(LAC) Forgive me father, for I am about to sin

[Andrew Duane]

My trusty old 2000 A6Q is no longer cutting it for me, I need a wagon.
Given the way AoA treated me in my time of need with this A6, and the
price they've raised new Avants to, I can't even stomach the thought of
a new Audi. So I went looking around. Nothing really struck me, until by
chance I got to test drive a Volvo V70-R.  Oh my......

 

It is a basic Volvo V70 (their large wagon) but without the
Cross-Country trim (and the big tall tires and SUV suspension that make
it drive not very well). Instead, it's the "sport" model. It sports the
venerable 20V I5 turbo engine from Audi of the early 90's, beefed up to
2.5L and 300HP. There's an active suspension chassis with 3 settings and
dynamic stability control. There's also a tiptronic-like autobox or 6
speed stick, and Haldex AWD diffs. So there's at least a little Audi in
its soul, the Audi from when we liked them, not the current crop of
corporate watered down sales brochures. But, I have a few questions.

 

First, how do folks with the Haldex diffs like them? They are still on
the TT's, right? And some other models had them?

 

The car comes with 235/45/17 Z-rated rubber (Michelin Pilot A/S or
Pirelli P-Zero). I'm thinking these are not exactly snow-friendly. Am I
nuts for thinking about any car with such thin rubber up here in Snow
Hampshire? Or am I resigning to twice-yearly changeovers between Z rated
summer flats and serious snows (and carefully avoiding every pothole
there is)? Stepping down to 16" rims is not an option; there's no brake
clearance. Oh, and if you had your druthers between those two tires,
which would you choose? I can get either.

 

This car was truly amazing. It stuck to the road and handled better than
any Audi I've ever been in, and managed to do it with a grace and
refinement that I have yet to see out of any Audi product. And it
manages to do it for $5K less than even a base A6Q Avant, much less an
All-Road. Oh, and the seats are truly a blessing for those of us with
middle aged butts that crave a little comfort.

 

/Andrew