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Audi A4 2005+
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"On May 17, 2006 at the Annual General Meeting of Audi AG, Prof. Dr. Winterkorn announced a brace of new models including the new Audi S3, a three-door model with a sporty engine which will be hitting showrooms in the second half of 2006.
He also revealed that the much speculated Audi A5 Coupé will join the Audi model line up, which will also be built in Ingolstadt and launched in the first half of 2007."
Source Audi AG press release via the web.
Are they feeling the pressure of sales to replace the current model?
2018 430i Gran Coupe
The B7 release was more than a refresh but for a lot of us less than a whole new car.
But, the B7 was way beyond a refresh, so unless they wanted to start naming them B6.something, B7 was the code name.
I have read lots of why's and wherefore's pertaining to this release of the car -- the B8 will look a whole lot more like the A6, but the eyes will be the so called cat eyes and the whole thing will push upscale.
The timing of the B8 would seem, at first blush, to be sooner than is the normal course -- but the pressure to replace is HUGE right now.
From a styling standpoint alone, look at the new Camry if you don't think the Germans must be feeling some pressure from all corners of the globe (never mind that the Camry is made here in Kentucky, America.)
The B8 will be here next year and it will incorporate, so the word goes, the MMI, not MMI-like, and newer, better this that and the other things including 40 60 quattro, a better f/r weight balance and a whole host of gizmos and stuff that one would normally have associated with the LPS crowd.
The B8 for some mavens is too slow in coming. The B7 for some is just a bandaid. For others it is a vital step in the progression to the "new Audi" look and technologies.
My desktop is a new A5 (or is it an A7) 2 door. Since I can't recall where it came from I do not know how to publish it here (but someone does, I'd wager.)
To me the A8 and A6 are cut from the same cloth -- only the A4 and TT seem to be estranged -- the TT, then the A4 will follow in the footsteps of the flagship and middle child -- but for most of us, NOT soon enough.
The current A4 (B7) is great -- but, frankly, other than the transmission (manual) it is not THAT great a departure from the B6 (IMHO) although the 3.2 V6 is one sweet sounding engine at full cry.
Now the C5 A6 and the C6 A6 -- big difference, big big difference.
Of course the B7 S4 is a whole nuther animule and well, the RS4 isn't even in the same phylum (or so it seems.)
:shades:
1) Why does Audi release so few 3.2s?
2) Am I going to fall victim to extremely limited bargaining power because I chose to custom order the car? (I assume I do my bargaining when the car arrives on the boat in 2 months - am I kind of stuck then? ... or is there anyway to avoid being manipulated as such?)
3) I know they're slightly re-tooling the make-up of the options - but can I expect any marked increase in base price?
I pick up the car on Saturday. I am very excited. Here is what I got:
Audi A4 3.2 6-speed manual
Black/Black
Quattro
Sunroof package
Premium package
Technology package
Navigation
Audio package with XM
The Navigation was the tough option to get. I didn't pick black, but I think I will end up liking it.
I think I could have done better on the price, but it was my fault, I am just not a good negotiator.
2) Should make no difference. I have a factory order '06 A4. I approached the process by creating a list (well, actually a spreadsheet) with all the options with the invoice, retail and target costs (what I was willing to pay, which was the invoice price on all options plus a fixed amount over the invoice price of the base car). I was comfortable with reaching a verbal agreement with the sales rep... no money down, all verbal.
Two months later I came in with check in hand and picked up the car at the exact amount that we had previously agreed to. Just as easy as falling off a log. But then I've bought a bunch of Audis from this dealer and that probably helps.
I would suggest a similar approach but perhaps with the deal on paper and signed by all. There's no reason why a reputable dealer would low ball you and pull the carpet out later, when the car is awaiting delivery. I do know that putting no money down makes it real easy to walk if the dealer attempts a bait & switch.
3) Will there be a price increase? Beats me but I wouldn't be surprised, seeing how nicely the dollar is doing these days.
BTW, while I still haven't gotten warm and fuzzy with the asthetics of the B7 A4, the car is a blast to drive. I do have the two liter engine but I had the ECU reflashed for a little more omph... and naturally it's a manual with the sports suspension.
AoA predicts sales (units, etc.) based on dealer history and dealer "preliminary orders."
AoA probably "advises" dealers what they think or what what they "know" will sell (I have seen the memos from AoA to my dealer and they basically say "3 out of 4 A6 sales will be 3.2 equipped versions.")
The unsaid words in all of this are "be guided accordingly."
AoA probably knows how many cars are sold with "what" packages and options or at least comes up with a forecast.
