The TT is no more.


My Audi A4 Cabriolet has arrived, and I traded away the TT for it today

As you know I ordered an A4 Cabriolet to replace my less than family friendly Audi TT Roadster. Well I got a phone call late friday afternoon that my new vehicle had arrived. Of course I was on the phone all day friday so I didn't know this, and at the same time I asked angi via ICQ to call and see if they knew when it arrived.

She informs me there is a good news/bad news thing. The A4 is here NOW and had just actually arrived, but someone hosed the order and it's a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) and is not a Quattro AWD system.

At the time I heard this on Friday I was extremely irritated and wasn't wanting very badly to wait yet another 3 months for the car I wanted. They did say they'd make it worth my while to go ahead with this car and that they thought I'd be surprised to how the bad boy handled.

First I did some research into the CVT. I wanted to know what the heck it was and why some folks on various Audi forums were saying it's sluggish.

Talk about a feat of engineering.

CVT is Continuously Variable Transmission. It's design point is that of an automatic transmission that delivers a steady flow of power from the engine to the drive wheels without any shift points.

If you're scratching your head like I was after reading that, you're not alone. I was rather confused as to how this idea would work.

Basically it's a pulley system. each pulley is split in half like two saucers pushed together. As they pull apart the belt moves towards the edge of the pulley. With the pulleys on either end of the belt squeezing and moving apart the engine and the drive wheels, the power transmission can vary in infinitesimal amounts, which is why it's called continuously variable.

What does that mean to you and me when you stomp on the gas?

The car scrolls through the RPMs from 1000 to redline (about 6000 or so) and then stops at 6000 until you get off the gas.

No lurching with each gear, you really have no idea the gears have changed. You tear up the road like nobody's business, at least you do with the 3.0 NA V6 that is in the one I ordered.

So trying not to have an ear to ear grin after checking out this I went in and acted a bit forlorn that they screwed up my order. This equalled a $1350 lower price than what I ordered, and they tossed in another $1000 for screwing it up.

So with the $2000 I already got off list, and a respectable trade in price for the TT they handed me the A4 keys, I handed them the TT's keys and we were finished.

I leased this one. Because of my new job I go to and from work, and that is it. Maybe in 39 months when the lease is up I'll buy the A4, or I may dare to dream that they'll re-release the $82K Audi RS6 500HP sedan that they only made 1000 of this year and had no plans to continue the car. here's for hoping.

Posted: Sat - October 25, 2003 at 10:15 AM           |

©