Audi A4 Avant vs. Audi A3 vs. Subaru Outback
mamadadapaige
Member Posts: 35
in Audi
hope this is in the right place... couldn't find a spot for A4 Quattro Avant (just A6).
Looking at something big enough for two car seats in the back, but tired of looking like every other soccer mom in a giant SUV. Went the minivan route already... liked all the function but not the form.
I sat in an A3 today. I absolutely LOVE it!! but my husband can't justify the price for it in Quattro ($37K). He says for that money we should be looking at the A4 Avant Quattro. We also looked at the Subaru Outback which seems to be an amazing value especially as compared to the Audi's. I clearly prefer the Audi but at $10K more than the equivalent Subaru it is hard to process.
Could anyone offer some guidance?
Also looked at the BMW 3 series wagon, but it is so low to the ground it was difficult to get in and out of... also wasn't fond of the conveniently placed ashtray as compared to the cupholder in a spot that basically wouldn't allow its use (the cupholder is sort of an issue for me, particularly after driving Japanese cars for so long).
THANKS!!
Looking at something big enough for two car seats in the back, but tired of looking like every other soccer mom in a giant SUV. Went the minivan route already... liked all the function but not the form.
I sat in an A3 today. I absolutely LOVE it!! but my husband can't justify the price for it in Quattro ($37K). He says for that money we should be looking at the A4 Avant Quattro. We also looked at the Subaru Outback which seems to be an amazing value especially as compared to the Audi's. I clearly prefer the Audi but at $10K more than the equivalent Subaru it is hard to process.
Could anyone offer some guidance?
Also looked at the BMW 3 series wagon, but it is so low to the ground it was difficult to get in and out of... also wasn't fond of the conveniently placed ashtray as compared to the cupholder in a spot that basically wouldn't allow its use (the cupholder is sort of an issue for me, particularly after driving Japanese cars for so long).
THANKS!!
0
Comments
I'm assuming that you are looking for a car equipped with an auto trans. In this area the A3 has a technically superior transmission (formerly call 'DSG' but name changed to 'S-Tronic'). How well this transmission will stand up over time is yet to be determined.
If you are looking at the two liter engine, then it's a draw other than by virtue of being slightly lighter, the A3 will be a little quicker.
Both cars are capable of extremely wide variations on gas mileage. City driving during winter can result in less than 20 mpg. But on a recent trip (to the Mid-Ohio Driving School
In Quattro versions, the A4 has a Torsen center differential, which has proven to be very reliable and trouble free. The Haldex system on the A3 Quattro is, in my opinion, a step down.
The current generation A4 seems to be exceptionally well made. Whether this will translate into a better long-term repair record remains to be seen. My current '06 A4 is approaching its first birthday and I have yet to have a single issue with the car... not a squeak or rattle. And did I mention the car handles great?
So my nod goes to the A4
But I can't help on the Outback. The only Subaru that I've driven is the WRX STI, which probably isn't the best kiddie hauler.
However, if you tend to drive your cars until the wheels fall off, the Subie would seem to be the safer choice. It's not that Subie wheels never fall off, but when they do, they probably cost less than Audi wheels to re-attach.
The current Subarus have fared very well in crash tests. (I didn't look at Audi's results, they may be equally good.) If you tire of the car, I think you'll find Subaru has better resale value.
Good luck with your decision.
Jim
The Subaru WRX also comes in a hatchback version. That would get you and the kids around quickly!
I've not driven the A3, but I think they are too small for 2 kid seats and in my opinion, they are too closely priced to the A4's when optioned up. For mid $30's, go the A4 route. I'd go with the VW GTI for low $20's before I went for the A3. They are very close to being the same car underneath the surface (which I happen to like better on the GTI anyways).
Audis also have very good crash test ratings. The A3, A4, and A6 are all silver rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Legacy and Impreza grab the gold.
As for resale value, I do know that my previous Audis have done better than I expected. But maybe my expectations were low :P.
