Drove an A4 TDI Wagon in Germany and France for a few days earlier this month, what a rad car. Really wish I could get a Sportwagen or alltrack with one.
Regardless, the alltrack is on my list to replace the Forester. Would love to hear your opinion on it.
so far:
Engine: Not as much torque as the TDI, so no extreme push you back in your seat, but this motor is a LOT smoother than the TDI. I hardly know the car is even on. The turbo does a number here too, and it hits lower than on the GTI but not as low as the TDI. The motor doesn't run out of breath up top either. The DSG keeps it in the sweet spot and you'd hardly know it had shifted most of the time. Give it full throttle at a stop light and you'll hear a single chirp from the front? rear? I can't tell but the thing just takes off. It reminds me of the acceleration of the first gen WRX I owned. It takes 87 octane, too. The motor has a lot of room for more power. APR makes software that is pretty impressive without any mods: 223 HP 87 octane 238 HP 91 octane 242 HP 93 octane
that's crazy!
Interior: A step up from the old sportwagen provided you got the SEL. If you got the SE or S, I thought the seats were a downgrade, but I had the SEL in the old one too. I like the dash less (the silver plastic or gray on SEL and fake carbon fiber on the door sills) but I like all the other interior materials more. IT's also a lot quieter than the outgoing jetta sportwagen. The sunroof shade is more shaded, the side mirrors make less noise, and the sound system is a lot better (with fender premium audio on my SEL) The steering wheel is D shaped like the GTI, and you can get adjustable lumbar support which is nice.
Exterior: Better headlights, the fender flares actually look right, they did some chris bangle style edges on the car but it looks nice and has a continuous theme. they have a weird window where the mirrors on the door used to be (Audi found putting side mirrors on the door rather than on the A pillar was significantly quieter on the A4) There's a lot more audi similarities than VW. The paint is better than subaru by far (subaru paint is garbage.) the wheel options are nice, I got the 18 in SEL wheels. The logo on the trunk conceals the backup camera when not in use. Body panels all line up better than a comparable japanese car (im looking at you, subaru and honda). It's a good looking car. It took a second for me to put it all together in my head as to what is different.
overall: I love subaru cars, and their engines, but the forester didn't do it for me, and the CVT reliability is suspect, and the engine series is new, so it will have problems (I talked to a wrx owner, same motor, with the CVT who had already gotten a new engine under warranty within the first year) whereas the 1.8TSI is a derivative of the same motors in every VW and Audi product, doesn't have the oil consumption issues of the GTI 2.0 (but you're a motorcyclist. just add oil. we know this) and has good performance very little vibration and decent economy if you can keep off the throttle (but why the hell would you, the turbo motor is too fun to drive!)
that's my one week review of owning the alltrack? :ride
