Need a new Tow Vehicle as Audi will be buying back my Q7 TDI --what do you have?

[djetok]

Take the money. My vw TDI I could not pass up the dollar amount I was offered as it was more than I paid for when it was a12k mile used car. Then got another check from Bosch.

I don't know the dollar amount between the fix it check or the turn in. My car was a spare

 

[Bluewater272]

lol. Maybe the 2005 Audi lineup. Not even in the same ballpark of any current Audi, nor should it be. Comparing apples to oranges, as they say.

There's a good bit of psychological bias here. Just traded a current Audi for a current ford - tech is identical (and in some cases, a bit nicer). Fit and Finish is spectacular on the current fords (have an Explorer Sport and Lariat 150). The only real disparity I can see is the quality of material, however if you step up to the Platinum or Limited trims in the F150 (or whatever the highest trim is in Expedition), it's outstanding. Nicer leather, actual aluminum trims (instead of the fake aluminum in Audi), etc.

Just saying that the domestics are worth a look.

 

[2kwik4u]

lol. Maybe the 2005 Audi lineup. Not even in the same ballpark of any current Audi, nor should it be. Comparing apples to oranges, as they say.

I disagree. Friend with a '15 Q5 vs my '15 Sierra......just about the same "feeling" inside on both.Neither one really screams out "I'm way better than the other one". Significantly different styling, but that is subjective. In terms of material quality, fit, finish, and durability; it's a wash in my book.

Having turned a wrench on both in the past (interior and exterior).....Also a wash. Both have some brilliant and some stupid designs.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

The new Ram Limited/Longhorn interior blows the domestic competition out the water IMO. They are in the pure Luxury segment now. IMO only thing nicer I have seen are the MB C class and up - but I think it's just the brushed aluminum speaker grilles on those that get me hooked. I've worked on new Audi's and while they are nice they are not any better than the Infiniti or MBs in their class. The world is catching up the "luxury" manufactures. I would put this truck ahead of the Audi and Infiniti.

 

[swatski]

It does look like I'm gonna have to return my current Q7 - for that ridiculous buyout.
Then, I think I'm going to try to get into another (Q7) TDI. Either that, or one of the Fiat/Chrysler TDI "domestics".


--

 

[veedubtek]

Design is largely preference and quite subjective. The argument was made for tech, and until you are staring at your google earth navigation in the virtual cockpit in front of you, with directions on your heads up display, while automatically following with 3rd gen ACC, and stopping instantly with cross traffic monitoring - your argument is kinda null and void. And that really doesn't scratch the surface of what's really available.

As for trucks, I do agree with adrian - I had a Laramie Limited and I bought it simply because I loved the interior more than any other truck. But even my 2013 Touareg Exec makes the Laramie feel cheap inside. I am, admittedly, a dash stroker though, that's why I won't argue fit and finish - everyone has their own preferences. It's silly to try and argue an F150 has similar tech though, it's not even in the same game. As it shouldn't be. It's not just the buttons you press...

 

[veedubtek]

 

[bronze_10]

View attachment 70056

Dang! My 05 Durango and 06 f250 he's nothing like that! Lol

 

[Bluewater272]

Design is largely preference and quite subjective. The argument was made for tech, and until you are staring at your google earth navigation in the virtual cockpit in front of you, with directions on your heads up display, while automatically following with 3rd gen ACC, and stopping instantly with cross traffic monitoring - your argument is kinda null and void. And that really doesn't scratch the surface of what's really available.

As for trucks, I do agree with adrian - I had a Laramie Limited and I bought it simply because I loved the interior more than any other truck. But even my 2013 Touareg Exec makes the Laramie feel cheap inside. I am, admittedly, a dash stroker though, that's why I won't argue fit and finish - everyone has their own preferences. It's silly to try and argue an F150 has similar tech though, it's not even in the same game. As it shouldn't be. It's not just the buttons you press...

With the exception of Virtual Cockpit (and maybe HUD - not sure), all of that is available in an F150. It's not silly, or null and void argument. Audi (or the other German brands) aren't some mystical force that only has access to this stuff - you can get it in many places (including KIA), and you're going to pay through the nose for it just like you do at an Audi dealer. This isn't the early 2000s anymore.

WRT to Virtual Cockpit, I did find that to be aesthetically pleasing and fun to play with for a bit, but not particularly useful. At the end of the day, you end up seeing the same information in multiple places (including time in no less than 3 different simultaneous locations). I get lots of that on my 8" cluster screen, but do miss the maps (that is, until the google earth subscription expired and they wanted an absurd subscription fee for it).

 

[veedubtek]

Noone said Kia, or any other car manufacturer. The argument was tech - Audi vs 'merican truck. 3 of the 4 things I listed (and I'm pretty sure all 4) aren't available in a new truck. Again, it's a silly argument. Noone expects it to be . I'm not even saying Ford doesn't have the technology, they just aren't putting it into an f150. Nor should they .

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

Design is largely preference and quite subjective. The argument was made for tech, and until you are staring at your google earth navigation in the virtual cockpit in front of you, with directions on your heads up display, while automatically following with 3rd gen ACC, and stopping instantly with cross traffic monitoring - your argument is kinda null and void. And that really doesn't scratch the surface of what's really available.

As for trucks, I do agree with adrian - I had a Laramie Limited and I bought it simply because I loved the interior more than any other truck. But even my 2013 Touareg Exec makes the Laramie feel cheap inside. I am, admittedly, a dash stroker though, that's why I won't argue fit and finish - everyone has their own preferences. It's silly to try and argue an F150 has similar tech though, it's not even in the same game. As it shouldn't be. It's not just the buttons you press...

