Hi everyone! I'm new to the discussion group and would appreciate any help. I'm looking to buy an 1.8T A4 in Brilliant Yellow. The prob is the dealer says I have to wait 4 months for the color!!! Is it that hard to get that color? Also, I have to pay about $4K before he can order one for me and all I can go by is the color in the brocuhre! Does anyone own that color A4? How does it look and did you have to wait that long to get it? Thanks a lot!
I think what your dealer is referring to is, you need to special order one from Audi in Germany and yes it takes 3-4 months to get the exact car w/ the exact color you want.
I have seen an A4 in Brilliant Yellow and it looks very HOT.....although it's very eye-catching......don't drive too fast now or the cops can EASILY see ya.
Hi all, I just bought a 96 a4 with 35000 miles on it. It is a one owner car with all service reciepts. Leather,premium wheels,sunroof,leather wrapped steering wheel.Bose( no cd ),it's cleeeeeeean! I paid 17k. What do you guys think? Did I pay too much? I called the local dealer and they were very helpful. The service guy said the car was in to replace the ignition switch and have some brake work done. He said it should be a good car. No other problems on record. I just hope I didn't get a lemon. I also want to find out where to get a cd changer. Anyone know where to find one? One more thing..Does anyone know a good warranty company? I want to get an extended warranty but I hear all kinds of horror stories about companies not wanting to approve work and leaving customers high and dry. Thanks for any help!
I talked to my local dealer today and got some bad news!!! I am very interested in an Audi A41.8t FWD. The dealer got on the computer and there are no 2001 A41.8t FWD in all of Canada??? Does that sound right? I know the majority of Audis in Canada are AWD but I thought that there would be some kicking around. Now what do I do? I don't really want to wait 6 months to order one and he didn't know if it could even be done as the 2002's are going to be coming out. I don't really want to wait for the new model and don't want to pay extra for it. Am I back at square one in search of a new car? Any suggestions on what I should do????? Thanks.
Can you consider a very low milage used one, keeping your eye on the major city online want ads? Is it possible to buy one in the U.S. and have it modified (daytime running lights plus ?) for Canada?
Thanks for the Bose info. I had a trunk changer with my 1995 Eclipse GSX, and I have a single in-dash with my 1998 Camry. I much prefer the single in-dash. It's a personal preference, but I'd go nuts without it!
Would you consider a VW Jetta GLS, 1.8T with the luxury sport suspension package with 17" Wheels, moonroof, leather interior, monsoon stereo, side air curtains, ASR, ESD, ABS, Multi-Function steering wheel? I myself own one like this and have read that it is the PoorMan's A4 if FWD and the 1.8T are all you need. Check it out, I'm sure you can get one fully loaded as such quicker. It is the 150HP, ULEV engine, 20valve's.
As you can tell by my "name," I live in Cincinnati. My company has employees in other cities and several of them have Audis -- due in part to my attestation and persuasive abilities.
This fellow, from Dallas, had had not very positive experiences at his dealership -- when I asked him how his OOODI was doing with respect to some service and warranty repair work, he replied:
"Mark:
It was great. That dealer STILL has a little bit of stuffiness about it, but I am now included in their circle of stuffiness.
Their welcome area for service is large and beautiful. I pulled in and they opened my door for me. They constantly called me sir and everyone said 'hi' to me. The advisor came out and went over everything with me.
The rental (loaner) only took about 2 mins and I was on my way. I had a Mazda 626, but it was nearly new and smelled good. I don't know if it was a coincidence or not, but they had it running, heater on, red carpet out, and the radio was on the same station that I was listening to in my car. Wow!
When I got back, the car (a 99 A4 2.8 quattro/sport) had had its new tie rods installed (recall), from what I can tell, a very good alignment, and the emission system troubles where cleared.
The car was inside and clean as can be (looked like it was detailed). I went to pay for my state inspection that I requested and when I came back to the indoor service area, my car was running and heater was on, ready to go.
About the only thing they could have done to make it better was to fill my car up with gas and/or loan me the S4 (that I WILL have someday).
I am impressed!
They said that its normal to get loaners for warranty and recall service and that the former service manager was let go because of that and other customer service irregularities.
I finally feel like I bought a luxury car. Now I know how you feel when you take your's in. I used to loath going over there, but look forward to it now.
On another note, a saleman there told me that they are hearing that the S4 will take a 1 year break and then start again in 2003. But he also confessed that he has other rumors on the internet such as Audiworld.
