Audi A4 2004 and earlier

scirocco22

Bill-- So their asking price is now $19,800? I'm assuming that this is a 1.8T for I just fooled around with the KBB calculator and the "retail" KBB figure for a 1.8T configured as closely as possible with the options you listed is $23,685.

Other KBB calculations in the NC area for a '99 A4 1.8T with "your" options: trade-in = $17,305 and private party = $20,710

Of course you'd want to get the car for a price below the private party figure so the $19,800 sounds reasonable for a car in "excellent" condition because you obviously wouldn't want to pay over the private party figure. Personally, I'd maybe want to shave a few more dollars off of that price for as we can assume by the KBB figures, the dealer paid somewhere around the $17,305 figure leaving him with a mark-up of approximately $2,495. I'd want to get the figure closer to $2,000.

Another tip: Don't let the dealer convince you that the NADA book is the figure they're going by. The price of a used car is always what the market will bear. Here's a quotation from a carbuyingtips.com page which I have bookmarked (to read the entire page for more tips on "how to buy a used car" click HERE):

"When negotiating the used car selling price at the dealer, remind them that they paid $3000-$4000 less than market value for the car so they should not even be charging you market value. Remind them that true market value is not just a price in a book, it's whatever the market will bear. Tell them the market's not bearing, that car will sit there costing them money, and they are passing up their chance to unload it, and pay the bills and feed their family. They'll say you're crazy, the internet sites for car pricing are wrong, but ask people you know how much the dealer gave them for their trade in. If they try to justify their price by bringing up the warranty, tell them you should not have to pay extra for the car to be reliable for 90 days. It does not matter how much they "claimed" they paid for the car or how long it's been sitting there, the car is worth only what it's worth, what you are willing to spend, not what they write on the sticker. If you tell the dealer you have Kelley Blue Book pricing, they will laugh and say they use NADA pricing. NADA pricing is higher because it shows dealer cost to recondition the cars, and NADA is based on retail pricing at dealers, not so much on market pricing. We all know the average dealer price on a used car is $2,000 over market value."

Yes, an Audi --as we have discussed here before-- will definitely not be as reliable as a Lexus. And repairs will more than likely be just as expensive. But the driving experience one experiences with an Audi can't be matched by many Japanese cars, IMHO. It's a trade-off between realiablity and pure driving pleasure which ultimately makes one decide to pull-the-trigger on an Audi. I love the reliability of Japanese cars but I missed the character which only seems to come from a German engineered automobile. I'm reminded of that everytime I jump back in my A4 after driving my Subaru ...the Forester handles wonderfully for a "station wagon" but it ain't no Audi!

And like has been said on many message boards that have to do with cars, more messages seem to be posted when people are expressing displeasure with their cars than when everything is going well. When people have no problems, the tendency is for them not to post but when problems start occurring, they tend to go to message boards to ask for advice or to vent their frustrations. So yes, there are people having problems with their Audis but I have to believe that there are many more people out there that are happy and are having no (or few) problems.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out ...your daughter is a lucky girl! I hope I didn't offend you by my previous comments. I guess I have the same feelings as Andy ...envy. It took me years (I'm an "old guy" btw ) before I became an Audi owner.

--'rocco

scirocco22

Brian-- Thank you! I appreciate your thoughts! I guess it just proves that this just gets too addicting. How many times have I said in the past that I wouldn't post anymore??? *lol*

Yeah, I had some free time this long week-end so I thought I'd just respond to a few threads on some of the message boards which I participate. Here on the A4 thread, I know I irritate some people so I try my best not to post. I sometimes get the feeling that Mark is irritated by my posts for I guess I come across as a "know-it-all" sometimes. But I've tried many times to give him the credit he deserves by referring to him as our resident Audi expert. ;-)

Keep up the well written posts, Brian ...I've always enjoyed your messages!

--'rocco

markcincinnati

While I probably have "issues" from time to time with the posts here on edmunds, I can almost 100% say that I enjoy the spirited debate that seems to often ensue on this forum. I have tried to participate on other non-edumnds forums, I find them frustrating.

