Wagons Make The Perfect Holiday Vehicle

"Chris Clarke" (shiftsandgiggles) 12/01/2014 at 12:16 • Filed to: winter beater, audi, avant, wagon, quattro, christmas, blog

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But of course you already knew that. It should be common knowledge around here that wagons are the all-around perfect vehicle. Just wanted to wish everyone a great holiday season and remind you that my winter beater is better than yours.

My A4 has hauled more stuff that I can remember in the last 10 years, including 2 kids and moves to 3 different houses. In hindsight I wouldn't have picked any other car. She still lives on plowing snow, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and delivering my to work safely when the weather is crummy.

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Funktheduck > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 12:18

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I don't have a winter beater. We don't have much winter down here. I'm currently wearing shorts and a t-shirt. It's about 70 out right now. Been cruisin with the windows down.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 12:20

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Awesome car. 1.8T Quattro?

Chris Clarke > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 12/01/2014 at 12:22

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2.8 30V, all the B5 1.8Ts are dead by now.

Chris Clarke > Funktheduck 12/01/2014 at 12:22

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We don't get much snow either, but its a great excuse for an extra car.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 12:23

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Everyone says the 1.8 is the better, more tunable engine, but I still prefer the V6 and moar power. Very nice.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 12:24

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False.

I have the best winter beater

Absolutely useless and generally not good in the snow (although the right tires and sandbags in the trunk work wonders) but the amount of smiles it brings makes me feel like Santa. I want to get a wooden roof rack and string it up with christmas lights for next year. Maybe put a little Charlie Brown christmas tree on the roof, too.

Funktheduck > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 12:25

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My stable is full already

Chris Clarke > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 12/01/2014 at 12:26

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1.8T definitely has better potential to produce more power, but as a stock daily the V6 is bullet proof, with more torques and power. My first audi had the 2.8 12V and my current daily has the 2.7T. I'm a pretty big fan of the VAG V6.

Chris Clarke > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 12/01/2014 at 12:28

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the amount of smiles it brings

You make a compelling argument.

Chris Clarke > Funktheduck 12/01/2014 at 12:28

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You just need a bigger stable.

Funktheduck > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 12:31

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the gf only tolerates the current stable.

Fed(oo=[][]=oo)uken > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 12:34

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Nuh-Uhhh!

Doug DeMuro > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 12:34

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Yup. And most of the Tiptronic 2.8s are dead, which suggests to me that you must have a stick or a 96-97!

EDIT ah but you said 30V so it must be either a 98 or a 99 IIRC. I also had a B5 with the 2.8 30V but of course in 00 they got clear side markers. Or maybe it was 99! Ahh I'm not up on my B5 lore.

Chris Clarke > Funktheduck 12/01/2014 at 12:51

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Sounds like you might need to tolerate a new gf.

Chris Clarke > Doug DeMuro 12/01/2014 at 12:55

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Tiptronic is turible, but alas, I've kept my slushbox intact for 185,000 miles. I think your lore is correct. I have a 98.5 with a 30V which debuted in 98. I think the facelift was in 00.

Funktheduck > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 13:01

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Nah. This ones a keeper. She doesn't really care too much about what I buy as long as all financial issues are taken care of first.

Chris Clarke > Funktheduck 12/01/2014 at 13:04

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Seems reasonable.

Doug DeMuro > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 15:27

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FYI I truly love the B5 Avant, whether A4 or S4. The only change i'd make to yours is I'd add the classic A4 5-spoke wheels. No joke, I think this design has endured as possibly the most attractive of any vehicle from the 1990s. Even the sedan remains handsome and well proportioned — way better than current Audi models.

Chris Clarke > Doug DeMuro 12/01/2014 at 15:43

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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. A tale of 2 Audis. You're a good man, Doug, no matter what the Kinja commenters might say.

jkm7680 > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 16:04

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Car looks great! The 2.8 is a very reliable engine.

My B5 is awesome, Haha.

jkm7680 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 12/01/2014 at 16:04

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The V6 is a very reliable car, I love mine. Even though it's a 12v.

jkm7680 > Doug DeMuro 12/01/2014 at 16:07

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The 12v is a great engine, so is the 30v. They might not be that fast, but these things sure are reliable.

'96 and '97 had the 12v, and '98 to '01 had the 30v. All the tiptronic cars are dead though, because tiptronic.

Doug DeMuro > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 16:08

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Is your daily on the right?! A B5 guy through and through! You have no idea how many times I've scoured Craigslist for your exact cars!!!

The commenters don't hate me THAT much...

Chris Clarke > Doug DeMuro 12/01/2014 at 17:25

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Bought both of Craigslist. I daily the S4 with 215k miles and try to take the wagon out occasionally just to keep it running. I've had a long and illustrious history with VAG starting with a Jetta III that I took to the tale of the dragon, followed by an Audi 90 Sport then the A4 and later the S4. I could probably write an entire article if I was so inclined. Only away to afford these cars is do to your own maintenance, or by a CarMax warranty.

Doug DeMuro > Chris Clarke 12/01/2014 at 23:37

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I can only imagine the S4's issues. Glad you're keeping them going though. They're completely worth it.