Randy"
Now this is the kind of service I have bragged about in Cincinnati for some time now (from Northland Audi). It is encouraging to find that it is "catching on."
My parents are picking up there 2001 A4 FrontTrak with sport package tonight. Its brilliant black with opal gray cloth and also has the celebration package. My dad paid $24,671 before taxes. Do you think he got a good deal? Their last new car was a 92 Accord EX that was just totalled after 186,400 miles of reliable service. All it ever needed was a radiator, alternator, AC compressor, ignition relay, ignition coil, brake master cylinder, and CV axles. No power accessories ever failed and no warranty work was ever done. The engine never drank a drop of oil, nor was it leaking. The only mechanical part that ever failed was the distributor, which was covered under a recall. Can the Audi ever hope to live up to this, or are they going to be sadly disappointed? The A4 is a gorgeous performance sedan and one I'm glad they got, but I just hope my dad will not be disappointed with it after 14 years of flawless Honda reliability (they had an 86 Accord before the 92). He's gonna expect it to last as long because he paid so much for it. What do you A4 owners think? How has the electrical reliability of these cars been? How long do the turbos tend to last? Thanks ahead of time for any input.
My dad got 6.69% interest from the Audi dealer, which beat the 6.9% his credit union was offering. Not too bad of an interest rate for a luxury car with no special incentives.
Well the dream is dead. There is now way to get a FWD A4 in Canada unless I ordered from the factory and sit and wait. I have looked at the Passats and I am still not sold on them thus I am still loven the Audi. I may have to bite the bullet and get quattro. The extra cash is not a huge deal, I can get over that. The biggest thing is performance. How is the AWD going suck the quickness out of the car? Is it going to be slow off the line? I'm going to go drive one this weekend (quattro+5 speed) to see for myself but can someone who has lived with quattro for a while let me know about its quickness off the line and passing power on the highway. This "town hall" is a great thing as a person can get real life advice and experience. Tough to get in a test drive!!!! Thanks for any info y'all can pass my way.
To me the quattro is well worth the fraction of a second it costs in 0-60 times. It adds something like 220 pounds which is about the same as having a passenger in the car. With a 5 speed you should find it more than acceptable. Since you're in Canada I would think the quattro would be a no brainer (I'm in Minnesota and I get to really appreciate the traction at least 4 months a year). Beyond winter the quattro adds security on wet roads and handling capability even on dry roads. If all-out performance is that important, I personally would save a few extra months and buy the S4, or consider a used S4. Or if you can't afford even a used S4 then get a 1.8T, add a chip and hope you don't have a warranty issue.
I am shopping A4 Avant with sport package, Tiptronic, Premium and Matalic blue. The deal from dealer is 31500 with tax. I should go for it? or i can get a better deal?
I purchased my 2001 early last month. After alot of research and test driving, I went with quattro. I too live in Minnesota and, after owning only 4wd trucks/SUVs in the past, am more than pleased with its performance and handling capabilities in both adverse and normal driving conditions. The traction benefits that you gain far outweigh the minimal 0 to 60 loss in acceleration. To be quite honest, I barely noticed it during the extensive test driving I did. Otherwise if acceleration is your top concern, I have to agree w/ JBuamgart on saving towards an S4.
If you're that concerned about performance especially 0-60, remember that with the 5-spd you won't get wheel spin when you drop the clutch from higher rpm's. It will all happen in the drive train.
You sort of have to ride the clutch to get better launches. I don't have to worry about that now (married) with an auto & quattro.
Performance isn't too bad off the line though it's not much of a concern for me now. With an auto I haven't noticed much difference for passing on a high way between a quattro and FWD. Wouldn't think there would be much diff between a quattro and FWD for a 5-spd either.
I used to live in Canada(MB) and never had an AWD car. Seems funny that now I'm in the southern states I can't live without it.
The quattro feels really good when you're lane changing over big tire ruts on the high way, or have to get across a slick road really quick...good winter tires will help with the slowing down part.
I am currently in the market for a "near" luxury sedan. Have looked at all the interesting models in the class (BMW 3 series, Acura TL, Subaru Impreza WRX, VW Passat). Recently discovered that the A4 can be had for a reasonable price. Can any owners supply me with some feedback as to the reliability and performance of this car?
BMW is too expensive. I like the reliability and comfort of the Acura, but it lacks "fun to drive" feature. The Subaru is a butt kickin' performer, but is a little too light on build and comfort (and they're hard to find).
