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On door edges, has anyone come across door edge guards that fit ... and look good? I cringe every time the kids open the back doors by themselves. I have broken them of kicking the door open with their feet, but they still swing too hard for my liking.
The answer is it all depends. I liked my A8 a lot, but I actually like my A6 with sport package better --
What kind of driver are you.
I thought the A8 was more luxo -- which frankly, I did not want.
Ask more questions and I will gladly opine. . .
Point being, opinions (even in the absence of data and/or information) are often interesting and enlightening.
In terms of performance (at least in a straight line and perhaps under most normal legally aggressive driving) the A8 will yield little to the A6 -- the aluminum does make a difference. If you ever take anyone in your back seat for any distance whatsoever, the A8 is your choice.
Hope this helps.
Then last Friday night, exactly 8 weeks after the first system was replaced, the second system failed. This time I was on the road for a weekend car trip. I called an Audi service rep, who told me the software fix is still eluding Audi.
Other than this, I have loved this car. My Lexus RX300 lease is running out, and I have just signed a contract to purchase a new S6 Avant to replace it. Although I live in Connecticut, I am having to get the S6 out of Illinois in order to get one with the Telematics package (since a hands-free, voice-activated phone is important to me). I am now considering cancelling the purchase since it, too, probably has faulty Telematics software.
It's inexcusable for Audi to release cars in the $50-65K price range with electronics that do not work and that cannot be fixed.
Part of the 3 days with Audi is a safety training exercise which includes a documentary -- we would call them commercials here in the US. Commercials in Germany weren't (may still are) able to compare the product being advertised with its competitors. But a Public Service or Educational program -- apparenly of any length -- can be shown so long as it at least appears to be neutral.
This PSA was in German, but it clearly showed an S class being crashed in slow motion over and over and over -- juxtaposed with this crash was an A8 also being crashed in slo mo again and again and again.
The message, conveyed to me perhaps because I had seen the US translation in print ads, was that the Audi was stronger (by virtue of the fact that it was lighter) than the S class and would be as safe a place as an S class in which to have a crash.
So the A8 -- factually -- equalled the S class, and by extraploation (the weight issue) could lead one to the conclusion that it would be even stronger if it weighed more (in line with the steel car's weight).
Then of course it is assumed that one's mind would wonder if all things being equal, if one would NOT rather have the lighter car, since it gave away nothing in crash-worthyness, due to the "implied" superiority such a car might have in terms of fuel economy and overall performance, to say nothing of rustworthiness.
Anyway, go for the A8.
Anyway, she has this circa mid-80's S Class Benz which she crashes into trees, drives over boulders, crashes off ravines and the car keeps on running.
I saw this movie when I was teenager, but the movie image played well into my own image of MB being a quality automobile (then again, in the mid 80's they were!)
Point: Audi would do well to place their excellent, well-crafted autos into the mainstream market place. After all, how many 16 year olds lust after A4s, A6s, or A8s? Very few; it's all about BMWs, Lexi and, I thought I'd never see the day, Cadillac Escalades. Why not the one-day-soon-to-be-released A6 in the next Bond flick?
In couple scenes in Mission Impossible 2, there were a TT and an A4 being used.
Thanks for pointing that out.
I can watch that car chase over and over...and I do thanks to DVD technology:)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Just drove the 2003 2.7T. I have a 2000 coming off lease and the differences I noticed were as follows:
Sport suspension standard.
No controls in steering wheel
headlight washers flush with fender.
Sport mode in tiptronic tranny(I wonder if there is a difference in acceleration between sport mode and tip).
ESP
6 CD changer in dash
Audi - Gives a better "drivers" car feel. Better interior material and quality. Has a "heavier" feel when compared to the Volvo. The quattro drive train is just outstanding. To me, it feels its giving the most bang for my bucks when compared to the volvo. BTW, when I was shopping, I was looking at the V70 and XC70 before deciding on the Audi A6 Avant.
Volvo - Has a better "safety" feeling than the Audi. Has a lighter feeling, probably due to the quattro drivetrain in the Audi. Doesn't handle as well as the Audi. If loaded up with options like Audi, the price are very similar, yet still only offers plastic wood for the premium package. But with the incentives and price cuts, the gap is bigger now I believe. Interior fit and finish and quality of material is lower than the Audi, but I feel Volvo has a better sound system though. A tab more family oriented than Audi (this is based on the built in booster seat in the back). Some interesting gadgets, built in fridge on certain models was a nice feature. That will certainly keep the bottle cold. 8)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
If you're looking for a garage, let me know. Mine's pretty reasonable.
I'm looking for something as a possible alternative to street parking. I really wouldn't have to worry about alternate side because I'd be driving my car to and from work everyday (as opposed to taking the subway:) I'd be leaving at around 7AM and returning around 6-6:30ish PM.
Thanks for your help!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Thanks for your help!
Sorry for the OT discussion fellow Audi enthusiasts.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Pros and Cons
Audi - Quattro. Much better interior quality and finish. More overall passenger room (although some drivers will complain about the transmisson tunnel intruding on leg space).
