and quattro. Then your decision may be a little easier. Good luck and let us know what you find out and decide to do.
Brian
Turbo vs Inline 6 and
Quattro VS RWD
and resale with SEEMS to give a edge to the 3er.
This is just looking at thousands of reviews not based on facts i have, but Braveheart a owner of both vehicles could make a nice analogy .
My point isnt a X car is better than Y car , just as a consumer i would have to walk right past a FWD'er.
Regards,
DL
That's why it swayed me to investigate the Audi in additional to the BMW, and I'm glad I did.
Billy
Black/black is popular with all the German premium brands,but I very much don't like it. Some must think it "classy',but I think it's a little overreaching,offputting,and sinister.With an expensive car,I think rather plain white with black insides is interesting. Dresses it down a little;minimalistic.
Manual transmission-
I just bought my first stick last year,and I must say it adds much more fun to driving than I'd ever imagined. I am the recently converted,true,but I HEARTILY reccommend it it.
Ironically,though,the new CVT automatic does give one a special reason to go automatic. I'm very impressed with it as a concept.
Sport suspension-
Minority opinion here. As a rule,I'm against them.
The shorter sidewalls of the tires adds fun,but they also surely allow more vibration to come through the car,giving squeakes and rattles as car ages. It would make a small sedan like the A4 a lot more nimble,espicallyin traffic-clogged L.A.,but it adds a slightly jittery,nervous quality. But I'm a cruiser,I admit it.
I need for you to drop me an e-mail at your earliest convenience: pat@edmunds.com.
Thanks!
Pat
Sedans Host
at invoice..
1.8TQ $24,256 325i $24820
freight 645 645
24,901 25,465
yes the 325i computer is a few hundred additional but you get 16 wheels instead of 15 also. difference of $564.00
like i said i was not trying to debate between the cars, i like them both. Just agreeing that you cannot compare a fwd with a AWD or RWD fairly,
Regards,
DL
DL