What car: Rivals to A4 2.0 turbo Quattro Avant

[nsi]

Looking for a new (used) car for my wife. Requirements:
Estate
4WD
0-60 in sub 8s
£6-10k
Under 7y/o
Under 80k
Not stupid running costs (no RS models or Evo/Scoobs)

I think a facelift A4 per title would fit the bill, but I'm struggling to think of alternatives. Over to PH. Cheers

[300bhp/ton]

nsi said:

Looking for a new (used) car for my wife. Requirements:
Estate
4WD
0-60 in sub 8s
£6-10k
Under 7y/o
Under 80k
Not stupid running costs (no RS models or Evo/Scoobs)

I think a facelift A4 per title would fit the bill, but I'm struggling to think of alternatives. Over to PH. Cheers

Subaru of some kind. Seriously does it really need to do sub 8sec to 60mph? Seems such an odd (pointless??) requirement

At the end of the day there are only so many AWD vehicles to choose from, so there is a finite list.

Hatches if they would be big enough:
Golf
Audi S3

Isn't there an AWD Octavia and Passat too?

The A4 as you mentioned, or maybe an A6?

Jag X-Type.

Legacy, Forrester, Impreza.

And maybe a Volvo or so.


Either that or you need to look to SUV's and 4x4's.

[Triumph Man]

Would you prefer Torsen 4wd (permanent - Passat, A4 etc) or Haldex (rear wheels only driven when fronts detect slippage - Golf, A3, Volvos etc)

[Output Flange]

Just get the A4. It'll do the job nicely, and will be the nicest place to spend time of all the options.

I went through the same thing a few months back and ended up with an S4 Avant.

[nsi]

Thanks for the responses so far.

300bhp/ton said:

Seriously does it really need to do sub 8sec to 60mph? Seems such an odd (pointless??) requirement

I expected a comment along those lines when I made the OP. No, I'm not taking it drag racing so 0-60 doesn't matter in that respect - I'm just using it as a yardstick and as it's my thread about my car please just accept I'm happy with that yardstick, despite it's shortcomings which I'm sure we could discuss for hours. But that's really another thread.

Triumph Man said:

Would you prefer Torsen 4wd (permanent - Passat, A4 etc) or Haldex (rear wheels only driven when fronts detect slippage - Golf, A3, Volvos etc)

What are the advantages of each system? Presumably the Haldex could offer better fuel economy due to lower drive train losses when the system is disconnected? All the 4WD vehicles I've ever driven have been permanent 4WD, so I think I'd probably prefer that - if only for familiarity.

[y2blade]

Volvo V70R

[Ved]

WRX wagon will have similar running costs to the A4 and can be found for under 7k for some well kept ones. Failing that Legacy or that A4.

[Dave Hedgehog]

nsi said:

What are the advantages of each system? Presumably the Haldex could offer better fuel economy due to lower drive train losses when the system is disconnected? All the 4WD vehicles I've ever driven have been permanent 4WD, so I think I'd probably prefer that - if only for familiarity.

Haldex IV is permanent 4wd, just biased to the front it is reactive as well predicting slippage, I have driven a lot of VAG 4wd cars over the last 12 months and even when pressing on hard its near impossible to tell the difference between the 2 systems, it works brilliantly in even heavy snow. My R32 (with the older reactive haldex II) had no problems even in the worst of it on stock tyres apart from having to use the front bumper as a snow plow

on a track you would notice a difference, but then you would notice a big difference between an RS 4wd setup and a stock quattro system

[James Dean]

Alfa Romeo 159 3.2 V6 Q4?

[ExPat2B]

You don't need 4wd. It will add weight, increase the purchase cost and harm fuel economy. You just need the right tyres.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9BXupo38Pew

[300bhp/ton]

ExPat2B said:

You don't need 4wd. It will add weight, increase the purchase cost and harm fuel economy. You just need the right tyres.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9BXupo38Pew

Couldn't hear the vid, but looked pretty pointless tbh. 1 larger heavier car and 1 lighter one. Why not put some winters on the AWD one too and then see the difference again?

[Dave Hedgehog]

James Dean said:

Alfa Romeo 159 3.2 V6 Q4?

that is lovely

[nsi]

Dave Hedgehog said:

James Dean said:

Alfa Romeo 159 3.2 V6 Q4?

that is lovely

It really is! I never knew that existed!

[Manicminer]

A lex said:

I honestly dont think you will do better than the Alfa or a V70R

Like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-55-VOLVO-V70-R-2-5-...

They are lovely machines, had one while my A4 was being serviced and loved it.

[Fittster]

nsi said:

Not stupid running costs (no RS models or Evo/Scoobs)

Since when do the Legacy and Foresters have stupid running costs?

[longitcher]

Had a similar requirement recently and needed something less...ubiquitous. Not an estate but consider a Freetrack - strong spec incl heated seats, plenty of space, plus haldex and comes in 2.0 tsi flavour. Looks do take a bit of getting used to but candy white works for my OH

[Baryonyx]

nsi said:

Looking for a new (used) car for my wife. Requirements:
Estate
4WD
0-60 in sub 8s
£6-10k
Under 7y/o
Under 80k
Not stupid running costs (no RS models or Evo/Scoobs)

I think a facelift A4 per title would fit the bill, but I'm struggling to think of alternatives. Over to PH. Cheers

I don't think the real world difference between the Audi and a similar Impreza will be all that massive. The Impreza might cost most in fuel and will probably cost a bit less to service and put tyres on. An Impreza would be a good shout, no doubt. But your wife would have to be happy with it and Imprezas can polarise, particularly to someone who may like the badge and refinement of the Audi.

Is AWD an absolute requirement? Does she expect to see snow often?

[Speed addicted]

Is the V70R 4WD? That Alfa looks intresting.

[Backtobasics]

nsi said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

James Dean said:

Alfa Romeo 159 3.2 V6 Q4?

that is lovely

It really is! I never knew that existed!

Its a rare beast, pretty decent piece of kit as well.

[Baryonyx]

Speed addicted said:

Is the V70R 4WD? That Alfa looks intresting.

Yes, though it's a Haldex system. If only it had been torsen based...