How things change: Last year, the death of the automobile was prognosticated. Maybe little cheap econoboxes. Luxury cars? Forget it, dead as dinosaurs. Don’t even mention dinosaurs. This year … just have a look at Audi.
In 2010, Audi wants to sell more cars than ever before, and wants to make more money than ever before. Looking at the half year 2010 results, that’s no hubris. Volkswagen managers are usually very careful when it comes to short term targets. Hubris sets in when they plan 10 years forward. (As in Strategie 2018.)
In the first six months of 2010, Audi increased global sales revenues by 21 percent to €17.6b. Their operating profit jumped 61.6 percent to €1.3b, says Automobilwoche [sub].
By the end of the year, they want to break their own record and deliver more than 1,080,000 units. Compared to the 949,729 units of last year, that’s a conservative target. A mere 13.7 percent above last year. Come on. Easy. Most likely, they already know that they will make it: In the first half, they already were already up 19.1 percent.
Audis , and their sales, continue to puzzle me. We’ve had a 2004, and a 2007, and neither were very special.They were both gray.
Probably should have chosen a different color then…
I’m puzzled why you bought one again in 2007 if they weren’t that special.
Tosh: I don’t know. We kept the 2007 for a very short time.
You should have gotten the red ones, or the Porsche Lime Green, that much is clear.
I have to say it is very impressive how Audi has repositioned themselves these past few years. They’re slowly becoming the ‘it’ car for the new generation, contending with BMW and elbowing MB aside. For all the criticism of the big mouth bass look they adopted 4 years ago, it’s worn quite well. Acura should be so lucky.
Does FWD/AWD-only seem to matter? Apparently not….which should be good news for all those Acura defenders out there as well.
If they could get the typical VW family lack-of-reliability settled, it can only help their quest.
Many moons ago I had a 1st gen Audi 5000 (used) – I loved everything about that car except it’s constant niggling problems and expensive fixes.
I’ll second what Dave says about Audi becoming the ‘it’ car for the new generation. I can vouch for four close friends who have all switched from BMWs to Audis in the last year. One of the key reasons is because “dude, everyone else has a bimmer, I’m sick of seeing them”.
As shallow as that may sound, for lots of people that’s reason enough to switch. The other big plus for Audi are their overall quality improvements over the last four years, and over the last two years in particular. I think that Karesh can chime in here better, but based on conversations with a friend who is a service manager at a large Audi dealer around these parts he’s amazed at the difference since the 2008 model year.
I would have loved a B6/B7 A4 Quattro with a manual gearbox, but Audi reliability was still pretty questionable for mid 2000s model years.
It’d be nice if Audi has at least managed to get their cars up to BMW 3 series reliability level (not horrible, but not Japanese).
Our ’09 A3 has been incredible thus far. At 35,000 kms, it has yet to have a single warranty claim or repair of any kind. Not so much as a single squeak or rattle. It feels bulletproof. Maintenance costs to date have been under CDN $200.!
No Benz, BMW, Volvo (or even Honda or Toyota) that I’ve owned previously has given such a completely hassle-free ownership experience in the first two years. This is the first Audi I purchased since the original 5000 Turbo (a nice enough car too, except for the insane depreciation following the unintended acceleration debacle) but it won’t be my last.
It’s a giant VW Passat…. actually it probably is…. is it FWD?
A dealer executive I once met insisted the A4 is a stretched Jetta.
Actually, the Passat is a stretched Jetta now. I think the A4 was the platform of the previous Passat.
The A8 is a Phaeton. I think the A4 & A6 are variants on their own platform. Hard to tell though, since VWAG actually does a pretty good job of turning shared platforms into unique vehicles.
@ MaxHedrm –
No, the A8 is *not* a Phaeton. The Phaeton and previous generation A8 shared a lot of components, such as HVAC, brakes, etc., but the A8 always has and continues to be built on a substantially unique platform based on what they call the “Audi Space Frame” which is essentially a composite aluminum structure, whereas the Phaeton utilizes a traditional steel structure.
The Jetta, Passat, Golf and Audi A3 share the same platform currently. The previous generation Passat and Audi A4 were based on the same platform, however.
