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Audi A4 2004 and earlier

6042 messages,  Last post on Sep 20, 2011 at 4:33 PM

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What is this discussion about? Audi A4, Sedan

Messages Page 333 of 605

#3321 of 6042 Audi - A Great Deal Today by jagboyxkr

Feb 25, 2002 (4:19 pm)

     As many of you know, the Audis currently available today come with everything and sometimes more than their BMW rivals but for thousands less in price. BMW only gets away with their high prices because people are willing to pay for them and their name, where as Audi did not have BMW's name in the past (in fact it had a down-right bad reputation a decade ago in the U.S.). Audi is just recently becoming popular again with the introduction of the first A4 in 1996, but the Bimmer hype is not quite over yet, so Audi has to do something to beat the competition and their strategy is a lower price and very high (if not better) quality in their products.
 
     The thing to do is buy an Audi now, when the prices are still better than those of BMW and other competing companies, and then allow Audi's name to achieve the status of its rivals. That way, you win both ways. You get a very fine car that you can be happy with, and then its "status" in the automotive world slowly moves up as Volkswagen becomes a luxury brand and Audi becomes a high-end luxury/sport division. To me, you really cannot lose in this situation.

#3322 of 6042 VW just following Toyota? by dej0

Feb 26, 2002 (8:10 am)

Hey Gang,
   I agree that I think it is kind of crazy for VW to offer $40+ cars. It seems to me they are following the Toyota model. You can buy an Echo for $10k or a Land Cruiser for $50k with a nav system. My local Toyota dealer was pretty low key when I went in, but the VW dealer was very aggressive. Maybe they will learn. Toyota did push most of their lux cars into the Lexus mark, just as VW seems to be with Audi. I do think it is weird for VW to keep the $70k and $40k vehicles under their own badging. But if Toyota can keep their expensive SUV's under their own badging, maybe VW will be succesful too.
    Saw the picts of the A4 convertible on the Audi World site (www.audiworld.com). Really made me wish I had waited a while before ordering my new A4. Still, in four years when my 2 year old is really ready to ride in the back of a convertible might be more realistic. I think I still have one more month before the new car gets here.

#3323 of 6042 Gas Gauge Fixed by nyccarguy

Feb 26, 2002 (8:35 am)

So the saga has ended. The dealership replaced the entire instrument cluster (again) and my friend's Amulet Red '02 3.0Q 6-Speed is as good as new. Everytime he's in the car he says how much he loves it, the ride, the handling, the smoothness of the engine. For those of you shopping, if the dealer you're at has an Amulet Red car with a Sports Package on the lot, its worth a look. Beautiful!

#3324 of 6042 jagboyxkr by nyccarguy

Feb 26, 2002 (8:45 am)

I don't want to start an Audi vs. BMW argument here by any means, but people do not buy BMWs just for the name. BMWs and Audis each have wonderful qualities as automobiles for the badge snob as well as the performance guru. Audis are less expensive because they can charge less for their cars and still maintain a good profit. Audi/VW employs the wonderful technology of platform sharing which greatly reduces their cost. Audi/VW is the industry leader in this field.

#3325 of 6042 While my A6 is in the shop today. . . by markcincinnati

Feb 27, 2002 (11:38 am)

My Audi dealer has given me a 2002 A4 1.8T quattro with sport pkg, upgraded sound system (the Bose audio pckg) as well as some other things I can't remember now -- it has a tiptronic.
 
I love everything about this car -- except the transmission. This car has 3K miles on it, rides and handles great, heated seats here in cold Cincinnati today are fabulous. The D or S position on the shifter do not provide satisfactory results -- either the engine races (S) or lugs (D) -- the shifting itself is smooth and I presume efficient -- the car seems to have been emasculated (or efemulated?) though -- and I have to believe it is the transmission since I have driven an A4 before but with the 6spd.
 
I love this car, though in EVERY other way -- the ride is very firm AND very comfortable.

#3326 of 6042 Mark by a4_4vince

Feb 27, 2002 (5:20 pm)

It's good to hear that you get an Audi loaner for your A6 maintainence. My dealer doesn't provide Audi loaner. Instead, they have pick up services to and from my work place.
 
I have 2100 miles on my 2002 A4 already and it's still going strong and flawless.
 
vince...8o)

#3327 of 6042 Loaners by scirocco22

Feb 27, 2002 (6:29 pm)

*tsk* ...my dealer gives out Grand Cherokees as service loaners *groans* as they are also a Jeep dealer. Not as bad as it could be but I'd sure rather have an A6 when getting serviced --better than nothing, though.
 
Vince-- I've been told that AoA will reimburse the dealer for a loaner if warranty work is done that requires the car to be kept overnight. So if you ever have to have warranty work done, be sure to inquire about that. Also, those dealers that do not have a free service loaner program usually have rental fleets which allow them to rent you a car at corporate (or reduced) rates while your car is being serviced.
 
--'rocco

#3328 of 6042 Your opinions wanted! by kirstie_h HOST

Feb 27, 2002 (6:32 pm)

We are looking for lawyers (any age, sex, kind of car) who are car nuts.
 
Please respond by March 9 to lorduskyaol.com
 
kirstie_h
Roving Host
Edmunds.com

#3329 of 6042 Rental by markcincinnati

Feb 28, 2002 (7:38 am)

I always sign a rental agreement with the dealer -- but the rate is specified as $0.00 -- I have to buy gas and they photocopy my insurance coverage card.
 
The A4 I had seemed to be held back by the transmission, I was able to put 64 miles on it and tried the tip, the D the S -- I have recently driven both my wifes TT and a 2001 A4 1.8T with manual and they were great.
 
A couple of visits ago the loaner was an S4 w/tip -- it seemed fine engine/transmission match wise, tho. But I still like the manual better. Perhaps the "flaws" IMO are reduced or virtually eliminated with horsepower and torque, like in the S4 or my 4.2 A6.
 
I checked the dealer's lot while wating for some paperwork, and there were NO A6's or allroads and no A4 3.0's (at that moment) with manual transmissions. And, I must assume that most of the inventory was NOT for customers but for "stock" -- which is at once refreshing and kinda like watching "an old friend die." Sorry to be so dramatic, but if you have ever seriously driven virtually any of the Audi's in this country over the past 5 - 10 years with a stick shift, you really get hooked on them.

#3330 of 6042 loaners by nyccarguy

Feb 28, 2002 (7:40 am)

My friend with the '02 A4 who had his gas gague problem sloved has had the pleasure (or displeasure because he'd rather be in his own car) of sampling numerous Audis that hid dealer has as loaners (My guess id they're lease returns that the delaership can't get rid) including: An '02 A6 3.0Q, A '99 A6 2.8 Front Trak, A '99 or '00 A4 1.8T Q, A '97 A6 2.8Q, & A '96 A6 2.8 Front Trak. The dealership where he bought and services his car also has 2 S4s and 2 TTs in their loaner fleet (He has yet to get one of those). He said the '99 A6 2.8 Front Trak "felt" quicker than the '02 A6 3.0Q. The '97 A6 is loaded to the gills and drives much smoother than the '96 with Front Trak. He really liked the way the older A4 1.8T drove, even though it had the Tiptronic and base suspension. His A4 3.0 has a 6 speed & SP (among other things).

Messages Page 333 of 605

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