My Audi allroad
- Thread starter G0to60
- Start date
G0to60
Observer
So I really haven't done anything build wise but I did do the first southern leg of the WABDR in the allroad. The Audi took everything in stride and it was a great trip. Here's a couple of shots from last weekend (I put a post in completed expeditions for the full monty).
I have a feeling that I'll need to wait until winter time to get anything done on my car. The summer just fills up too fast with stuff to do.
I have a feeling that I'll need to wait until winter time to get anything done on my car. The summer just fills up too fast with stuff to do.
I like this. I've gone to MANY unexpected places and rough, rough roads in my B5 Passat Wagon, very similar in fundamental design. With the 1.8 and manual trans that car still pulls 27 mpgs on combined cycle driving running a 91 octane APR tune. I still daily drive it with over 250k on the clock...runs like a top, tough as nails. Reminds me of the old Mercedes and Volvos in terms of long term durability. Maintain yourself and get to know it. VAG built some VERY good products in the late 90s, early 2000s. My passat was extremely easy to work on with a little research.
I heavily contemplated an Allroad but fuel economy bothered me so I grabbed a salvaged XC70 that I've been working on instead. I still lust over the Allroad because a manual trans was available and the Volvo just doesn't have that German car, fun to drive factor...feels kind of like a European Buick. Transitioning to an automatic has been the most difficult thing for me. Now I'm getting ready to install a 2" lift which will put its clearance above most stock SUVs and almost all stock crossovers. I love the car based platforms...only thing I ever really worry about is underside protection for the aluminum oilpans and no low range. The first can be fixed...the later is just a fact of life.
Keep the project up. With added power, AWD and the ground clearance over my B5 I know that car will get you places and be a joy to drive
I heavily contemplated an Allroad but fuel economy bothered me so I grabbed a salvaged XC70 that I've been working on instead. I still lust over the Allroad because a manual trans was available and the Volvo just doesn't have that German car, fun to drive factor...feels kind of like a European Buick. Transitioning to an automatic has been the most difficult thing for me. Now I'm getting ready to install a 2" lift which will put its clearance above most stock SUVs and almost all stock crossovers. I love the car based platforms...only thing I ever really worry about is underside protection for the aluminum oilpans and no low range. The first can be fixed...the later is just a fact of life.
Keep the project up. With added power, AWD and the ground clearance over my B5 I know that car will get you places and be a joy to drive
G0to60
Observer
The XC70 was on our short list of cars to get when we were car shopping (Subaru Baja, XC70, allroad) but two things kept us from it. One was it was kind of tough to find one in decent shape or not over priced and the Audi just spoiled us once we drove it. I admit I'm not a fan of the auto but I have three other cars that have a manual so when I get the itch I can just go there. The Volvo had, by far, the most comfortable seats of just about any car I've sat in. Very nice.
In my search for off road stuff for wagons I came across the website http://badswede.com/ and chatted with him a bit. While he didn't have anything for my Audi he does have a pretty tricked out Volvo and makes parts for them as well.
I'd love to see your Volvo and how it turns out. There's just something about off road wagons that I love.
In my search for off road stuff for wagons I came across the website http://badswede.com/ and chatted with him a bit. While he didn't have anything for my Audi he does have a pretty tricked out Volvo and makes parts for them as well.
I'd love to see your Volvo and how it turns out. There's just something about off road wagons that I love.
The springs I got are the Bad Swede kit. Unfortunately I'm in the process of buying and soon to be remodeling the house I live in so my garage time has been too limited to get them installed. The car is full stock right now and I've taken a few good solo trips in it thus far but my GF and I have 3 dogs between us so recent trips have been in my AWD Astro for space and carefree abuse (of the vehicle, that is). The Volvo is still my "nice" car for now and Yes, I love the seats.
Based on my experience in the Astro with nothing but a 2" lift, good shocks and A/T tires (Cooper Discoverer AT3)...the tires are the most important bit. My van is frequently overloaded but with slow careful driving it handles tough some tough UT roads. This last weekend I had it to the top Wildhorse Canyon in ID, moderately rough road. On the way down I actually caught up to a Sportsmobile and Vanagon Syncro Westy and I wasn't pushing those tires at all. I'll be putting the same Discoverers or BFG ATs on the XC when the tires on it wear out. It currently wears Pirelli Scopions which are actually pretty beefy for their size but have a very road oriented tread. Not a bad option for a tire but pricey.
