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Audi A4 Reliability

148 messages,  Last post on Feb 21, 2013 at 1:49 AM

You are in the Audi A4 Forum.

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

Messages Page 16 of 16

#142 of 148 Re: buying advice [rrrx] by pirateaj86

Apr 25, 2012 (7:50 am)

Replying to: rrrx (May 01, 2010 7:28 pm)
my 2003 audi has 170,000 miles on it. same motor as the one you are looking at. i would recommend getting a vehical maintenance history on the car. if the timing belt has not been replaced i recommend doing that soon. other than that, don't drive it like it's a race car, and do all the recommended scheduled maintenance. it should last you another 150k if not more

#143 of 148 Re: buying advice [pirateaj86] by surfsup4u

Jun 04, 2012 (1:09 pm)

Replying to: pirateaj86 (Apr 25, 2012 7:50 am)
new to this forum, i owned a a3 3.2 and had lambda sensors all replaced, and then was told i needed a new ECU at a cost of something like 2000GBP..this was in the same visit to Audi where they installed the 4 lambda sensors.! I complained and asked why they changed the sensors if it didnt solve the problem. the answer.. the diagnostic computer told them they were not working. anyway the same issue with warning lights on dash still was there. so i walked around the back of the audi dealer, went into the workshop and had a look at the ECU that they had removed. the gold contacts were all dusty and dirty. they asked me to leave the workshop as insurance bla bla bla..i suggested they clean the gold contact with a soft toohbrush and then try before installing a new one. they told me the audi service book does not allow them to do this.
so i took my ecu and asked them for a tooth brush ~(which they had) i was nto allowed to clean the contacts in the workshop, so i walked into the street ... brushed gently on the contacts with ED40 until clean. then went back to the workshop and asked them to plug the ECU in. Everything worked and the car ran perfectly. these 3.2s are excellent fun but i am nit sure i would buy one again. i am very tempted but after reading about the issues you are all having and the ones i had with audi, i think there are better cars out there ... unfortunately they are all from Japan.

#144 of 148 Re: buying advice [surfsup4u] by hpmctorque

Jun 05, 2012 (12:27 pm)

Replying to: surfsup4u (Jun 04, 2012 1:09 pm)
"...unfortunately they are all from Japan."
 
Why is that unfortunate?

#145 of 148 Re: buying advice [hpmctorque] by surfsup4u

Jun 06, 2012 (4:43 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Jun 05, 2012 12:27 pm)
your right... i guess its not unfortunate , its just a shame as i love the look and feel of the 3.2 but its just so unreliably and expensive to live with. someone wrote that if you dont drive like your a racing driver then its fine, but this is the point of the car.. to use it as it was designed, (within the law of course) what jap car doyou think comes close to the a3 3.2 ? and no not a subaru..but i guess they are pretty nice..and reliable.

#146 of 148 Re: buying advice [surfsup4u] by hpmctorque

Jun 06, 2012 (6:27 am)

Replying to: surfsup4u (Jun 06, 2012 4:43 am)
"Close" is quite arbitrary, but the Acura TL comes to mind. The Infiniti G37 sedan is rear wheel drive, but competes in the same segment as the A-4.
 
We have a '99 TL with 135,000 miles and a '07 A-4 2.0T Quattro with 59,000 in our household, so they're not comparable with the new ones. Both drive very well, but judging from our experience to date, the TL costs less, in terms of maintenance and repairs. It's probably not enough of a difference to prevent me from buying another Audi in the future, if the Audi drives better and looks better. My wife and I drive older cars because we're not fans of the new ones in the "near-luxury" segment.
 
Sorry I'm not of much help.

#147 of 148 '01 A4 Reliabililty by painter33

Feb 19, 2013 (2:52 pm)

I have a 2001 A4 2.8L quattro and it's been a champ. Bought in 2004 as a former lease car and have had almost no problems with it. One cat went, but my shop is not into gouging, so it wasn't a killer bill. I've had the timing belt done once at 90 K (now 135K), and change the oil every 3K. I bought tires once and two sets of wiper blades. I've changed the air filter once myself an dwill do the cabin filter when spring comes, just to ensure it's clean and fully functioning. Had to charge the A/C unit once. Are you getting the picture here? The only thing I'd change is the thigh bolsters and the heated seat cushion on the driver's seat, which have gotten a bit compressed and soft. That's all, folks. I do feel for you with problems, but all of my cars have been great - from the '62 Beetle through other Beetles, a Ghia, Rabbits, Type lll, a VW Fox, ">link titleone Accord (?), a '94 100, '97 A6, and this A4. I've been very very lucky buying used cars that I am careful about inspecting before laying out cash.

#148 of 148 Re: '01 A4 Reliabililty [painter33] by hpmctorque

Feb 21, 2013 (1:49 am)

Replying to: painter33 (Feb 19, 2013 2:52 pm)
It's remarkable that all of those cars, without exception, have been "great." You have indeed been lucky, if you're also referring to reliability, because some of the models you mentioned (the Audi 100, for example) have a reputation for being problematic.
 
Approximately, what was the mileage on the Rabbits, Fox, '94 Audi 100 and '97 A6 when you bought them and sold them?
 

Messages Page 16 of 16

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