[s-cars] POLE: wonderful dilema, S4 or Ultrasport?
yo-cello at comcast.net
yo-cello at comcast.net
Wed Nov 7 07:06:52 PST 2007
I'll have to second Peter here,
I've got two wagons, the S6 Avant (mine) and a '99 A6 Avant (the wife's). The A6 is the 1st autobox we've owned. She can drive a stick but wanted her life simpler......though she drives the S6 whenever I'm traveling for business (which is frequently). Concentration is big factor:
In the A6 she has:
- two speeding tickets, by the same officer, same place, almost exactly one year apart.
- decided to drive off with the gas nozzle still in the car....twice.
- backed into trees and planters along the driveway. some incidents have been minor scrapes, others required panel/bumper replacement.
In the S6 she has done:
- nothing.
I can't afford to let her drive an automatic! She drives both vehicles probably 60/40. And we have poor cell coverage in VT....so the cell phone isn't the only reason.
Paul
(also old-school)
-------------- Original message --------------
From: Peter Schulz <pcschulz at comcast.net>
> At 06:57 AM 11/7/2007 -0500, quattrojedi at aol.com wrote:
>
> >". Tip is the way to go when there is a child behind you......."
>
> You HAVE to be joking....
> PLEASE tell me that you are joking.
>
> My wife and I drive nothing but manual transmissions and would not
> have it any other way.
> We use the clip on interior mirrors to see what the boys are doing
> in their child seats.
>
> Driving a stick reduces your ability to err, multitask (phone,
> drink, food, makeup, read a book, etvc) and focus on the task of driving.
>
> I like to use a headset if I absolutely have to use the mobile phone
> while in the car.
>
> Why do folks think that having kids in the rear seat means that you
> must have an automatic transmission?
>
> -Peter
> (evidently too old school for his own good)
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Aaron Ryba
> >To: s-car-list
> >Sent: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 11:49 pm
> >Subject: [s-cars] POLE: wonderful dilema, S4 or Ultrasport?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >S heads,
> >
> >The time has finally come. I am once again in the market for a new
> >(to me) car
> >and was wondering what the all-powerful list would have to say. So
> >with my first
> >baby now on the way my has FINALLY decided to get rid of her beloved (to her)
> >Limited edition, Luna Green 02 Beetle GLS for something with a few more doors
> >and some room for a car seat and stroller. Thank GOD! She will not
> >drive a stick
> >so automatic is the only option here. I know, I know, How could I live, let
> >alone marry and have children with someone who will only drive an automatic?
> >Well, luckily she has many other fine qualities that make up for
> >this character
> >flaw. My dilemma now is what to get. My choices as I have narrowed them down
> >thus fare are either a 2001/2 B4 S4 Avant with about 60-80k miles OR
> >a 2004 A4
> >B5 1.8T Ultrasport Avant with about 30-50k miles. With some recent research I
> >figure good examples of each could be had for around $16-18k.
> >
> >While I am temped by the persistent dream of owning a B4 S4 Avant I think I
> >would like the gas mileage and the better condition of the newer Ultrasport
> >Avant over the S4. I also worry that an S4 would be more costly to
> >run & repair
> >once it gets up past 80k miles with two turbos and two more
> >cylinders (my S6 is
> >at 143k so I know it can go the distance, its just that you can't
> >wait for parts
> >to arrive when a baby needs to make it to a doctor's appointment). I
> >have found
> >some S4's for sale that have had the major service performed recently though
> >(timing belt, water pump, etc.). I assume the 1.8T engine would be easier to
> >work on and more importantly would require less attention since it would have
> >possibly half the mileage of the S4's TT V6. I already have a 95 C4
> >S6 so I am
> >familiar with a turbo engine and Audi cars in general (4kcsq before
> >this) so I
> >can put Bentley, ETKA and hopefully VAG-COM (in the near future) to
> >use on this
> >new machine if needed.
> >
> >I like both cars because since I am forced to get an automatic both of these
> >come with the tiptronic steering wheel button shifter. I am likely to be the
> >pilot on most all long drives. Has anyone used these things? I haven't had a
> >chance to test drive with the buttons. I did get a chance to drive a
> >6spd B7 A4
> >2.0T recently with the basic Tip trans and it wasn't all that bad.
> >The 1.8t has
> >some great potential for tuning to get hp up to about 230 or so to keep pace
> >with my S6 for a fairly cheap price. If I go with the S4 I'm not
> >sure how much
> >$$ I would spend to modify a car my wife would primarily drive since
> >it already
> >has some oomph.
> >
> >So, this car is really for my wife and not for me. I hesitate to go
> >for the S4
> >when she might not even care about all that extra horsepower, torque
> >and sporty
> >suspension. Might we be better off with the Ultrasport since it is
> >newer, better
> >on gas, cheaper and easier to work on? I can only assume the newer
> >less complex
> >Ultrasport will be more reliable. But an S4!!! Ah, decisions, decisions.
> >Recently my wife crunched the side skirt of her bug and punctured a
> >tire which
> >resulted in what will most likely be $600+ in damages for new tires,
> >mounting &
> >balancing, alignment and bodywork. The point is maybe an older car with a few
> >more blemishes will be a better bet for someone who isn't as anal
> >retentive as
> >me to keep it in the best condition?
> >
> >I was also thinking about an A3 just for the DSG tranny paddle
> >shifters but the
> >prices are still considerably high and it's not much car for the
> >money compared
> >to a slightly used A4 or S4. Also always liked......dare I say it
> >here......the
> >Volvo V70R and MazdaSpeed3 but prices are still fairly high for the Volvo and
> >the Mazda interior just can't compete with Audi not to mention front
> >wheel drive
> >only. I'm pretty much sold on a new Audi, it's just which one to get. Any
> >thoughts and comments are appreciated.
> >
> >Aaron Ryba
> >Upstate SC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >__________________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
> >
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> -Peter Schulz
> Chelmsford Ma, USA
> http://www.naaclub.org/
>
> 1995.5 S6 Avant Emerald/Ecru
> 1995.5 S6 Avant Silver/Platinum
> 1991 200 20v Q Avant Titan Grey (for sale)
> 1991 90 20v Q Red
> 1991 CQ silver (eS2 recipient)
>
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