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Audi A4 Consumer Reports
Written by: thequill on Mar 17, 2002 2:36:49 PM
Dear taaddison: Except that, for example, the Nissan Altima is recommended even though it's been redesigned. Consumer Reports says on page 60 of its 2002 Cars issue: "A 2002 redesign transformed the Altima into a more competitiive player in the family-sedan class." CR even rates the Altima's reliability as half of a red circle! How can they do this if the car has been redesigned and there is no history of ... Read More
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yoonny
Written by: nyccarguy on Mar 7, 2002 7:20:55 AM
+Its good to hear you're enjoying you car so much. I too can't wait to see the A4 Coupe. My guess is it might come out later this year maybe as an '03 model. I will also be checking out the 325Ci. You mentioned in your post that you will either be looking at a 325Ci or a 330Ci (depending on how much money you get for your car). Then you ... Read More
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Hermann
Written by: markcincinnati on Mar 6, 2002 1:26:35 PM
My 1997 Audi A8 with a 4.2 300 HP V8 was mated to a 5spd non-Tiptronic transmission. You are correct, you cannot buy an Audi A4 1.8T with leather, power seats, sat navigation. You are "forced" to buy a 3.0 V6 for such features. We generally cannot get manual transmissions on most Audis even though they are on the German and British "konfigurators" of Audi web sites in those countries. The ... Read More
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Reply to Hermann Eichmeier
Written by: markcincinnati on Mar 6, 2002 6:55:59 AM
Hello Hermann -- thanks for your update, I would say that your location makes you perhaps more reliable than the magazines. But, I will add a couple of things that still confuse me. In 2000 when I was in Ingolstadt Germany and Seefeld Austria for our annual visit to the Audi holy land, I mentioned that I had previously owned an A8 (a 1997 quattro). And that it came with a ... Read More
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2.9T and other rumors and notions. . .
Written by: markcincinnati on Feb 19, 2002 3:29:29 PM
OK the poop from either Car and Driver or Road and Track or CAR magazine -- heck it may even have been in European Car recently -- on the 2.9T is this: It is very possible to produce a reliable, drivable 2.9T with a rating of over 300HP and of course the early-on high torque that all Audi's turbo engines are famous for (torque coming on south of 2,000 RPM). However, ... Read More
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Short reply II
Written by: markcincinnati on Feb 18, 2002 1:48:37 PM
I have had two A6 4.2's one of them I have now, a 2001 A6 4.2 sport. I have test driven several A6 2.7T's -- one of them extensively and it had the 6spd manual. The 4.2 feels more solid and even though I know the 2.7T is quicker, the differences are not that great. Based on what I think I know now, I will probably end up with an '03 ... Read More
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Automatic Transmissions
Written by: dmmattix on Jan 8, 2002 8:31:59 PM
Probably apples and oranges. Most things on Japanese cars last longer without failure and I can believe your Camry still rides like new. It's just in my opinion a new Camry still rides/handles poorly. A new Audi or BMW will handle and ride much better than a comparable Japanese car. I have an 2000 I30 and a 1997 A4 so I have direct experience. The I30 is just over a year ... Read More
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to Ned
Written by: markcincinnati on Nov 26, 2001 1:09:50 PM
It is my third A6, I had a 1999 2.8 and a 2000 4.2 and now this 4.2. I had a 1995 S6 -- which is the most fun car I have ever owned (not the best, just the most fun -- the current 4.2 is better even than my 1997 A8 which I had for about 47,000 miles after the '95 S6 and before the '99 2.8.) The "problem" with ... Read More
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A4 vs WRX "speed is fleeting, appearance is forever! "
Written by: WarpDrive on Nov 25, 2001 6:12:33 PM
Funny that you should say that....I would have used "appearance is fleeting, speed is forever" as an argument for the Subaru. Seriously, I own a 1997 A4 and it bores me to tears. I used to be so proud of its fine appointments, but in the end, styling is just that, it's just skin deep. I used to brag how the materials/plastics in the Audi were higher quality, but now I ... Read More
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First model year blues?
