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Sedans Audi A4 Audi A4 Reliability
99 messages, Last post on Nov 13, 2009 at 7:04 PM
You are in the Audi A4 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: fkuciapa (Feb 18, 2007 6:17 am)
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Replying to: waygrabow (Aug 02, 2007 6:59 pm) If anyone has had their Audi A4 for 60K+ miles, please post your experiences. Is it still smooth sailing, or have you had to take out loans to keep the car rolling?
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Replying to: pistol_pete1 (Aug 05, 2007 5:03 am) I get it thoroughly checked every 10,000 miles and stay on top of the maintenance. I am thinking of a newer vehicle, perhaps an A6 2003/4, because we have a growing family. |
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Replying to: fkuciapa (Jan 14, 2007 1:41 pm) I completely agree with fkuciapa's perspective on driving the car. The ride and interior comfort please me to this day. The engine is 100% reliable, smooth and fuel efficient, and the AT is simply the smoothest and most intelligent shifting of any car I've owned. Automatic climate control, other than not allowing recirculation when outside temp is near freezing, is near perfect. Now, the total ownership experience. Within the warranty period, no problems except a front-end suspension repair that was a common defect in the model year and the defective part was replaced without any hassle. Just after warranty, while checking the vehicle, noticed the coolant in the reservoir had turned to a brown sludge. Seems that someone had mixed incompatible coolant types, and of course, since I had the car maintained at Audi dealerships across the country, no one would take responsibility. In the end, Audi USA covered a new coolant reservoir ($120) and that was it. I paid for the chemical flush, new coolant, and sure enough, within about 10K miles I needed to replace a leaking water pump, and in another 10K I had to replace the radiator. I should note, that during this I needed to purchase some extra coolant, and another Audi dealership maintenance department sold me the wrong type! Around the same time as the radiator leak, the cruise control started going intermittently, and within 15k was completely inop. Around 90K the gas gauge lost its accuracy, reaching empty at 1/2 tank (now rely on trip odometer and fuel light). Add to this more expected repairs: engine light due to leaking fuel tank vent tube, tie-rod replacement, a couple of post-warranty brake jobs at approx. $900 (aggressive brakes are nice, but these typically eat rotors and generate a lot of dust), and a couple of front axle replacements (one under warranty) because of cracked CV grease boots, and finally I should mention I had the timing belt replaced during the water pump replacement. Anyways, that's the full story. Total ownership experience seemed to match something out of 1970's - early '80s Detroit. But in all fairness, the strong points of the car are strong enough to make me somewhat consider buying another, but I definitely have to plan on replacing it at the end of the warranty period. Difficult to do if you like taking care of a machine and owning it for a long time. |
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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.
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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. |
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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!!!"
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Replying to: crlver (Aug 22, 2007 5:59 pm)
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Replying to: crlver (Aug 22, 2007 5:59 pm) |
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Replying to: audimans4 (Aug 23, 2007 7:22 am) 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. |
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