Oh, another factor to consider is dealer support. A crummy dealership is a deal breaker for me. Mine's been extremely easy to work with. My present car was a factor (uh.. make that 'factory') order, verbal agreement, and no money down. Didn't hand over a cent until I picked up my car at the exact price previously agreed to. You can bet I'll be going back to that dealer. Just wish it was to pick up an RS4.
The A4 is quieter, has incredible braking, gets better MPG, is quicker, and the Xenon headlights are to die for.
In NORMAL public street driving, there is no useful difference in handling. The Subie handles VERY good at the traction limit, even if it does lean alot. It's easier to take the Subie to that limit, than it is the A4 to it's higher limit. (We are talking racing speeds/g-forces here.)
The A4 has a better radio. The A4 has worse speakers. The A4 rides much more harshly. The A4's 'climate control' wants to do things IT's way, not YOUR way. The A4 seats belong in a Yugo.
I drive the A4 to work in summer, and the Subie in winter (with a set of wheels and Bridgestone Blizzak tires). I also drive the Subie to the store on the weekends. Every time I drive it, I say to myself "I LIKE this car!".
My Subaru dealer is great, and I trust them. My Audi dealer is the progeny of Satan, and I expect hell to erupt from their lot any time, now.
I don't think it was a wise expenditure of money to get the A4, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime splurge. I will NOT buy another Audi, but would buy another Subie today (and almost talked my spouse into getting one).
Do a VERY complete background check on your Audi dealer(s) before buying from them!!
just to confuse matters even more, we stopped by a Mercedes dealership yesterday and drove around a 2004 E320 4MATIC wagon... oh my, what a car... almost too much car for at this point in my life. if only I were 5 years older.
It only had 11,000 miles on it and looked brand new. It is really a little beyond our price range though. They are asking $43,000 -- haven't a clue of what they might be willing to come down to.
The experience got me thinking of the other cars though. It would be so nice to be in a plush car. I think the Subaru Outbook is the most practical choice, I am just having a hard time getting excited about it. These nicely appointed European cars certainly have a good feel to them!
Sorry about that!
I believe that you probably meant 'Outback'.
Well of course you did.
Anyhow, do you live in an area that 'features' deep winter snow or do you plan to drive to such locations? If not, the Subaru Legacy wagon would provide better emergency handling by virtue of a lower center of gravity. Those extra few inches of Outback ground clearance come with a price in the handling department.
In closing, it looks to me as if you should try to go on a few more test drives before you do the deal.
Best of luck...
Byron
yes, we get lots of snow in the winter. We are in New England. We have a ski house that we travel to on the weekends up North so I would like something that has AWD.
Incidentally, the reason I am looking for a new car is that my car (which was only 7 months old and was purchased new from the dealership) was stolen right out of my driveway while we slept. We live in one of the safest towns but still this happened... I am still a little shocked.
It is totally infuriating because I think we are going to take a huge hit on depreciation if the car is not recovered which at this point is unlikely as it has been a couple of weeks (the insurance company requires us to wait 30 days before calling it a total loss). At this point, I am sort of hoping they don't find my car even though it will be a great financial loss as I can only imagine what it looks like. :sick:
Kid down the road skipped his lithium and decided that he should drive to Montana in search of dental floss. Got picked up about 100 miles west of my place.
Anyhow, you really could use the AWD. Both the Audi A4 and the Legacy/Outback have very good AWD systems and in your case you just might need the Outback's extra ground clearance.
Hey, but just stay away from that $$$ used Mercedes
It is nice to hear so much support for the Subarus as the Audis will be a little pricey for us - not to mention the used Mercedes (here is the small world part of the story: when at the dealership, they gave us a Carfax report on the mercedes which revealed the former owner, who happens to be just down the street, literally 100 yards down the road - same small street in the same small town. I plan to ask him about the car - only has 11,000 miles on it - it is a 2004, but the reality is that the car is too nice for us - the rugs are off white - my kids will have this absolutely stunning car looking like a mess after one ride in it).
However, I lived for years in the Boston area and I probably engaged the 4WD on my truck a half dozen times each year; in snow country, they know how to get the roads cleared quickly. In fact, I always noticed that most of the cars stranded on the side of the road on snowy days were always SUVs, no doubt driven by drivers who thought 4WD was a substitute for common sense (ie, you don't try to drive the speed limit in the middle of a snow storm, no matter what kind of vehicle you have). The 2.0 A3 is a hoot to drive and can easily be had under $30k.
