Just recently I've learned a lot about Audi cars from because I am researching the car for a project in one of my MBA classes. I didn't know several things about the car, things that are very interesting and unique.

I've driven a BMW for about 9 years (745 and X5) and I think BMW is the better performer. I will go out soon to test drive the Audi - wouldn't make sense to do a report on a car that I haven't driven myself!

Question to all of you Audi lovers: What made you buy your Audi and does it live up to its name?

ajoseph
MBA, December 2006 (if I can nail this Audi report)

Rumors are modern Audis is not that reliable they used to be

i have an audi...and think its a great car...parts are expensive but performance is fine (more power would be nice) it handles great and you cant beat quattro! I bought mine casue of the quattro for winter i guess if i didnt need (or like) the quattro i would have went for a BMW

pm me if you want to talk about it more

although BMW is supposed to be better, the styling of the Audi's are much nicer, and the price difference is about the same for an audi a4 quattro and a bmw 325i and the audi vehicle is much better, but for preformance the bmw m3 and audi rs4 are almost matched.. when it gets to that level then its more about preference because cost and repair cost is about equal since they are both german cars.. to sum it up .. if your only good spend 50k then go for the audi! if over 100k preference

and to add the bmw quality has gone down in the past few years but i do believe that it is still better than the quality of the audi even though id rather have an audi!

I've never owned either (driven 2-3 BMWs), but I'd venture to say that Audis win buyers because they're more posh and stylish, especially for the price. Entry-level BMWs aren't that nicely-finished; you wouldn't see an entry-level A4 with vinyl seats or steel wheels. The styling is also a draw, in a lot of people's opinions BMW's styling has really gone downhill since 2000 or so. Finally, the performance gap isn't so great; even the front-drive A4s aren't poor-handling cars.

And I didn't even mention Quattro yet. Audi does have an excellent AWD system (I haven't researched BMW's X-series AWD system yet), and Quattro sedans handle even better than the non-Quattros yet they get about the same mileage and are better in winter. Sport you can drive to a ski resort.

I'd still rather a BMW, but I'd consider an Audi. Really, my master plan is to keep my Accord and save the rest for a project car...

Rumors are modern Audis is not that reliable they used to be

I don't think they ever have been, from the DKW days to the Fox to the (shudders) 4000- and 5000-series. I'd put more faith in the mechanical dependability of a Hyundai to be honest.

lol good ol' hyundai.. well since my roomate owned a 95 elantra i would not... even though audi may not have the best quality.. compare what you get for the price? yes it is expesive to fix BUT with an entry level quattro a4 you get safety in the winter style in the summer and overall a very good vehicle for the price! expectually when you buy used.. i am currently buying a a4 2002-2005 and prices for a fully loaded with under 100k are unbelievely cheap... and if your only point is the relaibility is poor go buy a toyota or honda... stay away from the vehicles that acutally are decent.

LOL, look up a 5000 Turbo or a 20V Quattro in any used car guide and tell me what you see. There's a reason why Audis depreciate like mad. Road and Track did have more than average reliability complaints in their used car special on the '97-01 A4.

You want 'decent' and 'cheap'... I bet the '02-on Infiniti Q45 is going for about the same as the same-era A4, or at least not significantly more. Saabs are even cheaper, if a bit dodgy.

What you can get for the price? BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Infiniti... these aren't sub-standard cars.

What does a base-as-base front-drive 1.8T A4 have on my car anyway? Both have 150hp. Both are front-drive. The A4 is probably a bit better-handling and better-finished, but it's nice not driving through a mechanical minefield.

And you can always buy snow tires...

wait, a fwd audi sucks i admit that, but 99.99% of the people go for the quattro because of the winter capabilities (in canada) and you think how much better an audi with awd and winter tires are comparied lets say.. a 01 accord??? :P although in the past the audi's may not have been reliable but that dosent mean that it stays terrible... you look for example hyundai or kai.. bottom of the barrel? WRONG.. in the past they were terrbile but now 10 years warranty??? 5 years bumper to bumper... come on.. if they give that much of a warranty would it be that bad of a vehicle? no but back to audi same difference.. you go look at benz now a base model kompresser.. pfft cheap NOT RELIABLE (friend has one) and expensive for what you recieve BUT it might only be that kompresser.. point being that cars get better in time not worse.. unless your ford :D

wait, a fwd audi sucks i admit that, but 99.99% of the people go for the quattro because of the winter capabilities (in canada) and you think how much better an audi with awd and winter tires are comparied lets say.. a 01 accord??? :P although in the past the audi's may not have been reliable but that dosent mean that it stays terrible... you look for example hyundai or kai.. bottom of the barrel? WRONG.. in the past they were terrbile but now 10 years warranty??? 5 years bumper to bumper... come on.. if they give that much of a warranty would it be that bad of a vehicle? no but back to audi same difference.. you go look at benz now a base model kompresser.. pfft cheap NOT RELIABLE (friend has one) and expensive for what you recieve BUT it might only be that kompresser.. point being that cars get better in time not worse.. unless your ford :D

Well, let's see, I've been on Service Road 742 between Canmore and Kananaskis in the middle of winter pulling drifts at 140 km/h in... a 1990 Maxima SE with Blizzaks, and without the optional LSD to boot. I've been to ugly, nasty trailheads for mountain biking and snowshoeing and winter hiking in FWD cars with all-season tires. While I think the Quattro system is marvellous and can see its' helpfulness in winter, it is not NECESSARY. Besides, it is braking which is the most crucial aspect of winter driving for collision avoidance, and this is helped far more dramatically by snow tires than by engine-braking another axle. Not saying that Quattro is useless or without merit, but if you buy an A4 just for the Quattro and DON'T put winter tires on your car, you're a tool.

It would surprise me if Audi still makes cars as foul as the 200 20V Quattro, but VAG as a unit has had well-known struggles with assembly quality. If they had not gotten better, they would be out of the game. Cars from Korean manufacturers have even longer warranties and (in Hyundai's case) they get even better JD Power Initial Quality ratings.

I have also heard that M-B has had quality struggles, and I know that Volvos and Saabs have been spottier lately, and same with the Lincoln LS. This is where I'd direct you to the Japanese carmakers, who make entry-level luxury vehicles both FWD and RWD (and now AWD) that are 95% as well-finished, well-driving and powerful but for thousands less - at time of purchase and in the repair shop.

And just to show you what sort of kickass places I go in the mountains... I actually took this pic of my car today, on SR-742.

Picture the road behind widened by about a lane (the road gets wider after crossing Rundle Massif) and with about three feet of snow piled on either edge. Now picture a sideways Maxima countersteering across an open corner at 145 km/h. Good enough for you, good enough for me?

I have TT, I'm 18 and I come from Baltics.