Audi A4

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.71 of 5, 7.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Audi/A4 3.2

Strengths:
Looks nice

Weaknesses:
Total lack of reliability.

Summary:
In past 6 weeks have had the following replaced: ignition coil after internal short in coils 2 and 3 cylinders low fuel pressure sender; exhaust valves; fuel injectors. Car has died and Roadside Assistance took hours. Customer Service totally unresponsive and Audi will not stand behind its product.

Similar Products Used:
BMW 3 series (drove them for years, over 100,000 miles)

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $39000.00 from Dallas, TX

Year / Model Reviewed:
2005 Audi A4 Quattro 3.0

Strengths:
All around excellent performance and a great driving experience. Beautiful car with great build quality. Balance of luxury and performance for a very reasonable price.

Weaknesses:
It's governed at 130 because of the stock tires. Fuel economy could be a bit better. I know, I know, slow down to 85 and I'll get better mileage.

Summary:
This car is simply a blast to drive. Steering is the most accurate and nimble I've ever experienced and has near perfect weight and feel. This thing communicates better than Dr. Phil. You can feel exactly where the wheels are going...right where you pointed them. Handles like it's on rails but doesn't thump your kidneys on rough roads. Engine has good power and throttle response. In drive, the transmission shows only a small amount of hesitation. In sport or manual shift mode there is even less. This is the most technologically advanced automatic I've ever driven. Drive will get you decent fuel mileage if you take it easy but will happily supply a racier package should you choose to apply more pressure with your right foot. Sport mode gets you that all the time. It stays high in the rev band in every gear. The Quattro system is the benchmark for all-wheel drive. Feel like doing 130 in a down pour? No problem. The only difference between that and dry pavement is having to turn on the wipers. The Electronic Stability Program is so non-invasive you have to be right on the ragged edge before you even notice it exists. The car is so solid and stable you don't need it until then. Like the twisties? This car handles them like a champ. Like to romp down the highway? This thing cruises like a dream. Oh yeah, the brakes are great too, but who cares, you won't ever want to use them. Fit and finish inside and out are superb. No cheap, cheesy materials here. The leather seats are immaculate and the wood trim is tasteful without being overstated. Ergonomics are very good and there is not a cubic inch of wasted space. Front seat room is more than ample (I'm 6'2") and is complemented by an 8-way adjustable driver's seat and tilt and telescoping wheel. Leg room in the rear is snug for an adult. The trunk is cavernous and still cargo space can be increased by the locking fold-down rear seats. The list of standard features is excellent and a great deal of optional features can be had in reasonably priced packages. Too many to list here, so just a few examples. The 4 driver memory settings include seat, mirror, and even dual-zone climate control. The HomeLink system eliminates the need for a separate garage door opener. Steering wheel audio controls, 6 disc in-dash CD changer, Bose surround sound, and available XM Satellite. The dash-mounted cup holder is further proof of the superiority of German engineering. Tap the front of it and it slides out of the console and expands like an Erector set. Slide it back in and it folds up like a contortionist and disappears. Obviously an afterthought installed to satisfy the needs of us silly Americans who so often forsake the real purpose of driving a car like this for a hot cup of over-priced coffee. Regardless, it would be useless to any self-respecting German. It's too small to hold a Bierstein. 4 wheel ABS, 8 airbags, built in child LATCH system, and a front sub-frame that collapses in a head-on so the engine doesn't come through the firewall. Yeah, it's a pretty safe car. All this makes me want to buy one...for myself. It's my wife's car.

Similar Products Used:
Drove a friend's BMW 330i. Performance is similar but the Bimmer cost him $12K more and still no all-wheel drive. Brakes were way too touchy and the steering didn't communicate as well. At even money the Audi would still be a better value. At $12K less it kicks Bavarian butt. Infiniti G35 sedan claims to be in the same class for less money. The less money part is true. Steering and handling aren't nearly as good as the Audi or BMW. It does have more power than either. The interior is slathered with cheap plastic.

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $25000.00 from Dealer

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 A4 1.8t Fronttrak

Strengths:
Good looks inside and out. Interior is typical Audi - well laid out, topnotch materials, handsom design. Solid German car feel. Roomy (for front passengers at least). Relatively good gas mileage but my new car with a V6 gets just as good mileage.

Weaknesses:
170hp and 166 lb ft of torque in a 3500lb car??? I found this car quite SLUGgish. Terribly underpowered even as a base engine in this day and age. A TL has 270hp STOCK, a G35 has 280hp STOCK which are more than the top of the line V6 at 220hp(excluding the S4) C'mon Audi, what are you thinking? That's the biggest weakness. Others are: unsupportive and uncomfortable bucket seats, xenons aren't up-to-par, maintenance/repair costs out of warranty, anticipated reliability, price adds very fast as options get added - not much value.

Summary:
Overall, this car car has many good things going for it. It has that solid German feel. It's one of the best looking sedans on the market in my opinion and in typical Audi fashion, the interior is topnotch - well designed with very rich feeling materials. It has a very taut suspension. It feels very planted to the road compared to the Japanese or American cars I've owned. You feel connected and controlled.

The 1.8t feels rather sluggish at 170hp. And this car is quite heavy. With other cars in its class easily outpowering it in base form, I find it odd that any luxury car company can offer a 170hp engine for a 3500lb + car. The engine is very tunable and that's easily fixed, but very underpowered out of the factory. The seats on this car were also not very supportive and not very comfortable for long road trips. I found myself squirming and repositioning myself many times after a couple hours of driving. The xenon lights, although much better than the halogens, are still a few notches below others in this class - ie Acura TSX/TL, BMW 3-series. They just didnt light up the road as well.

