Avant owners sign in
12-21-2010, 01:03 PM
#21
Never Follows
12-21-2010, 03:42 PM
#22
AudiWorld Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: California
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As far as S-Lines not being sold...again it must be a location thing.. In California, forget trying to get a deal on one. They are in WAY TOO HIGH DEMAND. People will get involved in bidding wars over them. Few people want to wait for a delivery of an ordered car. I see S-Lines all the time... According to AudiDriver magazine, less than 5% of Audis are in S-Line trim so I think the reason that you can't find them is because Californians buy more than half the global allotment. In Southern California, it's even worse. Good luck finding a stripper (the car) Audi anywhere in the state.
12-21-2010, 04:00 PM
#23
AudiWorld Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: California
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Where in Nor Cal are you? I moved to Sacramento in 85, got stationed at Beale in 03, and then to Germany in 09.
I agree, there have been more and more wagons that SUVs in the last few years.
I don't know about NEEDING a manual, but I LIKE manuals. It's a more involving drive. I had a DSG in my GTI and it worked well, it just wasn't as much fun as my Passat variant, GLI, Jetta, or Rabbit were.
I had the OOOOOLD Tip in my 99 Passat sedan (2.8 V6) and it was fine in there too. Having said that, I think the Tip will be fine in the Avant, especially with the paddles. In fact, your comments to me were one of the reasons I felt that it would be ok. We'll see how it goes with the 8-speed.
On a totally unrelated topic, is that Infineon Raceway in your pic? I heard a Ferrari club having a track day there when we were wine-tasting (well, the wife was, I hate wine) at the vineyard across the freeway from there.
I agree, there have been more and more wagons that SUVs in the last few years.
I don't know about NEEDING a manual, but I LIKE manuals. It's a more involving drive. I had a DSG in my GTI and it worked well, it just wasn't as much fun as my Passat variant, GLI, Jetta, or Rabbit were.
I had the OOOOOLD Tip in my 99 Passat sedan (2.8 V6) and it was fine in there too. Having said that, I think the Tip will be fine in the Avant, especially with the paddles. In fact, your comments to me were one of the reasons I felt that it would be ok. We'll see how it goes with the 8-speed.
On a totally unrelated topic, is that Infineon Raceway in your pic? I heard a Ferrari club having a track day there when we were wine-tasting (well, the wife was, I hate wine) at the vineyard across the freeway from there.
I was sure that I needed a MT for my Avant and am actually glad that it is tip now that I have explored it a bit at the track.
The funny thing is I was at a PCA event recently and took the Avant instead of the Porsche(the two syllable kind 
) since it was raining and I let a few fellows try it. The older they were, the more difficulty they had adjusting to paddle shifting...just something I noticed that I thought was curious. I fully understand and appreciate how much more engaging in the driving experience, a MT is. Thats what I have other cars for... The Avant was just meant as a daily driver/beater but I fell in love with it. I have more fun driving it than I do my Alfa Romeo or Porsche in most situations. Given a great mountain/coastal road with little/no traffic and I will definitely choose the Alfa Romeo. Track days, typically the Porsche but sometimes the E55 (aka my track taxi). But now the Avant has been seeing a fair bit of track time.
The funny thing is that I bought the Avant mainly for my wife and she never drove it so I started and I'm hooked.
12-21-2010, 05:07 PM
#24
Audiworld Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
12-21-2010, 07:07 PM
#25
Never Follows
Let me double check you....hmmm save $700 (assuming a stripper like you mentioned) and I can have a Q5? But wait, I still have to look at it so that means I'm gonna need a prescription for anti-nausea meds... I think that may end up soaking up that $700 pretty fast.
As far as S-Lines not being sold...again it must be a location thing.. In California, forget trying to get a deal on one. They are in WAY TOO HIGH DEMAND. People will get involved in bidding wars over them. Few people want to wait for a delivery of an ordered car. I see S-Lines all the time... According to AudiDriver magazine, less than 5% of Audis are in S-Line trim so I think the reason that you can't find them is because Californians buy more than half the global allotment. In Southern California, it's even worse. Good luck finding a stripper (the car) Audi anywhere in the state.
