Have been looking at a few of them locally and am strongly considering buying one. They are a sort of station wagon-come-SUV. They certainly come equipped with EVERY extra, including, but not limited to:

-All wheel drive

-6 speed tranny which can be used as either manually shiftable or automatic

-turbocharged 2.7 liter V-6 with direct injection 24 valve variable dohc engine

-electric everything (mirrors, locks, entry, etc.)

-18" wheels

-automatic headlights AND automatic windshield wipers

-cruise control, traction control, adhesion (stability) control, and ABS

-driver-adustable road clearance & ride stiffness

-12 way electrically adjustable leather seats for both driver and passenger

- automatic memory settings for steering wheel angle and column length, seat settings and mirror settings for up to 3 different drivers AND passengers (not the steering or mirror settings obviously for passengers)

instantly deactivating/reactivating air bags all the way around, at driver's control

-GPS

-alarm systems

-blue-tooth

-up scale 9 speaker sound system with all controls duplicated on steering wheel

- dual (driver and passenger) interior climate control systems...set the temp you want and it stays there

and on and on...that's less than half the list.

Anyone here ever use or own one? If so, did you like it? If you didn't like it, why not?

Well since you have a spare car to drive when the Audi is broke you are good to go.
Butch

So, Butch are you just having fun with me, or are you telling me they break a lot compared to other cars? And if the latter, is that from personal experience as a user or mechanic, or is it what you have heard or read from others?

I have an aunt that is younger than me. She has always had Jags and had a Jap car when she had them. She put a lot of miles on the Jap car. She bought the Audi and got rid of the Jag and JUap car. She is looking to buy a Jap backup. Johnny Faye may just have a lemon, but it is always something. She loves driving it as she did the Jags, but she will not have a Lexus or some of the other dependable cars. In the olden days at the dealership they were a nightmare.
Butch

Thanks, Butch.

I bought an E-Jag MkI brand new in 1964 for $6,050 in Salem, Oregon. That was when Lucas, Prince of Darkness was still providing their electricals. I am SURE that car never ran more than two months at a time without having to replace something important to its functioning. One of the first major things was the surge tank, which was perforated in the first six months by rust forming on the inside. It cost me a bundle to get a new one fabricated locally out of pure copper sheeting. Little things, like the tach, had to be repaired about every 3 or 4 months.

Plus, if I didn't take it out at least once a week to blow the carbon out of it...which meant 70 or 80 MPH in second gear for several miles on I-35...it ran so roughly you nver knew if it was just the carbon, or whether the engine was about to fall out.

No more Jags for me, ever. Matter of fact, other than maybe a Rolls or Bentley if I win a big lottery (unlikely, as I don't buy tickets), I will never buy an English-made car again. Have given them a fair trial over the years (two Austin-Healeys, the Jag, two Lotuses, and a DB Mk4), but they all flunked, every time. On a reliability scale of 1-10, with 10 being absolutely reliable) they rank about 1/16th of 1...... You don't even wanna hear about the two Loti. Can you imagine a car where you had to re-hang both doors about every second month, or where in the winter you spent hours every week frozen inside the driver's compartment until you could find a heated garage to park in until the car thawed out enough to get yourself out of it? Makes it tough to do business when you drive to an important meeting and then can't get out of your car to attend....


German cars much the same. My first Mercedes SL (a gas-engined one) simply WOULD NOT start in the winter, not even if you tied it to a truck and dragged it down the street, in gear with the ignition on and the clutch released. Been there, tried that.

So, while I owned my series of SLs, I also owned an ancient Nissan Patrol. It started ALL the time, every time. Pull out the manual choke, crank the engine half a turn (with the electric starter, of course) and even in -55 F weather, it would fire right up, without the block heater being plugged in.


Not only that, but they had so many nooks and crannies underneath to accumulate snow and ice, that the bodies rusted out to the perforation stage within 3 years or less on every one of them, and I owned 5 different SLs (190, 230, 250, 280, 450).

That's one of the reasons I was asking folks here about the Audis. I hear they are better respected in Germany than the MBs, but wanted to know what actual experiences of others here are.

I hear you on Japanese cars. I bought a '79 Toy 4x4 brand new and drove it 31 years. Never had a lick of unpredictable trouble with it. Had to replace a clutch after 14 years, due to a lot of towing big American 4x4s out of mud holes, and similar stuff. Had to do a brake rebuild job once. Replaced the shocks after 20-some years. But it never ever stranded me, wouldn't start, or anything like that.

Had to sell it when I moved here as I couldn't tow two cars at once to here, and decided to bring the Porsche. But, I should have brought the Toyota. It was a better vehicle for a dedicated shooter/hunter by a land-slide.

Thanks for your comments.

quote:

Audi Quattro Allroad 2.7T

Don't do that to yourself. New Audis are good cars ... the Allroad, uh, NO!

Like the VW the Audi seems to have the same poorly designed electrical switches. The replacement costs would make them appear like they are gold plated on the inside.

I don't own one but the Subaru has a loyal following.

I have owned three Audis. An '86 5 cylinder Avant which was heavily modified, an 1800 A3 and now an A6 Quattro Avant which is close kin to the Allroad. Total distance on the three cars, about 600k kilometers and, other than the '86 which broke the auto box because of the modified engine, there were no major issues.