Certainly the dealers can place orders that are contrary to the data AoA provides (within limits) but the dealers probably do know not to order 50 A4s and configure 25 of them as 3.2's -- for surely the age of the inventory will increase for these models.
Apparently few stick shifts are ordered for inventory, for what is obviously a sound reason: they would sit and possibly require incentives to move.
Gone are the days where 3/4 of the cars are custom ordered and the inventory on hand was mainly for demo purposes.
People apparently want instant gratification and usually have several choices of colors and options they will accept.
I have been helping someone configure a new A4 (that will be acquired from "in region" stores, not custom ordered.) She has two colors that are OK and one that is the desired color. She will only accept one leather interior color, though.
I went through, with painstaking detail all the options from the configuration page on the AoA website and she indicated she did indeed want both parktronic and bluetooth. She did not want sat nav, but did want sat radio (either one, but pref Sirius.)
The car that was able to be located was in her first paint color and interior leather and all the options she wanted except Bluetooth and Parktronic -- she decided "never mind" I don't need these two features even though when we went through them on the web site they were "must haves" -- especially Bluetooth. The sat radio was a nice to have.
So, from my perspective she is getting a car that is not exactly what she wanted but is "OK" as it is available NOW.
She wanted the convertible and the weather here in Cincinnati will be too hot in a month or so, so she wants to live it up NOW. I can't blame her -- but I wouldn't skip the options I wanted.
My wife and I virtually always order our cars (over two dozen Audis, a couple of VW's and a couple BMW's since 1977.)
Takes all kinds.
I can't imagine ever finding one on the lot that would be what I wanted -- if I did and the time was right, I am certain I would not mind it, it has just never happened.
Audi must have the data that says 10% of the A4's sold have the 6 cylinder engine and what ever transmission by percentage.
I have not seen a 3.2 in stock with a stick shift. That is the only way I would want one.
That is me.
The dealer seems to have decent inventory of A4 2.0T's and most of them are also auto trans. The A4 2.0T with the 6 speed manual and the SLine package is a great car, less so if equipped with the auto -- it saps too much of the "urge" from the thing.
But. . .thats just my opinion.
My buddies that work at the Audi and BMW stores all would love to have certain cars in stock, but they know that the reason they are not stocked has to do with the amount of time between the arrival of the car and the sale of the car. The BMW store, PERIOD, will not order any stick shift 5 series cars that are NOT pre sold. Nor will they order any 3 series BMW with AWD with a stick, unless presold.
The Audi dealer now only orders certain cars WITH parktronic, since the ones without it sit and sit and sit.
At first the Audi dealer would order both XM and Sirius sat radio versions, then as time passed they ordered more and more with Sirius. Then Audi dropped XM -- was that because of the dealer orders or a deal made to change to one sat vendor?
You can bet it was financially determined.
If you want a 3.2, order it the way you want -- one thing I have found when doing so: the price on the ordered car is almost always less. The reason for this is there are no financing (floor planning) costs for the presold car, so the discount CAN be bigger (doesn't have to be, but usually is.)
What is not to like about getting exactly the car you want (10+ weeks from now) for less money.
Most of us would build a house and wait 180 days or so, but we can't wait a few weeks for a $40,000+ car?
What is wrong with this picture?
Then there is the argument that says the mfgr is able to force you to buy the car the way they want to sell it since you will probably be willing to compromise.
I say, don't buy anything other than EXACTLY what you want.
But, I am often wrong. :shades:
BTW, starting with the 2007 model year, no more free maintenance right?
That might be something to consider in deliberating on which A4 you want.
As for the "free" maintenance, well it never really was free. I have read that Audi will be offering a pre-paid maintenance option. Have to wait and see if it makes economic sense or not.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why the maintenance would not be buried in the price of the car as it has always been.
It is in BMW's and it makes the visits to the dealer dread-free.
Maybe it is a pay me now or pay me later -- but for 50K miles, the cost seems like it is more than a good deal.
Six oil changes alone will run AT LEAST $75 per, the rest of the stuff that is in there would take the cost over $550 -- yet, in what is now 20K miles, my car has had two sets of wiper blade and two oil changes, period.
Now, they did rotate the tires, and the labor charge these days, makes even that task nothing to slough off.
I just find it kinda tacky to make it a line item on the window sticker.
My point is that Audi from least to most expensive are $25K to $125K -- the average price HAS to be over $40K.
I look at Audis and BMWs as near lux and lux cars (with more or less sporting characteristics based on the way one configures their choice.) Who would care if the car was $550 more (buried in the MSRP) -- indeed, does anyone think that their new BMW 325i with free maintenance is really "free?"