BMW - The 3.0 engine from BMW is smoother than the one from Audi, at least from my experience. A bit lighter and more nimble car than Audi (due to the quattro system in Audi). Less leg room than a comparative Audi. Interior layout and material not as nice as those used in Audi, IMHO.
Cost more than a comparative Audi.
But, go drive them yourself and decide what you like more.
And anyone else interested, of course: The latest issue of Car (Brittish magazine) has a test of the allroad 6-speed and some competition. . .
(Also an article on the TT 225)
Just f.y.i.
Cheers,
- Ray
Who typically appreciates the (ahem) different views expressed in Brittish publications . . .
iX Series: major drawback was no sport suspension. That combined with higher ride height to accomodate awd resulted IMO a "tall" looking car with a "floaty" ride.
5-series: very nice, but more cramped than A6 with less content per $. Fit and finish not on par with Audi.
C-Class Benz: "This is your father's Oldsmobile" dashboard. What's impressive about this model is that it feels substantial. It drove as though it was bigger than it was. In the end tho, same conclusion as 5-series, and no awd. Although they are offering 4matic for 2003.
Bartalk: I LOVE BMWs. My dream when I started my career was to be able to afford one of these cars. In fact I was so surprised by my decision to get the Audi that after I left the dealer, I thought "what the (insert profanity here) did I just do?" But with 250hp (OK you're looking at 220 in the 3.0 but still nice), a unique body, and interior workmanship that's second to none, I've never looked back.
In fact, I had to hold back a snicker when, while riding in the back seat of my brother-in-law's '02 BMW M5, I noticed the rear air vents had come loose and ceased to swivel and the ceiling handles looked as though they were lifted from the Daewoo parts bin.
I guess the best protection is an extended warranty.
Self insurance will work, but fundamentally will require a bit of a leap of faith and to be "fair" you must promise yourself that you will stick with Audis car after car after car -- reason? To make sure that if you buy 25 Audi's and keep them well past their factory warranties and don't buy extended protection that the amount you spend on extraordinary expenses is less than or equal to the cost of the extended warranties you would have purchased had you not decided to "self-warrant."
The problem with this logic, as I watch my friends go through this exercise, is that they buy a BMW keep it beyond warranty, pay a breathtaking amount when something goes bump at 71K miles, curse the car and then next time buy a Volvo and repeat the process.
To hear my friends sometimes, all cars are unreliable pieces of crap "cause buddy have I got a war story to tell you about my 1993 Saab and my 1998 Audi and my 2000 Jaguar -- but that Corolla takes a lickin and keeps on tickin'" -- I think I'm going to get sick the next time one of them lays this story on me.
Audis and the other fine driving machines from Europe "seem" to have great performance and are "high maintenance" -- I admit to not liking this trade off, but my motto is "no boring cars."
I would hate to have a 99.999% legendary reliability and .001% driving pleasure. Actually, I want both -- and mostly I have had such an experience with Audi's -- but I will not have one out of warranty. I only have a 6 figure income, after all.
I cannot speak for the marque as a whole, but I have a '01 A62.7T with 20k on it.
Current problems so far have been vibrating brakes (replaced under warranty at 5k - now flawless). The brake design was addressed during the '02 model year so you won't have to worry about the same issue.
The display on the radio sometimes flashes on and off momentarily. It in no way disrupts radio or cd operation, but the dealer has not diagnosed it successfully. Since it doesn't affect the performance of the components I've left it alone.
Otherwise that's it. Again, this has been my experience only. Like I indicated, extra protection is a wise move with these cars if you're planning to keep outside of warranty.
Thanks
Does this mean a no-lubrication , meaning no maintenance, remove and replace front-end?
As I've posted here previously, this is the only repair (non-maintenance type) the car has needed since new, but it wasn't cheap and I was surprised that the front suspension wasn't serviceable, and thus is destined to have a relatively short lifespan. Hope the allroad with its even more expensive air suspension components does better than this!
So having prefaced it as such, I think that CR stats fall short when it comes to high-end cars. I say this based on the observation that many (not ALL, not MOST) buyers of high-end autos do not peruse the pages of CR in as great a number as do buyers of Hondas, Daewoos, Chevies. Not that they're less inclined to look for a good deal, but poring over the pages of a rag that advises on the purchases of toaster ovens and adult diapers may offer a bit of an odd juxtapositioning of content vis-a-vis a comparo of BMWs, Lexi, Audis.
Having said that I think that these same buyers would be less inclined to do an informational 180 degrees. That is to say, they'd be less inclined to voice their opinion on matters of reliability or other cars issues (good or bad) simply because CR isn't on their decision-making radar scope.
I think, therefore, that the info CR obtains is sparse and not a true cross-section of the high-end car-buying public.
Bartalk, I'm not trying to persuade you into anything and my above observations are based on nothing in particular. The best you can do is protect yourself as much as possible. Conclusion remains the same: whether you choose BMW or Audi, get added protection if you plan on keeping beyond warranty.
P.
My 2001 A6 4.2 now has over 35,000 miles on it, and since the last full brake replacement this car has been great! I will miss it!