Ask the Car People.SM


Audi A4 2005+

1366 messages,  Last post on Mar 10, 2011 at 1:05 PM

You are in the Audi A4 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Audi A4, Sedan

Messages Page 84 of 137

#831 of 1366 Audi by max19

Jun 30, 2005 (5:10 pm)

I don't know where to start. I bought my A4 1.8T back in October 2004 So that makes it an 2005 with the sport package. Three weeks after the purchase the serpentine belt broke (air conditioner out, power steering out, ETC.) 2 weeks out in the repair shop. 3 months after that, the left tail light went off (the car even let you know about it...) , and as recently as last week, the airbag sign came on. An extra 3 days in the repair shop.
 
I am sorry for Audi lovers and the prestige that comes with the car but the real point is that the car has more rattles inside that I have ever imagined. I was crazy about buying this car, but it is really a total fiasco.
 
A friend of mine who bought a 330i says that bmw stands for brake my wallet. I cannot understand if they take so much prestige in the car, how could it reaaly be a wreck?
 
I had a 2002 Nissan Maxima that I bought in Ocotber of 2001 and beleive me, the car gave me absolutely no problems. My next purchase is going to be a Holden Monaro, I mean a Pontiac GTO. Same price and about 280 HP more. As I call it, the poor man's M6.
 
Previuosly, I had a Volkswagen Jetta 2000 1.8t and it was fully of noises by the time I turned it in as a trade in for the Maxima.
 
Goodbye europeans, hello Australia/America.

#832 of 1366 2006 A4 or G35 Coupe by craigp1

Jul 05, 2005 (6:36 pm)

I have a 2006 A4 2.0T quattro on order (premium, sport suspension, sunroof packages - S-Line at 3K seemed rediculous), but recently drove the 2005 G35 coupe. What a beautiful machine. Anyone else ever compare these two cars? I know their different, but they are basically the same price. While the G35 coupe has the style and horsepower, the A4 is more practical with respect to winter driving. The rear seat in the G35 is surprisingly roomy considering the style of the car.
 
My heart likes the G35, but my brain says stick with the Audi.

#833 of 1366 Re: 2006 A4 or G35 Coupe [craigp1] by tremaine

Jul 06, 2005 (9:46 pm)

Replying to: craigp1 (Jul 05, 2005 6:36 pm)
I looked at the G35 and did not care for the interior much. However, the big kickers were the gas mileage and the service. Service included with the A4 was huge and living in the SF bay area so was the big difference in the MPG. I also preferred the Quattro and the nice safety rating the A4 got. I still really like the G35 and I think it has many excellent features, but practicality pushed me to Audi.

#834 of 1366 Re: 2006 A4 or G35 Coupe [tremaine] by socala4

Jul 07, 2005 (2:23 am)

Replying to: tremaine (Jul 06, 2005 9:46 pm)
I purchased an A4 2.0T "Frontrak" (not Quattro) after comparing it to the G35 sedan, BMW 325i sedan (outgoing 2005 model), Acura TSX, Acura TL, and Volvo S40 T5. (I did not consider coupes because I require a useable back seat for business.)
 
I may provide a more detailed comparison/ review later, but my basic thoughts on the G35 sedan (again, not the coupe):
 
-Pros: Nice powerful motor (one of the nicest V6's available), exterior styling (personal taste, I know, but I happen to like it), reliable drivetrain. (I did not compare, but I would bet that the Infiniti automatic transmission is superior to the Audi CVT.) Also, for those of us in warmer climes, rear-wheel drive offers a performance advantage that even the best FWD can't match.
 
-Cons: Brake rotors have been a significant problem area, at least on the 2003-4 model years (not sure if this has been completely resolved, I believe that the 05's might have improved somewhat), interiors are not durable or attractive for a car in this price range, depreciation is notably bad (at least in my market). Also: poor fuel economy (although perhaps not unreasonable, considering the power output), finding one with a manual transmission is nearly impossible (I wanted an MT, so this was an issue), lack of maintenance package that is available with European makes. Also, with comparable equipment, the G35 would have cost slightly more (although it does have a larger motor, so an even comparison isn't quite fair.)
 
Also, the G35 will be replaced in 2007, so you may be in for a further hit to values. In contrast, I would guess that the Audi makeover in 2008 will be less drastic (in German fashion) and therefore less disadvantageous to residuals.
 
I hesitate to report on a car that I have owned for only five weeks and 1,700 miles, but so far, the A4 experience has been excellent. After a proper break-in, the motor is tractable, the manual transmission is almost Honda-smooth (the benchmark for manual transmissions, IMO), and the build quality all around seems to be solid, with the interior being a high point. Ergonomics are very good (better than the comparable BMW), and the performance is quite good, with no discernable turbo lag if you work the gearbox properly. (Judging from the comments on an Audi owner's forum, the MT is notably superior to the CVT for performance and drivability.)
 
Passengers uniformly love the car (comfortable leather seats, both front and back, and the design is quite easy on the eyes), the seats are excellent and easily adjustable. I also manage to beat the EPA mileage ratings: at a 72 mph highway cruise, I can get 35 mpg. And I'll be damned if the thing doesn't look great! (The sports package helps, thanks to 45-series tires, nice five-spoke wheels and the car being lowered by 8/10ths of an inch, a subtle improvement.)
 