The anticipated reliability of this car remained one of the leading reasons I got rid of it early. Although I had very little problems with mine (one busted coilpack at less than 30k miles), the overly poor reviews Audi has received for their reliability issues once the miles started racking up, the rising gas prices ($3.30 for 91+ octane for 170hp?? when I can pay $2.99 for cheap generic gas for a 240hp car stock), the high maintenance/repair costs led me to purchase another car.

Perhaps when I have the extra cash to throw around to repair this car if/when it breaks then I may purchase another Audi. I do like their cars. They tend to be more of a dime a dozen compared to their arch nemesis, BMW which everyone and their mothers own.

Similar Products Used:
1996 Ford Explorer, 1998 Honda Prelude SH, 2004 Honda Accord Cpe V6 6MT, 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo, 2004 Subaru Impreza Sti, 2001 Nissan Maxima SE, 2002 Volkswagen Passat V6.

Price Paid:  $37000.00 from Mark Motors

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 A4 3.0 Quattro 6 speed

Strengths:
Beautiful design, looks like its worth its price inside out, but not too flashy, Quattro in Canadian weather/road conditions, air suspension with lot of clearance for deep snow, germain over engineering hand assembled on many areas, solid, stable, quiet inside, fiber optics lighting through-out, 6 speed & clutch, cruise control calibration, 10 speaker stereo with sub 6 cd and tape player, seating comfort on long trips. Go figure, a security system included, 10 year rust proof warranty to protect your investment.

Weaknesses:
speed limited to 210 kph, minor electronic glitches that self correct. ie sensitive windows and AC fan with mind of there own on couple occasions. Seats took a long time to breakin. Basic floor mats, show wear after a year. Coffee Cup holder above stereo/electronic console are they on drugs? Never use it for chance of costly repair bill! Only front cigarette socket for cooler broke in first year. From what used car sales people say about A4's is the air suspension is trouble in the future but I had no problems.

Summary:
From what I read posted, I got better luck then some with a trouble free car for 3 yrs, going for many more. Most people I have spoken too have good luck also. Price posted in US dollars with options.
It simply spoils me every time I get in. A+ for Fun to drive. A+ Steering accuracy. A- perfect weight 55/45 and balance. It is very stable where you point the car it goes no weaving, twisting on loose ground. When you slam the gas the backend seems to push a bit more than the front end pulling. Perhaps a 45/55 calibration on power but just amazing due to quattro and EBS. A+ Handling on rough road and loose or slippery roads. A- Engine is very linear power just a bit less smooth at hig revs but lots of 220hp and torque. A+ throttle response. My 6 speed is very nimble and sporty feels, somewhat short shifting, not quiet as nimble shifting as bmw but very close. A+ fuel mileage I get 7.9L/100km at 100km/60mph but prefer to drive quicker. Quattro system is the perfect efficient all-wheel drive, especially in Canadian weather. A+ Electronic Stability Computer is so hands off until you push near limits then you notice it hitting the brakes to stop the swinging. This car handles the twisty corners faster and better than any other including BMW. A+ cruise control best calibrated I have every seen. Never abrupt excelleration. A-Brakes a little more effort required to stop slowly but quick stops sucked my eyes out. A+ Absolute perfect fit and finish inside out. No plasticy, thin, cheap, cheesy materials. A. Leather seats are very good, a little hot in the summer. I have black on black. A+ perfect wood trim. C- cup holder over stereo. What is that? A+ Ergonomics and no wasted cabint space. A+ Front seat 12 way ajustable power & room. A- back seat leg room if fronts seats pushed too far back. A+ Back seat comfort with big solid arm rest with first aid kit. 5'2" Wife says the back seats may be even more comfortable than the front. B+ trunk space but bigger than many in class and more space if locking fold-down rear seats opened. A+ Too many standard features and reasonably priced packages. A+ 4 driver memory settings includes seat, mirror and even dual-zone climate control. A+ programming 3 button HomeLink. B+ Steering wheel audio controls only avail on 4 spoke wheel. A+ Built in child LATCH system for quick car seat installation for our 3 year old. A+ safety features through out. Sales people were helpful, willing to drop price 5.6% off in-stock msrp and great fun. Trained and willing to show me what this car could do partly off-road, I would not try with mine.:-)
I don't know if I like the new big grills on the 2006's and up but the car is a work of art.

Similar Products Used:
Tested and drove the Acura 3.5 TL 2004 plasticy & front wheel drive only not flexible in price? Infiniti G35 2004 plasticy and cheap looking inside try it in deep snow-no go, BMW 330 2004 nice but sales staff full of themslves, not flexible in price & 16k more to match options and only 5 yr rust proof warranty when audi was 10 yrs in 2004, BMW 320 in-laws nice but not enough power and BMW symbol corroded after a couple of years?, BMW 323 touchy brakes and cold apearance inside not warm like the A4, Mazda 6 cheap and fun not the same class, buy the extended warranty.

Price Paid:  $34382.00 from day audi monroeville

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 A4 1.8 ltr. quattro

Strengths:
looks good

Weaknesses:
they should let consumers know that these cars only last 50,000 miles

Summary:
The car was great until the warrenty ran out, it has been a nightmare since, we have had constant contact with Audi for the past 2 years and have not had great satisfaction, would not recommend or purchase another audi based on this experience.
The car isn't even 4 years old and we have had to replace the engine, ac compressor, winshield washer motor, winsheild wiper motor, as well as many hoses that should have been replaced with the engine, audi did investigate this and we were credited with some of the expence.
White Allen Audi, Dayton OH did the engine replacement, would not recommend them at all, they made many mistakes and have caused a lot of grief.

Similar Products Used:
buick, vw, chevy, chrysler, ford, pontiac, another Audi for a short time (having the Audi in Europe convinced us to purchase this one)