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If you had to replace your daily driver (automobile) right now, what would it be?

martyg

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2,216
Speak for yourself! Drive my RS3 and RS4s all through the winter, after proper paint protection, ceramic coating etc, plus snow tires. One RS4 spent the winter as my ski car, after regular ski car was down for body work. Wife has SQ5 which I can't pry out of her hands; it would be, admittedly, the most appropriate winter vehicle.

I'd need substantially smaller rims, and more rubber with our roads and potholes. Otherwise I am replacing rims at a regular pace. Brake calipers will not accommodate smaller rims. SQ5 is just perfect for us. Especially on gravel, marginally plowed turnouts that hide bathtub sized potholes.
 
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snwbrdr

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I'd need substantially smaller rims, and more rubber with our roads and potholes. Otherwise I am replacing rims at a regular pace. Brake calipers will not accommodate smaller rims. SQ5 is just perfect for us. Especially on gravel, marginally plowed turnouts that hide bathtub sized potholes.
the current SQ5 can take certain 18" wheels, according to TireRack.
 

snwbrdr

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That question was more directed to the ski boxes.
I personally wouldn't waste money on vinyl wrapping a cargo box, and since the Yak Skybox Carbonite has a dimpled lid, it wouldn't be ideal for adhesion.

But, I have seen people vinyl wrap there box.
 

Lebowski

Putting on skis
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I have not looked at the Audi only because Mrs WallyK has a 2015 XC70 and likes the Volvo platform, which to your point has not lost much of it's value, which is a scary financial indicator of the used car market. How does the Audi compare to the Volvo and Merc?

I like the Mercedes a lot.....the 6 cylinder w/ the turbo gives the car some solid mid-range power that the Volvo accomplishes with a turbo AND super charger on top of an otherwise wimpy 4 cylinder engine....
I have not had the chance to drive the Allroad but I imagine it's quite comparable to the Merc, with a similarly boosted 6-cylinder. I do think the Audi interior and optional sports seats are nicer. Also, the Audi's air suspension maybe gives it a slight leg up in versatility. As for the V90, I see it as the value proposition of the group, if you can get past the drivetrain shortcomings - I certainly could, because the rest of the car is so appealing. That said, all 3 are excellent wagons and I don't think you can go wrong.
 

Lebowski

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Anything with an RS badge gets put up for the winter here in CO. The SQ5 is my perfect winter driver here. When my wife and I road trip to ski, with puppy (75 pound Lab), a SkiGuard box on top provides us with amply space. With studded snows it is a beast. For PNW I would forego the studs.

BTW, if you are looking for a box to compliment such vehicles, the SkiGuard is it. It is one of the very few boxes that does not look like a plastic garbage can in top of your car.
Yeah that makes sense about garage'ing the RS cars. I do love those SkiGuard and Packasport boxes, but the cheapskate in me settled for a lightly-used Thule Alpine (i think that's what it's called)
 

wallyk

Would rather be ski'n
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Re: the Audi/Mercedes/Volvo wagon thoughts.

She would not consider the M-B. Town is loaded with young “Yummy Mommies” driving them to coffee and yoga class.

Best line and a somewhat surprisingly a primary reason why Mrs Wally K is not thrilled w/ the MB despite being a solid ride.

Thanks for the time and the thoughts......lots of wisdom and good insights here. Will be purchasing a CPO, let someone else pay for the depreciation, and am leaning toward the Volvo, despite that questionable 4 cylinder b/c of the ability to push dealers. This hold particularly true for the wagon platform.
 

James

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Dec 2, 2015
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About to replace..........either Mercedes 450E wagon or Volvo V90 XC....IMHO very few cars can rival a proper/sweet wagon...biggest difference, Merc has a V6 and the Volvo 4 cyclinder w/ all sorts of super and turbo chargers....Have a 2016 XC70, which is awesome ride.....w/ the right tire just cuts through all the garbage that old man winter throws our way in MN.

