(LAC) Forgive me father, for I am about to sin
Mark R
speedracer.mark at gmail.com
Mon Feb 26 09:59:27 EST 2007
Andrew,
I've been fortunate enough to drive all of the major AWD systems on the ice
and snow. Haldex is quite good, but *real* Quattro with a torsen center
differential is definately the most linear, predictable, and controllable.
Honestly, there's only a slight difference and the Haldex based systems are
very equivalent in traction to Subaru, Mitsubishi, BMW, etc. Which is to
say, very good company and only a slightly below torsen based Quattro.
The '02 A6Q is quite softly sprung, so I'm not surprised with your handling
observations. Audi of America also lied to myself and my family and we have
difficulties dealing with them. They ended up buying back both lemon A8s or
face a lawsuit.
The all seasons are really no-season tires, especially in NH where the
weather can go from one extreme to another in 24 hours. I'd get the P-Zeros
and plan on purchasing a set of winter tires. The safety is well worth the
expense of the second set of rims.
Mark Rosenkrantz
On 2/26/07, Andrew Duane <aduane at juniper.net> wrote:
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
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