Written by: markcincinnati on Nov 7, 2001 6:37:46 AM
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 ... Read More
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Jeff/John
Written by: nitpicker on Sep 30, 2001 8:09:00 PM
Jeff -- Consumer Reports' last auto issue gives these reliability ratings for the A4 2.8 (no ratings given for the 1.8T): 1996 model year: average 1997 and '98: better than average 1999 (latest ratings): average John -- According to postings on Audi World, Audi offers no comparable program for European purchases. Sorry....
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6Spd Tranny
Written by: markcincinnati on Jun 5, 2001 7:53:00 AM
Yep -- I read that the A4's would have 6spd's -- configured as they are for US customers (the US customers ONLY get the 3.0 V6 and the 1.8T for the time being, but in Europe the number of A4's/Engine options are many times what we are offered). Then, in the July Road & Track it says 5spd manuals. Period. Now, I do not claim that I believe everything I read ... Read More
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Radio Lock-up
Written by: jmacedon on May 26, 2001 7:03:20 PM
I recently purchased a used 1997 A4 2.8 Quattro w/ 28K. Awesome Car! One problem I have is the radio has been locked-up (SAFE displayed). The previous owner has lost the 4 digit code necessary to unlock it. Is there a way it can be reset. Can Audi help me. Can anyone? Thanks.
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Chip help
Written by: markcincinnati on May 22, 2001 10:40:36 AM
I had my dealer install the chip in the 1.8turbo for the following reasons: 1. I do not think I would "do it correctly" -- there are many tasks I AM comfortable with, this was not one of them. 2. With "full disclosure" and co operation from the dealer, I figured I would get "warranty service" should I ever need it -- in other words, no lies or half truths to ... Read More
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2001 A4 First Impression
Written by: supersprint on Mar 8, 2001 9:36:50 PM
Hello all. Great group discussion here. I am the proud new owner of a "used" 2001 A4 1.8 Quattro sedan that I recently purchased at Carmax. Yes, that's right folks, Carmax -- the Walmart of the used car dealers. The car had slightly under 15K on it and was priced about 2,000 under blue book (hence the No Haggle price) --- totally about $24,500 The car has all of the most ... Read More
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gooddesign
Written by: cotmc on Feb 8, 2001 2:03:24 PM
Back in 1996 the basic black 4-spoke steering wheel was the standard A4 steering wheel, but Audi also also offered a 3-spoke thickly-padded "Sport" steering wheel (with the chrome ring logo) as an option. I believe it was a $150-$180 option. I'm sure that was also the case for the 1997 models. I'm not sure if this changed for 1998 or not. For 2000 and 2001, there is a 3-spoke thickly-padded ... Read More
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1997 Audi A4 - Starting Problems..
Written by: svadlamani on Feb 5, 2001 3:56:17 PM
Guys, Need your help with this one... I have a 1997 Audi A4 1.8t. Haven't driven it in quite some time (was overseas). Got back, and when I tried to start it, i juist heard this continual "chk chk chk chk" sound (not the usual cranking sound, but not completely dead either!). Anyway, the battery indicator was at 8 volts (lowest indicator). So, I thought this was a battery issue, and ... Read More
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Audi A4 Transmission
Written by: jimmya1 on Jan 4, 2001 1:50:55 PM
I just purchased a 1997 A4 1.8T with an automatic transmission. The car is in great shape and I love it. The transmission shifts differently than any automatic I have driven. When I accelerate normally the car shifts quickly to a higher gear ie. fourth. If I accelerate faster and then let up on it a little it seem to take a second before it goes into fourth. Once in fifth ... Read More
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Look int used Audi A4 ALOT of Miles
Written by: rossi3 on May 1, 2000 9:56:17 PM
Hi, I'm looking to buy a used A4. I found an 1997 A4 Quatro with the V6, good price but the downside is the miles, 115k! What should I look out for? Is this just too many miles for a 3 yr old car? How do Audi's last in the long run? Thanks
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drc4
Written by: equalizer1 on Feb 17, 2000 9:51:34 PM
I can certainly understand your trepidations about jumping into the "Audi pool" again, and I had my concerns about reliability, but I have to say, after owning a Honda CRV that had to be purchased back because of so many problems and two Camrys that had initial problems, this has to be my least worrisome car purchase since my Pathfinder. I vowed that no matter what, if I kept this car ... Read More