I am in the market for a new car and I am looking at the Audi and Jetta based on price comparison. I understand that the Audi is a much more refined auto but I don't know if I can convince myself to buy a car w/40K+ miles vs brand new for the same $$$. VW offers 2 yr warranty vs audi 5/75K (I think, very confusing on web). Any thoughts? The VW comes with sport suspension and '16 BBS wheels.
Test drive them. You'll see immediately. The Jetta, while nice, is plagued with numerous quality control problems (see JD Power's initial quality survey which ranks the Jetta near the bottom with Korean cars), the suspension, even with the sport setup is not nearly as refined as the A4's, the interior's rather lacking, the seats are cloth on the WE and the engine's 30 hp (20 officially) weaker than the A4's.
Another thing to consider beyond the extra power, handling and interior features of the A4 v. Jetta...the reliability/warranties. VW's paltry 2/24 can't hold a candle to Audi's 4/48 program. Additionally, Edmunds points out that A4's have outstanding quality and reliability. The Jetta, at least in my area, is ubiquitous, while the A4 is more selective (nice in my opinion). Lastly, Audi ownwers are treated far better than Vdubbers.
my brand spanking new A4 should be docking in the US right now! I'm supposed to get it next week! TOO EXCITED! I know that somewhere in this board is the name & model # of the ad changer that fits into the car. I can't find it on the board. Can anyone help me out?
I have owned a 2001 A4 1.8t quattro for 7 months now. The car is not a racer, but I have had absolutely no problem passing people and making quick getaways. Just keep the RAMs above 2000 and you are in good shape.
I live in Denier and have found it to be a very good mountain (read hills and twisties) car. It has grown on me.
The reliability has been fine, although I have only 15k on the car. I had a head lamp burn out on me yesterday. It was replaced today free of charge. I don't know the long-term reliability of the car yet, though.
As I mentioned, it has grown on me. I hate driving my wife's Honda now. I think you will feel the same. Also, from a looks perspective (interior and exterior), it has the other cars on your list beat.
The spell checker is indeed tricky, to put it mildly. A couple of thoughts - you do have about 30 minutes after making a post during which you can edit it (by using the blue edit button that shows up during that time period) to fix anything the spell checker messed up.
You also have the option of adding spellings the checker does not like to your own personal dictionary - next time the checker will accept them as you typed them.
Hope this helps.
Pat Host Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
I am approaching the 4000 mile mark and and still can't get over how much I thoroughly enjoy my A4 1.8t Quattro. The only problem I encountered was a faulty sunroof motor, which was quickly replaced. The dealership service has been great and while they did supply me with a rental car (Mitsubishi Galant), I couldn't wait to get back behind the wheel of mine! Has anyone chipped the 2001? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks, Mike
Any guys around Chicagoland have chipped a 01' 1.8T?? Do the dealerships still honor the warranty on the vehicle? How soon do you guys start chipping? 5000 miles?? 10,000 miles? After the warranty period (seem like a long way to go and i can't wait :> )
I know there are many of you who speak highly of your A-4. I purchased my 2.8 Quattro thinking I was getting a superior automobile. Well, my car has just under 33,000 miles and look at this list of ongoing problems:
1. Heater core replacement just after purchase (requiring dashboard removal) 2. Broken temperature gauge 3. Driver power seat malfunction--no lumbar 4. Hose leaks resulting in loss of coolant 5. Broken bearing in water pump requiring water pump replacement 6. Still awaiting fuel pump replacement which continuously makes sustained ringing noise in rear of car. 7. hesitation when beginning acceleration into 3rd and 4th gears
Not to mention when I accelerate from 70 through 75 mph there is a loud noise at the rear of the car(it sounds like a car traveling with a hole in its exhaust). Well, the exhaust system is fine and a dealer mechanic noticed this noise also in a test drive but had no answers. The noise is only within that 5 mph range but it is very annoying! Any answers?
Anyone else have such problems? I have driven more loner Audio than my own and all Audi does is send me their magazine subscriptions in the mail! I can't trust this car anywhere. I have written many letters, but Audi truly could care less about me or my car!
thanx for the response. i do love the look of the car. the wife also likes it a lot better than the wrx (of course, she loves the acura tl). we're going for a test drive in two weeks. i'll let you know what happens.
thanx again
jbreez1
p.s i hope wenttopsu's experience is the exception rather than the rule. by the way, is that penn state? im a buckeye relocated to orlando. any central floridians with input about audi dealers here (i think there is only one-classic) is welcome.
It seems regardless of manufacturer, that if your car has problems, they're big consistent problems.
I've heard of people with MB's, Lexus, Audi's, BMW, Cadillac...even Chevy & Chrysler which never have problems...and some people have terrible problems with the same cars.
