We are REALLY thinking about buying a A4 1.8t Avant 5 speed...What do ya think???

I absolutely adore my 1.8tqms Avant. Everyday driving is wonderful and if you are performance minded we have every option sedan owners have. I can't say enough about APR and their 1.0bar chip. I camp somwhat often and do a lot of outdoor stuff, I have little trouble fitting everything. The "small" cargo area was a commonly heard complaint but it works great for me. I must admit though that having the extra bit of cargo capacity was second to the overall look and balance of the Avant [over the sedan].

Feel free to email.

JamesC
1.8tqms Avant APR/K&N

I am nearing the end of the break-in period, having gone 974 miles thus far, with my Santorin Blue 99.5 1.8T Avant. The car is equipped with a 5-speed, the sports suspension/tires and sports seats. The manual transmission and sports suspension combine with the 1.8T to make a car that is remarkably nimble and well balanced. I find the sports seats to be a nice addition, though as I understand the options list, they limit you to cloth (I chose onyx, and have it found it reasonable, even in Maryland). The car is a delight to drive, and yesterday, it proved its worth in hauling; for a small car, there is plenty of space to carry stuff.

order early....I have been told to expect a 4 to 6 month wait on an ordered car... 3 months down and lord knows how many more to wait. (ordered June 6)

Great looking car. Under powered (but there are the chips). Uncomfortable back seat. No lumbar support. Cup holders are impractical. Arm rest is too short. Lights/signals/cruise control poorly
designed. Visuals (10), performance (8), ergonomics (6). IMHO

I own a 99.5 Silver 1.8T qms Avant and have loved every single minute of ownership. Here are my thoughts @ 1800 miles.

The Pros:

1) The five speed mated with the 1.8T (soon to be APR'd) offers a spirited driving experience if you are so inclined. (If not, take a look at the Passat Wagon).

2) Both the exterior cosemetics and interior fit/finish are beyond reproach. Absolutely the finest on the road today.

3) Get the sport package. The tires alone are worth the extra change. The weight balance in the Avant is nearly 50/50 and I feel that the body is stiffer than the sedan IMHO. No anxious moments when you shoot the apex. The car just huddles down and gets going.

4) The controls are very easy to use. They are logically placed and intuitive to use IMHO. My only caveat would be to AoA, next time, place the cruise controls on the steering wheel.

The Cons.

1) The cup holders are really not worth a whole lot. But having come from an '90 Acura Legend that had none, I can't complain. They do hold my Dunkin Donuts coffee and a bottle of water (small). C'est la vie.

2) Don't expect a whole lot in the way of "station wagon" storage. It will allow you to transport bulky items (large coolers, beach chairs, tents, etc.) no problem. If you require more room than the A4 Avant has to offer get the A6 Avant(^:

My conclusion, it's the best looking, best handling, best buy in a sport wagon today. Get the sport package, sunroof, and sport seats and enjoy the ride.

Safe travels,

Rahbee Dee

Feel free to e-mail.

This car is fantastic, I think it looks better than the sedan in some ways. You get the extra cargo flexibility and a little more room, especially for bulky items. I would order the sport pack and the sport seats for sure. The car handles wonderfully w/ the sport pack. You won't see yourself coming and going every day either like you do w/ the sedan in some areas.

Email for more gushing if you wish.

99.5 2.8 Avant qmss

Although it is better than the sedan's weight distribution, it's nowhere near 50/50. And oversteer is just an abrupt lift of the throttle away. Body roll thru the esses at LRP this weekend was pronounced though. Overall, the Avant cooks well; brakes held-up better than I expected.

Regards,
Geza :^)
99.5 Avant 2.8qMS
97 Boxster

I have this car for two months now (previous cars - Hondas, Subaru) and here are my impressions:

1. Suspension (sport). Body roll is reasonably well controlled (not perfect but very good). A bit excessive diving when braking. Very comfortable for everyday use. My only hesitation on sport was lower clearance (winter snow driving). Overall impression - very good.

2. Steering - precise (although a little bit detached to my taste). No detectable torque steering. Did not have a chance to get a car to the limits yet to determine understeer or oversteer tendency. Relatively small turning radius.

3. Shifter - mixed feelings here. Travel is way too long for my taste. Fairly precise and smooth for a cable system (AFAIK). Mine has a slight problem with 2nd gear - it abruptly moves 1/4 of an inch out of position when clutch is released.

4. Clutch - again mixed feelings. Long travel makes me sit closer up front then in other cars. This is the first clutch that bothers me in heavy traffic. On the other hand for a beginner it is probably the easiest clutch to learn (despite small engine displacement).

5. Brakes - yet another source of mixed feeling. For my taste they are two grabby even after 2 month adaptation (both myself and a car). Plus the famous brake dust. They seem to have more of "position modulated" behaviour and I personally prefer "force modulation".

6. Engine - very nice for a 4 cylinder. Torque after 2500rpm is excelent. Very smooth feel (probably due to heavy flywheel). Only complaint - revs-up slowly and excessively holds rpm during shifts (probaly due to the same heavy flywheel).
Soon to be chipped (probably APR 0.8bar).

7. Interior design - excelent (both materials features and design). Very easy to switch for ex-Japaneese car owner ;). Red instrument lighting initially bothered me on test drive but after few days I really enjoyed it. Ambient backlit is really cool. Few very minor complaints: position of window switches, cruise control, cupholders and wrong angle of glass covering instrument cluster (reflects light in some situations).

8. Exterior. IMHO Avant has *perfect* reference quality exterior period ;).

9. Noise insulation: wind and road noise - top notch for a small car. Engine noise somewhat excessive at highway speeds >70mph partly due to 5th gear ratio - 3400rpm at 75mph.

10. Space - initially I thought that rear seats will be unusable (I am 6'2'). However I found comfortable driving position closer up front than in other cars and that gives reasonably comfortable rear legroom for average adult. This was a pleasant suprise. Trunk space is very useful - 21' monitor in a box or folded bike trailer (burley) fits there nicely ;). Another nice coincidence - roof rails are similar to my Subaru Outback so I can move Yakima rack between two cars without need for different towers.

I am not talking about options here - I ordered a barebone car only with sport packge. YMMV.

Overall I am very satisfied with the car. A perfect mix of functionality and sportiness. My only real concern is long term reliability and post-warranty mainatanence cost.

VladN