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Audi A4 Reliability

100 messages,  Last post on Dec 04, 2009 at 12:44 PM

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What is this discussion about? Audi A4, Auto Repair, Sedan

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#11 of 100 German Cars by boozoo Aug 18, 2007 (3:41 pm)
I have owned every German make sold in the US except for Porsche(sigh) and Opel(no regrets. I've also owned a number of American makes and Japanese makes including Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, and Lexus. They all are expensive to repair these days and my experience is none of them are free from repairs and maintenance. Without question the German cars have provided the best engineering, materials, workmanship, driveability, safety, and durability provided one is prepared to maintain an automobile with the same diligence expected on a passenger airplane. Treat them with care and they will outlast your willingness to keep driving and servicing them. As for the American and Japanese cars, they may seem to require less attention but as they age they become less easily restored to good as new condition. Both skimp on material quality and it shows when they are pushed beyond the usual 10 years or 150,000 miles most Americans believe to be the end of life. I've owned two A4 1.8Ts --- a 1998 and 2000. The 2000 has 144,000 and runs great and still provides great driving pleasure. I plan to use it as a daily driver at least until I cross 200,000 with it. Replies to this message: midwest2ca (Sep 03, 2007 10:22 pm)
#12 of 100 Love the Audi by megawhizz Aug 20, 2007 (1:54 pm)
I have a 2001 A4 with 110,000 miles. Echo the theme here - drives like a charm. My maintenance schedule has been oil change, tire rotation and dealer checkup every 10k. So far, have only had minor problems. Never a service over $1000. Dealer now tells me I need the timing belt changed (for preventive maint per Audi recs), about a $1200 charge.   Also have a 2002 A4 with 60k miles, the only major service has been a brake job.   Highly recommend the car, and will buy again.
#13 of 100 Audi Poor Reliability and Service by crlver Aug 22, 2007 (5:59 pm)
My Audi A4 3.2 Quattro only has 27,000 miles. We've had it in the dealership 3 times in the last 2 months. They said the problem was with the gas cap...ha! Then they had it for 21 days and couldn't figure out what was wrong. Now it's back for the 3rd time and they say it could be the gas cap. I could have lost my mind! This experience has been unbelievable. The dealership, Barrier in Bellevue WA, will never give updates or say what is wrong, except "a gas cap problem". Audi USA has not been helpful either, they call me back with the same information I've given them,but at least Barrier talks to them. They do not escalate any problems or issues and are only concerned that I have another car to drive. I love having an all-wheel drive sedan, but this car isn't worth the time and problems. I've had other German cars (Mercedes most often) and always had great service with them. My advice is DON'T BUY AN AUDI!!!" Replies to this message: audimans4 (Aug 23, 2007 7:22 am) schweikb (Aug 23, 2007 1:32 pm) 604doc (Aug 23, 2007 8:07 am)
#14 of 100 Re: Audi Poor Reliability and Service [crlver] by audimans4 Aug 23, 2007 (7:22 am)
Replying to: crlver (Aug 22, 2007 5:59 pm) I'm sure that in the last 2 months, it was the first time in your 27000 miles you have had to go to the dealer out side of scheduled maintenance. If you like Chrysler so much, keep buying a Mercedes, that way at least when you go to the dealer every other month from day 1, you will get another Chrysler to drive in the mean time!! People like you probably know next to nothing about cars and you bought your Audi just because someone told you it was cool. This is a site for honest opinions on the vehicle overall, not the inability of the techs at the particular dealer you go to. And guess what, believe it or not, it probably is a gas cap problem!! If you keep getting a check engine light and the car runs fine, its a gas cap sensor!!! Replies to this message: schweikb (Aug 23, 2007 1:32 pm)
#15 of 100 Re: Audi Poor Reliability and Service [crlver] by 604doc Aug 23, 2007 (8:07 am)
Replying to: crlver (Aug 22, 2007 5:59 pm) Beside the problem with your car, how was the sales experience at Barrier? I'm thinking about buying a 2009 A4 when they come out with the restyle. In the Seattle area, we only have two Audi dealers, and I've heard some negative things about the "other guys". Thanks for your opinion.
#16 of 100 Re: Audi Poor Reliability and Service [audimans4] by schweikb Aug 23, 2007 (1:32 pm)
Replying to: audimans4 (Aug 23, 2007 7:22 am) The original poster (crlver) said his car was in the shop 21 days - doesn't that sound like a bad thing to you and a reason to feel that Audi's are not very reliable? How can you have an "honest opinion" about a vehicle (whatever make) without considering dealer service and responsiveness as a principal component of the evaluation that leads up to your opinion? You say: "If you keep getting a check engine light and the car runs fine, its a gas cap sensor!!!" I have to strongly disagree. It could be that, but there are other possible causes, and the dealer would have to be a real idiot-shop not to try replacing the cap from another A4 in stock to see what happens while crlver's A4 was there for 21 days. Why did you buy your Audi (assuming you have one)- did someone tell you it's cool, or is there some other reason? Just curious - you sound so sure of all your opinions I'd like to understand how a person like you decides on a car.
#19 of 100 Re: German Cars [boozoo] by midwest2ca Sep 03, 2007 (10:22 pm)
Replying to: boozoo (Aug 18, 2007 3:41 pm) Found this thread quite interesting, so I thought I'd reply again. I have to agree with boozoo's comments completely. If you are willing to maintain an Audi with the same diligence (and cost -- shop rates and parts considered) as an airplane, you will be very happy with an Audi, or any German make for that matter. While I'll agree that Japanese makes are more mechanically reliable, repairs are just as expensive. The basic trade-off is long-term reliability vs. driving experience. I'm not necessarily talking luxury here, I'm talking about steering response when correcting in a difficult curve; brake response and pedal feel in a hard stop, the timing of automatic shifts. I will also completely agree that German makes restore to new-like condition better than any other cars. A well-maintained Japanese cars might easily deliver a repair-free 150K (even 200K in some cases), but you will experience a gradual decline in the driving experience that dollars spent cannot make up for. A 10-yr-old Audi with new tires, struts, springs, shocks, brakes, steering rack & linkages will deliver the exact same ride as new. Again, your choice, a car you drive to 200k with no repair costs, or a car you spend some money on and still smile at the way it corners and shifts after 10 years of driving it.
#20 of 100 Re: *Yawn* [pistol_pete1] by peache1 Sep 07, 2007 (12:17 pm)
Replying to: pistol_pete1 (Aug 05, 2007 5:03 am) My 2001 has 70K and is going away. The level of serious and less so mechanical failures is unacceptable. Under warranty the coolant recovery tank leaked into the chassis wiring harness which took 3 weeks to repair. In the 20k miles out of warranty the following has failed: an electric window actuator, coolant temperature sensor, the parts that control the variable valve timing. I had all of these fixed. The AM radio doesn't work. The air bag light is on for the drivers bag which could be as simple as a sensor or as worse as the whole thing. The thermometer reading on the dash is occasionally coldly pessimistic. This is a problem as it turns the heater on even if it is 95 outside. I envy those of you who are fortunate enough not to suffer this low quality but this car has as many if not more repairs in it than any other car I have owned in 35 years.

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