Audi A4 2004 and earlier

scirocco22 · November 2001

I take that back ...link doesn't work. You'll have to navigate the site yourself.

--'rocco

datadog · November 2001

Thanks a bunch 'rocco for all the info. I found some ronals that I like but have not seen any pricing.

cupholder - no incentives but they are offering 2.9% financing on '01s. You should be able to negotiate much closer to invoice on an '01 as well. Good luck!

brave1heart · November 2001

I use 32/34 F/R on my 325i and am well aware that you can tweak over/understeer with the tire pressure. I think you're saying that the Quattro does not require the same pressure all around, right?. I put in 32 all around yesterday but was looking for particular recommendations from A4 owners.

mmcbride1 · November 2001

I've got my A4 at 32 all around, too. I don't think you'd be hurting anything if you wanted to play with the F/R pressures, though. 32 gives a pretty good ride, though.

davking · November 2001

We also thought we detected an odor while stopped at a light. I sensed it as antifreeze because we have had overheating problems with other cars. My wife, who has a better sense of smell than I, didn't smell anything. I finally decided I was smelling new car smell that was, for some reason, more evident to me while stopped. I now seldom detect anything. We are at 4700 miles now.

btr1 · November 2001

bought a 2002 A4 1.8T Quattro Auto, Dolplhin Gray Sunroof, for $860 over invoice....seems like a good deal....now I have to wait till jan/feb to get it....ugh.

brave1heart · November 2001

I tried 35 all around at first but thought the ride was a little too bumpy and then went down to the min recommended at 32 psi.

BTW, the A4 has a persistent rattle coming from the area between the center console and the glove compartment. Currently, we have resolved the issue by sticking a solid piece of paper between the two. I just want to be able to tell the dealership what to look for in case there's a TSB out there already.

jtraceynj · November 2001

"BTW, the A4 has a persistent rattle coming from the area between the center console and the glove compartment."

Yes, we have discovered this as well. A glove hung over the little "hump" in the glovebox seems to have solved the noise, but is still annoying abstractly. Is this something you are allowed to annoy the service staff about, or will they laugh at you

raavir · November 2001

http://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/827564.phtml

davking · November 2001

Twice I have had the gas pump shut off and then found the tank to be only a little over three-fourths full. I drove the car a few miles and then was able to fill the tank. Has anyone had this problem and found a reason for it? My service advisor listed all the possible variables that could cause it, all of which I had already thought of, and then concluded that since it didn't happen every time it couldn't possibly be a problem with the car.

btr1 · November 2001

anyone know if the 2002 A4's can have Daytime Running Lights? I know the ones in Canada get them, but why not for the USA?? Can they be retrofit? Insurance is lower if a car has them.

speedracer3 · November 2001

Can anybody that has driven the 2002 A4 with CVT venture to write a review of this tranny?. Inquiring minds want to know!

Speed

pat · November 2001

The argument that was taking place here is inappropriate. Take it off-line or leave it be.

Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board

fpereira · November 2001

Hi Brave, sorry for the pedanticity (pedanticness?)... yes I would be surprised if they intended the same pressure all around (assuming they're as anal as BMW); but I could be dead wrong. You're right, I'm sticking my nose in, since I don't have an A4 (yet...) :-)

But if they don't say anything on the driver's door jam (which is strange--I thought all mfrs put tire pressures there?), maybe it just doesn't matter too much. Could this be another indication of the magic of AWD?? :-)

gymshoe · November 2001

Considering buying a used 2.8 A4 Quattro.
which year would be best.
I'm hoping to keep the price below $30k, preferably around $28k.
I'm fairly new to shopping for audis...been driving japanese cars all my life. How's the reliability for the mentioned years of A4's?
How's service for them? I've read on VW boards that most VW dealers suck.
Any input would be appreciated!

markcincinnati · November 2001

Hello, I just hopped over to the A4 board and noticed the smell comment -- I think I have an answer. Audi's engines (and maybe other parts) are coated with Chromalin(SP?) for the transoceanic trip -- it is supposed to be 100% cleaned off before you get it. Virtually all my Audis have had a hint of the burning smell of this stuff for about 1000 - 2000 miles.

