It reduces your ground clearance by an inch and a half. This can be a problem if you drive in snow. And speaking of driving in snow... The sport package also comes with tires which are not all-season. That means they are completely useless on snow, even with AWD. I'm not joking. You will have to buy some snow tires or at least all-season tires for snow.
The sports package lowers by 20mm, not 1.5". Unless you live somewhere funny, should still have plenty of clearance. I can attest that the tires are no good in snow, but they are excellent in dry and rain.
If you want more info, there should be a lot of A4s and S4s at the autocross at Golden Gate Fields in Albany CA this Sunday (August 27th) morning. You can stop by and meet people to get ideas, though they are very "enthusiast" oriented (obviously)
Being 20mm. I thought it was 40mm. Those who have swapped their standard springs for sport springs report that the car starts out 20mm lower and then sags a more as the springs wear in. However, this isn't strictly comparable, as a normal A6 with sport springs doesn't have all the same suspension components as an A6 with the true sport suspension.
1) Any suggestions on a bike rack for an S4/A4? I've only seen one recommendation on another board for Nashbars Mondial rack...
2) Dealers in CO and NM are adding so called permanent vinyl clear bras on their cars on the lots. It's a hand cut, form fitting plastic cover that's permanently installed to protect the front end from chipping during the winter months here, where they sand the roads vs salt.
Anyone have one of these? Any words on the pros/cons?
Check out Yakima at www.yakima.com and Thule at www.thule.com. They are probably the two biggest players in the roof rack game. I myself have owned both brands. The yakima seems to fit a bit better and they do have a bunch of options for carrying bikes. I highly suggest getting a wind fairing with any roof rack though. Cuts down on noise A LOT.
I really love the looks of the A4 2.8, as well as its interior and handling. I want so much to buy the thing, but I just need a little more raw power. Maybe it's just that the car is SO dang heavy, I'm not sure. It just feels underpowered for the weight. I'm looking into the S4, but it is a tad pricey and the wait is long. Any other ideas? I will also look at the Acura TL and CLS, Infiniti I30 (but that whip cream feel handling me). Where I live, everybody and their dog drives a BMW, so I am avoiding that car on general principle (plus I think it's a little overpriced).
A4 IMO is the best looking car out there. I hear lot of good things about A4, especially the handling. I own an Accord and thought it has a pretty good handling (comparing to cars like Camry) until I test drove the Integra. Now, I am curious about the A4. Can anyone give me an insight for a handling comparison between A4 and Integra? Is A4 is even better than the Integra? A lot better? Thanks.
The majority of A4 owners on www.audiworld.com came from either an Integra or Prelude. I came from a Prelude and although there were many pluses to it and I loved it, the A4 is more refined and just a better car all around. You might want to go to Audiworld and post that question. I bet you get tons of answers.
sanfranfamily
My husband and I own a TL, along with my A4 2.8, and although the TL is a wonderful car and has great, smooth raw power (more than the 2.8), I prefer the A4 for it's tossability and seating position, and it has more than enough power for everyday situations, unless you like drag racing at a light. My husband loves the A4 as well. We like the TL because of the NAV system and it's more luxurious demeanor, but the A4 is the one we prefer to drive.
I've noticed a number of postings about exterior colors and whether they show dirt - especially the black.
Well I have a 1998 A4 2.8 (coming up on its three year anniversary 9/22) in Pelican Blue. It looks shiny whether its dirty or not, and I can always find it in the parking lot.
Can't understand why silver is so popular - it makes a hot-looking car so mundane.
I have had the valve noise problem at cold start. The A4 seems to burn a little more oil than I would expect in a new car (I would expect to get from one service to the next without adding oil) - the noise is lessened if the oil is kept topped off (at least in mine).
I'm considering the A4 2.8, 1.8, and S4, I'm leaning towards the 2.8 over the 1.8 because I want a V6 but is the extra $7000 worth 20 more horses? Also, I hear the quattro version of the A4 is lethargic from what Edmund says, is that truly the case? If so, then I guess I'll be spying the S4 but I think the S4 is a bit pricey, or is that extra umph, worth it? I have no intentions of being the next Mario, but at a stop light I'd like to look at the guy next to me, and unless he's driving a true sports car, know that he hasn't got a chance at beating me off the green!
I am considering an A4 but I'm 6'4" tall and 220 lbs. Sure I can fit in for the test drive but how will I feel after several thousand miles? I make a 5 hour round trip at least twice a month. Any large A4 owners care to comment?
My husband is 6'3" and 215 lbs. and has driven my car up to 4 hours at a time and thinks it's extremely comfortable and supportive. Great driving position. You might want to go to www.audiworld.com and ask this question. There are many people your height and weight. I asked the same question when I was looking to buy because of my husband's size. Also, we have the 2.8, which sits higher because of the power seats and he is still comfortable, and even with the sunroof has head room.