I don't know if it is luck of the draw or Monday/Friday manufactured date theory or what. I find that whenever I take a car in to fix something I usually have to go back and get something else fixed they messed up while fixing the first problem...maybe it's job security. (happened often with my Honda)
My A6 28K has only had sunroof motor prob. A4 65K had thermostat prob.
Hi all, I'm considering buying a 1998 model with 23k. Has anyone had any experience with this model, good or bad? I currently drive a 1990 Audi 80, and although I love the car, it has had a lot of weird problems!
some quick questions. how is the a4 1.8t's interior compared to the new passat. does it used better quality materials becase of luxury brand. also what exactly is leatherette? so far i have only driven cloth seats and sat in a couple of leather seats but never in a leatherette. lastly when you get free maintenance what exactly does that cover besides oil changes. oppinoins would be appreciated. looking to buy new car most likely a german car. and im willing to hold out till the new a4 comes out. looks like an a6, which is a good thing.
Billy, have you been over to the Audiworld site? There must be literally thousands of postings on chipping in the archives. I'm pretty sure you can find all the answers to your questions there and if you can't, somebody on the A4 message board will give "newbies" like us an answer or a reference to go to. Some guy asked a question about chipping a few days ago and some of the veterans responded by saying that they have beat the subject to death but after going through the archives, you don't find the answers you are looking for then I'm sure they'd be glad to answer any question you might have. I'm also considering chipping but will probably wait quite awhile before actually doing it. Also, there is a section here on Edmunds about chipping but I notice that there haven't been any posts recently about it. You don't have the sports package, right? I don't either and I'm kinda regretting it now. How about you? I'm finding that there's more body roll than I expected and am considering possibly installing heavier sway bars.
Ron, I have the leatherette and I like it alot! Leatherette is synthetic but looks a lot like real leather. Personally, the main advantage of leatherette over leather is that leatherette will still look new in 10 years where real leather will show its age after a year or two because it stretches. I had leatherette in my old Scirocco and it looked new when I sold it when it was 12 years old. I've sat in the "new" Passat and wasn't that impressed. The Passat has partial real leather but I didn't think it was that comfortable. The one thing that I liked about the non-power Passat seats that is missing on the A4 1.8t seats is that it has a spring loaded lever that you pull back and forth to adjust the height. The Audi just has a ring that you have to pull and take your weight off the seat to adjust the height. The new 2002 A4 will have the spring loaded lever from what I have read. Of course, the Passat has a larger interior but the Audi has a much more refined look and feel IMO. One thing that I found much more desirable in the Audi is the instrument panel... much more legible especially at night! you'll love it! The Passat has that VW blue instrument lighting that is really hard to read at night although a lot of people think that it's cool looking. I wasn't impressed though. The A4 also includes an oil temperature gauge and a volt gauge which the Passat doesn't-- those were must-haves for me but they are missing from the 2002's from the pics I have seen . The trip computer and the "system check" displays are also more comprehensive and impressive in the A4. And remember, you also get a built-in cd player in the A4 which even with the Monsoon upgrade, you don't get in the Passat. There have been mixed reviews about the styling of the 2002 A4. Some think that the classic good looks of the old style will be so in demand that there will be very little price reduction as or just before the new model becomes available here in the US. Who knows? The new style is growing on me the more I see new pictures of it. At first, I really thought it was ugly!
Has anyone had any experience with the 17" Wheel/suspension sports package? Is the performance much better than with the 15"? I've had an opportunity to test the A4 with the 17" wheels. However, since I live in Canada, getting the 17" wheels will likely mean I'll need snow tires in the winter...
I was told by local Audi place that the sports pack up graded to 16 inch wheels not 17. I am know confused as to what one gets when opting for the sports package??? Anyone clear the confusion? Thanks.
hey man thanx for the reply. german cars in general do have that nice dash design w/ all those cool little buttons to play with. im thinking about trading in my 2000 sentra se for something sporty and luxurios under 30k. audi seems to get it right with the a4. dont want japanese as they are to common plus i have owned a 95 accord and it was too plain to drive and nothing to make your neighbor jealous.
goonies-- A4's a great car for the money! I don't think there's a better value out there. A similarly equipped 3-series bimmer is going to be almost 10k more. and if you like little electronic "toys" like I do, you'll love the A4...(or for that matter, like you say, any German car)! The car appears pretty understated in styling so I don't know how jealous your neighbors will be but if they all drive Dodge Neons or Ford Escorts, then maybe lol.
