Agreed, I am leaning towards forum user sellers more since they do generally seem to take better care of their cars. Thanks for the site suggestions, I haven't checked those out yet.Check out places like audifans.com and quattroworld.com, as well as audiworld.com for people selling allroads. Your best bet with a car like that is to get one from somebody who's an enthusiast and took very good care of their care.
Those may be dealer prices, but there is an alternative supplier that provides equal to or better than OEM parts for much less (set of 4 performance air springs for $1500, compressor for $400). This is certainly a job I can do myself. Gotta keep the air suspension, that is what makes the allroad unique.allroads are pretty stout chassis(es) but the suspension can be iffy. It's about $1500 per corner to replace the airbag, but it may be less to do it yourself. It's like 1200 for the compressor, which will need to be replaced if one of the bags has been leaking for a while. A coilover conversion is probably cheaper.
Only 2.7T and 4.2 engines. I read about lots of issues with 2.7T which has me concerned. 4.2 is definitely more reliable, but not many allroads out there for sale with that engine.Engines are variable...the 2.7t is a good engine and at this mileage, it'll either have already failed or it won't. I guess reliability was hit or miss. I don't know if they offered the 2.8, but that's the most reliable engine for the C6. The 4.2 isn't quite as stout, but it's non-turbo and if it's maintained, should be ok. I think it uses a timing chain too, so belts are less of an issue.
Thanks for the insight. The 4.2 has a timing chain like the S4, so no regular replacement to worry about. I do read a lot about them being money pits, but like you said mostly people with bad experiences are the ones to write about it, less people join forums to just talk about how problem free their car is.The Allroad is a money pit, and I say that gently because I like them. I can still get parts for decent prices and I can do a lot of the work myself, I have a good tool chest and several friends that have lifts that I can use and I'd still run away from the Allroad. They were available with a 6spd trans and the 2.7T which would be a lot of fun but not very reliable; I'd prefer the 4.2 and tip but they are a bit more money.
This is in addition to regular maintenance which can be expensive. I think the 4.2 in the Allroad has a timing belt. I know it does in the A8 and the A6 but the engine sits a little different in the Allroad, the 4.2 in the S4 does have chains and might be the same as the Allroad. If it has a belt expect the 80K service to cost ~$2500 if you have it done at a dealer or good shop.
Take my cynicism with a grain of salt, when I was working at the shop I only saw the broken cars, there wasn't any need to bring it to us if it didn't have a problem. We did a lot of routine maintenance and the Audis always had more issues come up than the Subarus during the inspections.
I thought that issue was taken care of by 2005? Or is it still a problem on the turbo cars? My dad had an '03 Legacy and by 90k the head gaskets started leaking a bit, but never enough to make him replace them.Get the Subaru, what it lacks in soul it makes up for with reliability. But the head gaskets will fail...I can fill you in on that too if you want.
I'm pretty handy and don't mind spending money on upgrades in the event of failures. In fact the most attractive thing about the 2.7T is the readily available mods. I've never owned a modded car before, but the performance gains available are pretty staggering. That said, this would be my only car so that's probably not the best idea. The 4.2 sounds like it is the safest choice if I were to go with the allroad (no manual tranny though). The Subaru is certainly more reliable, although turbo failures are also possible, but overall it's just not as nice of a car.From a guy who has a 2.7T S4, I'd say get the Subaru. My clutch went out last Saturday (110k on the clock) and I was thinking I'd finally get to go Stage 3 since most people pull the fvcking engine just to change the clutch. Well...I will probably do it still but parts alone for clutch/turbos/fueling are in excess of $5k. I do most of the work myself and it still costs a fortune.
I'd either get a 1.8T Avant (and beef up the suspension - maybe even put a big turbo on it) or the Subaru. Trust me - you don't want anything to do with the 2.7T engine. It's twice the turbos and twice the price of repair than a 1.8T.
Oh...and if it's got 90k on the clock (and assuming it's a 2.7T) you're gonna need a turbo change in the near future. Engine and transmission have to be yanked AGAIN for that. Seriously...I love this car to death which is why I'm keeping it but unless you're REALLY handy then I would get something else.
Ford Raptor. Done.I am basically looking at the allroad vs. Outback turbo because my car needs/wants are:
1. Put two bikes and gear inside
B. Tow 1200lb trailer, sometimes into light off-road areas
3. Quick
D. Good handling
Don't really want a truck, especially not in the east. It might be fun in the southwest where it could actually be driven off-road regularly.Ford Raptor. Done.
What is that?image
Thanks for the feedback, that is basically exactly what I wanted to hear. You hit the nail on the head about why the allroad is better than suby for highway trips, the germans design their cars for high speed cruising.I have a 2004 4.2, it's been good, got it APR chipped so it's supposed to be 345hp.