I have a few questions about the A4 before I purchase one:
I live in Mandeville LA, and drive accross Lake Pontchatrain 5 days a week. My commute is 45 minutes and I am 6' 5". When I test drove the car, I fit OK, but that was for only 10 minutes. Will I be comfortable for a 45 minute drive every day?
What is a fair price. The options I want are automatic transmission and premium package (sunroof). The MSRP is 27,840 and the dealer invoice is 24,900. How deep to they discount these cars?
What is the reliability of these cars? I have always thought Audi to be a reliable vehicle but I have seen mixed reviews from various sources. I currently drive a '92 Honda Accord with 126,000 miles and haven't had any major problems other that standard wear and tear. I don't want to get stranded in the middle of the lake.
Are there any major changes in the vehicle line is the near future that would impact the value of my car?
I have a car arriving at my dealer in the next 4 weeks and would like my fears to subside before it gets here.
HELP!!! I want a great handling car that is fun yet relaxing to drive, quiet yet racey. Cars I'm looking at: Audi A6 & A4, Passat, Infiniti I30. Audi test drive was terrific. Think I'm leaning that way. I envision holding the car 4-6 years. I'm a transplanted New Yorker in the Midwest with schizophrenic driving tendencies to match. Also, should I go for a new model or get a great deal on a 2000????
I have a 98 A4 2.8 quatro with manual transmission, which was exactly what I wanted except it is missing sport suspension. I just bought the car with all options - used for in my opinion a great deal of 21k here in Northern California. My car has almost 35k miles and I was considering switching to some of the sport springs or possibly some of the ones from an S4. I have seen these for sale in the personal classifieds of audiworld.com for some owners that have upgraded still from the sport springs. Prices range in the $100 to $200 range for slightly used springs. These seem to be a good option as I don't think I would have to change much else like shocks. Is there any other parts to the sport suspension that I could purchase? I could stay with what I have but I guess I need to test drive one with sport suspension so I can get a better feel for if it is worth the switch.
Any thing I should look out for and what would be the cost of getting these installed for me? Or should I try to buy new parts from the dealer direct?
The handling and performance far exceed that of my old car - an 85 Mercedes 380SL. That was a different type of car. More of a classic style with the convertible top and heavy like a little truck. 3800lbs vs. the A4 at 3500lbs.
As far as your height is concerned, I own a 2.8 which sits higher because of the power seats. My husband is 6'3" and we have a sunroof, and he has plenty of headroom in the 2.8. He would have alot more room in the 1.8, which looks like the model you are intending to purchase. He has driven the car at a four hour clip and never tires. As far as reliability is concerned, my car is going to have it's 1st birthday soon, and I have had no problems whatsoever. The remote didn't work a few days after deliver, but it was defective and they replaced it. No problems since then. Now with the 4 yr/50,000 warranty and all paid maintenance, there is little to worry about unless you are planning to keep the car longer than that. Then I would get an extended warranty, which I would purchase on any car that I planned to keep after the warranty expired. As far as discounts on the A4 is really depends on where you live, but from what I gather on Audiworld, there are not too many great discounts. Paying $2000 over invoice is considered a decent deal. Good luck!
circe:
I am a crazy transplanted New Yorker as well, and the A4 has been wonderful, no matter how hard I drive it. I would try and swing the 2001, as the warranty has been extended to 4 yrs./50,000 miles instead of 3 yrs/50,000 which to me makes a big difference. Also, the side headbags are now standard, as are the sports steering wheels. I think the warranty thing and the fact that you will not own a 1 year old car would be the deciding factors for me, especially since you said you want to own the car for 4-6 years. If you owned it for 4 years, you would have everything paid for, the BTB warranty and all maintenance. What more can you ask for? Good luck to you too. Great car!
I have a 99.5 a4 2.8 with every option, including sport package. I spent alot of time last winter in vermont and there was plenty of snow and ice. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. Granted I'm sure it would be even better with snow/all season type tires but you certainly don't need them. I parked my car on a steep hill in a plow drift at the side of the road that must have been 1.5 feet deep. The car did bottom out on the snow, but when I got back in to go I just pressed on the gas and it got out with no hesitation. Not even a slight wheelspin. Bottom line is that a quattro equipped audi with sport tires does better than my old front driver with snow tires. Way better. DEfinately get the sport package. I love it and wouldn't trade it for the world.
I'm an Aussie, dont hold it against me . Anyway after 9 years of trudging around in a Corolla, of frugal spending (still haven't been overseas) and of hard work I have come to the decision that its time to treat myself.
Now I've always WANTED an Audi, and now HAVE the money for it since the intro of GST (an Aussie tax thing) has made lux cars somewhat cheaper.