As far as S-Lines not being sold...again it must be a location thing.. In California, forget trying to get a deal on one. They are in WAY TOO HIGH DEMAND. People will get involved in bidding wars over them. Few people want to wait for a delivery of an ordered car. I see S-Lines all the time... According to AudiDriver magazine, less than 5% of Audis are in S-Line trim so I think the reason that you can't find them is because Californians buy more than half the global allotment. In Southern California, it's even worse. Good luck finding a stripper (the car) Audi anywhere in the state.
12-21-2010, 07:19 PM
#26
AudiWorld Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: California
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
12-21-2010, 07:21 PM
#27
Audiworld Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Three yrs ago no dealer would spec an Avant in SUV-loving Texas. Had to custom order at full sticker. Then gas price spiked and A4 Avants showed up on lots (but not A6). Then Q5 introduced and Avants vanished. I swithced from A6 Avant to A4 Avant early 09 mainly because of price difference. A4 so much more fun to drive but really miss back seat leg room and cargo area of A6. Was considering going back to A6 in 2012, but read they may not even offer it in US due to lack of demand. Pity.
12-21-2010, 09:42 PM
#29
Audiworld Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another wagon lover here currently shopping the A4 Avant. Not sure I can pull the trigger though as I just can't get over the fact that they killed the S4 Avant for us in the US. I've grown up loving sporty wagons and I am finally in a place in my life financially that I can afford one and they axe it. I'm just gutted.
I currently drive a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon with a manual transmission (the only year they offered the combo since they brought the turbo Legacy back to the US). Subaru has even killed their manual offerings AND their wagons. Sorry I don't consider an Outback a wagon, it's an SUV, especially the new ones, and the Impreza has always been a hatchback to me even though they used to call it a wagon (now it's simply a "5 door").
Anyway, I'm enjoying reading your discussion, especially the back and forth between Sundowner and QUA77RO.
If I keep reading how much QUA77RO likes his wagon I may be convinced I could like one without a stick. Of course I would probably have to let STASSIS have their way with it too as I've got my Leggy mildly modded and just love the look of a dual exhaust and the feel of ~300hp/tq under the hood.
Of course I keep holding out hope that AoA will see the light and return the S4 Avant to our shores. Yes, I'm a dreamer.
Cheers!
I currently drive a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon with a manual transmission (the only year they offered the combo since they brought the turbo Legacy back to the US). Subaru has even killed their manual offerings AND their wagons. Sorry I don't consider an Outback a wagon, it's an SUV, especially the new ones, and the Impreza has always been a hatchback to me even though they used to call it a wagon (now it's simply a "5 door").
Anyway, I'm enjoying reading your discussion, especially the back and forth between Sundowner and QUA77RO.
If I keep reading how much QUA77RO likes his wagon I may be convinced I could like one without a stick. Of course I would probably have to let STASSIS have their way with it too as I've got my Leggy mildly modded and just love the look of a dual exhaust and the feel of ~300hp/tq under the hood.
Of course I keep holding out hope that AoA will see the light and return the S4 Avant to our shores. Yes, I'm a dreamer.
Cheers!
Last edited by goneskiian; 12-21-2010 at 09:49 PM.
12-21-2010, 10:56 PM
#30
AudiWorld Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: California
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
your statement of value is anecdotal. mine is actuarial.
Let's just agree to disagree since I'm right, anyway.
Are you talking to me? Akchuuarially, I asked my wife, she said I was right, and there is nothing anecdotal about THAT.