achan-- get the sports pkg. if for nothing else, the stiffer suspension. as I said in an earlier post, I didn't get it and I'm kinda regretting it now. I'm just slightly disappointed with the body roll. for $950 (retail msrp) it's more than worth it. I've been thinking of putting 16" rims and lower profile tires on mine and it's going to cost me that much for just that and I'm still stuck with the stock non-sport suspension (softer shocks and springs and thinner sway bars).
dellwell-- achan is right, here in the US (don't know if it is the same in Canada or not but I assume it is) the 2001.0 quattro with sports pkg. came with 16" rims. The 2001.5 (I think those that were made after Nov 2000) come with 17" rims. so more than likely, anything that you buy now will have the 17" rims unless it's a leftover 2001.0.
Ron-- free maintenance covers every item that is recommended by the factory in the owners manual. The 4yr/50,000mi (which ever come first) "bumper-to-bumper" warranty covers mostly everything else with the exception of the tires that have their own coverage. So theoretically, you shouldn't have to spend a dime on maintenance or repairs in the first 4 yrs or 50,000mi (whichever comes first). Remember, the Passat only has a 2yr/24,000mi free maintenance and "bumper-to-bumper" coverage. Obviously any damage or repairs related to things that are your fault are not covered. Also Audi gives free roadside assistance for that same time period (I believe that WV also does)--which is like having auto club coverage (AAA, etc) for the first 4 years if you don't already have that kind of coverage.
OK OK I'm back from my drive in my baby. Anyway yup, scirocco22, I don't know what happened but I have more body roll than when I test drove......maybe when I test drove I had the dealer plus my girlfriend (it's mostly the dealer, LOL) who weighed down the car. As scirocco pointed out, the 2001.5 ones has the 17" sports rim and the 2001.0 ones has the 16" rims. I would take the stiffer suspension and the 17" rims, but I wouldn't take the tires.....the one reason why i didn't consider them: they come with Dunlop SP8000's V-rated performance tires and they're definitely not all-season radials and I don't want to buy snow tires for my QUATTRO A4.....cuz as you know I got Quattro cuz I want stability driving in snow without snow tires. Although some told me with the performance tires and the Quattro, it still handles pretty good.
Chipping.....yes I read those audiworld forums but then all of them are experts praising their own chips after the initial installation and nobody really follow up on those. I don't know if it will hurt the engine on the long run.
Oh yeah I luv the leatherette seats. It feels, touches and even sometimes smells like real leather seats. I'd say only people who own German cars know those could be leatherette.....all others thought those are real leather.
Yup I agree with scirocco22..... It's a GREAT buy considering it's a luxury German car, lots of electronic gadgets (hope they'll last), Quattro, attractive styling, just to name a few for a little more than Japanese sedans. Although I'd like to own a BMW, given the $$ I would pay right now, I'd rather have an Audi. OK it doesn't have the 50/50 weight distribution as the BMW, but heck I won't be stuck in 2 inches of snow like the BMW or MB with RWD WILL.....with all the options I'd put on a BMW it'll push it up to $40k and the Audi is still $28k. And it has one more year of free maintenance than the BMW.
I actually still like the 2001 A4's styling much better than the 2002's.....the A6 looks fine to me but a shortened A6.....mmmm.
Hey Scirocco22, are you going to the Lakes Quattro Club gathering on 4/21?? It's the Spring Drive 2001, their website is www.lrqc.org.
Just test drove the Audi and the Passat this weekend. Interesting, to say the least.
Loved the Passat. Incredible room, V6 had a little more oomph than expected, handled well, interior layout was excellent. Problems: 4Motion causes the loss of trunk space (from 15 cu.ft to 10 cu.ft.), in addition, 4Motion causes the loss of 60/40 fold down rear seat. Also, 2 year/24,000 mile warranty scares the heck out of me. Based on postings in the Passat boards, there's definitely some "things" going on with some Passats that draws concern.
My drive with the A4 was equally enjoyable. In fact I'd buy it tomorrow, if not for the rear leg room which is almost non-existent. Handles awsome, 1.8T is sprite, trunk is huge, fold down seats, interior layout is fun and you can't beat the 4 year/50,000 mile warranty. I feel great about it...but the damn back seat. I had to struggle to get out and I'm 6'1", not that huge.
Right now, the A4 I looked at was a 2001 1.8T Quattro, cold weather, celebration, ESP (I think). Sticker was roughly $30,700. They made an offer of $29,300...roughly $1600 over invoice. Sounds like $1200-1700 over invoice isn't that unexpected with an Audi. Never had experience with the brand before, so I'm not sure what to think.
