Originally Posted by
/\G
I am actually in the middle of a similar dilemma right now. I am not giving up my Avant for an R32 but I am looking to add an R32 instead of an A4 sedan. My wife wants the sedan and I want the R. We have a 17 month old daughter and quite honestly, although the R is small on the outside, it has more rear legroom than my Avant. The baby seat will fit just fine. 2 Door may be a pain in the ass but I think its worth the hassle. I guess I am the only one who likes DSG and I think the new R is a great vehicle. My wife on the other hand thinks its not a safe car for a baby. I dont have an argument for this other than it has all of the safety features an A4 has.
We are still going back and forth but to answer your question, I dont think I would give up my A4 if I had to choose one or the other. I am on my 3rd Avant. Went from B5 to a B6 and then a B7. This one I am keeping. Its such a great car all around. Sometimes you dont want to be stuck in a R32. Its not a practical car for every situation.
The current model R32 has an excellent interior.
A lot of people here must be making comments about the previous version, which was a LOT cheaper on the inside. The current R32/GTI have very well done interiors, MUCH better than previous VW's.
I too think the DSG is AMAZING. If you love the function of a manual and it's "right now" response, but you have lots of crawling/sitting traffic to move, the DSG is the hot ticket. But, it's also a LOT of fun when the road opens up. I like how it allows you to control the gears without having to move your hands off the steering wheel to make the shift.
It rev matches better than 98% of the manual trans drivers out there, and shifts faster than them too, and it does it more smoothly.
As far as safety, you can go and print the crash test data. The R32/GTI is a VERY safe car. Plus, people don't seem to realize that performance vehicles have a MAJOR inherent safety margin and that's the fact that they ARE performance vehicles, which means they have better braking, steering, tires, throttle control, and overall better performance & handling. All that combined means that, from the get go, performance vehicles are more likely to AVOID potential accidents.
Crash test numbers tell one side of the story, which is what can happen once you're hit. Those numbers can't show how often a good driver with a more capable car can actually avoid a wreck in the first place.
Given good judgment and good driver skills your daughter should be quite safe in an R32. Plus, when she's at home with mom and you're out alone with your car....LET IT RIP!
All that said, maybe you should wait for the new B8 A4.
It will have a better 2.0 TFSI engine with more hp and quite a bit more torque, plus a more rear biased AWD quattro along with more advanced suspension for better steering feel and response along with great ride and handling. It'll also have more rear room for the little one to enjoy dads driving skills. My nephew LOVES my A4, and he laughs everytime we take a turn harder and faster than his mommies Honda Pilot, which is to say, we're not going fast, it's just the Pilot goes that slow.
I still have to maintain when he's in my care, and this kid is headed towards being an auto enthusiast. Come to think of it, he's been one since he could say "Audi", which was around the time he turned 1, he's 3 now.
Get a really good car seat and strap it in VERY securely. She'll love it.
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