I recall a few days back someone had commented that it was not recommended for A4s equipped with quattro to be towed. Concerned by this, I looked at the owner's manual, and it said that no Audi (quattro OR fwd) should be towed under any circumstances, due to potential engine and transmission damage. I am a bit puzzled by this, and was wondering if anyone could shed more light on the issue, or if anyone has experienced damage due to towing. Also, is it a general trend for manufacturers to warn against towing just as a precaution? Thanks in advance!<br>Dixon <br>98 1.8TQMS

I can understand why you would not want to tow a quattro seeing how is it all-wheel drive. I tore up my transmission on a rear-wheel drive nissan by towing it. If the engine is not on, the trans mission bands do not get cooled. I would reccomend only towing your Audi (or any nice car) on a tow dolly that gets all four wheels off the ground. This will help minimise any type of damage that could occur. <p>my .02<p>98.5 Silver 1.8T/m

Towing 101<p>if you have a FWD car, you want your front drive wheels off the ground.<br>if you have a RWD car, you want your rear drive wheels off the ground.<br>if you have an AWD car, you want all 4 wheels off the ground!?! I mean, a flatbed.<p>Doing so in any other fashion will put extra wear and stress on drivetrain components when they are just free running (w/ no load).<p>Cris<p>

I'm with you, I always thought a flatbed is the only way to go. But on the Porschefans forum, they don't recommend flatbeds for 944s because they get damaged while being winched onto the bed. No good place to put the hook, and too little ground clearance.<p>Wouldn't the ground clearance be an issue with a quattro sport? Does anyone have an owner's manual handy, do they have a recommendation?<br>

I recently had the unfortunate need for my 1.8Tqms to be towed to the dealer (search for "cracked subframe"). I called the Audi Guaranteed Mobility number, and the agent assured me that flatbeds are used for ALL Audi cars, Quattro or FronTrak.<p>The driver had no problems winching it onto the bed using the front tow loop behind the passenger side grill (see the owners manual). The only mistake he did make, and that I missed, was he wrapped security chains around the front lower control arms. (!)<p>Fortunatley, there resulted no serious damage - only some surface scratches. When I later talked to Steve Shupe, he showed me the additional tie-down points in the chassis along each side of the car. They're used during transport and then closed off with rubber plugs. The plugs can be easily removed for securing on a flatbed and then replaced afterwards.<p>Just make sure that the driver doesn't attach lines to any other points and you should be OK.<p>HTH,<br>Jim

and this raises a point worth making. The tow guys are not Audi specialists working for Audi. They just have a contract with Audi (and probably other car companies too) to tow cars. Don't expect them to know what to do. Find out yourself, and then tell them.<br>

You're correct in your assumption: Audi contracts AAA to provide towing service.<p>Don't assume the driver knows what he's doing. I got caught unaware because it seemed like he knew what he was doing.<p>Jim

Let's suppose that there is an audi owner out there who occasionally parks their car illigally. (i know - highly improbable but go with me here). Lets say a tow truck tows them from a space without their knowledge. And lets say they didnt use a flat bed. would the damage that results be the towing company's fault? Any lawyers out there who could take a stab at this for me? or non-laywers with an opinion? what if they do use a flat bed but they scratch it up when loading?