Streets of Tomorrow

[Benman]

Signed up, and waiting for the test drive. Anyone else?

http://www.audistreetsoftomorrow.com/

Ben

[KiwiRS4]

Yep - Ordered one and should be here in September.

[Benman]

Kiwi,

Does Audi of NZ have a similar ride and drive program?

Ben

[rheudabaga]

I signed up for the one in chicago, May 7th. geesh, running out of patience though.

[Benman]

Originally posted by rheudabaga
I signed up for the one in chicago, May 7th. geesh, running out of patience though.

Hey there rheudabaga ,

Haven't heard much from you so thought maybe you went and bought that Land Rover :trash:

BTW, how's the RS 4 coming along?

Ben

[rheudabaga]

Originally posted by Benman
nd bought that Land Rover :trash:

BTW, how's the RS 4 coming along?

Ha. Been avoiding you, Mr. Benman, cuz I knew you'd ask me that:MTM:

Events have conspired to make the RS4 a bit of a reach for us. I've got an S4 Avant on order that should be here end of May. The silly thing is that I'm somewhat disappointed to be getting a 'mere' S4, when it is a fantastic car. Alas, it's no RS4 But the S4 Avant will fit what we need really well...even a little better than the RS4.

I suppose there's a .000001% chance things could swing my way when the RS4's start showing up, but I've pretty much given up that cause. I'm going to be so depressed when I see them rumbling around the streets of Chicago.

Speaking of the Streets of Tomorrow...yes, my wife has been patiently waiting for the opportunity to test drive the Q7, even though she's leaning HEAVILY towards the LR3. So the test-drive has to just blow her away. (I know, I know, who wears the pants in this family anyway? We all know the answer to that...)

One thing working in my favor would be the apparent lease rates on the Q7. Seeing a money factor around .0015, which is very aggressive, no?!?

Ok, now for the 3 1/2 week wait for the test drive....

[Benman]

Originally posted by rheudabaga
Ha. Been avoiding you, Mr. Benman, cuz I knew you'd ask me that:MTM:

Events have conspired to make the RS4 a bit of a reach for us. I've got an S4 Avant on order that should be here end of May. The silly thing is that I'm somewhat disappointed to be getting a 'mere' S4, when it is a fantastic car. Alas, it's no RS4

Speaking of the Streets of Tomorrow...yes, my wife has been patiently waiting for the opportunity to test drive the Q7, even though she's leaning HEAVILY towards the LR3. So the test-drive has to just blow her away. (I know, I know, who wears the pants in this family anyway? We all know the answer to that...)

One thing working in my favor would be the apparent lease rates on the Q7. Seeing a money factor around .0015, which is very aggressive, no?!?

Ok, now for the 3 1/2 week wait for the test drive....

rheudabaga ,

Nice to hear from you. Well, the "mere" S4 Avant will do you fine, a fantastic car for sure. Yeah, seeing the occassional RS 4 driving by on the street won't help, but trust me, they won't be a common sight.

Tell Mrs. to please be patient. At least give the Q7 a test drive. Then, if she doesn't like it, by all means, get the LR3. As for who wears the pants... I have no room (or right) to comment on that one. I made the choice long before I ever was married to go for a hardcore traditional women that never would give me lip or grief, and would let me do whatever I want as long as I treat her right. Best decision I ever made. However, had I gone for a "modern" US girl, I'm afraid I'd be on a boat, all too cramped!

I'm no lease expert, but the .0015 you mention is pretty good, no? How's that compare with Land Rover's?

Ben

[rheudabaga]

Benman,

Truth be told, my wife gives me a pretty long leash, so when she steps up with a preference I owe it to her to let the decisions be 'mutual'...especially when it's the vehicle that she'll be driving!

LR3 money factor is around .0025 or so, which is around 5%. Not bad, but not the 2.7% of the Q7.

The S4 is still going to be a nice improvement over our current larger S6.

[Benman]

Originally posted by rheudabaga
Benman,

Truth be told, my wife gives me a pretty long leash...

A rose (leash) by any other name... :trash: LOL! Just kiddin! Feel the same about my Mrs. She deserves it like you said!

So... the Q7 may have better rates than the LR3? Very nice, should prove well for resale!

Question: Are you selling the larger S6 Avant only because you're already going to have a larger (Q7/LR3) family vehicle?

Ben

[rheudabaga]

Originally posted by Benman

Question: Are you selling the larger S6 Avant only because you're already going to have a larger (Q7/LR3) family vehicle?