But now that i have the money, i'm thinking about the hard yards i've put in, and am SCARED that it would be a waste of money...i have never driven an Audi prefering to wait till i could buy one and savour the experience. Anyway given this hesitation, the Honda Accord and VW Passat have crossed my mind...
The Accord v6 is about 43000 (thats aussie dollars) b4 haggling, the passat about the same...The Audi about 50,000 to 66000 (quattro, tiptronic) b4 haggling. So what i need is for some of you fantastic Audi lovers to knock some sense into me. Tell me WHY I should want the AUDI over the Passat/Accord. Your time would be much appreciated!
Oh yeah, decision on Colour? The dealer near me has Blue, Silver, and black.
Hi down under. How's the Olympic frenzy coming along?
Anyway, I own a '00 A4 2.8, my brother owns a '00 Passat, and my husband owns a '00 TL (Acura-Honda). I test drove all three before I purchased the A4 and have to say the other two are wonderful cars, but the A4 is notches above either car exteriorially, interiorially, free maintenance, quattro, safety, handling, tossability, fun factor, refinement, luxury, performance, etc. The TL might be faster, but the Audi has the perfect balance of everything anyone looking for a true sports sedan could want. The quattro is unbeatable in kinds of weather, and really helps the handling and safety aspects of the car.
My car has been flawless for the past 11 months of ownership, and if I were to go out and buy another car right now, it would probably be the new A4, which will be introduced to the US next fall.
I would look into getting shocks too. The shocks that come with the lowered sports suspension are stiffer and are tuned to the lowered height of the springs. If you stick with the non-sport shocks, they'll probably need to be replaced ALOT sooner.
As for installation, I wouldn't go to your dealer. They'll charge an arm, leg, ear, nose, etc. I'd check around your town for a local european repair or tuning shop. Look to pay around $300.
It's also advised to get the car alligned after, but no necessary.
I am considering buying a 2001 A4 2.8, but I am concerned about the fact that I hear it will be redesigned next year with the 2002 model. Does anyone know what the extent of the redesign will be? Does Audi usually stick with minor modifications to the current overall look (similar to BMW) or is there a chance that the 2002 A4 will look significantly different than today's model? Any insight is appreciated!
Also, does anyone know what the story is with the 2.8 Automatic? I can't even find a dealer that has one (or expects one any time soon) that I can take for a test drive -- and neither of the two dealers I have been to (the only two in town) seem very concerned about trying to sell me a car - - all follow-up has been done by me! Is this kind of attitude typical for Audi? Makes me wonder what kind of service help I should expect after the purchase.
Will be major. Very major. No one has pictures yet though. Perhaps if you would search this topic back a little you would have read this already.
Car salesmen are what they are. If they have enough buyers already (and since you since find a 2.8 with an auto, I'm guessing they do), then they won't call you back and will instead try to sell different cars that they actually have.
This was actually a part of my decision to get a bmw instead of the audi when I was shopping one year ago. At the time, the rumor was the new A4 would be out in 2001, and I didn't want to take the depreciation hit that would come with the redesign. Now everyone says it will arrive with the 2002 model year. (My wifes said who cares so we ordered a 2001 for her.) However, I find it a little odd that with less than a year to introduction of the "new" A4, Audi has yet to show even a prototype or show car. Audi has officially delayed the introduction of a new A8 so maybe they're experiencing problems with these multiple redesigns.
New A4 is on the verge of coming out in Europe. It's still over a year away in the US.
Audi hasn't showed the A4 because they don't want to. Why would they want to show the prototype of the next version of a hot-selling car? All it will do is further depress sales of the current model.
Has anyone noticed that the trip computer and stereo settings can get knocked slightly out of whack if you leave your cell phone on in the car when the car is not running? i.e. the station does not stay set, the balance, bass, and/or fader are not right, the avg miles per gallon get zeroed out. It's as though a two year old were playing around with the controls. The only way that I have found to make the problem go away, is not too use the cell phone unless the car is running and to turn it off before I turn the car off. It just seems strange that the electronics are that sensitive on the A4.
On a slighlty realted topic. Does anyone know if it is possible to use the built in wiring with your own cell phone? I did not want the cell phone that Audi had installed since I already had my own. All Audi's come prewired for cell phones and it would be nice to use if it were possible. Also if it is possible, does it make a difference if my cell phone is digital? Thank you.
I heard the same thing a year ago, so I'm somewhat skeptical--especially in light of the A8 delay. As to prototypes, every other maker shows them whether their current models are moving quickly or slowly.
I'm also interested in the 2001 A4. Only reservation I have is the 2002 redesign.
Question: how long does typical VW/Audi model last? Japanese cars usually seem to get a major revamp every 4 to 5 years for cars, longer for SUV's. Also, when did the current A4 come out?