What year Limited did you have that a '13 Toureg made it feel cheap? Must have been a 12 or older. They upped it in '13, and again in '16 I believe, and the '19 is radically different. I have worked on pretty much all latest gen VWs and they are all blah to me. I believe all the trucks have cross detection and ACC as options. Heads up I know Chevy just introduced on the Silverado.

There is tech on these trucks also not available in the Audi. The argument goes both ways.

Also with anything VW or MB your car is going to smell like crayons in two years. Not sure if Audi's do this.

 

[djetok]

View attachment 70056

That's awesome , I just have turn by turn directions on my gauge cluster. I might want to stare at that cluster a little too much lol

 

[veedubtek]

My limited was a '14. Only reason I bought it at the time, was it was the only truck I could get push button start in . In 2014. Crazy.

Mk4 VW's smelled like crayons, that was it .

Alot of new VW's are uninspiring, the American ones. Anything still made in Germany, is still good.

I still work on them. Everyday. Working on this right now-

 

[Bluewater272]

Noone said Kia, or any other car manufacturer. The argument was tech - Audi vs 'merican truck. 3 of the 4 things I listed (and I'm pretty sure all 4) aren't available in a new truck. Again, it's a silly argument. Noone expects it to be . I'm not even saying Ford doesn't have the technology, they just aren't putting it into an f150. Nor should they .

F150 has adaptive cruise (and stop and go) and cross-traffic (with blind spot coverage extending to your trailer), pre-collision nonsense and lane-keep assist. The tech is there, maybe not every single item, but the big ones are. Then there's stuff that Ford has that Audi doesn't, like a pretty slick reverse trailer control (but I don't need that.... yadda yadda).

All I'm suggesting is that if you're looking for a big vehicle to haul around a half dozen people and your boat comfortably and with a nice complement of technology - you're doing yourself a disservice by not seeing what the top-end of the domestics have to offer (and he can get a diesel, to boot).


For the record, I really liked my Premium+ Audi. Just needed a bigger vehicle to tow the boat, and my wife didn't want to change vehicles. I have everything in my F150 that the Audi had, sans VirCockpit. *shrug*

 

[Julian]

This is driving me crazy. I do not want to trade my 2012 Q7 TDI in!

Then your best bet is to turn it in for the insane amount they are offering and use the money to buy a 2015 Q7!

The tech that I like in the Audi is:

1. Adaptive cruise control that will take you to a stop and start back up again on its own, seemlessly.
2. Forward looking infra red...I am constantly dodging deer where I live....2-3 times a week I am braking to avoid the idiots! (perhaps I SHOULD buy the big truck and put a cow guard on the front and stop braking? LOL)
3. Apple/Android car play - so I don't give a shit if they have built in google maps...I'm going to run Waze from my phone
4. Heads up display
5. I do like the vurtual cockpit display - could I live without it...sure...but I'm buying a luxury car in part for my own ego (gotta be honest here!)
6. Not sure what they call it...but the 360 view of the car is useful...NC has some of the smallest Fing parking spaces!
7. Lane keeping assist
8. Collision Avoidance
9. Cross traffic monitoring
10. Blind spot warning
11. Panoramic Sunroof
12. Self Leveling headlights (I don't like it that if I tow a boat without them I'd be blinding oncoming drivers)
13. 3 Rows of seats (I do with the Audi was larger....which is why I'm looking at Yukon/Escalade/Expedition)
14. Freakin loud ass Stereo with HIGH fidelity! (Bose or B&O) - I assume the Yukon etc are comparable here???
15. Wireless phone charging - Yukon etc have this...but it doesn't work if your phone is in its case! WTF! I was stunned by this stupidity-and tried to get it to work to no avail. Not available in the Audi!
16. The 150 mile longer range of the Audi is also nice for highway driving....not critical...but cool - wont get that with the gas Audi :-(
17. Trailer reverse control - Audi has this in Europe....no clue why they haven't brought it here - Ford has this....would be nice.

 

[Julian]

No autoleveling headlights on Ford as far as I'm aware. TBH, outside of the neato power-on cycle where the lights go up and down, I can't say that I've ever seen their benefit (or noticed the absence of it).

Lighting on my truck is superb.

It isn't often that you are on the receiving end of your own truck. I drive a lot of dark winding back roads and I love that I rarely if ever get flashed by someone coming towards me because the car levels the lights automatically. Never really thought about this when I was in Chicago...street lights everywhere make headlights less of an issue. So urban drivers could are less!

Europe has much more stringent rules on headlights and blinding oncoming drivers. Not sure why. You'll see a lot of cars in Europe with orange colored lights....as they are less blinding. Rarely, if ever, see that here. But I do love the Super bright Q7 headlights!

 

[Bluewater272]

So you can't get Waze on any Apple Carplay implementation - but Ford is adding it as a smart app in Sync next month. I'm pretty stoked about that.

Otherwise to my knowledge, 2, 4 and 12 are the only things you can't get in a Ford. 3rd row limited to Expedition, obviously. B&O sound available on the higher trims. The 36 gal tank on the F150 gives you plenty of range, but not in the way you're looking for

 

[Julian]

This.....

compared to this:

I'm sorry, but the Audi wins hands down for me.

That said....I HATE that Audi didn't put in a touch screen....and this may be the deal breaker for me. That was IDIOTIC!

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

To each their own... the stitching across multiples layers and being broken up by wood really dials in the dash. The Audi just looks boring to me.... really looks like a BMW. There is just no detail in the Audi.

Better to compare it this:

Here the longhorn can be seen better due to lighter colors, everything is leather or wood and stitched. No hard plastic/vinyl (which I believe the audi has quite a bit of)

 

[2kwik4u]

Subjective on styling. I don't like either the Audi or the Ram dash. The Audi has an afterthought of a center stack, and the Ram looks like it's trying to hard to be a Tesla.