View attachment 146630 View attachment 146631
5518069F-07EF-48A8-9BA5-4C4212E68844.png

The wagon almost makes you forget the very unfortunate Mercedes design program of their downward facing banana lines. Just a travesty of having a captive audience I suppose. Depressing,
 

Tom K.

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The wagon almost makes you forget the very unfortunate Mercedes design program of their downward facing banana lines. Just a travesty of having a captive audience I suppose. Depressing,

Best description of this unfortunate trend. Bangle reincarnated?!
 

Tom K.

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If I wanted to go kind of big, but still retain a somewhat more plebian approach than the Bentley/Ferrari/Lambo porn posted earlier in this thread, I think I would choose the Audi SQ7.

Long enough for skis inside, a ripping V8 under the hood, and styling more along the lines of a giant wagon than SUV.

Luckily for the wallet, we're talking a 4 hour drive to the nearest dealer.
 

SkiSVLikeAgassi

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Muleski

So much better than a pro
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I wonder what the final gavel price will be for the RS4 Avant. I personally think the current $80K is steep. Real steep. Trying to recall what the two cars in CO, where the owner essentially built two RS4 Avants was. All it takes is two buyers to bid against each other. There is a LOT of money out there. This one is not perfect. Will not matter, I guess. I think it will top $100K.

I guess if you are wiling and able to pay that, you can afford a new sunroof motor, switch, and whatever else is needed to make the sunroof work!

I have not tracked B7 s4 six speed avant sales as of late. If I were thinking Audi, I bet one could source a bunch of RS4 bits and have a hell of a car for a third or less of what this will sell for.

Heck you could buy a mint B7 AND A near mint 1994 RS2 Avant For less than $100K!!

“Federalized RS4” does not float my collector boat. Others will feel differently.

People want it NOW!!!

GLWA to the owner!
 
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Atomicman

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May 6, 2017
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View attachment 147156
The wagon almost makes you forget the very unfortunate Mercedes design program of their downward facing banana lines. Just a travesty of having a captive audience I suppose. Depressing,
But you can probably steal a R63 AMG with 500+ HP & 465 Lbs. Ft. of Torque w/4matic...A little AMG trickery and wheels really improves it!

e54c5a9b863f96644cf28004ab0e6a8f.jpg
 

Atomicman

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Gonna have to stick with my ML63 AMG with P030 & Designo Pkg! Power is addictive! 557 HP & 561 Lbs. Feet of Torque a set of Hakka R3 SUV and I am off & running anywhere!

If I was to replace it, maybe a Cayenne Turbo or a GLE63 AMG, RSq8 is rather appealing!
 
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cantunamunch

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The wagon almost makes you forget the very unfortunate Mercedes design program of their downward facing banana lines. Just a travesty of having a captive audience I suppose. Depressing,

<- actually kind of likes the downward facing banana lines as a solid alternative to "old man trousers" high beltline that Mercedes rightly left to Chrysler/Dodge and to the "enraged rabbit with scut in the air" high rear decks and to the just-plain-pig-on-wheels alternative of not having hard chines at all.
 

Tom K.

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Oh, boy... Still time to bid! But do I really need *another* blue car...?


Beautiful. Remember that yellow S4 Avant that parked at the River Run lot forever? I used to lust after that every time I walked by, but those 4.2L V8s cost a lot to keep going when the mileage starts creeping up.
 

Cameron

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Mar 1, 2016
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Southwest Ohio
Currently driving my 2016 F350 every day and if I were going to replace it the short list would another diesel 1-ton since it needs to tow 15k+. The tough decision would be F350 crew cab short bed, crew cab long bed, or possibly going to a F450. I supposed I'd probably look at Ram 3500s too as my buddy's gets 2-3 mpg better than my Ford, but it would have to have the HO Cummins and Aisin transmission.

I have considered getting a more practical daily driver off and on for a while and right now I'd probably lean towards a Corolla Hatchback with with a manual transmission. It's not exciting but at least it requires driver involvement and I wouldn't have much concern about driving it for 150-200K miles since its a Toyota. Now if money were no object I'd go third world dictator and get a Mercedes G63 AMG.
 
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