The current A4 came out in '96, so it will have had a six year run.
The European auto shows will be debuting the new A4, which will be here in the states, next fall. Personally, I would go for the current style, as I would not purchase any car in it's first year of production, so matter how nice it is (usually too many glitches). They will only make dramatic improvements come the following year after production.
I was killing time today so I checked the Audiworld site regarding the redesign. The information there seems to be that a new design will be debuted at the 2001 Frankfurt Auto Show and will come to the U.S. sometime in 2002 as a 2003 model. Of course, that info may be no more reliable than any other non-official source.
I'm looking at a 2000 a4 with a sticker of $28,500 and the dealer wants $27,000 for it. Seems that the discount should be more. Had another dealer with a 2001 model for $27,500. Any thoughts?
You should be able to get the dealer to drop the 2000 a little lower if the car is on the lot. If I had a choice I would try to go for the 2001, it has a better warranty and more horsepower. I bet you could get the dealer to drop the 2001 a little further too. I bought a 2000 A4 Avant the sticker was about 29750 and I was able to get the dealer to drop to around 27500 plus Lojack. I think that was between 3% & 5% above invoice. It all depends how much they want your business. I was fortunate that I could go to 4 different dealerships. Good luck!
I read somewhere that the A4 redesign is actually going to be a 5-door type of body. I assume this means that the sedan and Avant models are history. This could be a rumor, but it's what I heard. As a very happy '99 A4 Avant owner, I'm not convinced that the resale value of older cars is exactly going to crumble with the redesign. Audi's resale value has been really strong. I agree with another post (sorry, can't remember by whom) that buying the first year isn't exactly the best decision, though I thoroughly trust Audi to do a great job. For what it's worth, I bought my A4 (2.8/30V, 5-speed, quattro, Avant) after really enjoying an '87 5000S quattro 5-speed that I got used for a song. I decided to buy a new A4, have had it for 15 months/9K miles, and am ecstatic. I'm 6'3", and fit in it great (though nobody would want to sit behind me). I bought an Avant not for kids, but for *stuff*. Sporting equipment, etc. And because it looks cool ;-) Not a single complaint from me. It's fun to drive, safe, nimble, excellent in bad weather, comfortable, and beautiful - especially in black over black. My last comment... I got a great deal on my Audi. If you live in the east SF bay region, visit Diablo Audi, in Concord, CA. They're great both pre- and post-sale. (No, I don't work there!)
I always have a question whether to buy a VW or an Audi because many people say VW used many Audi parts and they shared the same platform.
I am comparing 2001 Audi A4 1.8t and 2000 VW Passat VR6. I don't want to compare A4 with Jetta 1.8t because Jetta has only 150hp and was made in Mexico. Both A4 and Passat were made in Germany.
It seems that Passat VR6 is a better deal because it has 6 cyclinders and is about the same price as the A4 1.8t 4 cyclinders. However, VW has only 2 years basic warranty although it has 10 years powertrain warranty. Audi seems to be a more upscale car, better warranty and service. I think I will keep the car for 4-5 years. Any comments/suggestions on these 2 cars ? Thanks.
Does anyone know whether an A4 has a power trunk botton/switch ? Do you need to open the trunk by key ? There is nothing mentioned this on the brochure. I guess the power trunk switch on the remote keyless entry is for wagon only.
Does all A4 have yellow or red signal lights at the rear ?
Where is the rear fog light ?
Can anyone feel the difference between a 2001 1.8t and a 2000 1.8t because of the additional 20hps ?
Is 5%-6% above invoice an average price for an A4 1.8t ?
My '99 A4 Avant may differ somewhat from the sedans, but here goes... Yes, my car has a power trunk button. It is located in the driver's door, below the armrest, behind the storage bin (near the bottom of the door). I seem to remember my friend's A4 sedan NOT having a button on the keyless remote. Mine does. This was not an option on my car. Red rear signal lights for the Avant, amber for the sedan. Rear fog light is inside the taillamp, driver's side (one side only). It's kind of an intense glow. 1.8T's are hot - shop around. In my area, dealers' prices vary considerably (at least, last year they did).
Is an extra red lamp on the rear. It is the brightness of a brake light, not a marker light. It is required in Germany, and they allow only one, not two, so it's asymmetrical on virtually all cars.
It is only to be used in very heavy fog where you can be seen better due to it's brightness. Using it in light fog or normal driving just confuses people into thinking your brakes are on.
There is no button on the remote to open the trunk. All four doors need to be open to open the trunk, so if you are approaching the car and want the trunk to open, you must click the remote twice to open all doors and push in the silver trunk key latch on the trunk to open it.