I generally agree with most of the posters here and respect virtually all of the thoughts presented.

This is, to me, relaxing -- a new age hobby -- and the cars are too. My wife and I love our families, friends, dogs, travelling, fine dining, and Audis -- mostly in that order. So this hobby of discussing our passion for cars and driving is very relaxing and often thought provoking.

So scirocco22 -- no irritation -- even if there may be disagreement from time to time. Keep up the discussions!

scirocco22

I agree with you that these Edmunds message boards are much more enjoyable than other car forums which I participate. The participants seem to be much more mature and civilized here. The discussions are definitely more thought provoking and analytical. Plus, these Edmunds forums are well moderated and administered to keep things from getting out-of-hand ...most of us serious posters appreciate that feature, I'm sure.

I appreciate your response.

--'rocco

marleybarr

Thanks to Mark, Audibon, and Scirocco22 for your informative answers.
It does seem that VW/Audi are "confusing" the market with similar models for the next couple of years.Different features are more important to some than others. For me, wide open access w/ rear seats folded down (on the Audi) is as important as 0-60 in 6.6 sec. Hopefully, Audi will "keep" certain features for the discerning buyer and preserve Audi as a "premium" or as Mark says- "sport luxury" brand.
BTW, drove to Bayfield,Wis. (Apostle Islands National Park) from St.Paul over Memorial Day. Averaged about 65mph @24.5 mpg. on 2.7T w/"tip". It was nice having the "power reserve" on 2-lane roads to kick it up to 100 mph or so during passing situations. It was tempting to keep up the speed for awhile on those wide-open country roads- but I wasn't unhappy keeping it at 65 or 70, it just made it easier to enjoy the scenery and the beautiful weather we were blessed with yesterday.I hope everyone had a great Memorial weekend!! Thanks-Max.

alow13

Hey, hopefully I will be purchasing a new A4 within the next two weeks and just wanted to get the some of your opinions about the leatherette upholstery. I just came from a dealer and sat in a cars with 'real' leather and ones with the leatherette and frankly, I could not tell much of a difference. Does anybody who got the leatherette wish that had forked up the extra cash for the leather or vice versa. BTW, I'm looking to pick up an A4 3.0 w/ quattro, sports package, premium package in denim blue (FYI). Thanks for any insight you all might have, and I must agree with the previous posters that this message board is definitely more fun to read than other boards that I have been to.

A.L.

awaltc

it will have a 4 year warranty, and will be cheaper than the used audi. Also the reliability is good enough for the cronies at CR to recommend them.

awaltc

I like the leatherette, and my guess is that it will have longer term durability (no cracking or peeling) with less maintenance. I also like the extra cash in my pocket.

mtb22203

Thanks to those who offered me advice a couple of weeks back. On Saturday, I became the owner of an '02 Denim Blue A4 1.8T with Quattro AWD, including 16" wheels, Leatherette interior, Heated Seats, Premium Pkg, and Sunroof. I would have liked Bose speakers, but aside from that, it's perfect!

I got it for $700 over invoice, and a good deal on my trade in.

I've already put 400 miles on it over the weekend!

JingleJill

I had leatherette in my 01 BMW 330i. I originally thought that it was worth the savings over leather; however, after a couple summers in the south Texas heat, I'll never have leatherette again.

When I went looking at the A4's a few weeks ago, we test drove some with the leatherette. Again, I thought yeah, I could live with it, but sticking to the seats is not fun. Then we drove one's with the real stuff. What a difference.

Leather is worth it; at least in my part of the country.

andys120

during hot weather and I'm sure it'd be worse in Texas (I'd have to drive naked in that heat).

I've had both leather and leatherette in an A4. The big advantage of leather is the smell. The big advantage of leatherette is the cash in your pocket...I call it a draw.

