Confirmed: Audi's A4-based Wagon Heading Stateside This Fall

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Station wagon lovers rejoice! Both of you! I kid . . . a bit. Our sources reveal that Audi has decided to bring a smaller, cheaper version of the previous, slow-selling Allroad back to the US market to compete with the 2010 Subaru Outback. Audi will make the official announcement at a forthcoming US dealers’ meeting in Spain. (No bailouts, no problems.) “Audi believes there’s a large number of US Outback owners who’re tired of the brand,” our man reports. “Customers who want the same sort of vehicle, only better.” Well he would say that: he’s in line for one of the first models. Pricewise, expect the A4-based US Allroad (as opposed to the previous gen A6-based model) to start where the Outback ends: in the upper 30s, lower 40s. (As does the A4 sedan.) Timing-wise, Audi hopes to pip the new Outback to the post, putting the wagon into showrooms in September.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Fred diesel Fred diesel on Apr 11, 2009

    Note to Audi: While there may be a "large" number of Outback owners who are tired of the brand, there is a much, much even bigger number of those who are sick of Audi and their little buddies, VW.

  • Bjcpdx Bjcpdx on Apr 11, 2009

    kaleun & Rix: Could it be that we are confusing maintenance and repair? Maintenance is not what you do when something goes wrong. It may well be that the AWD system is more expensive to repair. I wouldn't doubt it. And two owners have told me that if they had it to do over again they would not opt for the turbo. They both had problems with it, but like the car otherwise. For me, however, all this is theoretical. My Outback has never needed any repairs. OK, I'm done.

  • HerrKaLeun HerrKaLeun on Apr 11, 2009

    I know what maintenance is.. and a boxer motor (many more parts than an inline!)that is hard to access and with timing belt is expensive to maintain. I'm not even going into the AWD maintenance. Just look into the maintenance schedule what has to be done. Obviously the "replacing the entire car after 30,000 ,miles" was a bit ironic and not too literal. but cost-wise probably 1/4 of the car. I guess I have to specially mark ironic parts of comments. Of course, if you don't do the manufacturer recommended maintenance it is cheaper (until it falls apart due to neglected maintenance, of course) Repairs are quite bad too... just google headgasket and subaru. There even is a specific website http://www.subaruheadgasket.com/ I pee my pants... worth reading if you think Subaru has little repair.. :-) Life cycle cost on a Honda or Toyota is lower... you could translate that into $/mile as well. I didn't know GM only provided OnStar. When you open the hood it sure looks as bad designed as a GM car when you think of accessibility for maintenance and repair (hence the high cost to maintain). I just don't see how anyone would buy a car with a timing belt anymore. What's next, carburetor? My wife used to and my mom in law has a Subaru. Really expensive to maintain. $ 700 maintenance bills? sure they probably cheated in useless stuff. but looking into the schedule and replacing spark plugs, timing belt every 100 miles (cautious, irony!!)? I have a Mazda and spark plugs after 100,000 miles, timing chain, everything easy to access. So far I paid $100+ for oil changes over 33,000 miles (I add my own wiper fluid and check my own tire pressure, but that maintenance cost is the same with every car). Maybe at 50,000 I change the coolant and brake fluid, brake pads if necessary. Just add up how much the Subaru requires when it hits 50,000.

  • AWD-03 AWD-03 on Apr 14, 2009
    kaleun I don't read about Subaru, I own one. I have never had a trouble with it in the 110,000 miles I have put on it so far. I bought it used with over 40,000 on it already. I am not sure what the hell you are talking about with maint costs. I even take the car in to the subie dealership for the 30,000 mile maint and I am not being blown away here. So for a car with 150,000 miles on it that feels as good as the day I bought it, I haven't spent more on this thing's maint than I did with my Camry.
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