1998 Audi A4 Consumer Reviews

Love Hate Typical Euro

Written by: DrivingEnthusiast on 01/13/2008

Vehicle

1998 Audi A4 4 Dr Quattro 2.8 AWD Sedan

Review

Loved the car. Quattro, V6, manual - everything I wanted in an automobile. Unfortunately, I owned a Honda and a Toyota before my A4. Audi is totally performance oriented and cares nothing about vehicle life after the 50k warranty. The following were replaced from 70k to 110k: tie rods, suspension components, electronic controls, wheel bearings, and ABS sensor. There was a lifter tick for the last 10k miles so I'm sure something else was about to fail. Timing belt change job cost $1400 at 90k. I kept great care of this car and it kept breaking. I don't care how great Quattro was I'll never go back to Audi/VW.

Favorite Features

Quattro - great for snow, and the car handled on rails during spirited driving. V6 plenty powerful. Decent gas mileage (avg'd 24mpg for vehicle life).

Suggested Improvements

ZERO reliability. Driving home from the shop after a repair I was constantly anticipating the next thing to break. Wondering what the repair bill would total scared me. That's no way to drive - especially for a driving enthusiast. Performance doesn't mean anything if the car is always broken.

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Nice but...

Written by: JC on 01/07/2008

Vehicle

1998 Audi A4 4 Dr Avant 2.8 Wagon

Review

Nice car if you can afford the high dollar repairs. Ball joints have been a constant problem. Transmission went out completely at 80,000 miles even though the car has been very well cared for and driven lightly.

Favorite Features

Its look.

Suggested Improvements

10 year warranty. Better transmission and ball joints.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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A great ride

Written by: coloradoquattro on 12/30/2007

Vehicle

1998 Audi A4 4 Dr Quattro 1.8T AWD Sedan

Review

The Audi A4 has been the best car that I have ever owned. It is the perfect balance between performance and economy. I regularly get 30 mpg, but it certainly doesn't drive like an economy car. The turbo gives it power at high altitude that you just can't get with a normally aspirated 4 cylinder engine. Quattro all-wheel drive keeps it on the road in all weather conditions. It has provided 165,000 miles of trouble free driving with only routine maintenance. I haven't abused it, but I don't baby it either. Never a dull moment.

Favorite Features

Quattro all-wheel drive. Performance and handling. Fuel economy. Great looks. Reliability.

Suggested Improvements

Only complaint is the inability to put climate control into recirculate mode when the outside temperature is below about 35 degrees.

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Don't Do It

Written by: RJ on 08/24/2007

Vehicle

1998 Audi A4 4 Dr Quattro 2.8 AWD Sedan

Review

I loved driving this car. After a while, things started going wrong. Swing arms, tie rods, wheel bearings, speed sensors... this car cost me thousands over 4 years - just to keep it on the road!! Quattro is amazing and this car is extremely fun to drive. Beware, though, because it will cost you a fortune in the long run. I will never buy Audi (or European for that matter) again. Audi has destroyed my faith in "German engineering" - or lack thereof.

Favorite Features

2.8 V6 Performance, quattro handling, exterior design - it's a cool car no doubt!

Suggested Improvements

Reliability hands down. Dealer service costs. Seats uncomfortable on long trips. Lousy cupholders. Gas mileage 18-20mpg for a sub compact car with a small V6?? Shady build quality.

0 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Don't do it

Written by: pbfoot on 07/08/2007

Vehicle

1998 Audi A4 4 Dr Quattro 2.8 AWD Sedan

Review

I bought my baby (silver A4 quattro) 4 years ago with 70k mi on her. Put 40k on her in those 4 years and have one thing to say: she was the best car in the world, but she was extremely unreliable and expensive to maintain. Tie rods, control arms, electrical modules, wheel bearings, engine seals, ABS module, air bag sensor. You name it, it broke, all of them broke, and she was in the shop for weeks at a time. It cost a fortune to get her out of the shop every time. I babied this car and got nothing in return. Sure, she handled on rails and had a great performance V6, but there is no way I'd ever consider giving Audi another shot. Too expensive and unreliable.

Favorite Features

Handling in gravel, rain, snow, whatever. Backroad driving was never so much fun. A4 quattro with stick shift and the spirited V6 was a blast... when everything worked. It's hard going to fwd or rwd again, but quattro just isn't worth the repair bills. Maybe subaru, 4matic, or xdrive can deliver.