I love the car, we drove it across country in cannonball run speeds
Its also super stable at high speeds in snow, like 70+
I've passed subys, all kinds of 4x4s and others racing is the snow, they seems to give up cuz theres was slipping more thatn mines
Hitches are very hard to come by, no longer made, there are ones that drill into the sheet metal. Euro ones and a bike rack cost $2k+ to import after all is said and install.
Bottom line, You pay for the luxury, subys a def alternative, for less $, but like many german cars, if you keep on top of it, the pleasure per dollar ratio is prob pretty high
Thanks for the input.We have a 2005 4.2, it has almost 100k on it now, had to fix the suspension last week, other then that it hasn't needed much work other then routine stuff.
Subaru Forester STI (not mine, just a cool car I found)What is that?
Yeah.snow tires?
Tires is the problem there. Studs will fix that. I drove my 360+hp starion in the snow with studs no problem. Had a couple sketch moments but it was pretty easy going.I'll say that my WRX with performance tires and stage 2 turbo f-ing sucks in the snow. Trying to modulate the power to keep the turbo from spinning up too fast and dealing with the tires is a handfull. AWD doesn't mean a whole lot in this situation.
Oh I know, but I'm not going to switch to studs or snow-tires for the minimal amount of snow we get. I was just stating that AWD isn't some magic system that makes your car perfect in snow. Tires has a LOT to do with it.Tires is the problem there. Studs will fix that. I drove my 360+hp starion in the snow with studs no problem. Had a couple sketch moments but it was pretty easy going.
My next bumper stickerAWD isn't some magic system that makes your car perfect in snow.
alright, cool. I've driven an Audi UrQuattro and a 200 TQA in the snow, with snow tires, and they were relentlessly grippy and went exactly where I wanted it to. I imagine an overboosted rex would be more of a handful, as you've got 80hp more than I did, but weights would have been similar.Oh I know, but I'm not going to switch to studs or snow-tires for the minimal amount of snow we get. I was just stating that AWD isn't some magic system that makes your car perfect in snow. Tires has a LOT to do with it.
Cool I'll check it out.justmtnb44 look at swankmonkey.com for their link they do Audi tuning out in Ar the guy is Lee (know him since we were 12 good guy) and definently knows his stuff for audi and vws being they are like chevy is to GMC..
That's what I meant, it seems everyone calls it a chip but yes reflash is the proper term. I was going to do it right away, but I think I'll wait for now so I can really appreciate the difference.dont bother with a chip, just get the ECU flash from APR. its worth every penny
hahaha the raptor is a joke! underpowered, ugly, cheap shocks (no resi's), its a FORD, way overpriced, terrible gas mileageFord Raptor. Done.
the new 6.2L engine solves the under power issue or the 5.4L and Fox's new shock eliminates the need for a resi. plus, its good because it is a Ford, the #1 selling vehicle in the country for 20 years now.hahaha the raptor is a joke! underpowered, ugly, cheap shocks (no resi's), its a FORD, way overpriced, terrible gas mileage
Tires make a larger difference than awd. I have a 2010 WRX and put Michelin Primacy Alpin snow tires on it. I can go well over the speed limit on snow packed roads. Also, they are performance winter tires, so dry road handling is still pretty good. The 2.0 motor didn't have enough low end torque IMO... the 2.5 can be driven at much lower rpms. I get almost 30 mpg commuting through rush hour traffic around Denver where the 2.0 would be doing a lot worse.Oh I know, but I'm not going to switch to studs or snow-tires for the minimal amount of snow we get. I was just stating that AWD isn't some magic system that makes your car perfect in snow. Tires has a LOT to do with it.
thats because boxer engines are underpowered without a turboThe 2.0 motor didn't have enough low end torque IMO... the 2.5 can be driven at much lower rpms.
I had an '06 non-turbo before I got the wrx. It made 173 hp and got about the same gas mileage as the wrx (as long as you're not on the turbo a lot). So, I think it does ok w/o turbo, but the turbo has the same driveability with a lot more mid to top-end power. It's also smoother than the non-turbo for some reason...thats because boxer engines are underpowered without a turbo
Whoops, my planes are underpowered? A 911S is underpowered? The H6 subies are underpowered? I would highly disagree with that. 2.0 is a pretty small motor, great on the gas milege, even in stop-and go, (a performance tune helps a lot though), it's not because it's a boxxer, it's because its a turbo 2.0. A regular 2.0 would be better for low end without other modifications, and being small obviously doesn't help. With proper spool-up it's pretty good though.thats because boxer engines are underpowered without a turbo
Our one car gets 41 MPG at 80 MPH! The commute I may end up having could be 125 miles each way.Hey Amerikanos...think about Kyoto a bit! Your cars are generally too big. Go smaller, save some dime