After lurking here soaking up info for four months since placing my order, I finally took delivery of my car last Friday afternoon. The car is a 4.2 with cold, nav, bose, sirius and sport.

I picked it up from University Audi in Seattle, here it is, sitting in the delivery bay, looking good:

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%201.jpg">

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%20_01.jpg">

With 22 miles on the clock:

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%202.jpg">

I drove it home and took a few more pictures:

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%20_02.jpg">
<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%20_03.jpg">
<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%20_04.jpg">
<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%20_05.jpg">
<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%20_06.jpg">
<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%20_07.jpg">
<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%20_08.jpg">

I had a weekend away planned up at Sun Mountain Lodge, so what better to put the Quattro to work on the first day of ownership!

I set off on the 160 mile trip to the north east corner of WA state, and the snow began about 15 miles into the trip:

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%203.jpg">

I drove on roads which looked more like ski runs and roadways for about 140 miles before turning onto the final road that led to the lodge.
This road hadn't been plowed for a few hours and the snow had been coming down like crazy, so there was about 8 inches of fresh powder on the road, in 19 degree temps. I quickly found that AWD or not, summer tires render a car completely helpless in conditions like these.

It was a hair raising 2 mile trip up this road, sliding around, wheels spinning while the car was going nowhere, progress at 5 mph, and all at around midnight when there were no other cars on the road, and no lights for miles.

Suddenly it happened, a sharp corner, banked to assist cars in summer swung the back end of the car toward the apex, taking the rest of the car with it as I applied opposite lock. The car slid very gently into a snowbank and that was as far as I could go. So after having driven 142 miles, I got stuck with only 4 miles to go!!

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%204.jpg">

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%206.jpg">

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%207.jpg">

After hiking for half an hour (leaving my girlfriend in the car incase someone came along) I eventually got to a phone and called a towtruck.

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%205.jpg">

He winched me very slowly out of the snowbank and I drove the rest of the way very slowly and very carefully!

So here's a reminder to everyone who's thinking of using their summer tires in the snow - don't!! They have extremely low levels of traction, and AWD is practically useless. I'm now going to order a set of snow tires for the subsequent snow driving I'll be doing this season.

The next morning, I could see the snow packed into the wheels and wheel wells:

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%208.jpg">

And after the storm had passed, I had to dig the car out from under this:

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%209.jpg">

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/new%20a6%2010.jpg">

So my impressions of the car...

I really love the styling, it's so much better in real life than in pictures. It looks very muscular and squat with the sports suspension and the lines flow very well with a menacing looking front and elegant rear.

The car is very stable and quiet at high speeds, but look out for that license! I was pulled over and ticketed on the way home for doing 75 in a 65. It's very deceptive and hides your speed very well.

The MMI has so far worked flawlessly, except the entire area I drove to was not marked on the map. The only problem I've had so far is that the driver's side headlamp washer assembly won't go back in on it's own, but the dealer reacted very well and are looking at that today.

I'm impressed with the handling of the car and the ride of the car with sports suspension, with sports seats is still very comfortable for me. My other car is an M Coupe so I may have low standards for a plush ride, but my A6 suits me just fine.

<img src="http://www.dcasali.com/bin/Mcoupe%20new%20wheels02.jpg">

Amaretto interior is very nice and the way the cockpit lights up in the evening is fantastic! I feel like I'm at the helm of a starship. I have not been very impressed with Sirius Satellite radio, they have repetitive programming and a disproportionately high number of sports/news stations. I would like more music variety. I don't think I'll continue my subscription after the free 90 day term expires.

More impressions as I drive further...

But it's a very nice car.

I bought the exact same wheels as you recently, and they are waiting for the summertime in the garage. I can't wait to put them on!

I bought some new Pirelli Sottozero winter tires a couple of weeks ago. They are pretty good, but they are a bit noisy compared to the Nokian WR that I used to drive with. The traction on the Pirellis is very good. However the car tends to oversteer when you loose traction on an icy surface, where the Nokians understeered more.

The Pirellis look very cool for being a winter tire, so it's worth the money IMO.<ul><li><a href="http://www.pirelli.com/en_42/tyres/communication/sottozero/hp_sottozero.jhtml?s1=4400002&amp;s2=4400014&amp;s3=225000 02&amp;s4=-1">Pirelli Sottozero</a></li></ul>

I know the feeling of driving on icy/snowy roads with summer tires :( .. It is more exhausting than a marathon.

...because I did EXACTLY the same thing with my quattro® equipped A6 2.8! Kinda humbling...especially after my last words to my passengers were, "Watch this!"

My advice on tires (from experience): Get ContiExtremes...superb year 'round tire, especially so in snow.

Enjoy your new car. I like the color combination.

I switched off the traction control, and said "watch this", buried the throttle in a corner in an attempt to dukes of hazard it, and promptly ended up in a ditch. I've never said "watch this" in a car again!

...Package option, so you can now order the all-season tires instead of the summer performance tires. Sounds like you had a verrry interesting 24-hrs ;-)

next to a curb with only millimeters to spare. There was a crystalline moment of silence as we all collected our wits and counted limbs, and then proceeded to give him a good razzing all the way back to the dealership. He never did live that one down as long as he worked there ;-)

Nice car. I obviously love the color! (I went with platinum interior). Great snow pics.

I agree with you about sat. radio. If you live in any metropolitan area, you don't need it and can find much better stations. Not worth paying for IMO. Its the one feature I have that I could do without.

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/66627/mammoth_035.jpg"></center><p>Here is my A4 last year in Mammoth. I made it all the way though. Heheh

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/66627/mammoth_030.jpg"></center><p>

Satellite has one really good feature - perfect reception wherever you are (except for underground of course) but that's just not enough to warrant paying for it in my opinion.

maybe not. I'm not real big on spoilers, but that one looks ok. The rear Votex lower valance part is definitely nice...

and next time I am in Jackson I could look you up if you want to see it.

see my sig for my winter tire story.....

love the interior colors.

-ted

Love to, but we moved last summer, back to San Diego, part time in Miami...

So pictures will have to do - I'm sure it will look great!

any tips on debadging? i assume neither of the badges pierced the metal and were only stuck on?

great pics. great story. thanks.

Without the Sports Package the 18-inch wheels are available with all-season tires which may have performed better in the snow.

<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/upgrades/debadging.html">here.</a></li></ul>