If you are inside the car, you need to use the power door locks to open all doors to open the trunk for someone to get into it from the outside. It sounds confusing, and they should have put a remote inside the car and an extra button on the remote, but like everything else in life, you get used to it.
I have a question about the A4 1.8T that I was hoping someone could answer. The horsepower on the 2001 has increased from 150 to 170. Since the engine size hasn't increased at all, is this power increase due purely to an increase in turbo output, or are there other improvements? That is, could I buy a used '99 or '00 and get a chip set and get the same or better horsepower output?
With a chip, you can easily reach 170HP without these improvements. 180HP is easily reached. You have no guarantee of the same reliability as Audi. However, someone will probably offer a conversion kit to give you these improvements. Of course, when aftermarket companies offer these kits, they will likely rate them at closer to 210HP, which means your reliability is once again questioned.
How long did you wait after you ordered your A4 ? Did you wait longer than your deal told you ? If you need to order from the factory, did you put down deposit, sell the old car, pay the new car or you just sold the old one and waited for the new one ?
Did you have a second car to drive in the meantime ? I hope I don't need to rent a car in the meantime because I have only 1 car.
Hello. Until yesterday I thought I had decided to give up my 10-year old Miata, for practical and safety reasons, and get a new or (more probably)used A4 instead, probably the 1.8T. But a casual search of the Car and Driver website produced a review of the '94 A4 in which they mentioned in passing that the only (!) flaw in their test model was that it needed a new transmission after about 10,000 miles. This made me wonder if I shouldn't buy something more sensible, like an Accord (god help me). I'm prepared for relatively high maintenance costs (our other car is a Volvo), but a blown transmission on a new car is pretty scary. I know most A4 owners are very happy with their cars, but wondered if anyone has thoughts on how to react to this information about a transmission. Any advice will be much appreciated.
I looked at the A4 too. If you're leaning that way, take a look at the new Lexus IS300. A little less money, depending upon options...and being Japanese, it's bound to be less expensive to repair. (Rear wheel drive too.) I admit I only have 280 miles on my IS300, but I sure am having fun...and there seems to be slightly more room inside than the A4 offers. Of course, if you have to have 4 wheel drive...the IS won't work. Even if you like a manual transmission, try the IS out. The push-button shifting on the wheel is fun.
I don't know anything about blown transmissions, but I can tell you that there weren't any A4s around in 1994. It wasn't introduced in the US until 96 (don't know about Europe).
Sorry, I meant the '96 A4. I know that was their first year, but I still don't know what to conclud from the fact that the car they sent to a leading auto magazine would have lost its transmission after about (if I remember right) 10,000 miles. Maybe all one conclude is that the world is a scary place; or that an extended warranty might be a good idea.
A comment on the transmission concern. There is no pattern of transmission promlems evident on the forums at audiworld.com. I've been reading this site for 2 years since I got my '98 A4. The quattro is also bulletproof - very rare to have any problems.
Two caveats about the '96 problem mentioned - first, this was the first year of the car, and second, the auto magazines don't exactly baby the transmissions. I wouldn't worry about it. Statistically, the biggest problems in cars today (Audis as well as most other makes) are electrical. There're a lot of complex electronics in today's cars.
I've all but decided on an '01 A4 1.8T FWD Manual. The only question is whether I get Quattro or not. I like that the non-Quattro is lighter, faster, and gets better gas mileage. But I like the fact that the Quattro has all-weather performance and can smoke any bimmer in the wet.
I poised this same question on the AudiWorld A4 forum and got mostly fanatical responses such as "if you're not getting Quattro then why are you looking at Audi??" Umm...because the A4 is one of the few cool cars out there that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to own. I got some level responses too, but I'm still not sure if Q is worth the added expense in weight, fuel, and performance. $1700 just to punch it through a corner 0.5s earlier isn't what I would call a bargain.
Anyways, I live in PA but am graduating from college (PSU - Go Lions!) so I'll be moving soon. Possible locations are Mid-Atlantic states and possibly lower New England states (Mass.) I don't think I'd really get enough snow in these areas to justify Quattro, except for maybe the Boston area.
I like the powertrain/performance of the new 325i better than the 1.8T. But I don't like the Bimmer's much lower level of equipment and steeper price at all - and it's RWD which would be horrible in anything but dry conditions.
Somebody help me out here. I've lived with FWD through some pretty yucky stuff for years and it's been fine. I guess performance is my primary concern (I've been traumatized by my parents boring, slow and lethargic 4cyl Camry's..aaah!!), so given that is Quattro worth it??
Comments
It reduces your ground clearance by an inch and a half. This can be a problem if you drive in snow. And speaking of driving in snow... The sport package also comes with tires which are not all-season. That means they are completely useless on snow, even with AWD. I'm not joking. You will have to buy some snow tires or at least all-season tires for snow.