Taking the car to the dealer should not be a reminder or even a suggestion that the car is "expensive."
I would think repeat buying would be hurt.
On the other hand, if I do re up for the four rings, I will certainly have to be convinced NOT to go for the maintenance line item.
There may be even some cars we don't or can't imagine from the four rings that will come to the US.
Blinding glimpse of the obvious, I would say.
All of this, and more, before the 2010 MY is my guess.
As for that plethora of models, I would be surprised if Audi's NA sales could justify 'em all but that will depend on part, how our economy fares over the next few years, the $ to euro rate, and how many of those A(x) models hit the mark. Hey, you are the MARK!
BTW, about a month ago I took a short two hour trip to the Mid-Ohio Driving school and my A4 managed slightly better than 34 mph at roughly 75 mph with about 5% city. I'm pretty happy with the fuel economy, considering that this is a heavy little sucker with meaty wheels and AWD.
Drive safe(ly)
Two Questions:
1. I know there are aftermarket options, but is there any way to add the integrated Bluetooth?
2. If so, how much is it likely to cost?
Details, if necessary:
2006 A4 2.0T Quattro AT6 S-Line
Options:
- Navigation
- Audio (XM)
- Technology I (again, no Bluetooth)
- Premium
- Sunroof
- Cold Weather
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Eric
This is in regards to a new VW program trying to understand the American buyer.
Why not hire more folks "here" leaps to mind as a good first step -- and perhaps that is happening with Harms.
Why not buy some American cars and some Japanese cars that have achieved some success and list their traits in column A and the European products traits in column B.
Maybe this quote -- like so many -- is not in context; for it seems naive. :confuse:
When looking at equipment list, those comparable with US trim lines would account for really small percentage of Euro sales, as MB is sold there with cloth, 4-cyl. diesel and BMW 316 (also with cloth and manual climate control) is a major volume seller over fully loaded 330 or evene 325. In VAG world, Passat with 2.0 turbo is also relatively small volume model, as it is usually sold with 1.6 or 2.0 NA version. Jetta/Gold/Rabbit difference is even more pronounces, as 2.5 would be considered excessive there (1.4-1.6 is more like it). So those VAG cars sold here are not really "European", as they share just skin with those sold in volumes in the Old Continent.
I think all that talk is a just another smoke screen for simply inept product management. Moreover, they would already sell much more stuff if their product had just a bit better reliability reputation - as long as it is hovering bottoms of both JD Power and CR, they can't expect regular Joe Camry to be willing to jump into Passat any time soon.
It's not the "stuff" - it's two things - price and reputation. First thing they can't fix due to exchange rate, second they can but not overnight.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
USA Audi enthusasists, would you prefer them building cars for the USA, or Importing European cars with as few changes as possible?
Oooooo, the latter! Speaking personally of course.
RWD would be nice too...
FWIW, the last continental European country to convert over to driving on the right side of the road was Sweden in 1967.
FWIW #2, I second the motion requesting that Audi convert their A4s (and A3s too) to RWD. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
I can live with the all wheel drive being rear biased.
Last time I heard, it is relatively inexpensive and probably ONE repair will mostly justify its cost. You can also get a more expensive and comprehensive package from Audi and shield yourself from even more expense.
Your experience and finances and risk tolerance will make the final determination. Just know that once you are out of the Audi Advantage, the costs are HUGE.
S-Line is an "S light" offering. "S" cars, like the S4 are high performance versions of Audis. In the case of the S4, you get a powerful V8, uprated suspension, wheels, tires, brakes, trim, ground effects, seats, steering wheel, markings and perhaps other clues/cues that the "S" car is "more" than its "A" sibling.
S-Line provides some of the performance bits and most of the performance cues of a full-on "S" car. The engine in an "S" car if it is a 2.0T does not change. However, the S-version offered in S-Line comes with a sport suspension, bigger and more sporting purposed wheels and tires and lots of visual cues -- that the S-Line is "a bit more" than the standard "A" version (and less than the full-on "S" version.)
The A4 offers without SLine, the ability to specify summer only performance tires and a sport suspension -- and if you went THAT way, the cost would be lower than the S-Line package.
S-Line, for most of us, is "more attractive" and the performance hardware that is offered with the package IS the real deal. But, too, there are Red S-Line badges and perhaps rear deck spoilers or chin spoilers and a special interior and a special steering wheel and a special logo on the instrument cluster.
You have to determine its value.