Unless there is some other cause, this is nothing to worry about and is apparently "normal" procedure for all European cars (the application of this protectant, not the smell -- but I suppose that is fairly common too).

cupholder1 · November 2001

on whether Audi will be giving dealer incentives to unload the '01 A4s?

jtraceynj · November 2001

I think you'd be hard-pressed to find any A4s. I doubt they'd offer any incentives. When I bought mine in September three of the four dealers I visited here in New Jersey had no A4s at all; the fourth place had one left (which is now parked in my driveway). Carsdirect.com hasn't been offering them for months.

cupholder1 · November 2001

has an '01 A4 on the showroom floor, cloth interior (which I like) and stick shift (which I like). The salesman said he could make a deal on it that would "blow you away" or something like that. But it was this hideous red/burgandy color. I just cannot abide by that color. Someone will like it, I suppose. To each his own.

lauk0dg · November 2001

Well the local Audi dealership (Naperville, IL, suburb of Chicago) got about 5 2001 A4's left in their lot. Dunno what kind of deal they're giving but I bet they would deal on those remaining cars. They also got like 7 S4's.....mmmmm maybe they can hand out deals that make the 2002 S4's cost about the same as a loaded 2002 A4 3.0Q??

Billy

keninplacitas · November 2001

drc4 · November 2001

I have a 2000 1.8TQ and had the same problem within the first couple thousand miles. I could tell the smell wasn't any kind of coating or new car smell.....definitely a coolant smell. In my case, it was a water pump problem that mysteriously cleared itself up. The coolant reservoir had lost half its content, so took the car in to see what was going on. The service manager said he'd seen the same thing on a few other A4s...something to do with a "weep" hole in the water pump needing to set/seal, and some are just worse than others. He said after the reservoir was refilled, it'd most likely never happen again, and he was right. Keeping a close eye on the coolant level, I now have 15K mi on the car with no more mysterious coolant problems. Every now and then I can smell a hint of coolant when my car's in the garage, but the coolant level has never dropped below the full level since that one incident. Strange.

DRC4

scirocco22 · November 2001

Nobody has yet mentioned the obnoxious smell that the factory fill windshield washer fluid gives off. I don't know if it could be close to the smell which John mentioned that his wife described as "burnt dust" but I smell it coming through the vents everytime I use the windshield washer or headlight washers.

cupholder-- Are you referring to hibiscus red??? ...hmmm, that was actually my first choice when originally shopping for my car. Gee, I guess to each his own. I think hibiscus looks very classy on the old A4. Whenever I see one, I always have second thoughts on whether I should have held out for that color ...it's obviously not as common as my silver.

James-- I've had many Japanese cars and I too was worried about Audi reliability. Obviously an Audi won't have the reliability ratings of a Honda or Toyota but I realized that I would have to sacrifice something for that certain "feeling" that driving a German engineered car provides. I was trying to find that same, almost magical feeling of being one with the car; one with the road, that I missed so much from driving my old Scirocco and no Japanese car that I test drove came close. Yes, a Lexus or an Acura provides luxury and reliability but IMHO can't really be considered a "driver's car." The A4 came the closest, within my budget, and so what if I have to pay more in repairs or possibly be bothered by breakdowns later on down the line. I figure it's the price I may have to pay for the smile it puts on my face everytime I'm behind the wheel! Now to attempt to answer your questions. IMO, try to find the latest model year you can afford. Through it's natural evolution, the first generation A4 will obviously have more bugs worked out on a 2000 or 2001 model. I'm in the Seattle area too and as far as dealers go, Audi dealers generally provide better service than VW dealers. I did have reservations about both our local dealers because of the manner I was treated by their sales departments. I ended up purchasing my car at Roger Jobs Motors in Bellingham where I was treated with far more respect than either of the two local dealers. Also, Roger Jobs' service department has a far better reputation although they are also a VW dealer. Let me know if you'd like more information or my further opinions on our local dealers.

Tire Pressure: As Mike stated, most manufacturers put the inflation recommendations on a door jamb but Audi puts it on the fuel filler door. Audi recommends equal tire pressure on all four tires (32 psi) with a normal load. I believe they suggest a slightly higher inflation for a heavier load but I can't recall exactly what it is ...I believe it's 42 psi.