Also, I'm aware of the 2002 coming in. Not a big fan of the look and I'm sure the price will be a little stiffer than current model. Though, sounds like it'll have more room.
thanx guys once again, i guess i will hold out for the new a4. all those free maintenance would probably equal the price of the passat in the long run. one last question can anyone confirm that the imprived 1.8t is really 180 horsepower but vw/aidi doesn't want to shoot itself on the foot so it markets it as 170hp. well according to some post at vwvortex it is. thanx again
Wow....that offer you had on the A4 for 29,300 is way out of line. This car can be had for $27,500, no ifs ands or buts. Offer them that, then when they say no....walk out. You will get a call within a few days. Do this at the end of the month
I bought my A4 at Prestige. It came with cold-weather pkg and convenience pkg. The deal was for $27000. I bet you could get a better deal now that some people are waiting for the 2002.
Mulifat & Music Man, Thanks for the input. $27,500 is right in line with what I was willing to pay. Mulifat, do you know how much that was over invoice? And was it Quattro?
Also, interesting experience when I went to the dealership in Milwaukee (International Autos). It was Saturday, my wife and I walked the lot for 20 minutes and nobody came to offer assistance. One salesman was helping another couple on the lot he'd walk right by with the other couple going from car to car. He didn't even say "hello", "I'll be right with you" or "I'll have someone come out to help"...nothing.
When we entered the showroom we looked at an A4 for 5-10 minutes, sitting in it, mulling it over, etc, etc. A salesman sat at a desk less than 12 feet away and again, never even offered a "hello." No one ever approached us.
Now, I'm not the 40-something investment banker looking to blow $60k on a new car, but we are 20-somethings looking to possibly enter the Audi family. Geez, I'm an ad exec., marketing is my life. And frankly, we're probably poster children for the A4. I guess I just thought the service would have been a little warmer, instead, I felt the arrogance I had feared.
I finally knocked on an office door and asked if the salesman would have the time to help us with some questions and take us for a spin. Ultimately, he was friendly, courteous, etc, etc...
I guess I'm not sure if it's just their style. Laid back, let the customer look on their own, take their time. Or, was it an arrogance?
Thanks for the response. I'm looking for 1.8T 5 spd. with Quattro, Celebration, xenons, cold weather, Bose (and ESP, if I can find one with it). I'm hoping to get it for $27,000-27,500. I think I can. I'll give McDonald the first shot because I live southeast (Arapahoe and Parker), and Prestige is a long ways away. I did like Prestige better, though.
Comments
Sasi
I have seen an A4 in Brilliant Yellow and it looks very HOT.....although it's very eye-catching......don't drive too fast now or the cops can EASILY see ya.
I just bought a 96 a4 with 35000 miles on it. It is a one owner car with all service reciepts. Leather,premium wheels,sunroof,leather wrapped steering wheel.Bose( no cd ),it's cleeeeeeean! I paid 17k. What do you guys think? Did I pay too much? I called the local dealer and they were very helpful. The service guy said the car was in to replace the ignition switch and have some brake work done. He said it should be a good car.
No other problems on record. I just hope I didn't get a lemon.
I also want to find out where to get a cd changer. Anyone know where to find one?
One more thing..Does anyone know a good warranty company? I want to get an extended warranty but I hear all kinds of horror stories about companies not wanting to approve work and leaving customers high and dry.
Thanks for any help!
This fellow, from Dallas, had had not very positive experiences at his dealership -- when I asked him how his OOODI was doing with respect to some service and warranty repair work, he replied:
"Mark:
It was great. That dealer STILL has a little bit of stuffiness about it, but I am now included in their circle of stuffiness.
Their welcome area for service is large and beautiful. I pulled in and they opened my door for me. They constantly called me sir and everyone said 'hi' to me. The advisor came out and went over everything with me.
The rental (loaner) only took about 2 mins and I was on my way. I had a Mazda 626, but it was nearly new and smelled good. I don't know if it was a coincidence or not, but they had it running, heater on, red carpet out, and the radio was on the same station that I was listening to in my car. Wow!
When I got back, the car (a 99 A4 2.8 quattro/sport) had had its new tie rods installed (recall), from what I can tell, a very good alignment, and the emission system troubles where cleared.
The car was inside and clean as can be (looked like it was detailed). I went to pay for my state inspection that I requested and when I came back to the indoor service area, my car was running and heater was on, ready to go.
