Audi: A4 Avant Vs. IS300 Sportcross

com (Steve Grauman) wrote:
 

I've considered the S4 Avant vs the Volvo V70R. The Volvo is out for
me because service manuals and fault code data are not available to
owners at a reasonable price.. Just to find out why a check light is
on costs $50 and a trip to the dealer.
Also, the Volvo doesn't have full-tiime AWD. Audis do.

is300? Didn't know it existed. Just looked it up now. Looks nice..
no stick, "only" 215HP, no AWD..

Now, I wouldn't mind seeing this new Subaru here:
http://www.subaru.co.jp/legacy/leg_50th/02/02.html
256 HP, but still only part-time AWD.


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Doug Warner wrote: 

Last time I looked (quite a while ago), the AWD BMW was only available
with the weeker engine. The 1.8T in the A4 wagon is also marginal for a
wagon, especially with AT. How do the BMW and A4 compare size-wise with
the Volvo?

You may also want to consider the W8 Passat (TorSen center diff;
available with stick and sport suspension).

Re new Legacy/Outback availability: I heard this Spring or early Summer
in the US - see:
http://www.need-desire.com/main.html

I would expect the new Legacy AT to come come with the advanced VTD/VDC
AWD of the current higher end models. In that case, even the AT version
comes with a center diff, so it is full-time AWD. The MT versions have
had center diffs and have been truly full-time AWDs all along.

- D.

I have a 2001 S4 Avant and love the car. Driving this car is like driving
in another plane compared with most other cars on the road.

I didn't think the IS300 was in the same league with the S4.

I have seen Ads for the Volvo V70R and am wondering if the car is a true
performance car. I've owned a lot of Volvo's and like them, but don't think
of them as performance cars.

Of course with BMW, you have to go to M3 to compete with S4, but no station
wagon and I don't think 4 wheel drive.

The S4 with the Quattro is Awsome - that is the real key to this car. It is
like a rocket ship on a rail, it just won't leave the road.

My only real complaint with the Audi S4 - is the visibility when backing up,
etc. It is not an easy car from whihc to see everything around you. Of
course this would be true of any of the Audi A4 series station wagons.

The great thing about the S4 is that not many people really know what the
car is. Once in a while, someone will come up to me in a parking lot or gas
station and start asking questions about it.


"Doug Warner" <net> wrote in message
news:com...
com (Steve Grauman) wrote:
 
w/ 
the 

I've considered the S4 Avant vs the Volvo V70R. The Volvo is out for
me because service manuals and fault code data are not available to
owners at a reasonable price.. Just to find out why a check light is
on costs $50 and a trip to the dealer.
Also, the Volvo doesn't have full-tiime AWD. Audis do.

is300? Didn't know it existed. Just looked it up now. Looks nice..
no stick, "only" 215HP, no AWD..

Now, I wouldn't mind seeing this new Subaru here:
http://www.subaru.co.jp/legacy/leg_50th/02/02.html
256 HP, but still only part-time AWD.


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>How do the BMW and A4 compare size-wise with 

There about the same it seemed, I don't know the exact measurements. I can tell
you that for what they charge for the T5 variant, you may as well get a V70 R.
 

The car is for my mother. She has a Lexus RX300 that's coming off it's lease
and needs something new. Our inital plan was just to get har the new version
the RX330 but my mom looked at a G35, an A4 and a Passat GLX and has decided
that it's not important enough to her to keep spending $40-50k on a car. She
seems completely content with what's avaliable in the $30-35k price range which
puts the (IMHO) overpriced W8 out of the running.

>I didn't think the IS300 was in the same league with the S4.

We were comparing the IS300 to the 1.8T quattro Avant and the 3.0 FronTrac
sedan. The S4 is a whole nother' league.

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The OP wasn't considering the S4, he was considering the A4 1.8T. Without
wanting to presume to know the OP's opinions, I had assumed from this that
"spirited" driving wasn't among his priorities.

Not sure whether to top- or bottom-post to this one,
- Greg Reed

--
1976 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 9-Pass sedan
(FS: http://www.dataspire.com/caddy)
1989 Audi 200 Turbo Quattro 5-Speed sedan
2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
2001 Chevy Astro AWD (wife's)
2005 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon (when available in U.S.)

R wrote: 




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Steve Grauman wrote: 

Make sure you look at the true market value (e.g., edmunds.com), not
just at sticker, since some cars (including the W8 - last year, at
least) can be had many $K under sticker.

On the Subaru side, if she is coming from the RX300, she might like the
new Outback over the Legacy. The slightly softer ride and body roll may
not be an issue with her.

- D.

>Make sure you look at the true market value (e.g., edmunds.com), not 

I've used Edmunds before, but I also know what the W8s go for at my VW dealer
(I Own a GTi). The least expensive one they sold was a wagon that went for
$35k. What we're looking at right now is the G35, the Acura TL, the A4 (1.8T
Quattro Avant and a 3.0 CVT FronTrac sedan), and the Lexus ES330. All of them
but the Lexus can be had loaded for $35k (MSRP of course, before haggling) and
the ES330 can be had nicely equipped, but not loaded, for about the same.
 

We test drove an Outback, a Legacy with the H6 engine, and a Forester XT. None
of them really hit the mark with her. Same with the IS300 sedan and sportcross,
the Volvo S60/V70, the Saab 9-3, and the MB C-Class. At this rate, she may end
up just plopping the $45k for another RX. But I appreciate all the advice so
far. =)