1pierce

I concur with the above opinion. I test drove 4 different A4's, two with leather and two with leatherette. Audi's leatherette is very convincing and I would not even consider the leather for an A4. I think Audi's is better than BMW's (although I am still getting leatherette in my 325i). BMW's leatherette seems more tactile and sticky than their leather. I don't notice this difference with Audi. I'm sure it breaths a little less in summer, but leather makes you sweat too, and in 80+ degree weather, turn on the AC.

I do agree that the leather smells better. But this is far more noticeable when new, and the leatherette doesn't have a bad smell, just different. My advice would be: in an A4, get the leatherette and spend the extra money on something else - you'll never miss the leather.

In a 325i, if you can swing the extra $1,400 (ouch!), get the leather, but don't sweat it (no pun intended) if you have to get leatherette - it will fool 90% of the people all of the time, and be very comfortable and durable.

markcincinnati

I would get the Audi only if AWD was an absolute need!

Otherwise I agree -- get a brand new Jetta or golf or New Beetle (1.8T!) -- might be same upfront costs, but potentially much lower "gothcha" costs.

Just another 2 cents worth. And, this from an Audi "bigot."

marleybarr

To MTB22203:
Congrats on your new Audi vehicle, did you get the "shift" or "tip" tranny?
What kind of gas mileage are you getting?

thanks-max.

scirocco22

I agree with the pro-leatherette comments above. Many of you know how much I like leatherette. As I've said before, I had it in my old Scirocco and it looked new 11 years later with little or no maintenance. Leatherette doesn't stretch out of shape like leather tends to do. With some cars that have leather, the seats look old after only a few years because of the cracking and stretching. Just be careful if you're a smoker ...I've seen a loose ember in a friend's car melt a blemish or a hole in the "vinyl" really quickly.

Jetta or Golf: Good points. Bill, are you still here? That might be a better way to go. Both have extensive safety features and some models (if not all?) will have traction control if you're worried about her in icy conditions ...probably safer to buy her a set of dedicated "snows" if you are in the snowy part of North Carolina ...if there is a snowy part.

btw, congratulations, Mike!

--'rocco

awaltc

I got the same configuration in dolphin Gray a few months back and I love it! I got pinched for a bit more, but up here in Connecticut the demand is such that the dealers get a bit more. I was tempted to visit my folks in Florida and get it for closer to invoice, but I've had problems getting a pizza pie to my specifications down there, so I figured I better not push my luck! I don't think the BOSE system would make you any happier. The poor positioning of the speakers makes it difficult to get a decent soundstage going in the A4. That's my only complaint with the car so far! I keep sneaking out every night for a spin, and it's been close to two months! Happy Driving!

JBaumgart

Thanks for the review between the old and new A4 models - have not yet driven the new one but based on what I've read your comparo was right on the mark. I do think I'll wait another model year before replacing our '98.5 - it's been a great car and still looks and drives like new. I'm intrigued by the CVT/Quattro combination too, and wouldn't consider a FWD version here in Minnesota. And if they could just stuff that 2.7T motor in there, I don't think I could resist...

osamaomar

Greetings Audi Specialists. I am looking for a A4 1.8 T 5 speed or CVT for my wife. Availability in my area, central florida is tight and prices are high. She has her heart set on an A4 and i would greatly appreciate any suggestions on dealers/dealerships that offer competitive deals. I am hoping to close a deal for 700-1000$ over invoice.
Thank you in advance for your help.

JingleJill

Maybe I'm just hot blooded. My Acura TL-Type S has black leather interior and I have yet to sweat in the seats like I did in the BMW leatherette.

When I was looking at the A4's I even considered the cloth, however once I saw it and felt it I would have stuck with the leatherette or leather. I'm surprised they even offer cloth in the A4, it was AWFUL!!!

BTW, the A4 is a great car. We drove every combination they offered. I would have loved one, but my husband said it was too small.

tim_hooligan

I need a little help here. I purchased my 2001 A4 back in October, and since then it has been in the shop 4 times for the same problems. I have been taking it to the same shop here in Northern Virginia, but they just cannot fix (and I don't think they even TRY) or even duplicate the problems.