The sports package lowers by 20mm, not 1.5". Unless you live somewhere funny, should still have plenty of clearance. I can attest that the tires are no good in snow, but they are excellent in dry and rain.
If you want more info, there should be a lot of A4s and S4s at the autocross at Golden Gate Fields in Albany CA this Sunday (August 27th) morning. You can stop by and meet people to get ideas, though they are very "enthusiast" oriented (obviously)
1) Any suggestions on a bike rack for an S4/A4? I've only seen one recommendation on another board for Nashbars Mondial rack...
2) Dealers in CO and NM are adding so called permanent vinyl clear bras on their cars on the lots. It's a hand cut, form fitting plastic cover that's permanently installed to protect the front end from chipping during the winter months here, where they sand the roads vs salt.
Anyone have one of these? Any words on the pros/cons?
The majority of A4 owners on www.audiworld.com came from either an Integra or Prelude. I came from a Prelude and although there were many pluses to it and I loved it, the A4 is more refined and just a better car all around. You might want to go to Audiworld and post that question. I bet you get tons of answers.
sanfranfamily
My husband and I own a TL, along with my A4 2.8, and although the TL is a wonderful car and has great, smooth raw power (more than the 2.8), I prefer the A4 for it's tossability and seating position, and it has more than enough power for everyday situations, unless you like drag racing at a light. My husband loves the A4 as well. We like the TL because of the NAV system and it's more luxurious demeanor, but the A4 is the one we prefer to drive.
Well I have a 1998 A4 2.8 (coming up on its three year anniversary 9/22) in Pelican Blue. It looks shiny whether its dirty or not, and I can always find it in the parking lot.
Can't understand why silver is so popular - it makes a hot-looking car so mundane.
I have had the valve noise problem at cold start. The A4 seems to burn a little more oil than I would expect in a new car (I would expect to get from one service to the next without adding oil) - the noise is lessened if the oil is kept topped off (at least in mine).
I live in Mandeville LA, and drive accross Lake Pontchatrain 5 days a week. My commute is 45 minutes and I am 6' 5". When I test drove the car, I fit OK, but that was for only 10 minutes. Will I be comfortable for a 45 minute drive every day?
What is a fair price. The options I want are automatic transmission and premium package (sunroof). The MSRP is 27,840 and the dealer invoice is 24,900. How deep to they discount these cars?
What is the reliability of these cars? I have always thought Audi to be a reliable vehicle but I have seen mixed reviews from various sources. I currently drive a '92 Honda Accord with 126,000 miles and haven't had any major problems other that standard wear and tear. I don't want to get stranded in the middle of the lake.
Are there any major changes in the vehicle line is the near future that would impact the value of my car?
I have a car arriving at my dealer in the next 4 weeks and would like my fears to subside before it gets here.
Thanks,
Any thing I should look out for and what would be the cost of getting these installed for me? Or should I try to buy new parts from the dealer direct?
The handling and performance far exceed that of my old car - an 85 Mercedes 380SL. That was a different type of car. More of a classic style with the convertible top and heavy like a little truck. 3800lbs vs. the A4 at 3500lbs.
Thanks for any advice or input.
-Rasta
As far as your height is concerned, I own a 2.8 which sits higher because of the power seats. My husband is 6'3" and we have a sunroof, and he has plenty of headroom in the 2.8. He would have alot more room in the 1.8, which looks like the model you are intending to purchase. He has driven the car at a four hour clip and never tires. As far as reliability is concerned, my car is going to have it's 1st birthday soon, and I have had no problems whatsoever. The remote didn't work a few days after deliver, but it was defective and they replaced it. No problems since then. Now with the 4 yr/50,000 warranty and all paid maintenance, there is little to worry about unless you are planning to keep the car longer than that. Then I would get an extended warranty, which I would purchase on any car that I planned to keep after the warranty expired. As far as discounts on the A4 is really depends on where you live, but from what I gather on Audiworld, there are not too many great discounts. Paying $2000 over invoice is considered a decent deal. Good luck!
circe:
I am a crazy transplanted New Yorker as well, and the A4 has been wonderful, no matter how hard I drive it. I would try and swing the 2001, as the warranty has been extended to 4 yrs./50,000 miles instead of 3 yrs/50,000 which to me makes a big difference. Also, the side headbags are now standard, as are the sports steering wheels. I think the warranty thing and the fact that you will not own a 1 year old car would be the deciding factors for me, especially since you said you want to own the car for 4-6 years. If you owned it for 4 years, you would have everything paid for, the BTB warranty and all maintenance. What more can you ask for? Good luck to you too. Great car!
I'm an Aussie, dont hold it against me
Now I've always WANTED an Audi, and now HAVE the money for it since the intro of GST (an Aussie tax thing) has made lux cars somewhat cheaper.
