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Audi A4 2005+

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

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What is this discussion about? Audi A4, Sedan

Messages Page 90 of 137

#888 of 1366 Re: Do NOT buy Audi [javan69] by nwalbert

Aug 24, 2005 (4:50 am)

Replying to: javan69 (Aug 17, 2005 6:16 pm)
1. 800 miles mean nothing.
 
2. It has nothing to do with what gets shipped where. If you look at Audi's reliability, it is horrible everywhere, it's a fact. Hopefully they have improved and yours will be a great car. I currently own a 2001 A4, and looked at getting the new one, but in the end though I don't want to take the chance so I spent a little extra and got the Bimmer. For me, I can no longer justify owning a /VW/Audi until they prove they have fixed their problems.

#889 of 1366 Re: Do NOT buy Audi [nwalbert] by markcincinnati

Aug 24, 2005 (8:16 am)

Replying to: nwalbert (Aug 24, 2005 4:50 am)
I now have in my garage: 1 2003 Audi TT, 1 2005 Audi A6 3.2 and 1 2005 BMW X3.
 
Depending on my mood, my favorite is either of the 2005's.
 
With over two dozen Audis (between my wife, my company and me) since 1977, I have had some experience with Audi reliability. Our Audis have been very reliable -- one, one time, right after we bought it (a 1993 Audi 90 sport quattro, as I recall) had a DOA engine -- Audi took care of us and our only small issue was the moment at which it died.
 
Recently, the statistics -- availble on the WWW -- indicate that Audi, BMW and Mercedes have reliability statistics below some Japanese makes. However, the Audi -- at this snapshot in time -- is THE reliable German, NOT BMW and certainly NOT Mercedes.
 
This may change, probably will -- but going to BMW for reliability (at this time) was moving to a less reliable marquis, not the other way around.
 
Now in the past 30 years, we have had, including the one in our garage at this moment 2 BMW's (a 1988 325ix and the X3). The '88 had a premature dead battery and had brake pads and oil changes at the same intervals. The X3 at 5,000 miles is, thus far, flawless -- but so are the two Audis mentioned above.
 
The dealership can make all the difference too. Now, however, notwithstanding -- Audi dealers have a bad (not bum) rap (or bad REP, better said) against them, and from what I can tell, it is well-earned. BMW dealers somehow have managed to be "the good guys" -- but I do think Audi dealers have improved (but when you're in the basement, there's only two ways to go: sideways and up.)
 
The Audi products have, statistically, improved while the same has not been true of the other Germans.
 
Wait a moment. . . .
 
The shoe will soon be on the other foot, perhaps.

#890 of 1366 Re: Do NOT buy Audi [nwalbert] by byronwalter

Aug 24, 2005 (10:15 am)

Replying to: nwalbert (Aug 24, 2005 4:50 am)
I'm about to pick up my third Audi. My current '02 A4 Avant has been terrible. One bulb in the rear plate holder blew. Luckily I was still able to drive the car. Seriously, my '02 has been the most reliable car that I have owned (usual mix of Hondas, Acuras, Nissans). However I would rate my previous '99 A4 as only average. I went with another A4 after the '99 because I do like my dealer... a very important part of the equation.
 
Byron

#891 of 1366 Re: Do NOT buy Audi [byronwalter] by markcincinnati

Aug 24, 2005 (5:02 pm)

Replying to: byronwalter (Aug 24, 2005 10:15 am)
The blown bulb has been a well documented problem and one would think would be a cause for Audi to withdraw completely from the US market.
 
I have also had several flat tires and am fed up with Audis selection of them furin' tires -- oh wait, I had Goodyear's on the last one.
 
Well, the phone cradle on my wife's TT broke off its mount and it took two whole days to order the part -- I was verklempt.
 
That blown bulb will be the cause of my leaving Audi for sure.

#892 of 1366 Re: Do NOT buy Audi [markcincinnati] by byronwalter

Aug 25, 2005 (4:42 am)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 24, 2005 5:02 pm)
And the bulb replacement requires a special tool to disassemble certain components. I was hoping that I could learn how this is accomplished but the mechanic had a very thick accent and would only mutter under his breath...
 