About the only thing they could have done to make it better was to fill my car up with gas and/or loan me the S4 (that I WILL have someday).
I am impressed!
They said that its normal to get loaners for warranty and recall service and that the former service manager was let go because of that and other customer service
irregularities.
I finally feel like I bought a luxury car. Now I know how you feel when you take your's in. I used to loath going over there, but look forward to it now.
On another note, a saleman there told me that they are hearing that the S4 will take a 1 year break and then start again in 2003. But he also confessed that he has other rumors on the internet such as Audiworld.
Randy"
Now this is the kind of service I have bragged about in Cincinnati for some time now (from Northland Audi). It is encouraging to find that it is "catching on."
End of full report.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
You sort of have to ride the clutch to get better launches. I don't have to worry about that now (married) with an auto & quattro.
Performance isn't too bad off the line though it's not much of a concern for me now. With an auto I haven't noticed much difference for passing on a high way between a quattro and FWD. Wouldn't think there would be much diff between a quattro and FWD for a 5-spd either.
I used to live in Canada(MB) and never had an AWD car. Seems funny that now I'm in the southern states I can't live without it.
The quattro feels really good when you're lane changing over big tire ruts on the high way, or have to get across a slick road really quick...good winter tires will help with the slowing down part.
BMW is too expensive. I like the reliability and comfort of the Acura, but it lacks "fun to drive" feature. The Subaru is a butt kickin' performer, but is a little too light on build and comfort (and they're hard to find).
thanx for the input
jbreez1
Another thing to consider beyond the extra power, handling and interior features of the A4 v. Jetta...the reliability/warranties. VW's paltry 2/24 can't hold a candle to Audi's 4/48 program. Additionally, Edmunds points out that A4's have outstanding quality and reliability. The Jetta, at least in my area, is ubiquitous, while the A4 is more selective (nice in my opinion). Lastly, Audi ownwers are treated far better than Vdubbers.
I know that somewhere in this board is the name & model # of the ad changer that fits into the car. I can't find it on the board. Can anyone help me out?
I live in Denier and have found it to be a very good mountain (read hills and twisties) car. It has grown on me.
The reliability has been fine, although I have only 15k on the car. I had a head lamp burn out on me yesterday. It was replaced today free of charge. I don't know the long-term reliability of the car yet, though.
As I mentioned, it has grown on me. I hate driving my wife's Honda now. I think you will feel the same. Also, from a looks perspective (interior and exterior), it has the other cars on your list beat.
Good luck and let us know what you choose!
FYI:
RAMs = RPMs
Denier = Denver
Sorry.
You also have the option of adding spellings the checker does not like to your own personal dictionary - next time the checker will accept them as you typed them.
Hope this helps.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
Thanks,
Mike
1. Heater core replacement just after purchase (requiring dashboard removal)
2. Broken temperature gauge
3. Driver power seat malfunction--no lumbar
4. Hose leaks resulting in loss of coolant
5. Broken bearing in water pump requiring water pump replacement
6. Still awaiting fuel pump replacement which continuously makes sustained ringing noise in rear of car.
7. hesitation when beginning acceleration into 3rd and 4th gears
Not to mention when I accelerate from 70 through 75 mph there is a loud noise at the rear of the car(it sounds like a car traveling with a hole in its exhaust). Well, the exhaust system is fine and a dealer mechanic noticed this noise also in a test drive but had no answers. The noise is only within that 5 mph range but it is very annoying! Any answers?
Anyone else have such problems? I have driven more loner Audio than my own and all Audi does is send me their magazine subscriptions in the mail! I can't trust this car anywhere. I have written many letters, but Audi truly could care less about me or my car!
thanx again
jbreez1
p.s i hope wenttopsu's experience is the exception rather than the rule. by the way, is that penn state? im a buckeye relocated to orlando. any central floridians with input about audi dealers here (i think there is only one-classic) is welcome.
out!
I've heard of people with MB's, Lexus, Audi's, BMW, Cadillac...even Chevy & Chrysler which never have problems...and some people have terrible problems with the same cars.
I don't know if it is luck of the draw or Monday/Friday manufactured date theory or what. I find that whenever I take a car in to fix something I usually have to go back and get something else fixed they messed up while fixing the first problem...maybe it's job security. (happened often with my Honda)
My A6 28K has only had sunroof motor prob. A4 65K had thermostat prob.
I'm considering buying a 1998 model with 23k. Has anyone had any experience with this model, good or bad? I currently drive a 1990 Audi 80, and although I love the car, it has had a lot of weird problems!