*So far, the left rear window sill rattles like crazy. 4 times in the shop and still rattling.

*Oil dripping from under car got worse after I took it in.

*Brakes screech like a squashed cat when car is in reverse.

* 2nd gear at lower RPM grinds and vibrates (it's an auto/tip) also.

Most of these things are not major, but I am at my wits end with trying to get any answers from the Audi service people. If anyone else knows a good service department in the DC metro area, please let me know. Or, if you know a way to contact Audi of America to get some answers, PLEASE let me know!

alow13

you all never let me down, your comments were insightful and very much appreciated. I think that I am going to save the cash and stick with the leatherette. I checked carsdirect.com yesterday and their price was $31936 with the configuration that I wanted. From what I can tell it seems like a fair price. I was wondering if anyone on this board has ever used carsdirect.com, and if they have what have they thought about the process. Thanks again. I'm looking forward to this purchase.

A.L.

markcincinnati

Your new car will be $31936 without leather. That's a bundch Are you buying, financing or leasing this car?

#1

If you are buying it, for cash and plan to get rid of it before it dies but longer than 5 years: go with the leatherette, if less than 4 years consider the leather -- why "resale value" (according to my dealer). Everyone wants their used car to come with leather 'cause it shows they got claaasssss!

#2

If you are leasing and plan to go full term -- leatherette, cause who cares, "it's a rental!"

#3

If you are financing (buying with OPM, other peoples money) see #1 -- same general concerns might still apply.

Just a thought!

alow13

I hadn't actually thought about the points that you brought up, but to answer your question, I will be buying the car and definitely plan on keeping it longer than 4 years. Oh, you mentioned that $31936 was a bundle, were talking in general or specifically for the model that I am looking at? I am looking for a A4 3.0 w/ quattro and sports package. I really do not need or really want any other options. However, please feel free to comment if you think that a better deal can be had.

A.L.

marleybarr

Does anyone know when the A4 (ragtop) is arriving in the USA? Will it have the twin-turbo option?
To Mark- Now that you have had quite a "test-ride" on the A6 4.2- is the vehicle worth the extra $5000-$7000 over the 2.7T w/manual?

Thanks-Max.

scirocco22

Stacy-- ...hot blooded? nothin' wrong with that.

Tim-- Jeez, sorry to hear about your problems. Have you tried to get your salesperson involved? I know my salesman reiterates everytime I see him that if I ever have any problems with their service department or have any kind of issues with the car to bring it to his attention. If he wants your business again or wants you to refer him/her to your friends or family, he'll more than likely give you some assistance in trying to get your concerns satisfied. And before trying another dealership's service department, ask to speak to the service manager. Express your concerns to him/her and see what he has to offer. They'll usually refer you to a district representative of AoA who specializes in conflict resolutions if things can't be worked out at the dealership locally.

I don't like the sound of an oil leak. A new car shouldn't have any oil leaking at all. Years ago, I bought a new VW and had oil leaking too. It turned out to be nothing more than a mis-threaded oil drain plug but after many attmepts to correct the situation, none of their solutions worked. I finally had to sit down with the service manager to discuss ultimatums. They finally replaced the entire oil pan under warranty.

Hmmm, AoA used to have a toll-free customer service number listed on their website. I no longer see it listed. They may have given up on trying to talk to people on the phone for I remember reading on AudiWorld that some people took advantage of the number by hassling the customer service reps about petty items. I know whenever I called the number to talk to a CSR, they were sometimes snarly or very curt and to the point at their very best. They still do have an email form you can use to contact them though: http://audiusa.com/feedback_formA/0,,categoryId-11,00.html Good luck!