Most of the rough roads I did in my Passat were on Nokian WRG2s, a great year round tire for the PNW (was living in OR for 4 years). For a stock size tire it was extremely durable. If you ever replace the air system on the all road, I think many do. Consider Bilstein HD shocks. Pricey, but that is what I use in the Passat. Make road driving even better and handle big loads well. I currently have one rear needing warranty replacement (leaking) but I've put over 100k very demanding miles on them and prior to the one leak they drove good as new.
Based on my experience in the Astro with nothing but a 2" lift, good shocks and A/T tires (Cooper Discoverer AT3)...the tires are the most important bit. My van is frequently overloaded but with slow careful driving it handles tough some tough UT roads. This last weekend I had it to the top Wildhorse Canyon in ID, moderately rough road. On the way down I actually caught up to a Sportsmobile and Vanagon Syncro Westy and I wasn't pushing those tires at all. I'll be putting the same Discoverers or BFG ATs on the XC when the tires on it wear out. It currently wears Pirelli Scopions which are actually pretty beefy for their size but have a very road oriented tread. Not a bad option for a tire but pricey.
Most of the rough roads I did in my Passat were on Nokian WRG2s, a great year round tire for the PNW (was living in OR for 4 years). For a stock size tire it was extremely durable. If you ever replace the air system on the all road, I think many do. Consider Bilstein HD shocks. Pricey, but that is what I use in the Passat. Make road driving even better and handle big loads well. I currently have one rear needing warranty replacement (leaking) but I've put over 100k very demanding miles on them and prior to the one leak they drove good as new.
Last edited:
WagoneerSX4
Adventurer
My parents have a Volvo xc70 and while its been reliable (with me maintaining it) it's garbage. We went through an angle gear for the AWD while it was still under warranty, and it's now gone through a second one less than 30,000km later. I just removed the driveshaft for them so it's just FWD since they rarely need it. Not a huge loss since the AWD was adequate at best. The automatic tranny is jumpy in 1st gear and very hard to drive smoothly. The 2.5T with the 5spd auto is a great engine for towing but it basically has a powerband of a diesel. And the suspension is terrible. Volvo is the new Buick. I just really don't enjoy driving that car like I enjoyed driving my 850R or 740 turbo or even my 245. The highway mileage is fantastic though, tou can eat up the miles in that car at sn incredible rate. The seats just compliment that fact. But Volvo is no longer Volvo in my mind. For how cheap you can pick up a newer XC90 (stay away from the T6's) it'd be a no brainer to pick up a XC90 with the Yamaha V8 if you don't mind using a little more fuel. I think it's even more fun to drive, even with the 2.5T engine.
psykokid
Explorer
I wanted an allroad when i was shopping for wagons when my son was born 9 years ago but they were all out of my price range. What i ended up settling for was a B5 4-motion wagon, which is basically just the A6 quattro drivetrain under a VW body shell. We took that car up plenty of roads in northern california where we had no business taking it. With stock suspension and very careful line choosing we made it through relatively unscathed, with the occasional bottoming of the subframes on a rock or something. Never got stuck though
Wagoneer. To an extent I agree with what you say. Trans and angle gear are definite weak points for the xcs, especially the trans in the xc90 t6. The 2.5 low pressure motor is like a tractor engine compared to the VW. I'm thinking for my uses that's fine and certainly highway is where the vast majority of driving occurs. It will never be a true 4x4. I drove at least 20 XCs before settling on the one I bought...many were abused and needed maintenance. I mostly do my own mechanics work and one thing that tipped me into the camp is the relative simplicity of the main driveline/suspension. Since it was salvage I've basically torn apart and rebuilt the entire front end to inspect the repair work. With the help of a good local indie mech for computerized bits it has been quite easy to work on...knock on wood. In any case for pounding pavement and forest roads I sure do like it thus far.
I think maintenance and knowing weak points is key for any of these vehicles. They definitely are not trucks but they'll eat the pavement and handle some moderately rough roads with a clean line.
I think maintenance and knowing weak points is key for any of these vehicles. They definitely are not trucks but they'll eat the pavement and handle some moderately rough roads with a clean line.
Montana Cruiser
Adventurer
How's the Allroad treating you? I'm adding a one owner, dealer maintained 01' 2.7T with the 6 speed to our family today! Very excited!
G0to60
Observer
I completely forgot I had this thread up. The allroad has been pretty good. I'm up to 245k miles on the original auto trans BUT I had to replace the engine because of a skipped timing belt. This was totally my fault as I forgot to put locktite on one of the pulley bolts when I replaced the timing belt.
Other than that it's been small things. A coil pack here, a valve cover gasket there. I'm getting a clunk for the PS front suspension so it's likely due for some new control arms.
I have been using it more as a camping rig this year now that we have a RTT (originally bought for my wife's Jeep). Here's some pics I've taken this past year.