If it helps, when I lost my beloved 2008 Passat wagon (with a stick!!) it's was pretty much impossible to find a replacement. VW stopped offering the stick for the 2009 model year and up, and the used ones were like trying to find hen's teeth. The ones I did find were priced to sell (a stick wagon? What football loving 'merican would want that?!?) but they always sold in a blink. Still enough good people out there who recognize the rarity and the value. The automatic wagons, well, those were a lot easier to find since they tended to collect dust while languishing in used car lot purgatory. Sorry I read it and it doesn't help but thanks for trying
The avants at my local Audi dealer would seem to be a similar theological plane of existence based on the same cars sitting in the same spots every time I drive by. Are the avants worth more? Yes, without doubt. But they also cost more when new, so a like depreciation rate percentage should yield a pricer used version. I'm not sure which religion you are referring to...
Honestly, I wish with all my heart that avants had insane resale value, and people lined-up out the door to buy them. Ideally, there would be jello-wrestling to score the precious few manual tranny models. Then, maybe the sight of soccer moms covered in key lime and tangerine whip would spur AoA to order more stick shift avants for the dealer lots. Personally, it would spur me to buy more jello, but I'd surely need to buy an avant to fit the quantity I'd need for my purposes.
Let's just agree to disagree since I'm right, anyway.
Are you talking to me? Akchuuarially, I asked my wife, she said I was right, and there is nothing anecdotal about THAT.
If it helps, when I lost my beloved 2008 Passat wagon (with a stick!!) it's was pretty much impossible to find a replacement. VW stopped offering the stick for the 2009 model year and up, and the used ones were like trying to find hen's teeth. The ones I did find were priced to sell (a stick wagon? What football loving 'merican would want that?!?) but they always sold in a blink. Still enough good people out there who recognize the rarity and the value. The automatic wagons, well, those were a lot easier to find since they tended to collect dust while languishing in used car lot purgatory. Sorry I read it and it doesn't help but thanks for trying
The avants at my local Audi dealer would seem to be a similar theological plane of existence based on the same cars sitting in the same spots every time I drive by. Are the avants worth more? Yes, without doubt. But they also cost more when new, so a like depreciation rate percentage should yield a pricer used version. I'm not sure which religion you are referring to...
Honestly, I wish with all my heart that avants had insane resale value, and people lined-up out the door to buy them. Ideally, there would be jello-wrestling to score the precious few manual tranny models. Then, maybe the sight of soccer moms covered in key lime and tangerine whip would spur AoA to order more stick shift avants for the dealer lots. Personally, it would spur me to buy more jello, but I'd surely need to buy an avant to fit the quantity I'd need for my purposes.
Another wagon lover here currently shopping the A4 Avant. Not sure I can pull the trigger though as I just can't get over the fact that they killed the S4 Avant for us in the US. I've grown up loving sporty wagons and I am finally in a place in my life financially that I can afford one and they axe it. I'm just gutted.
Anyway, I'm enjoying reading your discussion, especially the back and forth between Sundowner and QUA77RO.
If I keep reading how much QUA77RO likes his wagon I may be convinced I could like one without a stick. Of course I would probably have to let STASSIS have their way with it too as I've got my Leggy mildly modded and just love the look of a dual exhaust and the feel of ~300hp/tq under the hood.
Of course I keep holding out hope that AoA will see the light and return the S4 Avant to our shores. Yes, I'm a dreamer.
Cheers!
Anyway, I'm enjoying reading your discussion, especially the back and forth between Sundowner and QUA77RO.
If I keep reading how much QUA77RO likes his wagon I may be convinced I could like one without a stick. Of course I would probably have to let STASSIS have their way with it too as I've got my Leggy mildly modded and just love the look of a dual exhaust and the feel of ~300hp/tq under the hood.
Of course I keep holding out hope that AoA will see the light and return the S4 Avant to our shores. Yes, I'm a dreamer.
Cheers!
This is the wagon you are looking for. Sorry didn't mean to use my Jedi Mind typing.
Last edited by QUA77R0; 12-21-2010 at 11:00 PM. Reason: Grammar was too good. Made changes. Thanks