But being a German car, I will be watchful of reliability, despite Consumer Report's positive comments. Also, I don't believe that the standard included free maintenance schedule is sufficient (oil changes every 10k miles after the initial 5k change?), so I will be paying for extra work, despite the service agreement.
 
The latest issue of Road & Track reviews the A4 2.0T quattro 6MT, and compares it to the Volvo S40 T5 AWD. Except for the motor, the Audi won in all categories, although the Volvo performed well and was considered to be a bit better bang for the buck. The article is worth a read if you are in the market.
 
Hope that helps.

#835 of 1366 Re: 2006 A4 or G35 Coupe [tremaine] by wco81

Jul 07, 2005 (6:57 am)

Replying to: tremaine (Jul 06, 2005 9:46 pm)
I test drove an A3. Asked about the free service. As far as I can tell, we're only talking about 4 oil changes (interval is 10k miles) and there's no loaner cars for oil changes. There is no tune up or brake service within the 4/50k interval.
 
So really, I really question the value of the free scheduled maintenance on Audis and BMWs. The big-ticket scheduled maintenace is going to come after, for things like tuneups and brake service, and other things like replacing gaskets, various pumps, belts, etc.
 
I'm really drawn to the German cars but wonder about purchasing and keeping them after the warranty period because of repair costs. I can find shops which specialize on Japanese makes like Lexus and Acura, which can do all the work the dealers can but at much lower prices. Not sure there are similar shops for the German makes. They may be cheaper than dealers but still much higher.

#836 of 1366 A4 service package by socala4

Jul 07, 2005 (10:12 pm)

Replying to: wco81 (Jul 07, 2005 6:57 am)
To be fair, the maintenance package includes more than just oil changes: along with the obligatory inspections, lubrication and adjustments, it does include fluid changes to the CVT, brake fluid replacement, A/C filter replacement, and a spark plug replacement at 35,000 miles** (**I think -- the warranty booklet is unclear whether this applies to the new 2.0L and 3.2L engines.)
 
The warranty component will provide one clutch replacement if needed prior to 2 yrs/ 25k miles, and one set of brake pads if needed. It will also include one set of wiper blades if needed prior to 1yr/ 12k miles. It does not cover tires
 
So the service package includes the usual stuff. Newer cars have much longer maintenance intervals than cars from even 5-10 years ago, so none of this is much of a surprise.
 
I happen to take issue with the oil change intervals, because of the importance of clean oil to an engine's longevity, particularly with turbochargers in the case of the 2.0 liter. Because it requires a bit of 6 quarts of synthetic and has a cartridge filter, these oil changes will need to be performed by a dealer, specialty shop or a home mechanic with a specialty filter tool, which promises to make them a bit more than a $25 job.
 
Also, the cooling system is sealed, and Audi claims that the coolant should never be changed. I'm wary of this, but I don't know whether opening the system for a cleaning would do more harm than good, and I imagine that attempting to do so during the first four years would cause potential issues with the warranty.

#837 of 1366 Re: A4 service package [socala4] by wco81

Jul 08, 2005 (8:09 pm)

Replying to: socala4 (Jul 07, 2005 10:12 pm)
Well if there is all that done, the guy didn't sell it well. He mentioned oil changes and checks and tire rotation done at the same time.
 
If they're changing spark plugs, why wouldn't they just do a full tune up?
 
He specifically said no brake job but it sounds like BMW covers a brake job.
 
Yeah finding a specialty shop would be nice. There are plenty of which cater to Japanese makes for reasonable prices around here. I'm sure there are some for the German makes but I'm guessing they are costly, especially if you're talking about synthetic oil. Lexus does $100 oil changes but I'm not even sure they use synthetic oil.

#838 of 1366 Re: A4 service package [wco81] by socala4

Jul 09, 2005 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: wco81 (Jul 08, 2005 8:09 pm)
The concept of the tune-up and the need for them are different from what they once were. With electronic management systems, not as many adjustments are required, and plugs supposedly last longer. For example, Acura claims that the TL and TSX will not require a tune-up for 105k and 110k miles, respectively.
 
Still, I'm a big believer in more frequent filter and fluid changes (although I might be persuaded about the coolant if it can be shown to me that the sealed system is inherently more efficient than what they once were.) Fluids break down and filters pick up dirt, so I can't see how leaving them in for extended periods can possibly be good for an engine.

#839 of 1366 Re: A4 service package [socala4] by markcincinnati

Jul 10, 2005 (7:25 am)

Replying to: socala4 (Jul 09, 2005 12:24 pm)
But during the warranty period, things will be fine. That, I think, is the point of the extended service intervals.
 
My wife's BMW on a 36 month 45K miles lease gets 3 visits for oil 1 every 15K -- that's nuts, if you ask me.
 
No one asked me.
 
"I'm glad you axe me that question. . . ."

#840 of 1366 Re: A4 service package [markcincinnati] by rjlaero

Jul 11, 2005 (6:27 am)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Jul 10, 2005 7:25 am)
15k between oil changes is ridiculous. 10k is stretching it, even on synthetic oil.
 
I don't think you should wait longer than 7,500 miles for an oil change using sythentic, and 4-5k on regular oil.
 
But if you're leasing a car and turning it back in before your warranty is over, I guess it's not your problem.

Messages Page 84 of 137

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement