Features of U.S.-Model A4?
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1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 26
From: American living in Warsaw, Poland
Features of U.S.-Model A4?
Hi! I just joined the forum. I'm an American, living in Europe --no, before you ask, I haven't seen the B8 A4 yet; it isn't available in this part of Europe yet.
But we'll be moving back to the States probably next summer. Time for a new car when we get back.I'd be ordering one before we actually get there.
We're a VW family right now; '97 (U.S.-version) Jetta, and a '97 Passat VR6. I was intending on getting a new Passat, but the options I want are unavailable for 2008. SoI'm jumping ship, and amstrongly consideringa 2008 B7A4.
Being in Europe, I've got some questions about the U.S. models that I won't be able to get answered here:
-- Do the U.S.-model A4s have amber turn signals in the rear? Or will I have to buy European taillights while I'm here? (Real ones, not the aftermarket "Euro-style.")
-- At my age :-) , I need the HID headlights. In Europe, HIDs require headlight washers, which may be a good idea. Do you get headlight washers standard with the HIDs on the U.S. version, or do you have to get the cold-weather package?
-- There's apparently ano-cost "performance tire" option.Does that mean non-all-season -- or "summer" --tires? What kind and speed rating? Depending on where we move, I'dprobably want to get wintertires on separate rims anyway, like I've got here.
-- Projector-beam fog lights are standard on the front, and a single fog light in the back... right?
-- Finally, this VR6 I've got now gets 172 HP, which I'm quite happy with. I'd be getting the A42.0 turbo, because I want a manual transmission and can't afford the 3.2 Quattro. The A4 2.0T gets 200 HP; but what kind of performance difference can I expect to see? I'm glad to see a sixth gearwith a four-banger... but turbo lag, etc.?
Thanks!
--Marek
But we'll be moving back to the States probably next summer. Time for a new car when we get back.I'd be ordering one before we actually get there.
We're a VW family right now; '97 (U.S.-version) Jetta, and a '97 Passat VR6. I was intending on getting a new Passat, but the options I want are unavailable for 2008. SoI'm jumping ship, and amstrongly consideringa 2008 B7A4.
Being in Europe, I've got some questions about the U.S. models that I won't be able to get answered here:
-- Do the U.S.-model A4s have amber turn signals in the rear? Or will I have to buy European taillights while I'm here? (Real ones, not the aftermarket "Euro-style.")
-- At my age :-) , I need the HID headlights. In Europe, HIDs require headlight washers, which may be a good idea. Do you get headlight washers standard with the HIDs on the U.S. version, or do you have to get the cold-weather package?
-- There's apparently ano-cost "performance tire" option.Does that mean non-all-season -- or "summer" --tires? What kind and speed rating? Depending on where we move, I'dprobably want to get wintertires on separate rims anyway, like I've got here.
-- Projector-beam fog lights are standard on the front, and a single fog light in the back... right?
-- Finally, this VR6 I've got now gets 172 HP, which I'm quite happy with. I'd be getting the A42.0 turbo, because I want a manual transmission and can't afford the 3.2 Quattro. The A4 2.0T gets 200 HP; but what kind of performance difference can I expect to see? I'm glad to see a sixth gearwith a four-banger... but turbo lag, etc.?
Thanks!
--Marek
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,005
From: British Columbia
RE: Features of U.S.-Model A4?
ORIGINAL: Marek K
Hi! I just joined the forum. I'm an American, living in Europe --no, before you ask, I haven't seen the B8 A4 yet; it isn't available in this part of Europe yet.
But we'll be moving back to the States probably next summer. Time for a new car when we get back.I'd be ordering one before we actually get there.
We're a VW family right now; '97 (U.S.-version) Jetta, and a '97 Passat VR6. I was intending on getting a new Passat, but the options I want are unavailable for 2008. SoI'm jumping ship, and amstrongly consideringa 2008 B7A4.
Being in Europe, I've got some questions about the U.S. models that I won't be able to get answered here:
-- Do the U.S.-model A4s have amber turn signals in the rear? Or will I have to buy European taillights while I'm here? (Real ones, not the aftermarket "Euro-style.") US-model A4's have red turn signals.
-- At my age :-) , I need the HID headlights. In Europe, HIDs require headlight washers, which may be a good idea. Do you get headlight washers standard with the HIDs on the U.S. version, or do you have to get the cold-weather package? - you need to buy the cold weather package to get headlight washers, regardless of whether the car has HIDs. it's a worthy investment if you're in a colder climate anyway, because the heated seats are fantastic.
-- There's apparently ano-cost "performance tire" option.Does that mean non-all-season -- or "summer" --tires? What kind and speed rating? Depending on where we move, I'dprobably want to get wintertires on separate rims anyway, like I've got here.- from what I can find on the audiusa site, there's no information on that option other thanmentioning that they're an option,and no explanation. I wouldn't assume they're summer-only tires though. might be worth a phone call to the dealer you're planning to order from.
-- Projector-beam fog lights are standard on the front, and a single fog light in the back... right? - correct.
-- Finally, this VR6 I've got now gets 172 HP, which I'm quite happy with. I'd be getting the A42.0 turbo, because I want a manual transmission and can't afford the 3.2 Quattro. The A4 2.0T gets 200 HP; but what kind of performance difference can I expect to see? I'm glad to see a sixth gearwith a four-banger... but turbo lag, etc.? - don't really know, as I've never driven a 2.0T. I'd expect a much different torque curve of course, going from a six cylinder to a four cylinder. but the 2.0T does develop 207 ft/lbs of torque, so it's no slouch. audi turbos have very little lag in my experience, due to them using a tiny turbo. if you can at all afford it, be sure to get the quattro option, you won't regret it.
