Drove the 2.8qm and 1.8tqm.Both are great cars.I think the 1.8tqm is the one for me.I will be going from a 190hp Infiniti I-30 and thought the 2.8 would be the one.I like the lighter feel of the 1.8t and do not think power will be a problem.This decision is being made money no object.

So you're saying everyone that paid for the Quattro got ripped off or it is not worth it?

If the quattro was not avaiable I probably would also be test driving a 323 BMW.

First, I speak from years of experience with both FWD and Quattro (all the way back to first generation Quattros).<br>In rain, snow, etc. FWD is not as good. Point blank.<br>Unless you've owned quattro, I don't think you can really understand this.<br>If it weren't for quattro, I may not have bought the A4. Unless you live where it never rains or snows I can't imagine NOT getting quattro. To add 230 lbs. is not a big deal at the cost of a slightly slower 0-60 time vs. the FWD, when you take in to account how much better it drives with quattro. For me, it's the only option that really matters.<br>-C.

On all the new Avants ( 2.8 and 1.8T ) they are only coming with Quattro. There must be some reason for this other then to jack up the price. <p>Rick<br>98.5 Avant QMS

It hasn't snowed since I purchased my A4. My last car was a Mistubishi Eclipse GSX AWD(All Wheel Drive). It was snowing terribly one day. All of the cars couldn't make it up this Hill, this included a Toyota Camry a Honda Accord. My Eclipse made it up the hill easily. I'm sure that my 1.8 QTM would have done the same. Anyway, My nieghbors had to park their cars at the bottom of the hill and walk up the hill in 14 inches of snow to their houses, not to mention they had walk all the way back in the morning. So if you live in the Snow Belt or anywhere that has a climate it's worth it. Does that sound overhyped to you? How about Rain? A quattro car will not spin it's tires in the rain it just grabs and goes, as if I were driving on a different road surface than everyone else. Audi's were winning races all of the time in the dry and in the rain with their Quattros. They were winning races against FWD Hondas, Renaults, BMW etc... They were winning so often that the Quattro system was banned. They went to the FWD vehicles and their advantage disappeared. Still overhyped? Any car that's being built for performance either utilizes RWD (Dodge Viper) or AWD (Porsche 911 Turbo). You won't find any serious performance FWD cars. Fwd cars that have plenty of power torque steer and spin their tires easily. When a Car accelerates the wieght shifts rearward. The front wheels spin excessively because of the lightened front end. Still overhyped? Look FWD cars are okay but Quattro is better in dry conditions and several times better in bad whether. Still overhyped?<p><br>Tony 98.? 1.8QTM <br>

... and probably the most cost-effective oprtion on the A4. Here, it's $1650 as opposed to the $5000+ in Britain I've seen written up in the car mags there. (Must be an AWD penalty or something.)

Actually, Audi charges cost for it's Q option. That's why it adds about $2K or more to the market resale value, and that's why it's a good deal, not to mention the incredible handling that it gives. AND anyone who thinks they can tell there's an extra 200lbs added to the car via Quattro has read The Princess and the Pea way too many times.

you know the answer. No one can (or should) decide for you.<p>If you've looking at the Tip, you better forget about the 1.8.<br>

I look for the day that all Audi's are Quattro just like what Subaru has done. The majority of Audi's sold are Quattro, and it would cut production costs and time to build only one drivetrain. This way, all rear suspensions, transmissions, fuel tanks, etc. would be the same among cars of the same model.