Alex-- My own experience tells me that you can get a much better price negotiating with a dealer yourself than using Carsdirect. Even using the Edmunds' calculator for TMV, Carsdirect prices --especially for Audis-- will *almost* always be higher. Most of us have purchased our cars for significantly less that the Edmunds' TMV so that goes to show you how much you might be saving by not using Carsdirect. Depending on your location, my comments may not be true for certain other locales or manufacturers. However, talking with people whom have used Carsdirect, most have reported things going fairly smooth ...but I'd just as soon have a direct relationship with the dealership --just IMHO. Hope your purchasing decisions go well too!

--'rocco

audibon

Just surprised to hear that your husband felt the A4 was too small. My friend and I had test driven quite a few cars and he liked my A4 and the S4 he test drove. A 3 series is out because the trunk is too small for golf clubs and a bicycle. We also test drove both 2002 A4's and they were nice. He really liked the A6 2.7T w/6spd, surprised how much room it had. We were shocked how cramped we felt in a 540i 6spd. and trunk space was disappointing. So, what did he get? A Nissan Maxima SE 6spd! Not a bad car but not what he was shopping for or wanted in my opinion. He wanted RWD or AWD and something German. The Maxima is a large car with stiff suspension in everyday driving but when pushed hard in twisties does not inspire confidence. Plus torque steer is almost unmanageable. Your husband might want to check out the A6 if you guys are car shopping next time. Just a thought...
Brian

bluetrane

I just got my invitation to join the Audi Car Club in the mail today. is anyone else here a member? Is it worth $40 per annum?

TIA
Rick

markcincinnati

I DID NOT MEAN that I thought the amount was too much, I just meant that the additional cost for leather is relatively small, and since you are paying cash for the car and apparently might get rid of it in year 5, my dealer friend says that used cars with leather often are "worth more" to used car buyers, hence worth more to you. Over the 5 year (I am speculating) period the cost seems small and there may be more residual in the leather to the subsequent buyer/owner.

By the way, I do think Audi's leatherette is very very nice and durable. I do find that leather "breathes" where vinyl doesn't, but the Audi sort of makes up for that since the leatherette is perforrated.

It is, in sum, a relatively small additional amount -- and that is what my original comment meant. I do not think your price is too high, it is just that $30+K is a bunch of money.

markcincinnati

No it is not worth $40 a year, it is worth much more.

andys120

JingleJill

Funny thing...the car is/was for me. He has a new Dodge Ram. However, I wanted him to be happy with my car too.

In the end, we ended up with a 2003 Acura TL-S. It was too good of a deal to pass up and he liked it. Go figure...

brick22

I received my vin # from the dealer a couple of days ago. My car is built and learning to speak Deutsch. Now the ocean and nation crossing to go. This waiting reminds me of a really slow downloading experience. In my spare time I compare greys on the Audiworld site--my favorite replacement color is achat grey--but it sounded as though it has to be special ordered--I still sometimes wish I'd ordered atlas grey, but dolphin it is and dolphin it will be.

Am I the only one out there still waiting on an order? What does the allocation business mean? Does a dealer have to wait for an allocation to place an order?

tim_hooligan

Thanks for the advice. I in fact got both the service manager and salesman involved on my last issue and it finally got resolved. I'm just PO'ed that anything that needs to be fixed requires 3 trips, salesmen, and managers to get any attention.
The A4 is a fine car in its own right, and if they could just get a little better service I'd buy another!!!

For anyone considering the new A4: GET THE SPORT PACKAGE!!! WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!

Timmmmmaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy

scirocco22

Tim-- Yeah, it's too bad that they couldn't get it right the first time but I've had relationships with many dealers through the years and that's the way it usually happens. For the most part and from what I've gathered from my experiences, the dealers service departments are obviously under the pressure of time and their main function is to turn a profit. So their main focus is trying to get as many "paying" customers and jobs as they can. Warranty work and adjustments take a lower priority it seems for they are not high profit for the dealership. I'd suspect this especially true for Audi assurance program for even though they get reimbursed by the manufacturer for the time spent and parts used, it is not necessarily a direct money maker for them. It's too bad it's that way but that seems to be the way it is. It's good to hear that you finally got your issues resolved, however.