Ben

Yes, that was the thinking. I've loved the S6 (it's no RS6, but it is a hoot and I love the stealth/utility of the Avant) and there's really no reason to dump it, but:

A. it's fun to get new cars

B. i generally shy away from owning cars beyond the warranty period because i hate having to deal with the whole maintenance dance...

C. as much as i love the S6, the S4 is quite a bit more nimble and fun to drive. (no RS4 references here, please )

D. 95% of the time it's me and maybe one other person in this car (plus bikes on top!), so the S6 is kinda overkill

E. yes, the wife's car (LR3 or Q7) becomes the kid hauler. she doesn't want to keep the S6 for herself because it's not quite big enough even though it has the rear facing jump seat (which makes us both nervous...not sure how safe that is). she's right though, she does cart a bunch of kids around and her baby jogger, kid bikes, trikes, etc... As much as I hate the hole Big American SUV thing, the utility of it is hard to deny. True, we could get a minvan Scratch that.

[Benman]

Originally posted by rheudabaga

A. it's fun to get new cars


E. True, we could get a minvan Scratch that.

Yep, new stuff is cool.

Minivans... not so cool.

The rear seat in the S6 is so cool. I wish they still had that in the new A6 avants! Awesome. As for safety, its no more "unsafe" than a rear facing child seat. Same difference. Sad to see it go.

Ben

[Audihead]

Signed up for Chi-Town to drive the RS4 some more!

[Benman]

Originally posted by Audihead
Signed up for Chi-Town to drive the RS4 some more!

They mention having one at the LA event. Hopefully will get to go for a spin...

Ben

[rheudabaga]

In the name of matrimonial harmony, we've gone with the LR3. In spite of really wanting the Q7, I'm excited about the LR3. I know my wife will be really happy with it.

Now, if I can only finagle my way back into the RS4...

Just kidding...:trash:

[Benman]

Originally posted by rheudabaga

Just kidding...:trash:

LOL! Just four more weeks...

Ben

[SoCal]

Originally posted by rheudabaga


LR3 money factor is around .0025 or so, which is around 5%. Not bad, but not the 2.7% of the Q7.

So why did she pick the LR3 over the Q7? A friend of mine is thinking seriously of a new larger SUV and I've been recommending the Q7. Just wondering what the thinking is.

Oh, for comparison of the lease rates you quoted, the .0025 mf equates to a 6% interest rate, and the .0015 mf on the Audi is akin to 3.6%. Pretty big difference. Both are pretty good rates, though the financing companies will make up the subsidy somewhere else in the lease terms or price, you can be sure.

Sorry to see the S6 go...enjoy your new S4 though. You can always mod it later to come closer to an RS4.

[rheudabaga]

Socal...

We went with the LR3 because it will be my wife's car and she prefers the look of it over the Q7. Not just the lines of the outside, mind you, but the whole package; interior feeling of 'utility' and ruggedness, etc. What can I say, she's from the boxy car school.

It's a subjective thing and I understand her point. Being an Audi person myself, I still prefer the Q7. I will miss the performance benefits of the Q, but I won't be the one driving it everyday

While the Q7 is in a whole other league of performance (or I expect it to be as we STILL haven't had the opportunity to drive one...part of the reason we're in the LR3 now), the LR3 is still a very nice vehicle. We also looked at the MDX and Pilot and the LR3 is a far more substantial vehicle than either of those, both in aesthetics and performance (Lexus GX and Volvo XC90 are also competitors, with 3rd row seats, but those make my wife want to vomit).

As I've said elsewhere, the LR3 better be a Sherman Tank in the snow. Our Audi is like a train in the fluffy stuff and I would expect nothing less from a vaunted off-roader like the LR3.

It's been a somewhat dissapointing round on the car front. I was really gunning for the RS4 and Q7. You can't have everything you want in life, yet 'settling' for the S4 Avant and LR3 is sure to win me no sympathy from those tooling around in Toyoto Camry's and Honda Odessey's!

[Benman]

Originally posted by rheudabaga

You can't have everything you want in life, yet 'settling' for the S4 Avant and LR3 is sure to win me no sympathy from those tooling around in Toyoto Camry's and Honda Odessey's!

Amen to that. Its all about being content. And the level of wealth is all in the eye of the beholder.

So Cal, even though you're not too interested in the Q7, do you think you might swing the Streets of Tomorrow event while its in LA?

And what about you rheudabaga, even though you went with the LR3 (a fine vehicle), will you go drive the Q7? You know, to show the Mrs. what she's missing?

Ben