Thanks!
--Marek
Hi! I just joined the forum. I'm an American, living in Europe --no, before you ask, I haven't seen the B8 A4 yet; it isn't available in this part of Europe yet.
But we'll be moving back to the States probably next summer. Time for a new car when we get back.I'd be ordering one before we actually get there.
We're a VW family right now; '97 (U.S.-version) Jetta, and a '97 Passat VR6. I was intending on getting a new Passat, but the options I want are unavailable for 2008. SoI'm jumping ship, and amstrongly consideringa 2008 B7A4.
Being in Europe, I've got some questions about the U.S. models that I won't be able to get answered here:
-- Do the U.S.-model A4s have amber turn signals in the rear? Or will I have to buy European taillights while I'm here? (Real ones, not the aftermarket "Euro-style.") US-model A4's have red turn signals.
-- At my age :-) , I need the HID headlights. In Europe, HIDs require headlight washers, which may be a good idea. Do you get headlight washers standard with the HIDs on the U.S. version, or do you have to get the cold-weather package? - you need to buy the cold weather package to get headlight washers, regardless of whether the car has HIDs. it's a worthy investment if you're in a colder climate anyway, because the heated seats are fantastic.
-- There's apparently ano-cost "performance tire" option.Does that mean non-all-season -- or "summer" --tires? What kind and speed rating? Depending on where we move, I'dprobably want to get wintertires on separate rims anyway, like I've got here.- from what I can find on the audiusa site, there's no information on that option other thanmentioning that they're an option,and no explanation. I wouldn't assume they're summer-only tires though. might be worth a phone call to the dealer you're planning to order from.
-- Projector-beam fog lights are standard on the front, and a single fog light in the back... right? - correct.
-- Finally, this VR6 I've got now gets 172 HP, which I'm quite happy with. I'd be getting the A42.0 turbo, because I want a manual transmission and can't afford the 3.2 Quattro. The A4 2.0T gets 200 HP; but what kind of performance difference can I expect to see? I'm glad to see a sixth gearwith a four-banger... but turbo lag, etc.? - don't really know, as I've never driven a 2.0T. I'd expect a much different torque curve of course, going from a six cylinder to a four cylinder. but the 2.0T does develop 207 ft/lbs of torque, so it's no slouch. audi turbos have very little lag in my experience, due to them using a tiny turbo. if you can at all afford it, be sure to get the quattro option, you won't regret it.
Thanks!
--Marek
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 26
From: American living in Warsaw, Poland
RE: Features of U.S.-Model A4?
Thank you, Sir!!
I was afraid of that. Why do they do that??
On European-built cars in North America?? The European-version taillightflasher looks red until the flasher comes on, so it's not an appearance issue... *sigh*
I agree about heated seats... Ididn't have them originally in my Passat, but moved toUpper Bavaria (c-c-cold!!) in 1998... so I bought all the necessary OEM VW parts,and installed the seat heaters and controlsmyself. That was interesting. The German VW parts guy thought so, too; each of the three or four times I had to go back to him because I needed additional parts.
But the A4 heated seats alone are available as a separate option, at much less than the whole cold-weather package. I don't need the ski bag, since skis go on the roof!!
I've got mixed feelings about headlight washers... normally not being able to control when they squirt with thewindshield washers. But I suppose they'd be good to have when youneed them...
--Marek
ORIGINAL: Belligerence™
US-model A4's have red turn signals.
US-model A4's have red turn signals.
I was afraid of that. Why do they do that??
On European-built cars in North America?? The European-version taillightflasher looks red until the flasher comes on, so it's not an appearance issue... *sigh*
ORIGINAL: Belligerence™
you need to buy the cold weather package to get headlight washers, regardless of whether the car has HIDs. it's a worthy investment if you're in a colder climate anyway, because the heated seats are fantastic.
you need to buy the cold weather package to get headlight washers, regardless of whether the car has HIDs. it's a worthy investment if you're in a colder climate anyway, because the heated seats are fantastic.
But the A4 heated seats alone are available as a separate option, at much less than the whole cold-weather package. I don't need the ski bag, since skis go on the roof!!
I've got mixed feelings about headlight washers... normally not being able to control when they squirt with thewindshield washers. But I suppose they'd be good to have when youneed them...
--Marek
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 26
From: American living in Warsaw, Poland
RE: Features of U.S.-Model A4?
ORIGINAL: Belligerence™
if you can at all afford it, be sure to get the quattro option, you won't regret it.
if you can at all afford it, be sure to get the quattro option, you won't regret it.
I see that the Quattro is the overwhelming favorite of everyone here. But no one says why. I understand, more balanced and all that. Power to the back wheels when accelerating. Better traction in snow.
But there's a lot more weight, and some power loss... and I'd think there'd be more to go wrong with a drive shaft and differential. How should I be weighing all these variables?
Edit: Oops, maybe I should have done a search first. I've got a sneaky feeling this has been discussed already...
Edit: I did a search, and again surprisingly there weren't that many threads on Quattro vs. FWD. Of course, most of those had a lot of really constructive words like "ignorant" and "drive like grandma" and "retarded"...
--Marek
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cukilo
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