9 Things quattro Owners are Tired of Hearing
The legendary Audi ur-Quattro went from world rally circuits to a limited number of garages. Find out how this original all-wheel drive system has survived from the iconic car to the Audi models we love today.
1. Can You Drive?
Rain or shine, snow or sleet, there's never a good reason NOT to drive an Audi quattro. Thirty-five years ago, the Audi quattro® all-wheel drive system became the first, "permanent system," designed for passenger vehicles, and today, its the reason why quattro drivers are used to their friends asking, "Can you Drive?"
2. Is this a "quattro"?
Any quattro owner will tell you, it happens all the time. Your friend gets in the passenger seat, and right in front, above the glovebox, is the "quattro" logo. But still, after a short pause, they ask, "is this a quattro?" It makes no sense, but trust me, it happens all the time.
3. What Does quattro Mean?
Many of the same passengers who ask "is this a quattro?" will invariably follow up with the obligatory: "What does quattro mean?" The easiest answer, of course, is "four," but most Audi owners are gracious enough to offer a simple explanation of the all-wheel drive system that put, and has kept Audi firmly on the automotive map.
4. Are those Heated Rear Seats?
The quattro is the foundation of the Audi all weather commitment. Models with quattro were traditionally offered with a wide range of other cold-weather features and accessories, such as heated rear seats, side mirrors and steering wheel. So yes, those are heated seats.
5. Loveland Pass is Closed
I lived in Littleton, Colorado for more than a decade -- during most of that time I drove a 2002 Audi A4 quattro, with the 1.8 turbo. I ran all-season tires, all the time, and in seven ski seasons with more than 100 total days on the slopes, my Audi never missed a beat, never got stuck, and I can't tell you how many times we drove over the Continental Divide when Loveland Pass was officially "closed."
6. Is Quattro Italian?
Not as common, but twice as annoying is this comment, "is quattro Italian?" And usually, before you can answer, here comes the punchline, "I thought this was a German car." Right ... insert laugh track, and get new friends ... immediately.
7. The roads don't seem THAT bad
This comment usually comes from the back seat, from the guy who lives 20 minutes out of the way. The truth is, the quattro makes it look easy, whether rain, sleet or snow. So yes, from inside a Quattro, the roads never seem as bad as you thought.
8. My Subaru has all-wheel drive too
No disrespect to Subaru, this is about giving credit where it's due. Yes, your Subie has all-wheel drive, and yes, all Subarus come with all-wheel drive. But how do you think that was even possible? It's because of the Audi quattro, that's how. Ahead of it's time and true to form, Audi pioneered the technology that helped make Subaru a household name in winter climates.
9. Thanks, I'll Drive Next Time
Another ski trip ... another road trip, another day at the office for an Audi quattro.
Maybe it's because we are better drivers, or maybe because we prefer not to sit in the back of your Elantra -- for some reason -- the quattro always gets the call, and lives with the false promise that someday, somehow, somebody else is gonna drive. Not gonna happen.
For help keeping your car running right check out the how-to section of AudiWorld.com