The Austin Mini Cooper S was a KILLER car! And the Golf GTi's in Europe were also killer cars. And in AutoX, the Honda CRX Si is a real killer class car, as well as the Plymouth Neon. Sure, not super cars, but they ARE killing their class in SCCA.<p>But DO NOT GET ME WRONG folks. I got the FWD because I couldn't get a Quattro in the car that I wanted that were available at the time. Also I got the FWD and Tip as I didn't think I would get back into racing again. But when it DOES come to racing, I never had AWD, but I can say the RWD is the way to go! When I work the courses at the local AutoX, I notice the way other cars take the corners I had troubles with, and hands down, the RWD in the DRY takes all the turns the best! Now in the rain, FWD will be better, but not by too much.<p>Now the Audi AWD system on paper sounds like the ticket, . . . but I have heard that it is still the front wheels, even on the Quattro, that are the MAIN power wheels. That being the case, the Q will still suffer from understeer (plowing) when compared to RWD stock for stock. But once you start modifying the suspention and alignments, then you can dial in whatever you want. But again, from what I had heard, the Q is still more FWD than RWD or equal AWD.

Non-sport Quattro's do not handle especially well.

To compete with Subaru Legacy Outbacks. <p>Their new "Outback like" A6 will do even better.

That is a B.S. sales pitch.................<p>Who needs Wall St. if you could flip Quattro cars instead!<p>either the car is good or its not...but don't try that one on me!

Audi should sh^t or get off the pot regarding Quattro as option.............<p>They would have more credibilty as a brand with it if they sold them<br>like Subarus.

In a non sport 2.8qm? Admittedly, it was when it was still an H stock car, but I was faster on street tires (D40M2's) than a lot of the competition on autocross rubber. You all seem to equate body roll with poor handling and it is really not the case. The car does roll, but it is predictable and progressive. Besides, you are comparing a 3200lb family sedan with some kid's 2800lb pocket rocket. I have a car that I can drive for 18 straight hours (with gas stops) in comfort without any hearing loss or DVT's.Then I can also place well in an autocross. Can you do that in an escort?<p>Chris

I've been driving FWD cars for 15 years and I've always hated the torque steer while turning and accellerating. You're asking too much of a car when you add power to the turning wheels and you end up ighting the car instead of enjoying the performance. Quattro eliminates this problem by providing excellent grip and performance driving satisfaction. If it weren't for quattro, I'd be driving a 3 series right now.<p>Mick<br>98 2.8qm

If you wrap one around atree, you're a lousy drive who does not know his limits.

Look, I am an avid quattro fan and would probably be driving a 3-series or Porsche 911, 968 or 944 if it weren't for quattro and what I love about it for my weather conditions, here.<br>However, there are many who don't really care or need the option, so from a marketing perspective, it is better to have it as an option. Look how many Californians like saving the weight vs. having the rain/snow better traction.<br>Think about it, if it were your company...you would offer chocolate and vanilla if it meant having more customers overall.<br>-C.

nt<br>

If it were my company, I would be looking for the most profitable way to build the cars. Being that the majority of Audi's sold are Quattro's, and using one model line would save production costs, it would possibly be cost effective to build all Audi's with Quattro, and still sell the cars for the same price as FWD models due to the cost savings by having less parts and assembly lines to build the cars. Also, I don't think people buy their Audi's because they are FWD, and if all Audi's were Quattro's, I doubt that it would turn a potential buyer off. However, some people do buy their Audi's because Quattro is available. So by making all models Quattro, I would forsee that all who have bought their Audi's, FWD or Quattro, would still purchase the car if Quattro was the only option.

Your quote:<br>"Being that the majority of Audi's sold are Quattro's,..."<br>Do you work for Ward's Auto World where they have access to sales figures? Perhaps in the U.S. that could be true, but I would have to say that generalization is not accurate worldwide. In Europe, where highest sales figures for Audi and VW are, I don't believe quattro outsells FWD. I don't have a figure to back that up but it could be checked out.<br>I also disagree everyone wants quattro. Some people just don't. Personally, where I live it rains & snows so I don't see that saving weight and increasing your 0-60 is all that big of a deal when you gain all the other plusses of quattro. Some people just don't care to have the option and added weight. <br>Perhaps it would save money in the long run for production consolidation, after you count all the production changeover costs. I don't see that happening, though.<br>-C.