Inappropriate argument: hmmm, I missed it. *darn* :P

--'rocco

02a4curt · November 2001

Noticed in the IBM forum that they apparently have the ability to track production and shipment of their car over the Internet. Can Audi's be tracked in this manner - and if so, what info from the dealer would I need?

equalizer1 · November 2001

I have had Hondas and Toyotas, and now own a Y2K 2.8. It has been by far the most reliable car I have ever owned. I have never had a problem, except for a rattle at the beginning, which was a door handle and which was quickly remedied. It just celebrated it's second birthday, and I can't believe how wonderful the car is.

I chose the 2.8 over the 1.8 because people I know who own the 1.8 have had trouble with the turbo, and that turned me into wanting a naturally aspirated engine. I also wanted the wood, power seats and leather, etc. that are only available on the 2.8. Plus, since I was getting the tiptronic, I wanted the extra power.

I think the service at Audi has been outstanding, and the now 4 yr/50,000 mile free scheduled maintenance and bumper to bumper warranty is the best out there.

I agree with the above poster that a 2000/2001 car would have worked out alot of the bugs of buying an older A4.

Also, I would rather own the higher end luxury car, rather than the sportier 1.8 model. If I were posed with the choice of buying a new 1.8 model, or a used 2.8, I would definitely go with the 2.8 because of the reasons cited above, along with the fact that I would never buy any car in it's first model year. Not only will there be glitches and bugs in the first model year, but by the time they get to the following years, they have added little things onto the car to address issues that the car buying public want to see.

Good luck with your choice.

markcincinnati · November 2001

After visiting Germany over 15 times since 1993, and the Audi factory in Ingolstadt 5 times, I think the following is accurate: when a "new" Audi comes to the US, it is a second year car already (or sometimes even a third year car or more). Last year -- Calendar 2000 -- the USA version of the A4 for 2002 was on the road in Germany.

In January 2001, the factory was cranking out both old body style and new body style A4's -- and the Audi driving school was using what we now know as 2002's (although they were 2.5TD engined).

The S6 -- now in the US as an Avant has been in Germany for at least two years, and I believe the A8 (which came to the US as a 1997 model in the second half of 1996) was the Car of the Year (Car Magazine) in 1994.

We seem to get them here in the US -- "seem" that is -- after the first year production run, and apparently after the bugs are worked out. My wife had a 1996 A4 2.8 quattro and other than needing 2 tire replacements (for a total of three sets) in 49,000 miles was basically flawless. My A8 -- a 1997 model -- had several minor problems, most notably the boots that contain some kind of lubricant for each wheel -- in turn they all ripped and leaked a smelly (when it hit the hot rotors) goo; and the power operated steering wheel adjustment motor had to be replaced twice before 40,000 miles. Yet, I considered my A8 a very good and reliable car -- at the time -- probably because Audi took such good care of me.

Therefore, I would have no problem in getting a new US model Audi -- simply because it is generally at least one "year" old already.

BTW the new A4's are exquisite from just about any perspective -- here's hoping for a new body style S4 next year.

keninplacitas · November 2001

Now you have me concerned. Are people having trouble with the Audi 1.8T turbos? Why don't they ever write about those problems in these forums? I thought the 1.8T engine was getting all those awards because of it's reliability as well as it's performance.

I do agree with you on your point about the luxury factors. If leather, wood, and automatic transmission are one's primary reason for buying an Audi, the 2.8 is definitely the better choice.

On buying a used car, one just has to hope that the prior owner understood the significance of regular oil and filter changes and that they are the kind of person who would take care of the car in the manner that you would. I would, though, want to have some of that 4 year/50,000 mile warranty left over on the car just in case of unseen or lurking problems.

markcincinnati · November 2001

Very reliable! As a member of the quattro club of America, the 1.8T engine is preferred over the 2.8 -- BECAUSE of the turbo. It can be chipped, the car in total is a bargain -- we often talk about the 1.8T as Audi's gift to America. Shhhh don't tell anyone, we often say in hushed tones -- Audi has made a pricing mistake on this car -- maybe they won't notice.