A couple of other vehicles worth a look might be the Mazda CX-7 which is a very nice package for the price and the Infinity FX35. Both are available with AWD. And you could check on some used Audi A4s or A6s as well. Depreciation tends to be high with most Audis so you might be pleasantly surprised at what you could afford.
Good luck.
thanks for the advice.... funny you say that you are not sure what is most important to me, because neither am I.
I drove a Toyota Highlander for 5 years, loved it! - loved the car like feeling to it. We bought a BMW X5 - I hate it. It takes quite a lot of strength just to open the door. Forget about trying to back out of the driveway one handed - it takes two hands to turn the steering wheel. The way it drives is very heavy (my husband loves it though - he thinks it is a driving machine, particularly on the highway). We traded the Highlander for a Sienna after I had my second child. I thought I needed more space, and it was nice having all of those bells and whistles, but I live in a small town and getting the minivan in and out of parking spots and in and out of my parking spot (which really isn't big enough for the minivan which was 200" long) proved tricky.
Since the car got stolen we have this little tincan rental, a Chevy Aveo... driving this around after driving the minivan has been SO freeing... I love the quick zippiness of it and the turning radius is truly AMAZING!!!
So, I like the way it drives, but from a practical standpoint, I want something safe, and bigger to accomodate the kids, but not anything nearing the size of the minivan. I need the AWD mostly to get out of my driveway in the winter. It is gravel and steep, and our former non-AWD cars could never make it up the driveway because it gets slicked over with sheer ice in the winter.
Here is a list of the cars I am currently considering (with their length in inches next to the name), not counting the ones you mentioned above which I will look into (I am incredibly open minded about what to get and truly appreciate any thoughts you can pass on). I seem to be adding/deleting cars from my list daily... it is an ongoing thought process of balancing my desire to zip around town, with the reality of my life as a stay at home mom toting around kids and gear.
Toyota Highlander 184.6
Acura MDX 188.7
Lexus RX 330 186.2
Mercedes E320 wagon 190.9
Subaru Outback wagon 188.7
Audi A4 Avant 180.5
by the way, I have been told while shopping, that the Highlander and MDX are undergoing a remodel for 2007 which will feature that rounded (space age) look such as the Subaru Tribeca, Audi Q7.... not sure how keen I am on this look. Wondering if the last model year of the older style will hold its value better in terms of trade in/resale down the road. The Infiniti FX35 has that rounded look as well, but for some reason is more appealing to me.
I loved the look of the Lexus RX330... really nice finishes in the car and very plush. My husband thinks it is silly to pay extra for this. He thinks it is a dressed up Toyota Highlander. I, on the other hand, enjoy the dress that said Lexus is wearing...
I also thought the MDX seemed a little nicer inside than the Highlander and there are more standard features included.
We'd be buying a used Mercedes, Lexus, and Audi, but could do new in the Subaru, Highlander, and new or used for the MDX. Not sure how to weight this in my decision making as with the previously owned certified vehicles, someone else took the big depreciation hit and you (in some cases) get the extra long warranty which carries you beyond the period you would get if you bought the same car new.
On the other hand, there's nothing like a new car!!
Now, as for your list:
1)Highlander is a minivan masquerading as a SUV-never like the car.
2) Lexus 330: just a more expensive version of the Highlander
3) MDX is a good car, but the seats are not comfortable for long trips. The leather seats are very hard. The biggest knock on the MDX is the Honda Pilot which is essentially the same car for MUCH less money. IMHO, the Pilot is the best large car like SUV for the money. I like this car alot!
4) The redesigned RAV4 is pretty big and deserves to be on your list. The V6 is very powerful and available in AWD. Gets decent gas mileage and takes Regular gas!
5) A4 is a good car and we would be looking at it if we needed that much space. Wife likes the A4 sedan. Definitely worth a look. The Audi takes Premium gas, but the 2.0T is generally regarded as a great engine and you get pretty good gas mileage.
