New Audi A4

[Raza]

Then I'd steal one. I'm brown remember? Besides, it would be a trick of the hand. One second we would be playing halo 2 with the guys having a beer, then BAM, when you least expect it. Sometimes you have to be slick about it.

Edit*
I had to lol when I read that. Classic stuff, honestly.

That's how I roll.  It doesn't usually come to fighting, not since junior high school anyway.  Comedy's the best way to handle most things.  Growing up brown in a really white area leads to a lot of fights as a kid. 

And I hate Halo.  XBox controllers really piss me off!

[sportyaccordy]

That's all I'm hearing at this point. 

I'm just saying, if you're gonna go FWD make the most of it. Balanced weight, setting the engine back in the chassis, etc., all this stuff is terrible for a FWD car. But w/e

[TheIntrepid]

I just re-read that, and I think you have your own sick motives for wanting to see me confront Raza. Did he demoralize you, or make fun of your oh-so-precious  camry too much?

No. I have fun watching you two have a catfight though. Personally I have nothing against either of you.

[Raza]

I'm just saying, if you're gonna go FWD make the most of it. Balanced weight, setting the engine back in the chassis, etc., all this stuff is terrible for a FWD car. But w/e

I think it's safe to say, at least in North America, that the vast majority of A4s are sold with AWD.  So balance is good.

[ArchBishop]

That's how I roll. It doesn't usually come to fighting, not since junior high school anyway. Comedy's the best way to handle most things. Growing up brown in a really white area leads to a lot of fights as a kid. (truth)

And I hate Halo. XBox controllers really piss me off!

I thought so too, but I got used to it. Even though I only play the 360 on rare occasion, the analog layout just seems 'right'. Of course the button layout seems completely ass backwards, and always has me looking for the "x" or "square" buttons. 360 may not be my cup of tea, but when you have enough people playing and having fun, it?s easier to over look its faults.

I can't over look this cars faults though.

[TBR]

Why not just make it RWD with available AWD though? It really seems quite ridiculous not too. The engine is placed for it and there is obviously already a spot for the driveshaft.

[Raza]

I thought so too, but I got used to it. Even though I only play the 360 on rare occasion, the analog layout just seems 'right'. Of course the button layout seems completely ass backwards, and always has me looking for the "x" or "square" buttons. 360 may not be my cup of tea, but when you have enough people playing and having fun, it?s easier to over look its faults.

I can't over look this cars faults though.

I'm anti-BMW because of the people who drive them.  I don't generally blame the cars.

What's so wrong with Audi?  Reliability isn't an issue, and Evo rates the RS4 as a 5 star car.  When the RS2 came out, it was showing its liftgate to 911s on tracks.  The B5 S4 is a tuner's dream. 

[ArchBishop]

I'm anti-BMW because of the people who drive them. I don't generally blame the cars.

What's so wrong with Audi? Reliability isn't an issue, and Evo rates the RS4 as a 5 star car. When the RS2 came out, it was showing its liftgate to 911s on tracks. The B5 S4 is a tuner's dream.

I'm not too sure, but they have always struck me as boring, and uninvolved. Though the GTI is becoming one of my favorite hot hatches. I even recommended it to someone over the Tc. By the time I finish law school, and I've lost most of my interest in cars, and modifying them, I might actually consider an Audi....

[r0tor]

Why not just make it RWD with available AWD though? It really seems quite ridiculous not too. The engine is placed for it and there is obviously already a spot for the driveshaft.

because there is no reason for it... all performance minded audi buyers want Quattro and the non-performance minded buyers are better off with the fuel economy benefits of FWD 

[SJ_GTI]

I'm just saying, if you're gonna go FWD make the most of it. Balanced weight, setting the engine back in the chassis, etc., all this stuff is terrible for a FWD car. But w/e

Audi's are not built to be FWD. They are built to be AWD.

The engine sit longitudinally too, which is another no-no for FWD. They do it because its the best way to build in the quattro system.

The FWD versions are just there to give people a lower cost option.

[nickdrinkwater]

This segment has a lot of great looking choices between this, the CTS, and C-class.

[sportyaccordy]

Audi's are not built to be FWD. They are built to be AWD.

The engine sit longitudinally too, which is another no-no for FWD. They do it because its the best way to build in the quattro system.

The FWD versions are just there to give people a lower cost option.

OK, fair enough. Although if they went RWD, they could save $$ on rear subframes.

[TBR]

because there is no reason for it... all performance minded audi buyers want Quattro and the non-performance minded buyers are better off with the fuel economy benefits of FWD 

How much of a difference can there possibly be between the fuel economy of a FWD car and an otherwise identical (same weight, same transmission type, same engine) RWD car? Additionally, I would think that Audi's current set-up would require a sophisticated a complicated transaxle that would suck a little extra power (and fuel economy) versus the traditional set-up and cost more. The transaxle isn't mounted in front of the engine, is it?

[sportyaccordy]

How much of a difference can there possibly be between the fuel economy of a FWD car and an otherwise identical (same weight, same transmission type, same engine) RWD car? Additionally, I would think that Audi's current set-up would require a sophisticated a complicated transaxle that would suck a little extra power (and fuel economy) versus the traditional set-up and cost more. The transaxle isn't mounted in front of the engine, is it?

No, I believe the transaxle comes into the cabin like a RWD car, or perhaps is offset to the side.

The only losses would come from the extra weight of a driveshaft (which I bet the FWD car is still hacked up to accomodate) and possibly the weight of the diff in the rear, but I don't think that would be extra weight on the car...