I like it. And, I do believe if you ordered the parts and paid the labor to have your sport suspension equipped standard A4 made into an SLine, that it would cost more.
How about this: drive an A4 S-Line 2.0T with a manual transmission and make up your own mind?!? :surprise:
The service plans and extended warranty plans have names that go all the way, as I recall, to Platinum. The one that (from memory) seems the highest value is called gold plus. Now of course, if you NEEDED the platinum protection, I am sure it would pay for itself.
You need to get the brochure and determine if you think the platinum protection is worth the extra bucks.
It is an insurance policy, of course. And, I can only repeat what I have said before -- the chances of a catastrophic repair are a matter of time after "so many" miles. I do not know what the definition of "so many" is -- I assure you I would go with at least the CPO option were I to keep a pre 2005 Audi beyond 50K. Based on the horror stories I have heard of, the Gold protection, at a minimum, would probably seem prudent.
I have upped my auto insurance, over the years, to $500 deductible now that I know that "everything" costs more than $500.
I am actually wondering if it would make sense to keep my 2005 A6 3.2 beyond the lease, I just like it THAT much.
Not without some extended "insurance" under any circumstances, tho.
Is this a built-in at factory or installed by dealer option?
Does the iPod info appear on screen and is it controllable from the steering wheel audio controls?
Is it available only in the A3 and A4, but not the larger models?
Thanks for any information.
Questions:
1. Has anyone on this board experienced this issue? Did they solve it by replacing the Valve Body?
2. Do others have the same issue with this dealer (Santa Monica) dragging their feet when repairing a vehicle?
Catherine
Over the years, Audi has offered non US colors for a price. A typical color that has been offered then not offered then only offered for a price is one of my faves, Pearl White. Whenever I ordered a car in PW, usually I did get the CAR for less than MSRP, but who is to say what the discount came from.
I mean, here is what would happen, I would configure the car I wanted, the MSRP would be laid out and the discussion would start.
As an example, the car was $40,000 MSRP and I was offered $1,500 off, I offered $4,000 off and the counter was $2,500 off and after one or two give and takes, we would settle.
I never got to the level of negotiating for line items on the MSRP/BUILD Sheet, it never came up. Even when I pre ordered an A8, we discussed the final sale price, the term of the lease, the miles, etc etc.
By the way, I did get the A8 in Pearl White, which at that time was a $1,250 add on.
FWIW, $2,500 seems like too much for a custom color.
What the market will bear?
They should pay you to take the color.
My personal history with Audi's turbo motors began when I picked up a 1987 5000CS quattro -- equipped with a 5 cylinder, two-valver rated, as I recall at 160HP. Over time, we (my wife and I) had a 1995 S6 with the 20 valve 5 cylinder turbo motor, three TT's and an allroad 2.7T -- all of these Audis were equipped with stick shifts and of course were all turbo'd.
First and especially second gear acceleration in every one of these cars was amazing, intoxicating even.
As we came to trade in time in 2005, the Audi turbo V6 had completely vanished and the V8 turbo was only available in a really high performance and high priced car.
The outgoing A6 SLine, for 2004, had been tweaked by the factory to 265HP and 280 ft lbs. The incoming 3.2L was 255HP and 243 ft lbs. There was no longer, from where I sat, any middle child (as the 2.7T had been.)
The new A4 with the 3.2 was very smooth and powerful, but there was no rush, no urgency, especially early on when the only transmission offered was the auto (what were they thinking?)
Oh well, I thought, the turbo is dead in all but the high high buck cars and the 2.0T, although a great engine and a more than worthy replacement for the 1.8T still wasn't even up to the outgoing 1.8T in our TT which was rated at 225HP unchipped.
Who cares, anyway? BMW doesn't use turbos and everyone (sarcasm) knows that BMW's opinion of Audi must be that they aren't as capable of building a high perf engine without some breathing apparatus -- which clearly BMW eschews and must look down its nose at.
Hmm.
Ok, now the buzz is the new i6 BMW trubo motor as seen in the 335 coupe and you can bet your inhaler will be seen in other BMW sedans -- those beginning with both a 3 and a 5 here in the US (and this engine will probably even make it in other models not exported here.)
What goes around comes around? What is it, do the Audi and BMW engineers get in a room and agree, BMW: "well you guys from Ingolstadt have had the turbo gas engines for quite a while, it's time for you to de-emphasize them while we crank up the blowers." Audi: "ja, it is time for us to move to Fuel Stratified Injection or Fuel Straight Injection until we can get some better petrol in zee states. Enjoy turbo charging you 6 cylinder engines, Hans."