Thanks!
achan-- get the sports pkg. if for nothing else, the stiffer suspension. as I said in an earlier post, I didn't get it and I'm kinda regretting it now. I'm just slightly disappointed with the body roll. for $950 (retail msrp) it's more than worth it. I've been thinking of putting 16" rims and lower profile tires on mine and it's going to cost me that much for just that and I'm still stuck with the stock non-sport suspension (softer shocks and springs and thinner sway bars).
dellwell-- achan is right, here in the US (don't know if it is the same in Canada or not but I assume it is) the 2001.0 quattro with sports pkg. came with 16" rims. The 2001.5 (I think those that were made after Nov 2000) come with 17" rims. so more than likely, anything that you buy now will have the 17" rims unless it's a leftover 2001.0.
Billy-- you still out there??
Chipping.....yes I read those audiworld forums but then all of them are experts praising their own chips after the initial installation and nobody really follow up on those. I don't know if it will hurt the engine on the long run.
Oh yeah I luv the leatherette seats. It feels, touches and even sometimes smells like real leather seats. I'd say only people who own German cars know those could be leatherette.....all others thought those are real leather.
Yup I agree with scirocco22..... It's a GREAT buy considering it's a luxury German car, lots of electronic gadgets (hope they'll last), Quattro, attractive styling, just to name a few for a little more than Japanese sedans. Although I'd like to own a BMW, given the $$ I would pay right now, I'd rather have an Audi. OK it doesn't have the 50/50 weight distribution as the BMW, but heck I won't be stuck in 2 inches of snow like the BMW or MB with RWD WILL.....with all the options I'd put on a BMW it'll push it up to $40k and the Audi is still $28k. And it has one more year of free maintenance than the BMW.
I actually still like the 2001 A4's styling much better than the 2002's.....the A6 looks fine to me but a shortened A6.....mmmm.
Hey Scirocco22, are you going to the Lakes Quattro Club gathering on 4/21?? It's the Spring Drive 2001, their website is www.lrqc.org.
Loved the Passat. Incredible room, V6 had a little more oomph than expected, handled well, interior layout was excellent. Problems: 4Motion causes the loss of trunk space (from 15 cu.ft to 10 cu.ft.), in addition, 4Motion causes the loss of 60/40 fold down rear seat. Also, 2 year/24,000 mile warranty scares the heck out of me. Based on postings in the Passat boards, there's definitely some "things" going on with some Passats that draws concern.
My drive with the A4 was equally enjoyable. In fact I'd buy it tomorrow, if not for the rear leg room which is almost non-existent. Handles awsome, 1.8T is sprite, trunk is huge, fold down seats, interior layout is fun and you can't beat the 4 year/50,000 mile warranty. I feel great about it...but the damn back seat. I had to struggle to get out and I'm 6'1", not that huge.
Right now, the A4 I looked at was a 2001 1.8T Quattro, cold weather, celebration, ESP (I think). Sticker was roughly $30,700. They made an offer of $29,300...roughly $1600 over invoice. Sounds like $1200-1700 over invoice isn't that unexpected with an Audi. Never had experience with the brand before, so I'm not sure what to think.
Also, I'm aware of the 2002 coming in. Not a big fan of the look and I'm sure the price will be a little stiffer than current model. Though, sounds like it'll have more room.
Any thoughts on price and or owning experience?
JB
Good luck!
Also, interesting experience when I went to the dealership in Milwaukee (International Autos). It was Saturday, my wife and I walked the lot for 20 minutes and nobody came to offer assistance. One salesman was helping another couple on the lot he'd walk right by with the other couple going from car to car. He didn't even say "hello", "I'll be right with you" or "I'll have someone come out to help"...nothing.
When we entered the showroom we looked at an A4 for 5-10 minutes, sitting in it, mulling it over, etc, etc. A salesman sat at a desk less than 12 feet away and again, never even offered a "hello." No one ever approached us.
Now, I'm not the 40-something investment banker looking to blow $60k on a new car, but we are 20-somethings looking to possibly enter the Audi family. Geez, I'm an ad exec., marketing is my life. And frankly, we're probably poster children for the A4. I guess I just thought the service would have been a little warmer, instead, I felt the arrogance I had feared.
I finally knocked on an office door and asked if the salesman would have the time to help us with some questions and take us for a spin. Ultimately, he was friendly, courteous, etc, etc...
I guess I'm not sure if it's just their style. Laid back, let the customer look on their own, take their time. Or, was it an arrogance?
What have others experienced. I'm curious.
JB