I posted two days ago about how Audi messed up my order and delivered a manual 1.8T FWD instead of a 1.8T CVT. Well it looks like I'm going to have to take the manual FWD. I need a car by next week and there is no comparable car to mine anywhere in the area with sports package. Now I have to learn to drive manual, if I knew I would end up with a manual I would have gone with a Quattro. How bad is resale value going to be on a FWD manual? That's a big concern. The dealer is cutting me a deal on it, $500 over invoice. Hopefully that will offset things somewhat. What sucks now is the uncertainty of wether I will like my car at all. Anybody have any experiences with a manual FWD? I just have this negative feeling about being stuck with a car that I may hate.

If the dealer messed up, they should make it right and give you a loaner/rental until the right car shows up.

Or you can rent a car yourself for a few months. Car payment, car rental, what's the diff?

Re-read your post man, you don't even want it now, much less down the road.

500 over invoice for the wrong car is no bargain.

Also, the quattro issue differs by region. In some climates and cities, quattro is probably hard to sell.

If he screwed up that badly he should be doing everything he can to get you the car you wanted. Even if it's $500 over invoice are you really going to be happy ?? Especially if you have to learn stick ! Besides a FWD AUDI = low resale value.Maybe you should walk away .

I guess I will have them look for a 1.8T Quattro manual at least that way I know I'm getting something that I can feel confident about. There's just a bad feeling about getting a FWD manual for some reason...
At least with CVT you could brag about the transmssion and not having to shift in traffic. DC sucks ass for traffic...grrrr

They are not giving you the "particular" car/specs that you ordered. You have a "contract" with them with this purchase/lease, and they have not full filled their side of it. I do not think that legaly you are bound to accept this car. They should help you with transportation, until they can get what you originaly ordered. GOOD LUCK

I thought you wanted an automatic transmission?Why get a manual if you don't know how to drive it?

in places like Texas and Florida, it isn't always a selling point.

maybe not that bad, but FWD seems like an emasculated Audi.

It's not so much learning to drive a manual would be so bad, heck with Quattro I'd be ok with it, at least with that you know you are driving the car with a transmision that makes the experince enjoyable.
Quattro and manual=sports & performance
CVT = Convennience and flexibility
Manual and FWD is ok but it just seems to lack something.
Well I'm goig out with a friend in his car in a little while to get some lessons with a manual. See how it feels.

Is this car what you want?

If not, then you should talk to the dealer, you have the right to walk away.

My suggestion is that don't buy something that you don't like. You have to get the exact Car you like, or wait.

I live in Georgia, I don't need Quattro. The FWD is lighter anyway.

I bought a 2001 FWD and regretted it almost immediately. Now, 18 months later I'm trading it in for a 2002 w/quattro. Save yourself a step, and find one with quattro.

How does she handle? How is the transmision? Can you teach me how to drive a manual? Lol, j/k. We don't get a lot of snow here in VA either. Hoepfully things will work out. Hell at least not two many girls know about Quattro! Most always say your car is so nice. Decisions...Decisions, I'm off to get my lesson now.

How long will you keep the car ? Buy or lease ?

The QTR makes a heavier although more balanced car. In bad weather, it is an excellent safety feature. If you plan to go over 265hp later, get QTR manual.

The FWD has a fluency in feedback that the QTR does not have. Some is the lightness, and some is the reduction in number of rotating parts. At anything less than 7/10ths, the FWD is a nicer car than a QTR. If driven hard, QTR is a must just for an extra measure of control.

Since you were ready to get FWD anyway, you must have dealt with the resale issue already. I am not sure CVT will change the mix. Certainly if you plan to sell it more than 5 or 6 years from now, resale difference will be minimal.

You need to ask yourself, " will I be happy with this car for however long I plan to keep it?" If the answer is no, then hold out for the right combo for you. At most it is a few months, when you will be driving this car every day for several years. On the other hand, have you driven the FWD 5 speed ? It may suprise you.

When I think of Audi I think Quattro. Without the Quattro something is missing. That is just my opinion. I haven't driven the front trak (front wheel drive) so I really cannot compare, but I do know that the quattro is amazing. You have to live with the car so get the one you will enjoy and not regret. In New England I don't know if any dealers even carry non quattro Audi's. In fact in my life I may have only seen one or two.

I had a Gen1 '96 A4 manual FWD and I loved the car. It was different than a quattro but I'm a real fan of manual trans cars so I would have gone manual first, quattro second. Of course a manual with quattro would be the best senario but you weren't going to get quattro anyway. I think you'll enjoy the manual, I did.

As for $500 over that is a rip. It should be $500 under, they screwed up not you.

Like everyone said it's a lot of money to spend on something I might not like to drive daily. Thanks everyone for your input and advice. It's a tug of war between my heart and my mind and my mind just won out. Hopefully there will be a CVT w/o sports package somewhere if not I might go with the Bimmer, Passat, or RSX. THanks mucho guys!

One is Dolphin and the other is Silver. Are you close to PA?

Check the link below. The last 4 cars are 1.8T non Quattros with auto transmissions. They have to be CVT's because the Tip is not available on FWD cars. I am not sure if they have the sport package. Have your dealer do a dealer trade for one if you find one you want or you can make the drive to Pittsburgh and do the deal yourself. I can give a contact if you want.

*Edit* Ok, go to the link below and seach their new car inventory. You will find the cars I am talking about<ul><li><a href="http://www.sewickleycars.net">http://www.sewickleycars.net</a</li></ul>

...it was noticeably lighter than my AWD S4 is now, but it was nowhere near as rewarding to drive even semi-aggressively since the front tires would always be slipping a little bit in turns under acceleration. But when I sold it, it probably cost me $2500 on trade-in, and my dealer gave me crap about it being a FWD manual. They resold it in less than 2 weeks though, so it must not have been too much of a problem, but that's in Houston where quattro is not a big selling factor to most of the population.

loaner and i could feel the extra weight and slow shifting....As for resale, After a few years the quattro will have about $700 more in value...big whoppe.....If you are worried about it in a 2-3 year period then just get a lease and don't buy...