I am getting ready to buy a 99.5 2.8L and am wondering what opinions those that have experience with both FWD and Q have developed. During my test drives there was a distinct difference, but I'm didn't find it compelling. The Salesman told me that the Quattro hold their value better, i.e. 3 years old the Quattro will be valued $3k more than a comparable FWD? Any truth here?<br>

... the question isn't whether quattro is worth $1600, it's whether an A4 2.8L is worth the money if it isn't 4WD. I've driven all three engines, each with at least two transmissions (never driven a 12v tip), and each in both FWD and 4WD.<p>Cars sink like rocks without quattro in terms of resale value, but that's #99 on the list of one hundred best reasons to buy quattro.<p>This has been a hot topic recently, and you can check other messages (both archived and recent), but I would say there are three things that are "must haves" on ANY A4...<p>* quattro<br>* 5spd manual<br>* wheels bigger than 15" (whether 16" or 19")<p>... from both my experiences and the opinions I've heard from fellow A4 owners.<p>Cameron

You can check out the truth of the down-the-road value of Quattro at www.kbb.com or edmunds.com. They both have used car price guides where you can check out, say, a 1997 A4 with and without Quattro, otherwise equipped the same. The actual prices give are inflated, however, by what seems to be about one model year. (You can buy a 98 for what they say a 97 is worth, typically). But the "quattro difference" should be fairly representative. Also realize that the value of quattro will depend heavily on where and when you are selling. Selling in the fall/winter in a northern state will reap a larger reward than in Arizona in the summer. I haven't checked blue book on it lately, but it used to be that the $3000 figure was about right.<p>My own opinion is that quattro is worth far more than the $1650 MSRP, particularly if you live in a place that sees snow and ice, and maybe even if you don't. It's one of the main reasons for favoring the A4 over some of its competition, in my opinion. (I realize and respect that others have different opinions).

...quattro equipped cars do maintain higher resale. Once you have to pull out making a left turn from a gravel road on a blind corner, you will see the greatest quattro advantage though! To me, quattro is the best $1600 you can spend, and is worth much more.<p>Charles<p>PS: I definately recommend the manual transmission with your quattro! :-)<br>

The price is what makes your decision so easy here. Why screw around? The people who rave about the stability and advantages of quattro know what they are talking about. This kind of feature can save you life on a slick-surface day, and add to your driving enjoyment on most others. Do without something else, but not quattro.

Steven,<p>Audi makes very little on the price of quattro, so it's definitely worth it. The real question is, "Do you need it?"<p>I had my Wett FWD 98 A4 Tip for over a year and a half and it's a blast. I'm not handicapped by the 260 lbs of quattro, so I can actually pass folks on the highway (the Wett chip helps too).<p>I live in central Texas, and the antislip technology on my FWD is all I need, thank you!<p>I almost died in the only quattro car I ever had, a 95 300 hp Audi S6, one rainy night in 96 when I was T-boned by another car in a rainstorm. It wasn't the quattro's fault, but my overconfidence in it! My rule is, if you live north of the Mason-Dixon line quattro is a must. But, if you live in the southern portions of the country - consider FWD.<p>Rick<p>PS Chuck H. is right though, if you go with quattro make sure it's with a manual transmission!

If the difference wasn't that noticeable then: 1) you weren't driving hard, 2) maybe it won't matter to you 3) ask yourself what you are looking for in a sports sedan. The Q is far better!!!, but you may not drive like the rest of us zealots, A4.org is not a random sample of owners, we are mostly enthusiasts!!!!!!! You make the call as to your style and needs.

<br>I'm a prospective buyer. My problem is that I have an outside position and drive to my client's businesses frequently in the city (boston) and sitting in traffic with a manual is awful.<br>I will definitely order the quattro option for my winter adventures and was (before reading your posts) going to go with an automatic. <p>What can I do?<p>-jk

The 1.8 just doesn't have enough engine to lug around the added weight of the quattro through a slushbox. A stock 1.8qt will be dog-slow. If that doesn't bother you, then by all means go for it.<p>Otherwise, you have three options. 1) Get the 2.8. 2) Get a 1.8 and chip it. 3) Get the five-speed. Personally, I'm *very* strongly biased in favor of option #3 (and yes, I sit in miserable traffic twice a day too), but that's your decision to make. Good luck! :-)<p><br>-vik<br>1.8tqms (3 weeks away)