Back to back test drives of a fully loaded 2001 1.8T quattro sport and a similar 2.8 -- the 1.8T is apparently peppier -- better balanced etc.

I miss the leather OPTION and the sat nav OPTION and at least a power driver's seat. But if you are the only driver, the power seat is not that big of a deal. And the perforated leatherette is pretty nice (and here in Cincinnati a leather conversion is $999 and it looks like factory original).

No wood trim, but other than that the 1.8T is very nice, very reliable -- and there are three of them in our company's parking lot and their owners love them. In fact, one gentleman said he had it narrowed down to two cars the 1.8T or the S4 -- the 2.8 wasn't even a contender. Now the 3.0 -- that may be another matter entirely.

To each his own.

drew37 · November 2001

I just made a deal for a 3.0 at a reasonably good price (4.7% over invoice). They didn't have a car even close to what I wanted so they said they would try to find the car and make a trade with another dealer. No problem. They called the next day and said they found the car with the options I wanted, but also with Bose which I didn't want. Dealer said they would give me the Bose at invoice ($579). I said I was already paying a bit more than I originally intended for a new car, and could they do something better than invoice for the Bose. They said they would see what they could do and would get back to me. There is also a trade-in involved for which they are giving me the low end of a fair trade-in value. QUESTION : What should I expect from the dealer in this situation? Should they do better than give me the Bose at invoice? They said they wouldn't be able to find the car without Bose. I was already starting to rationalize spending more money on a new car then originally intended. I hate to add another $579 to the price. What do you all think ?

markcincinnati · November 2001

I'd take the Bose at cost act disappointed or pained and be "happy" if they came up with another $50 - $100 bucks.

Out of curiosity, why -- other than cost, which I do understand and do not criticize -- don't you want the Bose. Out of the three A4's in our parking lot, 2 have Bose -- I hate to admit it -- they are better than the non Bose -- and frankly the Bose (these systems are in 2001's BTW) aren't as good as I have heard from BMW and Lexus (as options). Right now, the Bose seems to be the best you can do in Audi's -- I have an A6 with the Bose and I liked it for a while, until I heard my friends BMW factory system. Now this does not mean I dislike my Bose, it is just not quite as good as the other German cars.

But, I digress -- what is your reason?

Curious.

02a4curt · November 2001

Same thing happened to me. Originally did not want Bose, but dealer found car for me that included Bose. I agreed to it for $300.

dej0 · November 2001

I was also a little nervous when I bought my '97 A4 regarding the turbo. I was not willing to pay the price for the 2.8. I have had no problems with the turbo. I drive it pretty hard, but only about 10k miles per year, mostly 'city' driving. The engine has been great. It still feels very lively after 4.5 years. I did have a problem with the electrical system in year 2, it was covered under the warranty. I go in later this month for the iginition recall, even though I am not seeing any symptoms. I really love this car and would recommend the 1.8T engine to anyone. However, I do plan on driving the 3.0 while they are doing the recall fix. Maybe the S4 too ...

lauk0dg · November 2001

When I got my 2001.5 A4 1.8T I also didn't want the Bose system. Talked to the dealer and he would sell the car to me at 2.6% over invoice, so I took the bait in Feb this year. Now that I think about it, I would still do what I originally wanted to.....get Xenons and drop the Bose. The Bose system is OK, but in my opinion and to my insensitive ears, not worth the $500 option in the 2001.5 car. How much do they charge you MSRP for the Bose as an option on the 2002 A4, drew?

Ken, the 1.8T engine rocks. OK maybe some can argue that I only have the car for 8.5 months and 11.5k miles, it has been flawless. Strong pull (oh yeah turbos like cool autumn dry air) and yet get 30mpg on the highway with an AWD car. My coworkers don't believe it. When you think about it, at the highway most of the time there is minimal high-boost situations. The turbo is just spinning along and gas consumption is like a normal 1.8L engine. I always tell people I know that Audi's (especially A4 1.8T's) are the best kept secrets. Feel the same way as Mark.

