What do you think of or what do you know about Audi vehicles?
I might look at a 2010 SUV but it needs to be reliable and one I can do ok on back roads
41-45, F
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toddr13 · 46-50, M
2010 Audi reliable in 2021? No, run away! It's an 11/12-year-old vehicle that may be a complete basket case, since you don't know the previous owner personally, and the known issues in that vehicle. If it is a one-owner Audi from the original owner (not a spouse, grandchild, etc.), and they have full maintenance records showing all maintenance completed on time or early per the service manual, and the SUV has not had strange service visits, you might consider it, but maintenance is not going to be inexpensive when done properly. That's the problem with vehicles whose resale value falls quickly as German luxury SUVs tend to do, subsequent owners don't maintain them to the same standard, and then the gremlins start to take over and can turn the vehicle into a basket case.
Look at a Toyota or Lexus of the same vintage for reliability and back roads. The 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Sequoia or a Lexus GX or LX are good bets. The Land Cruiser tends to be a bit less expensive to own, overall than the Lexus LX because of the air suspension and the adjustable steering wheel that can go out on a Lexus as it ages. Depending upon how rugged the terrain, a Honda Pilot may also be a good bet. The 4Runner has the highest ground clearance of the Toyota/Lexus vehicles at about 9 inches without a lift kit. The Land Cruiser is 8.9 inches, compared with an Audi Q7 at 8.1 inches. If you need higher clearance, lift kits are readily available for the Toyotas as they are popular with the overland vehicles.
Look at a Toyota or Lexus of the same vintage for reliability and back roads. The 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Sequoia or a Lexus GX or LX are good bets. The Land Cruiser tends to be a bit less expensive to own, overall than the Lexus LX because of the air suspension and the adjustable steering wheel that can go out on a Lexus as it ages. Depending upon how rugged the terrain, a Honda Pilot may also be a good bet. The 4Runner has the highest ground clearance of the Toyota/Lexus vehicles at about 9 inches without a lift kit. The Land Cruiser is 8.9 inches, compared with an Audi Q7 at 8.1 inches. If you need higher clearance, lift kits are readily available for the Toyotas as they are popular with the overland vehicles.
wildbill83 · 36-40, M
@toddr13 [quote]...Toyota or Lexus of the same vintage for reliability...[/quote]
lol, rust buckets that couldn't pull a greasy string out of a cats ass
Audi Quattro is the best awd system in the world; clearance doesn't mean shit... I've driven my s4 while plowing snow over the hood on all season tires while lifted trucks are putting on chains...
lol, rust buckets that couldn't pull a greasy string out of a cats ass
Audi Quattro is the best awd system in the world; clearance doesn't mean shit... I've driven my s4 while plowing snow over the hood on all season tires while lifted trucks are putting on chains...
toddr13 · 46-50, M
@wildbill83 it depends upon the road. Back country roads in the desert aren’t good for awd. There’s a reason why the Hilix and Land Cruiser Prado are top off road vehicles all over the world.
Snow is meaningless as you can plow it out of your way, I agree, which I’ve done with Mercedes and Volvo AWDs, but high clearance roads that are rutted and have rocks and boulders are why you need ground clearance of a robust 4WD with skid plates off road. An AWD is fine on smoothed sand or gravel roads, not so much if they’re not well maintained.
Snow is meaningless as you can plow it out of your way, I agree, which I’ve done with Mercedes and Volvo AWDs, but high clearance roads that are rutted and have rocks and boulders are why you need ground clearance of a robust 4WD with skid plates off road. An AWD is fine on smoothed sand or gravel roads, not so much if they’re not well maintained.
wildbill83 · 36-40, M
@toddr13 are we talking about back [b]roads[/b] or logging trails here?
I mean sure, if you plan on driving up and down logging trails in the middle of the woods you'll need clearance. But even then, something with a weak/thin chassis and poor suspension would be my last choice (which is why you see so many toyotas in junk yards around here)
I mean sure, if you plan on driving up and down logging trails in the middle of the woods you'll need clearance. But even then, something with a weak/thin chassis and poor suspension would be my last choice (which is why you see so many toyotas in junk yards around here)
swandfriends · 41-45, F
I'm moving out west to utah, I do a lot of rock hunting on dirt roads that could be rough in spots
wildbill83 · 36-40, M
@swandfriends [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuI-0vI2ojw]
toddr13 · 46-50, M
@swandfriends I would go with a Toyota with or without a lift kit if you're rock hunting in Utah. You may expand into Nevada and California, too, once living out there, and many desert rigs that people I know in Southern California and Nevada drive are Toyotas. I don't dislike Audis, and one of my brothers has a very sweet R8, but they're fine for snow and low traction, but they just can't go everywhere. A friend of mine has an X5 and insists that he can bring it into the desert, until he can't get up an incline and has to jump in someone else's Land Cruiser. Unibody AWD SUVs are just not as rugged, but they are equipped for on-road performance for the most part, not true off-road conditions where you can get roads that are washed out, and/or may find a trail that you want to explore. I would not rock crawl or drive through standing water with an Audi, but I would with a Toyota, Land Rover, or G-Wagen.