Jill (brick22)-- As I said in my last post to you, the more I see the dolphin Avant the more I like it. Now that I've seen both the atlas and the dolphin on Avants, I know I'd definitely choose the dolphin. And what exactly is achat? Concerning alloctions, yes, that's how it was explained to me ...special orders are included in the dealers allotment. So let's say that they have sold or have orders for their current allocation, they'd have to wait for their next allocation to special order a car for a customer. In my case, I remember Web telling me that if I wanted to factory order a car, I'd have to wait for their next allotment unless someone were to "back out" of a tentative sale. I ended up choosing a car that was in transit that was scheduled or intended to be included in their inventory. It had more options than I originally wanted but I'm glad I settled for those included options now.

Mark-- I agree with your assessment of leatherette. Audi always lists "perforated" leatherette when referring to the seats. The perforation has to make a world of difference compared with non-perforated vinyl, I'm sure.

--'rocco

steven39

hi deacref 21000 bucks is a lot
of money for a used car.considering
that same 21000 bucks will by a brand
new car with warranty such as jetta
accord, even the new altima.or the
acura rsx

andys120

but assuming it's an A4 that could be a very good price-or not- depending on year, mileage and condition. Many of us would rather have a slighly used Audi at that price than a new Jetta, warranty or no.

There's no comparison w any of the other cars you named either.

I can tell you from experience that a little bit more, say $25k will get you a loaded CPO A4Q V6 with a terrific warranty and the balance of the free maintainence plan.

I decided that was way better than an Accord or an RSX, even a loaded one (which do NOT have AWD-among other things).

mtb22203

Max...

Sorry I didn't reply sooner...I've been driving too much!

I've got the tiptronic transmission...I don't recall exactly what my mileage is right now, but I think it said right around 23 or so...

The car is great...couldn't be happier!

steven39

hi andy, i was refering to a guy who
found 1999 audi a4 turbo with 37000
miles for 21000 dollars it simply
doesnt make sense to spend that kind'
of money when u can buy a brand
spanken new car with warranty

andys120

but an A4 is barely broken in at 37k miles. That's the difference between it and a brand-spanking new car with a warranty, which delivers a 5-10k depreciation hit once you title it.

New isn't everything.

marleybarr

Glad you like the Audi, sounds like the gas mileage isn't bad for "tip" + turbo!

thanks-max.

regfootball

you see the new Carousel Audi yet? Wow...lots of cars.....must of had 50 A4's in stock.

JBaumgart

Have seen it just from a distance (looks beautiful from the freeway). I'm about ready to make a service appt. - hopefully the new building has allowed them to expand their service hours and cut down on their wait times - and maybe lower their prices a bit too. Their first quote when I went to buy my A4 and then allroad has always been just $500 below list.

pat

The Town Hall is about to take on a new look in an effort to make content more easily searchable and accessible.

Have you seen the Letter from the Town Hall Manager on the Town Hall Welcome page? If not, you might want to follow that link to have a look.

And hang on to your seats. Change is never easy - for any of us - but resolving the Search problems we've had will be worth the pain.

Pat
Sedans Host

marleybarr

I stopped in last week at the new Carousel Audi/Porsche on Hwy.394. I can't believe that there is enough wealthy people to support 2 Porsche dealers (owned by the same company), Maplewood (in St.Paul) to justify that new exquisite building in Golden Valley.
The Audi building is a prototype of Audi headquarters in Germany, and is very impressive. The Porsche building is slightly smaller but also extremely well-done!
Carousel claims to be the largest volume Audi service department in the country. The service department is twice as large as the old building. Of course, the showroom is 3 times bigger than the old building next door! When I stopped in, the salesman said he did not know what was going to done with the old building.