But now that i have the money, i'm thinking about the hard yards i've put in, and am SCARED that it would be a waste of money...i have never driven an Audi prefering to wait till i could buy one and savour the experience. Anyway given this hesitation, the Honda Accord and VW Passat have crossed my mind...
The Accord v6 is about 43000 (thats aussie dollars) b4 haggling, the passat about the same...The Audi about 50,000 to 66000 (quattro, tiptronic) b4 haggling. So what i need is for some of you fantastic Audi lovers to knock some sense into me. Tell me WHY I should want the AUDI over the Passat/Accord. Your time would be much appreciated!
Oh yeah, decision on Colour? The dealer near me has Blue, Silver, and black.
Thank you
Carlo
Anyway, I own a '00 A4 2.8, my brother owns a '00 Passat, and my husband owns a '00 TL (Acura-Honda). I test drove all three before I purchased the A4 and have to say the other two are wonderful cars, but the A4 is notches above either car exteriorially, interiorially, free maintenance, quattro, safety, handling, tossability, fun factor, refinement, luxury, performance, etc. The TL might be faster, but the Audi has the perfect balance of everything anyone looking for a true sports sedan could want. The quattro is unbeatable in kinds of weather, and really helps the handling and safety aspects of the car.
My car has been flawless for the past 11 months of ownership, and if I were to go out and buy another car right now, it would probably be the new A4, which will be introduced to the US next fall.
Good luck in your decision.
I would look into getting shocks too. The shocks that come with the lowered sports suspension are stiffer and are tuned to the lowered height of the springs. If you stick with the non-sport shocks, they'll probably need to be replaced ALOT sooner.
As for installation, I wouldn't go to your dealer. They'll charge an arm, leg, ear, nose, etc. I'd check around your town for a local european repair or tuning shop. Look to pay around $300.
It's also advised to get the car alligned after, but no necessary.
Also, does anyone know what the story is with the 2.8 Automatic? I can't even find a dealer that has one (or expects one any time soon) that I can take for a test drive -- and neither of the two dealers I have been to (the only two in town) seem very concerned about trying to sell me a car - - all follow-up has been done by me! Is this kind of attitude typical for Audi? Makes me wonder what kind of service help I should expect after the purchase.
Thanks!
Car salesmen are what they are. If they have enough buyers already (and since you since find a 2.8 with an auto, I'm guessing they do), then they won't call you back and will instead try to sell different cars that they actually have.
C'est la vie.
Audi hasn't showed the A4 because they don't want to. Why would they want to show the prototype of the next version of a hot-selling car? All it will do is further depress sales of the current model.
On a slighlty realted topic. Does anyone know if it is possible to use the built in wiring with your own cell phone? I did not want the cell phone that Audi had installed since I already had my own. All Audi's come prewired for cell phones and it would be nice to use if it were possible. Also if it is possible, does it make a difference if my cell phone is digital? Thank you.
They have had two problems one of which is that the phone does indeed interfere with the car a little. I think they are work on fixing those problems.
Someone on the A6 forum had a beta kit from Audi and gave them some feedback.
When these kits will be ready is unknown.
Question: how long does typical VW/Audi model last? Japanese cars usually seem to get a major revamp every 4 to 5 years for cars, longer for SUV's. Also, when did the current A4 come out?
Current A4 came out in 97 or something. Wasn't really well received until it got rid of the old 12v 2.8 V6 and got the new 30v 2.8 V6 in 98.
The European auto shows will be debuting the new A4, which will be here in the states, next fall.
Personally, I would go for the current style, as I would not purchase any car in it's first year of production, so matter how nice it is (usually too many glitches). They will only make dramatic improvements come the following year after production.
As a very happy '99 A4 Avant owner, I'm not convinced that the resale value of older cars is exactly going to crumble with the redesign. Audi's resale value has been really strong.
I agree with another post (sorry, can't remember by whom) that buying the first year isn't exactly the best decision, though I thoroughly trust Audi to do a great job.
For what it's worth, I bought my A4 (2.8/30V, 5-speed, quattro, Avant) after really enjoying an '87 5000S quattro 5-speed that I got used for a song. I decided to buy a new A4, have had it for 15 months/9K miles, and am ecstatic. I'm 6'3", and fit in it great (though nobody would want to sit behind me). I bought an Avant not for kids, but for *stuff*. Sporting equipment, etc. And because it looks cool ;-)
Not a single complaint from me. It's fun to drive, safe, nimble, excellent in bad weather, comfortable, and beautiful - especially in black over black.
My last comment... I got a great deal on my Audi. If you live in the east SF bay region, visit Diablo Audi, in Concord, CA. They're great both pre- and post-sale. (No, I don't work there!)