Suggested Improvements

Gas mileage. 17-23 average for a sub-compact car and premium fuel? All-wheel drive or not, that's ridiculous. Reliability. Something broke every 5k at least. Expensive at the shop. I will never spend another dollar on Audi regardless whether I hear 100 success stories from best friends or not.

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Wonderful, but be good with a wrench

Written by: Woll on 02/04/2007

Vehicle

1998 Audi A4 4 Dr Quattro 2.8 AWD Sedan

Review

I bought mine used three years ago. I have had many cars but this one was great, terrific pick up, quattro snow traction, excellent ride over all surfaces. I say "was" because it was destroyed in rear-end accident last week. This is not a car you want brought to the dealer w/no warranty! Ever. You must plan on repairing items yourself or finding a local guy. If you can do that, the car is affordable, if not, don't buy it or buy a newer one. Mine has been somewhat reliable, but the engine is particularly trouble prone. I have personally done the following: replaced all camshaft seals (tricky), timing belt, front main seals, wheel bearings, oil pan.

Favorite Features

Fun to drive, excellent smooth torquey engine. Nice manual transmission, Lovely ride. Quality of interior, seat comfort. Lots of room in the trunk and I love the fold down seats.

Suggested Improvements

Remote only works within 5 feet. Until I fixed them, engine oil leaks. Absurd useless cupholders. Digital climate controls works very well but some wierdness. Engine needs better gasketing.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Fun to drive, always gets me home!

Written by: TT3 on 01/21/2007

Vehicle

1998 Audi A4 4 Dr Quattro 1.8T AWD Sedan

Review

I bought this A4 new in '98 and the weak points I've found are wheel bearings and the lower door trim moldings. The engine is as sweet as the day I bought it! Driving with Q is the only way I'll drive from now on, it never fails me. I treat my cars well and find they in turn treat me well. I have replaced two wheel bearings in the 165,000 miles I've driven, did them myself. One wheel has been replaced but that was my fault and I just replaced my 3rd door trim molding, seems Audi got cheap making these. All in all I'd give this car a solid "9". It drives in ANY weather and has better traction no matter what the conditions. I'm just about to order a 2007 A4 if that tells you anything.

Favorite Features

1.8t, Q All-wheel drive, a blast to drive.

Suggested Improvements

Better wheel bearings, door trims too.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Civilized Driver's Car

Written by: audi driver on 01/10/2007

Vehicle

1998 Audi A4 4 Dr Quattro 2.8 AWD Sedan

Review

Perfect balance between comfort and sport. Whether you are just running errands or just out for a relaxing enthusiastic drive, it's a pleasure to drive. Everything is right where you want it in the interior. Great sounding stereo and Quattro handles awesome on wet/snowy roads. Plus, when you get into your 1998 Audi next to someone getting into a 2001 Honda(and you paid less than them), you can't but think "sucker"

Favorite Features

Quattro, Bose radio, leather seats, climate control, and the sound of the 30v V6.

Suggested Improvements

Cupholders are useless. rear ashtray cover (breaks off anytime anyone sits in the rear seat).

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Great Car!!!

Written by: kalin on 01/08/2007

Vehicle

1998 Audi A4 4 Dr Quattro 1.8T AWD Sedan

Review

Great car! I don't know why every one says it is not reliable, mine has 137k and runs like brand new! Of course it will have some minor things to fix since it is almost 10 years old but this happens to every car you buy. For the low price you can get one these days, nothing is better! The handling is exceptional (could be improved with larger sway bars), the engine is very good but needs a little more power easily achieved by replacing the ecu (up to 200hp) and a better cat and intake system. The bose stereo is better than the mark levinson on my friend's lexus. The car is soo much fun to drive it will always put a smile on your face especially on a curvy road. BUY ONE!!

Favorite Features

Handling, steering feel, engine response, interior quality and function, stereo, comfort, large trunk, fuel economy.

Suggested Improvements

A little more power and stiffer suspension, NEEDS BETTER CUPHOLDERS!

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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A Delight to Drive

Written by: DH on 12/13/2006

Vehicle

1998 Audi A4 4 Dr STD 1.8T Sedan

Review

I have had this car for almost a year now and it is a delight to drive. The AWD is great along with the tiptronic transmission. The car had low miles when I bought it and was well maintained, but still had to have the timing belt replaced @ 60,000 miles.

Favorite Features

The exterior color blue, interior design-blue/white combo is the best and the red light, tiptronic transmission, moonroof, awd, sport suspension, trunk, and wheels.

Suggested Improvements

The car doesn't move well in auto drive, the "normal" morning minute rattle, brake noise and better brake hoses, stronger timing belt, matching size side-view mirrors.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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