AWD Sedan shootout

Carbon · 01-29-2006, 08:23 PM

It's in the latest Road & Track, but this is just stolen off another forum, so I don't have scans of the whole thing. I thought it would be interesting though for you guys to see. The A4 wins price independent, but the Subaru takes top honors after price is made a factor. The Subaru is also the fastest car there. Notice how damn close the BMW and Audi are in acceleration numbers. I believe most of the cars were using automatic gearboxes.

siko · 01-30-2006, 12:50 AM

I'm not too surprised with the winner... but I am surprised with its performance numbers.

What are the hp/torque figures (ballpark is good enough) on the Subaru?

martinbo · 01-30-2006, 01:57 AM

Interestingly, 250 HP and 250 lb-ft... Sometimes Subaru take this symmetrical thing a little too far

Just_me · 01-30-2006, 02:17 AM

a swedish carmag drove the 325ix and the car won the comparison over cars like A4 2.0T, C230K, IS250,Legacy, saab 93 but they recommended to buy a RWD bimmer instead of a AWD bimmer.

Carbon · 01-30-2006, 02:58 AM

I think the numbers for the Subaru are the best that any publication has gotten on that car.

martinbo · 01-30-2006, 04:04 AM

Yes, but remember (and this is one of the biggest in-house hurdles that Subaru needs to overcome) this is a US Spec 2.5 litre boxer turbo and not a 3.0 litre naturally aspirated six as in the Swedish test. Turbo Subarus will lay waste to naturally aspirated examples. Furthermore, in Oz and SA we're offered both the 2.0 litre twin-scroll turbo 2.0 GT (with 190 kW and 330 Nm) and the 3.0R Spec B with NA boxer six (with 180 kW and 297 Nm) at nigh identical pricing, sending a very mixed message to the consumer market. The US Spec B has 184 kW and 340 Nm if I remember rightly...

The best figures 0-62 mph I've seen for a 2.0 GT is 5.9 secs, if I recall correctly, so this 5.1 second time to 60 mph is almost too impressive. That was one steep downhill methinks.

Carbon · 01-30-2006, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinbo

That was one steep downhill methinks.

The acceleration figures for the other cars seem accurate though don't they? I'm going to assume they tested acceleration all on the same strip of pavement.

Tumbo · 01-30-2006, 04:40 AM

Great article!

Thanx!

Damn, that Subaru is fast.

And yet again, the Quattro is the way to go

martinbo · 01-30-2006, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carbon

The acceleration figures for the other cars seem accurate though don't they? I'm going to assume they tested acceleration all on the same strip of pavement.

Yeah look, I am being a little facetious but even the A4 TFSI 2.0 litre's time of 6.5 secs to 96 km/h is a little hard to swallow (especially on 91 Octane) - was this with a DSG tranny?

Just_me · 01-30-2006, 05:10 AM

Im curious about this MAzda 6speed. Seem to be a fast mazda.
How many horsepowers in this car?

01-29-2006, 08:23 PM	#1
Carbon Advocate Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 795 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	AWD Sedan shootout It's in the latest Road & Track, but this is just stolen off another forum, so I don't have scans of the whole thing. I thought it would be interesting though for you guys to see. The A4 wins price independent, but the Subaru takes top honors after price is made a factor. The Subaru is also the fastest car there. Notice how damn close the BMW and Audi are in acceleration numbers. I believe most of the cars were using automatic gearboxes.

01-30-2006, 12:50 AM	#2
siko Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 4,579 Thanks: 1,655 Thanked 1,573 Times in 736 Posts	Re: AWD Sedan shootout I'm not too surprised with the winner... but I am surprised with its performance numbers. What are the hp/torque figures (ballpark is good enough) on the Subaru?

01-30-2006, 01:57 AM	#3
martinbo Fanatic Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Johannesburg Posts: 1,704 Thanks: 324 Thanked 531 Times in 269 Posts	Re: AWD Sedan shootout Interestingly, 250 HP and 250 lb-ft... Sometimes Subaru take this symmetrical thing a little too far

01-30-2006, 02:17 AM	#4
Just_me Executive Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 15,498 Thanks: 1,062 Thanked 3,722 Times in 1,583 Posts	Re: AWD Sedan shootout a swedish carmag drove the 325ix and the car won the comparison over cars like A4 2.0T, C230K, IS250,Legacy, saab 93 but they recommended to buy a RWD bimmer instead of a AWD bimmer.

01-30-2006, 02:58 AM	#5
Carbon Advocate Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 795 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: AWD Sedan shootout I think the numbers for the Subaru are the best that any publication has gotten on that car.

01-30-2006, 04:04 AM	#6
martinbo Fanatic Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Johannesburg Posts: 1,704 Thanks: 324 Thanked 531 Times in 269 Posts	Re: AWD Sedan shootout Yes, but remember (and this is one of the biggest in-house hurdles that Subaru needs to overcome) this is a US Spec 2.5 litre boxer turbo and not a 3.0 litre naturally aspirated six as in the Swedish test. Turbo Subarus will lay waste to naturally aspirated examples. Furthermore, in Oz and SA we're offered both the 2.0 litre twin-scroll turbo 2.0 GT (with 190 kW and 330 Nm) and the 3.0R Spec B with NA boxer six (with 180 kW and 297 Nm) at nigh identical pricing, sending a very mixed message to the consumer market. The US Spec B has 184 kW and 340 Nm if I remember rightly... The best figures 0-62 mph I've seen for a 2.0 GT is 5.9 secs, if I recall correctly, so this 5.1 second time to 60 mph is almost too impressive. That was one steep downhill methinks.

01-30-2006, 04:40 AM	#8
Tumbo Contributor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,067 Thanks: 827 Thanked 632 Times in 262 Posts	Re: AWD Sedan shootout Great article! Thanx! Damn, that Subaru is fast. And yet again, the Quattro is the way to go

01-30-2006, 05:10 AM	#10
Just_me Executive Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 15,498 Thanks: 1,062 Thanked 3,722 Times in 1,583 Posts	Re: AWD Sedan shootout Im curious about this MAzda 6speed. Seem to be a fast mazda. How many horsepowers in this car?

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