The only issue with the Allroad, that I know of, is the air suspension. When it wears out, it is expensive to repair but, once repaired, it will go a long way again. The 5 cylinder engine is about as bulletproof as it gets. I have had 6 of them, mostly in Passat (Santana) wagons.

If it survives in SA, the land of wire and plier repairs, it should be ok elsewhere.

The Audi allroad isn´t an SUV. It´s good for driving in the woods or the open range in europe. Not for the outback in some countries.
But Audi´s are good cars, I´m driving a 20 years old Audi 80, but it´s not a quattro.
My dream was allway´s this one.
http://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f...udi_retro/qu_20v.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnNGemQXVcU

Martin

Thanks everyone for your comments, you in particular Gerard. Your comments have renewed my interest in the vehicle model, so I will look into it a bit farther.


And, guys, I know the Allroad is not an SUV. If I wanted a full-out SUV, I might have kept my GMC Jimmy, which performed great in the field but rusted out major body panels in 2 years and 3 months of Alberta/Saskatchewan weather.

And, since I just want it as a "to the range" gun-hauler and about town chore vehicle, with perhaps an occasional drive to Lost Wages thrown in, I don't care how it would do outside the U.S. or offroad in one of the 'stans or some such place. For that I'd likely get something like a Unimog.

Thing is, in parts of southern AZ (most of it actually) the ranch roads are not paved, and when wet either 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive is real handy to keep from getting stuck in the middle of the road. Still, it is nice to have creature comforts and smooth freeway performance as well, so am looking for something a bit more deluxe than a Grand Wagoneer.

What the hell, I am looking my '80s in the eyes, and don't need to proove I can survive out in God's most primitive testing grounds. Already been there. Already done that. Already proved I can live through it and ENJOY IT, including hunting by myself in -40 F weather and bush way over 100 miles from the nearest highway or maintained hard road. Not going there again these days. Probably won't drive over 60,000 miles in the whole rest of my life.

Anyway, if you have actual knowledge of the Audi Allroad, or if you have something you'd suggest as a luxurious alternative for my purposes, would love to hear some more from you

FWIW, I've had 3 subarus over the years and all have been fantastic cars.... not cheap to service but other than that, wonderful.

I have significant experience with all these cars. Allroad = UberBoatAnchor. Subaru = UltraShitBox-deathtrap.

PM for details.

Why PM? Tell us what the problems were so that we know what to look out for.

Gerard,
Methinks he drives a SAAAB.
Butch

Here is a pic from the net of that car.


Audi's are popular here in CT. It seems that everyone here must have 4WD now what with the 'snow'. Subaru's are popular as well. Before that it was the bigger SUV's which are still selling.

Quattro test

The "All Ride Suspension" seems interesting and the car gets decent mileage and has some pep.

As for myself I like a larger car for its room, safety and muscle. I drive a 300C with AWD and the Hemi. To each his own.

I have a TT roadster and can't say nough good things about it. I got the Porsche paddle shift transmission on it, and think it's great.

The only problem with Audi is trying to find one to buy. They are allocated and every time I go in my local dealer, the salesmen are all on the phone, trying to find cars. They keep their lot 80% full of used Beemers, Nissans etc to have cars to sell.

During the financial downturn, Audi sales increased significantly, causing the supply problem. All other makers lost sales volumn or went out of business (too bad about Saab). MB and other high end owners turned to them in droves due to percieved value and economy with performance. Their new 10 and 12 cylinder rockets helped their image too.

Two of the worst cars made are Slaabs and Volvooos. Probably other terrible cars from eastern Europe and China. My Grandson's best friend and also my Son's neighbor each have the little TT roadsters and really like them. Nick didn't like his as much when he fried the clutch though.
Butch

quote:

Originally posted by Gerard:
Why PM? Tell us what the problems were so that we know what to look out for.

Gerard, do you find it as curious as I do that someone who lives in southern Kalifornia, calls a Subaru a deathtrap without providing ANY specifics?

That, after Shakari had already posted a report of their sturdiness and demand in the conditions of South Africa? Ditto the Audi, which he calls a boat anchor, but which as you say, if it can do well in Africa, can probably do fine anywhere??

Some aspect there (objectivity, perhaps?) does not appear to compute.

Maybe it's a version of the Ford vs. Chevy thing up-sized to American iron vs. the rest of the world?

Anyway, I really appreciate the comments from those who seem to be reporting what they have actually seen or experienced, and try to make good recommendations, including respodents from Butch to the folks in Connecticut.

Any more specific reports and/or recommendations will also be appreciated. Non-specific nasty generalizations seem to me to be a waste of band-width & time.

So Macifej, how has your experience with these cars been gained, generally? And what specifics have you as to their shortcomings? What specifically would you recommend as an alternative for my particular intended use?

AC,
How old is the car and mileage? When did they quit the 2.7? I have worked on these aforementioned cars at the dealership. When I lived in Anchorage the Subarus were great cars, the Volvos were very undependable and expensive to maintain. The Audi and VW were not really good cars from the mid 70s until the mid 90s. This is my experience from working on them and owning a car repair shop for 32 years.
Butch