Billy

lauk0dg · November 2001

Well I just test drove an S4 and I got a "warning" for ya.....plan on bringing your checkbook when you go for a test drive. It's a "mistake" to test drive the S4.....so smooth and yet so POWERFUL. And I'm sure you won't be driving 10k miles a year with the S4.....more like 20k :> I know I will do it that way :>

Billy

02a4curt · November 2001

Invoice = 579.00
MSRP = 650.00

mbnut1 · November 2001

I agree the A4 1.8T quattro is a steal. There is no other car that you can get the same level of performance and refinement plus the security of quattro for that price. The fact that I (tightwad of the year)bought it is an overwhelming testiment to it's value particularly when you take into consideration that I have gotten the same great service that Mark does with his big buck Audi's.

When I had a Mercedes 190E I always felt like a second class citizen to the mink stoled S class owners. Not so at the Audi dealership. The big difference is that the Audi service guys seem to respect owners who are into the cars rather than the Mercedes guys who seemed to consider such owners a pain.

drc4 · November 2001

Don't even think twice about trusting Audi's turbos. It's a proven fact that Audi turbos are among the most reliable out there, and it's a rarity to hear of one that causes problems. Nothing manufactured by humans on this planet is perfect, and there have been extremely rare instances of a few turbo related problems, but it's certainly the rare exception, not the rule. The reason you don't ever read any posts on the AudiWorld Forum, or on this forum relating to turbo problems is because it just doesn't happen. I've enjoyed a lot of communication with Equalizer1 and I completely trust this poster's comments, so I don't doubt the reference to hearing of turbo problems with the 1.8T. This is unfortunate for the people mentioned, but fortunately, 99.9% of 1.8T owners will have no turbo problems.

I have a Y2K 1.8T Quattro with tip, and the turbo has been wonderful. Granted, I only have 15K mi on the car, but even the guys over at AudiWorld who have 70+K mi on their 1.8Ts have reported no turbo problems....at least that I've read.

Audi's 1.8T engine was named one of the ten best, and for good reason.....it's reliable, powerful for its displacement, smooth with little or no turbo lag, and can be "upgraded" via chipping, etc. The 1.8T's turbo shouldn't even be a concern in choosing between the 1.8T and 2.8.

DRC4

crud_meridian · November 2001

I found out the hard way that these rims are not very amenable to refinishing. As I've mentioned in earlier posts, I've managed to scratch three of them (for which I could just kick myself). The first scratch I had repaired by taking it to a local tire shop in Chicago which had it sent to a shop in Indiana. When it came back it looked flawless, but a week later when I washed my car I noticed that the finish on the repaired rim was just ever so slightly darker than the originals. Two scratches later, I decided to have all three rims repaired but this time done right. I called the Wheel Collision Center in Bath PA (to which I was referred to by this board and Audiworld I believe -- www.wheelcollision.com). The lady on the phone there told me that my specific rim may have a special "brilliant silver" finish for which only Audi has the color code. Another wheel shop told me the same thing as well. For me the solution is simple -- have all four (or five) wheels refinished so that they match each other. I found a shop in Chicago (Wheels America -- at www.fixrim.com) that will refinish any rim for a set price of $109 per rim + $15 to remount. If you've got a bunch of scratched rims this is the most economical way of fixing, but those folks out there with only one scratched rim should simply wait until they hit some more curbs!

fpereira · November 2001

Mark, you mentioned an Audi driving school. Can you say more about this? I assume it's a program in Germany only...
Thanks

gymshoe · November 2001

My wife and I went shopping to physically look at some used A4's last night....and it was the first time my wife gave me a firm "I like this car." Everything else we've looked at has generated a lukewarm approval at best. So...I guess we're definitely getting an A4. So the hard part is done with....picking a car. Now the next hard part is figuring and finding out which model year to get. Ideally, I'd like to get a 2000 2.8 A4 quattro, or a used 2001 (though i bet they're rare or non-existent). I don't know if i like the idea of buying a 2001 new cause...as soon as I buy it...it's basically already a 1 year old car. although..the 2001 falls under the new warranty.
One thing I noticed that I personally didn't like on the '99 A4s (my wife didn't care)...were the stock "sports" wheels. My Maxima's wheels look better than they did. However, the stock 2001 "sports" wheels looked very nice.