6) No opinion on the MB other than that you could probably do better for the money. IMHO, value and MB tend to be mutually exclusive.
7) Subaru offers less luxury than the rest of your list and probably isn't quite as refined. But good car for the money.
Just my opinion, hope this helps
here is where i stand currently...
test drove the RAV4 today: I love it!!! first we tried the 4 cylinder -not very powerful, so we tried the V6 Sport - it was an entirely different experience. The turning radius is fabulous. It felt "zippy" which is what I am after. I definitely think there is enough cargo space.
At this point, I am between the Acura MDX and the RAV4... the MDX is closer to what I am used to and also more money. The RAV4 would make me feel younger (which is never a bad thing). I intend to look into the 3rd row seating option on the RAV4 which I understand is tiny, but my kids are little and I think it would be useful to have so it might work...
thanks so much for suggesting the RAV4 - it really does have everything I am looking for. It reminds me of the Audi A3 but at a fraction of the cost and also more practical.
the only problem is I hate paying full retail. I love the idea of getting a last day of the month / year end model type of deal - that's what we usually do. I doubt they'll give away the RDX's.
1) The Pilot is much more pedestrian looking than the MDX, but they are essentially the same car. The Pilot is much less money.
2) The only problem with the RDX, from what I have read, is that the Mazda CX-7 is pretty comparable, but costs much less. Hate to add another car to your list, but the CX-7 deserves your consideration if you are thinking about the RDX.
Just have to decide what is important to you
Try, you might like them.
Krzys
PS Ice covered steep driveway needs winter or witer ice tires, AWD helps but may not be enough.
I have driven the GT and the A4 and they are both fantastic driving cars. The Audi feels more solid and well, German and its mid range torque is super. The GT is faster and feels lighter and is a bit more nimble but does not quite feel like a luxury car. A big difference is gas mileage. The 2.0T is an amazing engine as it gets 22/31 (better without Quattro) - and as someone mentioned, does not have to be revved so may get even better real world numbers. The Suburu gets awful mileage - 18/25 - which is a real shame. Couldn't they just dial it down to 220 HP and get decent gas mileage? A nitpick on each car. The A4 has a throaty rumble when one accelerates. While many may like it, I prefer a quiet engine. The Suburu does not have a lot of headroom.
The only other car that seems comparable is the RAV4 6 cylinder. Unlike all the SUVs discussed, it is nimble, quick and gets good gas mileage. It will not have the sports car feel of the GT and the A4 but it has more space. The RDX, CX-7, MDX and FX series are fast but somewhat lumbering due to their weight and height and girth, have little USABLE space (except the MDX) and all get horrible gas mileage. The MDX and FX are also way pricier.
thanks for your response. I ended up buying a car... after test driving TEN different cars, and visiting showrooms to view numerous other cars, which I did not test drive. I have never shopped this hard for a car - I am normally much more sure about what I want and able to make a quick decision. Who knows, maybe I'm having a mid-life crisis... :confuse:
In the end, we chose the Acura MDX. It is bigger than I ideally wanted, but it solved more problems than it created. Because we can tow a 4500 pound boat, we now have the option of getting rid of our BMW X5. We can go skiing with this car without putting a ski rack on the top. We have the third row of seats if we need it. AND we have a car with excellent reliability ratings that I don't think will give us any problems. We picked it up two days ago and so far I very much enjoy it. It has EXCELLENT visibility out the back (much better than the Sienna minivan that was stolen) and it feels very well appointed. On the negative side, it requires premium gas and the MPG is not great. What sealed the deal for us, was the price: we were able to get this car for what we would have had to pay for the RAV4 (had we been able to get the options we wanted).
Had I been able to get a RAV4 with the options I wanted, I might have gone this route, however, Toyota isn't making or allowing people to order a Limited V6 with or without leather with a third tow of seats (at least not in New England)... I was led to believe that when optioned out this way, it was too much competition for the Highlander (which they are making very aggressive deals on... I would have considered it if I hadn't driven one for five years - was looking for a change of pace, despite the fact that it was an excellent car).