1pierce

audibon: Lets get serious, a Maxima SE is an excellent car. I've driven one for almost 4 years (and that was the previous generation model), and the torque steer is anything but "unmanageable". The car is very roomy, has a fantastic engine (superior to Audi's 3.0 IMO), and handles very well w/SE trim. I prefer the style of the A4 and A6, and a Maxima does not feel German, but along with the TL, it is the "smartest" midsize sedan buy in America today, when you factor in features, performance, practicality, reliability, build quality and price.

I just ordered a 3-series, so I do like German cars, and I cross shopped the A4 3.0 and sweat blood over the decision. But if the guy who bought the Maxima SE doesn't have Euro-envy, which I did, I think he'll be ecstatic about his new car.

Incidentally, its about a $10,000 price jump from a TL to an A6 (about 33%), and you get less "stuff", and lower reliability, for your money. I'm not sure its a fair cross-shop, unless you have to have AWD.

audibon

You hit the nail on the head! I agree that the Maxima is a great car, and that engine is better than the new 3.0 that is in the A4. In fact my friend likes my 2001 1.8T better than the 2002 3.0. He also liked the 2002 1.8T in the new A4 better than the 3.0, go figure. We really weren't cross shopping per se, we just came up with a list of sedans with a 5 or 6 spd and decent engines. I really drove his car hard and maybe unmanageable is the wrong word to use; I would have to say annoying is more the term that would fit for me. I am so used to AWD and no torque steer at all that it bothered me enough to not like the car. Not an issue for me, I don't make the payments on it. The problem is he went from a Passat to this and expected comparable handling and it just isn't there. The car is much larger than a Passat and very front end heavy, when pushed to the limit the car plows badly. I think he really liked the the S4 and A6 2.7T both for the acceleration and trunk space along with the interior volume on the A6. He golfs and bikes so a 3 series is out, we drove a 540i 6spd and were surprised at how cramped we felt inside. Trunk space is comparable to an A4/A6. Every Audi we looked at was Assured and he liked that as well but the dealer would not work with him on his Passat trade. There are other things that get me about the car as well that just don't fit with his long term wishes. The styling with the clear taillights and the subwoofer are just too boy racer for me. I think in the end he will suffer from the European envy because that is what he desired for so long, a German sedan with RWD or AWD and reserved styling with excellent performance. Thanks for your thoughts, only time will tell.
Brian

nyccarguy

My friend recently traded (November) in his 2000 Maxima SE 5 speed for an A4 3.0 Q SP 6 speed. The Maxima is a great car. He says the difference between the 3.O V6s are that the 24V V6 in the Maxima "always wants to go faster" while the Audi 30V V6 "is composed and comfortable at any speed." He said the Maxima engine felt explosive while the Audi engine is smooth.

speedracer3

The Maxima and A4 are apples and oranges. While the theme in the A4 is sport/luxury, the theme in the Maxima is more sport. I own a 2000 Maxima SE and it is insanely fast, and the engine is a dream. I have my sights on an A4 1.8T CVT for my next car, and although the 1.8T is no hot rod (unless chipped) it is a very good engine. I must be honest, reliability issues with Audi worry me, my Maxima has been bullit proof since I got it in '99 and I dunno if I can expect the same out of the A4.

nyccarguy

While my friend's car hasn't been exactly as trouble free as his Maxima was, the few small things that have broken have been fixed. It took the dealer a few times to fix his gas gauge. He most recently (this morning) took the car in for an alignment (he hit a huge pothole) and to have the tires rotated. The service rep wrote the car up as "pulling to the left" and "wandering at high speeds." Both requests were performed under warranty for no charge. While they were rotating the tires, they found that all 4 rotors were warped and the front pads were wearing unevenly. These parts were also replaced free of charge. His car has 12,000 miles.

JBaumgart

Yesterday I noticed that a headlight was out on my wife's A4, so on the way home from work she stopped at the local dealer to see if she could get it replaced. She drove away in less than 10 minutes, and wasn't even charged for the part, even though the car is more than a year out of warranty. How's that for service?
(Dealer is Carousel Audi in Minneapolis - thanks Carousel!).