[Kim]

My Cayenne was in for some service yesterday and the dealer gave me a 2014 Panamera S e-hybrid as a loaner. What A nice car. When you are driving it the parts that are behind you (ie the bg back seat and truck) are not obvious and the car drives in such a way they are not really noticeable. It gets down the road pretty good for a sedan.

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[Chris Vais]

I've had the opportunity to drive one as well and you are correct. Forget there is a back seat and drive it like a two seater and you won't be disappointed. While it might not be the most stylish car around, it's got everything it needs and nothing it doesn't.



What is your impression of the Cayenne Diesel? I've driven the Audi Q7 diesel and I like it. I just wish they would import the A6 Avant diesel. I don't really need an SUV sized vehicle.

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[Kim]

Well I like the diesel, I needed the space of the SUV or at least a "real" car and the Carrera 4S was just not suitable. Fun to drive but .... Even the Cayman S at least had two trunks and, without 4WD, the front truck was deeper. I needed to get away from having all those cars. Sadly, i will now drive the diesel about 110,000 km/year so I will wear it out fairly fast. But it gets really good economy any 400+ lb-ft isn't bad either.

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[Chris Vais]

Actually, my experience with the diesel powered pick-ups that I've had as work trucks in the past were pretty durable. Easily going 300,000 or more miles before needing any freshening up. The caveat being getting the 20 and 30 somethings we hired to check the oil periodically.



Do you still have the Carrera 4S for pleasure driving?

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[94SilverCab]

and, it's the car of the month on the Porsche calendar...will they give you a GT3 if you take your ccar in for service next month ;P



Jay

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[Bulti]

They don't sell diesel A6' in the States? Wouldn't people over there buy them?

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[Chris Vais]

Americans are enamored with SUVs for some reason, but I just love the functionality and the looks of the Avant. We've been driving them now for 20years. I understand that Audi stopped importing the A6 Avant due to lackluster sales. We still get the A4 Avant is some form. I believe that Audi does offer the A6 sedan as a diesel but not the Avant in any form.

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[Bulti]

No petrol Avants either? That's even more strange. SUV's and crossovers got more and more popular over the years in Europe too, but usually there not as big.



This side of the pond, a station wagon is considered more beautiful and Practical than the sedan version by most people, so the 3-volume body work cars offerings are getting smaller. That would mean, if Audi would cancel an A6 version, it would be the sedan.

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[az968]

Even Ferrari has offered a shooting brake model for those that want a "hurry-up" station wagon. I always thought our Volvo 740 Turbo wagon was a better looking car than the sedan version. There was a guy who ran one in the DE's at Blackhawk Farms track in Rockford IL in the late 80's. And he drove the wheels off it!

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[Chris Vais]

My understanding is that the A6 Avant continues to be available in Europe and elsewhere, just not in the US. The problem is that Americans will opt for an SUV over a station wagon for reasons that I just don't understand. So I'm looking for a good used 2012 A6 Avant and there sure aren't many in the market place, but they should start coming off lease this year and next so we'll see. The other option would be Mercedes 300 series wagon in all-wheel drive.

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