Of all the cars I test drove I liked the way the RAV4 drove the best (with the exception of the SAAB 92X aero, however, this would not have worked out for us, as it was too small to put kids in and out of and also didn't have side airbags - a GREAT car - absolutely loved the way it drove, but too small and not a great family car).
Here are the cars I test drove in case anyone is interested to know just how confused I was:
Mercedes E320 4Matic wagon
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab pickup
Toyota RAV4 V6 and 4 cylinder
Mazda CX-7
Subaru Legacy GT
Cadillac SRX
Jaguar Xtype Sportwagon
Subaru Tribeca
Saab 92X Aero
Acura MDX
I also looked at (and sat in) but didn't test drive the following:
Lexus RX350
Infiniti FX35
Subaru Outback
Audi A4 Avant
Audi A3
BMW 3 series wagon
Toyota Highlander
It was good to finally make a decision. What made it so difficult is that the two major criteria I had were in opposition to each other (quick zippy fun driving VS. family friendly features and versatility). I also gave quite a bit of weight to a car's reliability... I read through what must have been thousands of posts on these boards of cars that I was interested in. I admit that I became scared off of the german cars (in particular Audi and Mercedes) because of what I read. I opted for a Japanese car for more than a couple of reasons, but one being its reliability...
Thanks for all of your help! hopefully I'll hate the RDX when it comes out so that I don't have any buyer's remorse. I also have to bear in mind that if the RDX weren't coming out, I wouldn't have scored such a great deal on the MDX.
Case closed!! :shades:
You know that SAAB 92x is known as Saabaru as it is Subaru Impreza (Aero is WRX) with Saab front end.
As far as I know it has 2 front air bags, 2 seat mounted side airbags and 2 curtains above the windows. So what airbags is it missing?
Krzys
PS Congratulations on your new purchase.
it doesn't have the side curtain airbags. it does very well in crash tests though. I think if it were big enough it would definitely been on our list. My point about the airbags, though, is that I think this is a safer car for the people in the front seat than those in the back (and that is not to say that those in the bag aren't safe).
I noticed on Edmunds that Saab is still offering a $5000 cash incentive on the 92x aero. I would be thrilled if my husband traded in his BMW X5 for the Saab, then I could drive it on the weekends. But we'd better make up our minds soon as there aren't many around anymore. Yes, I suppose, one could go for the Impreza, but I just thought the Saab had a little more panache in the looks department.
Karen
I was under impresion that Impreza does have side curtain but I might be mistaken, neither first nor last time.
Krzys
To me, the MDX is one of the safest, versatile, roomy, sophisticated vehicles on the road. Its only weakness are gas mileage and that it is an SUV and therefore, a bigger polluter. I am amazed that you found a $50,000 MSRP car for the same price as a $31,000 MSRP car. Weird but those two car manufacturers DO make money so there was some method to their madness. Enjoy your car but try to leave it home on the commute....
I think you are right, though, they still make money and they really want to move the MDX's, because for every MDX they sell they are allocated half an RDX (the new smaller SUV about to hit the showrooms by Acura).
... and then you bought an MDX. Don't get me wrong, MDX is a great car and you will probably be happy with it. I was in a similar boat last month. Did not consider large SUVs at all. Choice was down to RAV4, Subaru Forester and Subaru Outback. We bought the Outback finally. It replaces our Dodge Caravan.
Read many, many reviews. Read what Consumer Reports has to say about first model year and Audi reliability.
Both are cool looking vehicles and I like hatchbacks.
Audi is pretentious. Subaru isn't as much. I don't really need AWD. Getting lazy in my old age and would prefer an automatic for commuting. Love the sunroof on both. Really enjoy tearing down twisty mountain roads or the Pacific Coast Highway in a manual. Occasionally carry SCUBA gear, bikes or kayak. Occasionally sleep in my car on long road trips rather than get a hotel. Hate to sell/buy cars. Don't like SUVs.
Both vehicles have competent points. The A3's performance and efficiency are stellar but its pricey and a bit of a squeeze for long road trips. Factory nav/stereo is a good option.