When the 3.2L came out, I thought it was darn near as great SOUNDING as the 4.2 V8 -- and I repeatedly wondered what a very small bi-turbo implementation would do. Easily 295HP and weapons grade torque, I thought (and wrote.) Of course the non FSI 4.2 at its newly minted 335HP would be practically irrelevant were the 3.2 to be given bigger lungs. So, of course, it wouldn't happen.
Then announcements about the A4 with a factory chipped 2.0T able to comfortably output 220HP came about, and the 3.2 soldiers on at 255? What is up?
BMW's 335 coupe is outputting 300HP from a 6 that is less thirsty AND cleaner than an 8. In the days we now live in, more power and more efficiency are twin desires -- yes?
Now Audi has a 255HP 3.2 FSI -- ripe to be transformed into a 3.2TFSI -- perhaps this little bit of one upmanship from Munich will be sufficient motivation for those guys in Ingolstadt -- who know a thing or three about turbocharging -- to unleash the 300+HP beast currently dormant in that wonderful 3.2 (3.1, technically) engine.
Audi = "to listen?"
:surprise:
The one determining factor might be that the papaya orange is a discontuned color in the US. It's a little less expensive to have colors that are current being used on some production model.
Here's a pic of an orange RS4 that was done over in Europe. If you're going to do that here, I'd at least put an S line package on it to really make it look good. Papaya is a very stong color and you need to have some big wheels and tires on it to make it work.
http://forums.fourtitude.com/zerothread?id=2762482
Audi="hark" or "listen up"
Thanks guys!
don
Yes, Audi recommends premium fuel. Yes, you can run a lower grade of fuel; however, your fuel economy and performance will suffer accordingly. As for the engine itself, in the short term, or if run on the odd tank of lower octane fuel now and again due to availability, no, it won't cause any problems. That having been said, in the long run with prolonged usage, you might very well find that your engine has suffered damage.
The question is, "Why?" Why would you want to buy a car with a high performance engine and then not feed it the fuel it was designed to consume? Cost? The truth of the matter is that cars that "recommend" premium fuel will deliver higher fuel economy for any given horsepower hour that you extract from your engine. Drive the car hard and you will get more power for any given unit of gasoline, drive it easy and sedate and you will get more miles per unit of gasoline. Said another way, feeding any late model Audi with "Regular" gasoline is false economy.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Oil question....conventional or synthetic? Does audi care about either???
How bout extended warranties?? I worry bout reliability?
Thanks for your input.
don
Most definetly so. VW and Audi absolutely require, as a bare minimum, oils that can meet the stringent VW 502.0 standard. Oils meeting 503.1 are even better, and both are only available as synthetic oils, however, not all synthetic oils meet the 502.0 much less the 503.1.
Given how hard working these engines are and given the sludging problems that some older VWs and Audis have had, I cannot emphasize enough that you should use the best oil available. FWIW, Mobil 1 0W-40 meets both of the above VW standards (and a few others as well). As I've heard stories of some VW/Audi dealerships using whatever bulk oil they happen to have in the shop, were I in your shoes, I'd either do my own or buy the oil and watch as they pour it in.
Regarding extended warranties, the truth of the matter is that warranties are a profit center for who ever sells them (assuming they stay in business). Many folks advise that if you are inclined to buy an extended warranty, you'd be much better off by simply taking that amount of money and placing it in an interest bearing account, and then drawing from it in case of a repair. I by the way concur.
Looking at this from my history of cars, I actually sprung for the extended warranty on a car that I bought in 1988, cost: $1,500. In exchange it paid for the replacement of the alternator, and the fuel pump, cost if I'd had to pay for them myself: $350. Yeesh. My wife and I have since had seven new cars and we haven't spent a single cent on extended maintenance contracts even though they were offered. Total money not spent, >$17,000. Against that savings we've only experienced one failure, a $2,600 transmission. Of course, even if I had purchased the extended warranty I still would have had to pay for the transmission because it failed at 109,000 miles on that car, well beyond the term of the extended warranty I was offered. By my math I've saved over $17,000 and as such, I wasn't at all upset when I had to shell out a small pile of cash for the new tranny. So, said another way, DON'T DO IT!
Best Regards,
Shipo
Now comes the hard part...trying to find a leftover A3 or...maybe an A4....i'm not rich, so not sure if i can afford a new A4...but will try...
Hmmm, all else being equal (including price), I'd much rather have the A3. The fact that the A3 is a little less expensive (apples to apples as far as options go) is just icing on the cake for me. ;-)
So, what is it about the A4 that has you yearning for it?
Best Regards,
Shipo