[SJ_GTI]

How much of a difference can there possibly be between the fuel economy of a FWD car and an otherwise identical (same weight, same transmission type, same engine) RWD car? Additionally, I would think that Audi's current set-up would require a sophisticated a complicated transaxle that would suck a little extra power (and fuel economy) versus the traditional set-up and cost more. The transaxle isn't mounted in front of the engine, is it?

Of course every drivetrain is a bit different, but I've always used this rule of thumb:

FWD cars have about 10% parasitic loss
RWD cars have about 15% parasitic loss
AWD cars have about 20% parasitic loss

If that's generally true, then it's usually going to be more efficient to use a FWD setup.

[deesea]

I'm not too sure, but they have always struck me as boring, and uninvolved. Though the GTI is becoming one of my favorite hot hatches. I even recommended it to someone over the Tc. By the time I finish law school, and I've lost most of my interest in cars, and modifying them, I might actually consider an Audi....

amen to that 

[ro51092]

The current one is a lot cleaner.

Muchos gracias.

I like it. It looks really good.

[Raghavan]

Of course every drivetrain is a bit different, but I've always used this rule of thumb:

FWD cars have about 10% parasitic loss
RWD cars have about 15% parasitic loss
AWD cars have about 20% parasitic loss

If that's generally true, then it's usually going to be more efficient to use a FWD setup.

Is it because FWD cars don't have the extra driveshaft?

[thewizard16]

That car is very attractive. Audi's styling continues to make me happy. (not to mention everything else too, but the styling is what I like best)

[r0tor]

How much of a difference can there possibly be between the fuel economy of a FWD car and an otherwise identical (same weight, same transmission type, same engine) RWD car? Additionally, I would think that Audi's current set-up would require a sophisticated a complicated transaxle that would suck a little extra power (and fuel economy) versus the traditional set-up and cost more. The transaxle isn't mounted in front of the engine, is it?

if the buyer is worried about performance, what advantage is there from RWD? Heavier, worse gas mileage, worse all season performance, trickier handling to the general lousy driver...

[Champ]

Is it because FWD cars don't have the extra driveshaft?

Kinda, it's the extra weight of everything.  Running a long driveshaft back is heavier and is another thing the engine needs to use power to spin.  By heavier, I mean physical weight of the driveline, not just weight of the car. 

From Wiki:

the direct connection between engine and transaxle reduce the mass and mechanical inertia of the drivetrain compared to a rear-wheel drive vehicle with a similar engine and transmission

[TBR]

if the buyer is worried about performance, what advantage is there from RWD? Heavier, worse gas mileage, worse all season performance, trickier handling to the general lousy driver...

I think you meant if the buyer isn't worried about performance.

There really aren't an advantages to that type of buyer. But to the buyer that is worried about performance it does make the car more appealing. A lot of people only get Quattro because the car is FWD, a RWD model would a credible alternative to AWD for enthuisists, better performance, lower weight, and a lower price.

[Hachee]

IMO, the best looking A4 was the original 1996 version.? It might look dated now, but everything about it was (and is) just right.? The successors, including this one, are lovely looking cars, but that's it - there's nothing that's really great looking about them.? And as Ifcar said, it just doesn't look new, even if you argue that it's just supposed to look evolutionary.? I also don't love the extra length, but CNMGS (constant new model growth syndrome) is not exclusive to this car by any means.? Perhaps they're following BMW's lead here, with their bigger 3 Series and filling the slot below with the 1 Series.? I'd expect the next A3 to be more than just a hatch model.?

I'm a big Audi fan - on my third now - but I'm not digging this new, expressive styling.? But - the funny thing is, other than the wagons, my favorite Audis now are the new TT, which has really grown on me, and the R8, which is just phenomenal.?

I'd probably still take one over a 3 or a C (but the new CTS beats them all in terms of style).

[Galaxy]

[TheIntrepid]

I would make sweet love to that interior.

[Submariner]

That's how I roll.  It doesn't usually come to fighting, not since junior high school anyway.  Comedy's the best way to handle most things.  Growing up brown in a really white area leads to a lot of fights as a kid. 

And I hate Halo.  XBox controllers really piss me off!

That's too bad.  Halo is a fine game.

[JYODER240]

That's too bad.  Halo is a fine game.

Halo in multiplayer mode is one of the greatest games of all time. Campaign mode is so-so.

[Raza]

Halo in multiplayer mode is one of the greatest games of all time. Campaign mode is so-so.

Play on FPS, you've played most of them.  Halo, as I recall, is one of those sci fi types, and I don't care for those.  I love the immersive experience of Call of Duty and the mock-realism of a game like CounterStrike or Rainbow Six.  Other than that, I don't play many FPSs.

[JYODER240]

Play on FPS, you've played most of them.  Halo, as I recall, is one of those sci fi types, and I don't care for those.  I love the immersive experience of Call of Duty and the mock-realism of a game like CounterStrike or Rainbow Six.  Other than that, I don't play many FPSs.

Playing it as a multiplayer on Live or with a group of friends is a blast. Very reminicient of Goldeneye's multiplayer. It's a ton of fun playing games like Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, etc. As a single player game Call of Duty and the like is better.

[Minpin]

Playing it as a multiplayer on Live or with a group of friends is a blast. Very reminicient of Goldeneye's multiplayer. It's a ton of fun playing games like Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, etc. As a single player game Call of Duty and the like is better.

Halo is fun in it's own small right. It's only fun for me if I am playing with my friends not some random ass people. If I am playing with random ass people BF2 or BF2142 is WAY better. In the grand scheme of things Halo is only popular because it is trendy and cool to play it whereas games that are off the beaten path but are better make you seem like a nerd more. Halo is a fine game but it is not something that could play every day, there are better games out there, way better.