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Ultimate AWD Sports Sedans

855 messages,  Last post on Feb 08, 2012 at 8:57 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Volvo S60 R, Subaru Legacy, Audi S4, Mazda MAZDASPEED MAZDA6, Sedan

Messages Page 76 of 86

#746 of 855 Re: What else should we look at? [waygrabow] by djdj

Aug 30, 2008 (4:30 pm)

Replying to: waygrabow (Aug 27, 2008 8:46 pm)
I also have a 2003 A4 1.8T; mine is Front-Trak with CVT. Great seats, incredible gas mileage, paint looks like brand new, fantastic stereo. Now has 80,000 miles. Rides as solid as when it was new.
However, I just put $2,300 into the computer control module for the CVT; mechanically should be okay. (I hope). I'm going to bet that that A4 lasts a lot longer and will keep it and replace the timing belt chain at 100K miles.
However, I will be giving it to my daughters to drive because the resale value isn't anything worthwhile and I'd rather the kids drive it then spend even more money for an unknown used car.
 
For me, I will consider the new A4 2.0T but I have already spent a day with the new 2009 Acura TSX. It was a loaner I got when my wife's MDX was being serviced. I really like the TSX. Roomier than the current A4, drove nice, roomy. It is much smoother, quieter and has better gas mileage than the last TSX. It is also A LOT less than the A4. I am definitely considering getting one. I'd recommend test driving one.
 
The sticker is thousands less than the A4 sticker, just one of the dealers in Cleveland has a lot in stock and the Internet price was much less than MSRP.
 
Its worth a look.
 
Hertz gave me a Volvo S80 for 3 days on a recent trip. I really liked that too; very different from the Audi. I think the CTS is worth a look too.
 
Let us know what you get.

#747 of 855 Re: What else should we look at? [ateixeira] by roadburner

Aug 31, 2008 (7:55 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Aug 29, 2008 5:58 pm)
So how would you rate your preference? RWD, then AWD, then FWD? Depends?
 
I prefer RWD- with no electronic nannies designed to save incompetent drivers from themselves. I love my 318ti Club Sport; all it needs is another 100 bhp, and a stroker motor will fix that.
AWD only works for me when I'm in a lazy mood and I'm not trying to set high cross country speed averages. When that's the case, my wife's X3 slushbox does the job quite well.
When I'm facing serious winter weather or muddy roads(I live on a small farm with a 2800 ft gravel driveway) I take my Jeep TJ. Funny thing: we had a fairly heavy snowfall last winter and I drove the thing around the county for the better part of the day before I noticed that I had never put in four wheel drive.
And FWD? Well, like I said, I bought the Mazdaspeed to hone a skill set I don't often use. It was kind of entertaining to learn how to drive it, but now I'm just flat-out bored with it- though I now think I'd feel that way about anything that isn't RWD and packing at least 300 hp. I ventured off the Munich reservation in order to try something different. I'll be paying the price for my abject stupidity for a few years- purchase in haste, detest at leisure...

#751 of 855 Re: What else should we look at? [roadburner] by xeye

Sep 01, 2008 (1:23 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Aug 31, 2008 7:55 pm)
Hi all,
 
Living just west of Boston, and in spite of the lack of lowered suspension, as they say, IMHO, I still think you can't do better than the attached photos. We love our twins! Mine's the Sparkling Graphite, the black/black "Batmobile", as she calls it, is my wife's.
 
By the way, we sadly traded in the '95 318ti with just shy of 140,000 miles. Mostly California-driven and meticulously cared for by Black Forest BMW in Newport Beach from '98 to '03 and Autobahn Automotive in Natick since 2003. Roadburner, you'd have loved this one. Although it needed some mechanical work (passenger window, remote mirrors, wiper motor and some new floor mats), the engine, drive train and interior were in great shape.
 
Someone is going to get a great car at auction, but it didn't take long to make it a fading memory once my wife got behind the wheel of her new ride.
 
To me, there's nothing like 2 turbochargers for zoooooom!! And as you can see, BMWs crush Bugs!
 
xeye
 
I have a suspicion that the photos won't attach. What is the exact syntax to attach a photo? Assume that the location of my photos are on a flash drive J:\img_0210.jpg. Every variation I try doesn't work.
 

#752 of 855 Re: What else should we look at? [xeye] by pat

Sep 01, 2008 (2:01 pm)

Replying to: xeye (Sep 01, 2008 1:23 pm)
I replied to your email - the easiest thing to do is post them on your CarSpace page and go from there. Try the link in the upper left part of the page.

#753 of 855 Re: What else should we look at? [djdj] by waygrabow

Sep 05, 2008 (3:45 pm)

Replying to: djdj (Aug 30, 2008 4:30 pm)
So far I have decided to look closely at the Infiniti G35 AWD and the BMW 328 AWD sedans as well as the 2009 A4 Quattro. You are probably right about the Acura TSX being another option (is it AWD?). However, last time I dealt with our local Acura dealer it left a bad taste; I would prefer to deal with a more distant dealer. I looked at the Lexus IS250, but it is too small; my head touched the roof in both the front and back seats, and I am not a big guy. Monday I will be turning over the keys to my MazdaSpeed6 to a buyer. It has been a great car at a bargain price, but my wife prefers a more pampering interior and an automatic transmission.

#754 of 855 Re: What else should we look at? [waygrabow] by ateixeira

Sep 08, 2008 (7:54 am)

Replying to: waygrabow (Sep 05, 2008 3:45 pm)
TSX no, but now there's a TL with SH-AWD.

#755 of 855 Re: What else should we look at? [waygrabow] by kyfdx HOST

Sep 08, 2008 (9:05 am)

Replying to: waygrabow (Sep 05, 2008 3:45 pm)
Stopped by to check out the new A4 on Saturday....
 
It is really nice...

Messages Page 76 of 86

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