Re: '95 Quattro Wagon Info please

[Andrew Duane USG/PE <duane@zk3.dec.com>]

> Hi,
> 	I just joined this mailing list today, and I was wondering if 
> some people on this list could help me oout.  Now, I don't own an Audi.  
> As a 19 year old who is really to sell almost anything to get cash, I 
> don't have money for a go-cart, let alone an Audi.  :)  My question is 
> the following:
> 	
> 	Soon, (end of December) my parents are going to have to give back 
> the car they have leased for the last 2 years; a Ford Taurus wagon.  They 
> are seriously considering the 1995 Audi Quattro wagon - the one with 
> AWD.  (They might all come with AWD, I don't know - but the main thing 
> they like about the Audi is the AWD.)  Anyway, I was wondering if any of 
> you on the list who own one of these or have driven one of these (doesn't 
> have to be a 1995) can tell me their overall opinion of it.  How does it 
> handle?  How is the power?  How is the ride/comfort?  Overall opinion.

Well, I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions, facts, and opinions
masquerading as facts. Let me start the ball rolling with some
easy answers about terminology.

Most/all Audis come in a Quattro version. The Quattro is the AWD.
You need to know the model number, also. Is this a 100 or 200 wagon
(oops, in '95 is it the A4/A6?) The 200 is the turbo-charged version
of the 100. Both come in a FWD and AWD (Quattro). I drive a 100Q,
not a wagon, but I've driven the wagons before.

I just got a bunch of stuff from Audi about their new model lines;
I can look this up if you want.

> 	Also, I just have 2 questions regarding the car.  First off, I'm 
> trying to get my parents to add the optino of the CD changer.  Where 
> would this be hidden in a wagon?  Second question...I have driven a 1993 
> Mercades 300E.  Does an Audi drive similar to that in terms of it's 
> handling and power?

I have no idea where the put the CD changer in a wagon. That's an
interesting question. Note that the CD changer is an expensive
option; I put a Kenwood removable CD player in my quattro for
about $300 installed.

As for comparing to the Mercedes, I've never driven one. Since the
300E is a RWD car (and not a wagon), I expect that handling will be
quite different. Mercedes tends to make cars that are much quieter
and more "solid" than Audi. But, somewhat less fun....


> 	One minor "bad" point about the Audi that kind of shocked me was 
> that the 0-60 time was not that great; 11.x seconds.  I thought that was 
> pretty slow, but then I realized that the AWD equipment adds some 
> weight.  BTW...what is the true weight of this car?  My Dad told me 
> 4500lbs, but that seemed pretty heavy to me.

That would be about right; my 100Q sedan is 3800-3900. The Quattro
drivetrain adds some weight, but it also adds more resistance in
the driveshafts. I read here a while ago that, measured on a dyno,
the FWD absorbs 26 HP, while the quattro absorbs 50. This, coupled
with the weight, and the small engine output, adds up to non-impressive
0-60 times. Of course, the stability of the AWD platform, and the
extraordinary handling characteristics make up for that ;-)

Does this wagon have the new V6, or the original 5-cylinder?


> 	My parents also know of the Audi that is available in Europe that 
> is a 300hp V8, which will only be available in the U.S. for 1996 I 
> think.  If any user on this list is from Europe, and has driven that car 
> or own it, I imagine there is a lot more power/pickup because the one 
> available in the U.S. is a 195hp V6 I think; or something close to that.

Oh, so it is the V6....

The V6 is an improvement over the 5-cylinder. Perhaps they want to
investigate the turbo? The V8 is a nice car/engine, but $$$$$. It
has been sold here in small numbers for a few years. I don't know
if it still is. Eliot?


> 	Keep in mind if you are going to respond to me that since 1979, 
> my parents have owened American engineered cars: 2 Oldsmobiles, and most 
> recently from 1988-1992 a Ford Taurus Wagon, and from 1993 until the 
> present, a Ford Taurus Wagon.  

The Audi will be a 1000% change, and, honestly, they may not like it.
At least for a while, until they "get used" to it. My family drove
nothing but German cars for 30 years, so I assumed everyone liked the
spartan interiors, fairly noisy ride, and seemingly "harsh", but
really very accurate handling they had. Most of my friends who grew
up in GMobiles didn't.....

German cars (European in general) are quite different from American
cars in design philosophy, interior and exterior styling, handling,
safety features, and most of all:

	MAINTENANCE!!!!!

Audis must be maintained, or they will cost $$$ on a regular basis to
fix. Don't let the oil/filter changes slide. Do every scheduled maintenance
on time. Poke through the engine and under the car once in a while.
They will run almost forever, if they are taken care of. Mine is
about to flip 100K miles, and it's just getting broken in. I know
of a 200K+ car on this list, as well as a 300K+ one.

-- 

Andrew L. Duane (JOT-7)			duane@zk3.dec.com
Digital Equipment Corporation		(603)-881-1294
110 Spit Brook Road			http://www.zk3.dec.com/~duane
M/S ZKO3-3/U14
Nashua, NH    03062-2698

Only my cat shares my opinions, and she still likes the old Saab 900's.