I also believe that 2000 model year had a few minor changes in the car. Right? So in that sense...it's better than a 99.

*sigh*...decisions decisions

gymshoe · November 2001

I would definitely value your opinion on our two local dealers. I paid a visit to University VW/Audi last night. First impression wasn't that bad. But i've heard bad things. The other...Barrier Audi, i've only talked to one person that bought his TT there and he didn't have a problem with them.
The only other Audi dealer that i know of is in tacoma. So definitely...let me here what you got to say about them!

gogol · November 2001

Just traded my 97 1.8 turbo for a 2002 A4, again the 1.8T. Never had a problem with the 97's engine, which if anything seemed, after 30,000, to reach a new level of just plain fun. Some think I'm nuts not to "upgrade"; they just don't realize what a bargain this car really is, or how much fun to drive. The new one feels tighter, even more nimble. And I'm trusting that they've dealt with the one weak spot I had in the '97: the lower control arms. Terrible roads here, which really test a suspension, but they should have done better than that!

keninplacitas · November 2001

gymshoe, I suggest you drive both the '99 and the 2000 A4s at night. In 2000, a significant change was made in the way the gauges display. It's a preference thing I guess, but I personally didn't care at all for the old style with all red lighting (yes, I know red is the best color for maintaining night vision).

gymshoe · November 2001

I just found in the paper a 2000 A4 2.8 Quattro. It's got 8000 miles, silver, tiptronic with apparently all options. They're asking $31k for it. I priced it out on Edmunds here and it came out to be around 28.5k. Would it be better to buy a newer used car from a dealer (since it'll have that Audi Certified used car program) or from a private party where there is no additional warranty except the original warranty.
I wonder if they'd go down to 28.5k?

kk13 · November 2001

Gymshoe,

I have had experiences at both dealerships and can give you my opinion. I'll send you a separate email so it is in a less public forum.

scirocco22 · November 2001

James-- I'll try to do the same when I get the chance. As Kelly stated, I also prefer not to get too descriptive in my opinions about and experiences at University and Barrier on this forum other than what I said in my previous post. I won't hesitate, though, to again highly recommend Roger Jobs Audi in Bellingham. To me, it was well worth the hour and a half drive. Also, the sales tax rate in Whatcom County is much less than it is here. It's a much smaller dealership but has a stellar reputation. However, being small is the drawback for you in that they may not have the inventory of used cars that you'll probably find in Seattle. In fact, I just went to their web-site and they do not have any used 2.8s.
http://www.rogerjobs.com/f_audi.html
or
http://www.rogerjobsaudi.com/

Yeah, that sounds high. IMO, I'm sure that you'd be able to negotiate a much better price. I'd guess even lower than the 28.5k figure. If you're spending that much for a used car, personally and as Ken suggested, I'd consider a new 2002 1.8T. You could get a nicely equipped 1.8T for right around 30k and less if you opted out of things like Xenon lights and Bose. My preference would be to have a brand new 1.8T than a two year old 2.8 for the right around the same money. Most of us that have the 1.8T just love the engine and it is actually rated more reliable than the 2.8 by Consumer Reports.

Okay, James, hopefully I can get an email to you in the next few days.

--'rocco

scirocco22 · November 2001

crud-- jeez! will you please stop running into curbs! :P

--'rocco

raavir · November 2001

is it worth buying a 2001 a42.8 black/black(letherette)tiptronic with sunroof, xenons and skibag for CAD39,600 or 2002A41.8T at CAD41000 with metalicpaint, sunroof, sp, pp, heated rear seats, xenons

thanks

kk13 · November 2001

I also looked at a couple year old A4's and 3-series and found that you don't get much of a discount. Great resale is a benefit when buying new, but unfortunately a penalty buying used. Also much of your warranty period is used and you don't know the history of the car.

raavir · November 2001

is it worth buying a 2001 a42.8 black/black(letherette)tiptronic with sunroof, xenons and skibag for CAD39,600 or 2002A41.8T at CAD41000 with metalicpaint, sunroof, sp, pp, heated rear seats, xenons

thanks

Audi A4 2004 and earlier

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