...hope your experience with your present Audis goes well. I'm picking up my A4 in a couple of days
 
Byron

#893 of 1366 Re: Do NOT buy Audi [byronwalter] by markcincinnati

Aug 25, 2005 (7:33 am)

Replying to: byronwalter (Aug 25, 2005 4:42 am)
Seriously, our 27 Audis and even our 2 BMW's have been pretty much trouble free.
 
The brake rotor problem in the 2000 and 2001 models are the only major issues we have ever had and I should add the brakes worked, they just warped the rotors every couple thousand miles (Audi ponied up 9 sets at no charge until they finally found a vendor that got it right.)
 
Those problems and some key fob battery problems (which were primarily annoying) have been the sum and substance of our Audi experiences.
 
You may have a terrible experience -- my bet would be that you will have a delightful experience (but the DEALER more than anything will make or break the experience.)
 
I must confess to having taken a liking to my wife's BMW X3 and the treatment at the BMW store in Cincinnati. But this is NOT meant to damn with faint praise my Audi dealer, here in River City -- The Audi Connection.
 
Audi has had spotty dealer issues and in the past couple of years have made great strides in righting some wrongs in this regard.
 
Audis are great to drive -- this alone would not mitigate completely a crummy ownership experience, but at the end of the day I would take the Audi driving experience and a wee bit of other issues over the Bland Boring Experience that some folks relate -- but with "perfection" with respect to reliability.
 
Actually, I want both a fun to drive car and reliability -- Audi is pretty good at this.

#894 of 1366 Re: Do NOT buy Audi [markcincinnati] by byronwalter

Aug 25, 2005 (2:03 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 25, 2005 7:33 am)
My dealer in NE Ohio is pretty kicked back. Before ordering a car I do the numbers in Excel and see if what they propose (including the trade in) match up with my expectations. The last time we were within a couple of bucks while this time we were within six bucks. This was a factory order with no money down. Now I'll just try not to wreck my car before this Saturday.
 
The service department has been very good. They actually seem to listen. If I request my tires to be set at 37 psig, I can rest assured that they will be. The one issue that I do have is that they don't seem to keep much of a parts inventory on hand. My '99 A4 Avant had those exterior mirror heaters that came on and stayed on whenever the temp dropped near freezing. This resulted in about three blown mirror heaters. The dealer always had to order them. Certainly bits and pieces like that should be stock items.
 
----
 
But gotta say I very nearly went for the new BMW 330i. Great car... probably should have tried to drive the Bimmer back to back with the A4. Oh the heck with it! Who wants those run flat tires any ways
 
Byron

#895 of 1366 Re: Central Locking Key Fob Failure!! [macmurdo] by pd1

Aug 26, 2005 (2:03 pm)

Replying to: macmurdo (Aug 18, 2005 1:28 pm)
i just got the car back after the second attempt to fix the locking problem. they replaced the keys with a new "upgraded" set (they seem a lot lighter) and now the alarm is not working.AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhh
Paul

#896 of 1366 Re: 06 Reliability [bosox21] by strato435

Aug 26, 2005 (7:27 pm)

Replying to: bosox21 (Aug 17, 2005 6:50 pm)
I'm looking at the same car. I test drove the 2005.5 2.0T last week, and really enjoyed it!
 
Problem is I'm the owner of a 1998 A4 1.8T Quattro now -- and while driving the car gives me a great deal of joy, I'm frustrated with reliability (or the lack thereof). I've meticulously maintained this car, and it's actually got pretty low mileage (75k), yet I've had some doozies over the years. I had the heater block leak, and fill the passenger compartment with radiator fluid, not a pleasant experience on a long trip!
 
Last month I had to replace a wheel bearing for $1100 & this month I've got another wheel bearing that needs replacement. In fact, the dealer gave me a $2700 estimate for this and that. We all know you wouldn't get that sort of problem out of a Toyota or Honda, but we tolerate it because we'd prefer to drive an Audi!
 
So, as I prepare to buy another car, I'm asking the same question: has Audi's reliability improved? Because, when you're paying $35k for a car, it's fair to expect better!

#897 of 1366 Re: 06 Reliability [strato435] by giovanni1

Aug 27, 2005 (12:08 pm)

Replying to: strato435 (Aug 26, 2005 7:27 pm)
I currently have a 2002 225 TT that will be coming off lease shortly and sans the radio being replaced (under warranty) at 5K, I haven't had a single problem with her (knock on wood).

Messages Page 90 of 137

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