I live in Vermont and the winters are brutal on cars. Stone chips, alloys wheel corrosion, rust, kids with muddy boots - you get the point. This car is so beautiful, I want it to last for a long time! Should I buy what we call up here a "winter rat"?

1999.5 2.8Q (never seen salt)

My A4 quattro's not happy, unless it's hub deep in snow in the Colorado mtns! 8^)

CraigB
'98 1.8T (begging me to put the snow tires on)

Same car as you and I live in Ohio. Can't wait till it snows! Some of my buddies think I have some issues because I'm garaging my 84 GTi and driving my Audi, they just don't understand.

Dan,

Drive car in winter.....make Audi feel Good!

Craig,

When you get a chance, in between correcting people's screwed up picture postings, can you drop me a line at the email address above? Got a question for you about your car.

Thanks,
Rick

I know how bad the winters are in VT. If you can afford to do it, it sure wouldn't hurt. Otherwise, a set of steel wheels and snows (which are in order anyway for aVT winter), will ensure the safety of your alloy wheels. And a set of Weathertech mats (trunk liner might not be a bad idea either) will help to protect the interior. They do a good job collecting water/slush/mud/dirt/salt/etc. and keeping it off of the carpet. Also, weekly washings will help too (at least for the salt, not much you can do about the stones/gravel).

Regards,
Rodney

'99 A4 1.8tqms

The A4 is simply not equipped to handle any type of adverse weather conditions, including (but not limited to) snow, heavy rain, fog, excessive sunshine, darkness, drizzle...

it snows ever so mildly...

I am in Western NY... they ground up car parts (esp. old chevys), mix them with rocks and use them as "road salt".
I got myself a '86 4000S (FWD) for winter use.
My Brilliant Yellow A4 gets tucked in the garage, covered and battery maintained.
If you are thinking of all the terrible things that may happen in the winter now... you are better off with a winter rat. Because comes Spring, if you see a few more dents/dings and chips, you will be kicking yourself.
I am sure you've seen many idoit drivers on the roads today... just imagine them in the snow!

Cris

i just moved from texas to vermont... my audi is all i've got, but i'm already depressed at how hard (impossible) it is to keep clean... where can you store your car and how CHEAP is a "winter rat".... i need THE CHEAPEST!! advice??

The A4 is 100% galvanized so you won't have to worry about rust. MA uses as least as much salt as VT and I see plenty of older Audis with no rust.

It would be a shame not to experience Quattro in the winter.

In the winter the Champlain Expo in Essex Jct.(outside Burlington) stores cars in their empty buildiings. Call to find out rates. A winter car will run between $1,000 and $1,500.

Not! :)

The resale is so good with quattro (especially in VT) because the cars are incredible in the snow. Putting an A4 away for the winter and replacing it with (most likely) a 2wd beater is ridiculous. Just drive it and maintain it.

When are you coming back to visit? Oh, how I miss it when you'd walk Missy by our Apt.

hey buddy...thought i'd track you down here.. ;) believe me, the sooner i'm back in texas, the better... fall is great here, but winter will be no fun at all! i'm thinking of having you and sarah put together a little care package of tortillas and salsa for us!! :) if you'd like to visit, y'all are more than welcome...maybe you'd like to trade for a few months...say, december, january, and february?? sound good?? :) how's your car doin'...any new toys?? talk to you soon and you BETTER write me an email, damnit!!
p.s. i love being famous on the internet...the stag website looks great! :)

You are very cautious and I like that. I think you should store your car if 1. you can afford to
(I couldn't) and 2. you can have easy access to it. You could take it for drives on rare days when it was warm (in upstate NY we had a few 50 degree days) and on days when all snow had melted [away the salt and mud.