I am comparing 2001 Audi A4 1.8t and 2000 VW Passat VR6. I don't want to compare A4 with Jetta 1.8t because Jetta has only 150hp and was made in Mexico. Both A4 and Passat were made in Germany.
It seems that Passat VR6 is a better deal because it has 6 cyclinders and is about the same price as the A4 1.8t 4 cyclinders. However, VW has only 2 years basic warranty although it has 10 years powertrain warranty. Audi seems to be a more upscale car, better warranty and service. I think I will keep the car for 4-5 years. Any comments/suggestions on these 2 cars ? Thanks.
botton/switch ? Do you need to open the trunk by key ? There is nothing mentioned this on the brochure. I guess the power trunk switch on the remote keyless entry is for wagon only.
Does all A4 have yellow or red signal lights at the rear ?
Where is the rear fog light ?
Can anyone feel the difference between a 2001 1.8t and a 2000 1.8t because of the additional 20hps ?
Is 5%-6% above invoice an average price for an A4 1.8t ?
Yes, my car has a power trunk button. It is located in the driver's door, below the armrest, behind the storage bin (near the bottom of the door).
I seem to remember my friend's A4 sedan NOT having a button on the keyless remote. Mine does. This was not an option on my car.
Red rear signal lights for the Avant, amber for the sedan.
Rear fog light is inside the taillamp, driver's side (one side only). It's kind of an intense glow.
1.8T's are hot - shop around. In my area, dealers' prices vary considerably (at least, last year they did).
It is only to be used in very heavy fog where you can be seen better due to it's brightness. Using it in light fog or normal driving just confuses people into thinking your brakes are on.
If you are inside the car, you need to use the power door locks to open all doors to open the trunk for someone to get into it from the outside.
It sounds confusing, and they should have put a remote inside the car and an extra button on the remote, but like everything else in life, you get used to it.
I have a question about the A4 1.8T that I was hoping someone could answer. The horsepower on the 2001 has increased from 150 to 170. Since the engine size hasn't increased at all, is this power increase due purely to an increase in turbo output, or are there other improvements? That is, could I buy a used '99 or '00 and get a chip set and get the same or better horsepower output?
Thanks,
Newt
Check this URL:
http://www.audiworld.com/news/00/2001/
With a chip, you can easily reach 170HP without these improvements. 180HP is easily reached. You have no guarantee of the same reliability as Audi. However, someone will probably offer a conversion kit to give you these improvements. Of course, when aftermarket companies offer these kits, they will likely rate them at closer to 210HP, which means your reliability is once again questioned.
Your choice.
Did you wait longer than your deal told you ?
If you need to order from the factory, did you put down deposit, sell the old car, pay the new car or you just sold the old one and waited for the new one ?
Did you have a second car to drive in the meantime ? I hope I don't need to rent a car in the meantime because I have only 1 car.
auto magazine would have lost its transmission after about (if I remember right) 10,000 miles. Maybe all one conclude is that the world is a scary place; or that an extended warranty might be a good idea.
There is no pattern of transmission promlems evident on the forums at audiworld.com. I've been reading this site for 2 years since I got my '98 A4. The quattro is also bulletproof - very rare to have any problems.
Two caveats about the '96 problem mentioned - first, this was the first year of the car, and second, the auto magazines don't exactly baby the transmissions. I wouldn't worry about it. Statistically, the biggest problems in cars today (Audis as well as most other makes) are electrical. There're a lot of complex electronics in today's cars.
I've all but decided on an '01 A4 1.8T FWD Manual. The only question is whether I get Quattro or not. I like that the non-Quattro is lighter, faster, and gets better gas mileage. But I like the fact that the Quattro has all-weather performance and can smoke any bimmer in the wet.
I poised this same question on the AudiWorld A4 forum and got mostly fanatical responses such as "if you're not getting Quattro then why are you looking at Audi??" Umm...because the A4 is one of the few cool cars out there that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to own. I got some level responses too, but I'm still not sure if Q is worth the added expense in weight, fuel, and performance. $1700 just to punch it through a corner 0.5s earlier isn't what I would call a bargain.
Anyways, I live in PA but am graduating from college (PSU - Go Lions!) so I'll be moving soon. Possible locations are Mid-Atlantic states and possibly lower New England states (Mass.) I don't think I'd really get enough snow in these areas to justify Quattro, except for maybe the Boston area.
I like the powertrain/performance of the new 325i better than the 1.8T. But I don't like the Bimmer's much lower level of equipment and steeper price at all - and it's RWD which would be horrible in anything but dry conditions.
Somebody help me out here. I've lived with FWD through some pretty yucky stuff for years and it's been fine. I guess performance is my primary concern (I've been traumatized by my parents boring, slow and lethargic 4cyl Camry's..aaah!!), so given that is Quattro worth it??
Thanks,
Steve