The Outback is cool all around. The 2.5XT's mileage isn't so great. Not impressed with the radio or lack of nav on the manual.
Assuming that premium gas will average $4.20 over the next 5 years, and adding a nice aftermarket stereo and nav system makes the 2.5XT cost as much as the A3 for my driving. The $4.20 estimate may be high or low - who knows.
Reliability concerns on the A3 makes my skin itch.
Both the Audi and Subaru local dealerships between home and work are rotten bastards. I expect the only way they are still in business is that Satan will not allow his own to be stymied in their coarse to doing evil. Don't like either option.
The Subaru dealership in Santa Cruz, CA is extremely pleasant to deal with. I won't hesitate to buy from them if I decide on the 2.5XT. The other Audi Dealership near by just felt creepy rather than outright evil.
Decisions... Decisions... Decisions...
if you can find one... there are still a few around my area. you can go them in the low $20's. i test drove one and loved it but it wasn't big enough for me, however, it is far bigger than the Audi A3 (particularly where headroom is concerned). I personally think this is a snazzier looking car than the Subaru Impreza which is supposed to be very similar.
just a thought.
also, to the previous poster about my decision to get the MDX... there was a lot that went into the decision. I think the Subaru you bought is a great car, but ultimately we went for the MDX because of its towing capacity (and that it also met all the other criteria we wanted). It is bigger than what I ideally wanted but it allows us to get rid of our BMW X5 which tows our boat. I have been really happy with the MDX.
Between the Outback Sport and the Mazda 3 (S Grand Touring), I think the Mazda wins. The Saab 9-2 corrects two of the three biggest gripes I've got with the Impreza: seats, handling too tight. Third, of course is gas mileage which is on par for AWD cars. The fully loaded Mazda has all the gadgets, space I want and meets my minimum performance spec.
Re-tested the 2.5XT Limited, this time with automatic. Plenty of pickup. Comfortable. Was surprised how easy it was to get the back end to loose traction in a tight turn onto freeway on ramp. To be fair, my Acura GSR lost traction doing the same thing in the same place. I could have driven that 2.5XT home.
The Subaru dealership was comfortable to deal with. Carlsen Subaru in Redwood City, CA. No problems going back there to buy a car. So far, only Audi dealers have shown themselves to be consistently malignant whereas the one ugly Subaru dealership seems an oddity.
First big surprise for the day, test driving the Volvo V50 (both the 2.4i and the T5) was a blast.
Tested the automatic. Comfortable, quiet, balanced, controls in the right places, easy to find a comfortable driving position, ride was well controlled. The 2.4i felt a little muted. The T5 gave me (almost) all the lovin I needed laying down rubber in a fast acceleration off the line at a light. Drive was reasonably good for an automatic, driver shifting seemed to make it responsive enough to make me happy. Steering was a little stiffer in the T5 but I didn't make it loose traction tightly cutting onto another freeway on ramp.
Second big surprise of the day. I've been driving manuals for 20 years and I'm good at it. Double de clutching, heel/toeing, transmission only braking at speed in the Santa Cruz mountains - no problem. Neither automatic will do what I can do. There would be no remorse about going automatic and letting the car do its own thing during the mind numbing, spirit crushing chore of a daily commute. Either of 2.5XT or V50 automatics would still be fun driving the PCH.
I too am going back and forth between an '07 Avant with 12k miles or a new '08 Outback XT.... this makes it harder.
also looking at some SUVs as well. Im coming from an M3 btw, but need a practical vehicle for work and play.
How good is support for either model in your area?
1. which can wear chains without destroying itself (I hear Subaru warns people not to use chains on theirs)
2. which does well in snow with its original tires?
reason is I may need to do driving through mountain passes from Oregon through Washington, or down through several passes in S. Calif., during the winter. My current Malibu maxx is pretty bad wrt traction control and cannot use chains.
I am about to unload my beloved '01 A6 Avant with less than 90k miles, meticulously maintained, because of catastrophic engine failure --- inexcusable in a car of this quality and mileage and maintenance history.
I love Audis but I'm done owning them out of warranty.
so that solves __that__ problem.
Tanx