Volkswagen, and Audi in particular, have gotten away from the whole “platform sharing” model that VW used throughout the 90s (with the exception of the A1 and A3, both of which use heavily modified Polo and Golf platform). The current Audi model for the A4/A5/Q5/A7/A8 and upcoming A6 is to utilize a new modular manufacturing and design process that lets them develop fairly unique platforms for each, but to share major components like HVAC, brakes, drivetrain, motors, etc. Hence the similarities of interiors for the A4/A5/Q5 and what you’ll find in the A6/A7/A8.
Good explanation, hreardon. Volkswagen as a group moved away from “platforms.” They have “kits.” More flexible than “platforms.”
There is a “Modularer Querbaukasten” (sometimes translated as “Modular Transverse Matrix”) with a transverse engine.
There is a “Modularer Längsbaukasten” (sometimes translated as “Modular Longitudinal Matrix”) with a, you guessed it, longitudinal engine.
The MQB is preferred by VW, Seat, Skoda. The MLB is more liked by Audi and Bentley. Exceptions are possible.
Soon, there will be a third kit, for midengined sportscars.
How does Amarok fit into the picture? Is it MLB or 3WK (3-rd World Kit)?
The Amarok (like the T5 before) is not based on a pre-existing platform. I’d guess that will stay that way in the future – as flexible as MLB/MQB, etc. are, they are not for building body-on-frame cars like the Amarok… ;)
However there is quite a bit of part-sharing on the inside. IIRC the entire Amarok electronic system is (like the T5) Polo based, seats are from the Caddy, etc…
Bertel –
I think a TTAC post about vehicle development, along the lines of the VW modular approach as compared to the platform approach, would be fairly instructive and interesting for a lot of readers.
They make nice enough cars, but I still can’t get over the price. As the owner of two B5 Passats, I loved the idea of getting a larger A4 at 2/3 the price. However, the other side of that equation is never quite as palatable (just ask the owner of a Jag X-Type how he likes his Mondeo!).
I know most of their direct platform sharing is finished, but a lot of the componentry is the same…and after 12 and 8 years of ownership of our two cars, I’d still put Audi on my list of “Cars it’s nice to own for less than 4 years”
I just don’t see the value compared to BMW and Merc, but if Volvo and Saab can keep selling their wares at those prices, then Audi can, too.
Comparisons to Acura are inapt. All of the Audi front-drivers are longitudinal mount — no torque steer, no trouble putting power to the ground, more options with respect to suspension design.
One caveat: A3
I understand your point – my view was that for all the criticism that Acura gets for having wrong-wheel-drive, Audi has deflected said criticism.
Many folks can’t tell the difference…to them it’s the badge that counts.
In regard to another of today’s posts, I was invited to a rally ride-and-drive several years ago when the last-gen Legacy first came out….I remember thinking it was a more affordable and reliable A6 AWD.
If you think a longitudinal-mount motor in a front drive car = “no torque steer”, I invite you to drive a Renault R5 (Le Car) someday. I could zigzag across the road at will hands free.
The inside front wheels on mine didn.t know this.
Gee, and I thought torque steer and trouble putting power to the ground were due to the same tires powering and steering the car no the design of the transaxle and north/south vs east west config.
The things you learn here!
Hey, why is Audi the firm that started mass market AWD? Guess it must be that German technophilia…
Gee, and I thought torque steer and trouble putting power to the ground were due to the same tires powering and steering the car not the design of the transaxle and north/south vs east west config.
The things you learn here!
Hey, why is Audi the firm that started mass market AWD? Guess it must be that German technophilia…
The LED eyebrows at AUDI need to go……
I think the shape is a little bit off, but the idea of them is great – what a good way to tie together the models while allowing relative freedom for the other styling quirks. I think it helps the R8 be in the same family resemblance as a Q5, without having to resort to a detail that can consume the entire car (i.e. the enormous grill). Acura and Lincoln, whose grills have rightly or wrongly received so much derision, should take note.
I don’t care much for the curvy ones on the A4, R8 and new A8. But the streight ones on the new A6 look bad ass. Especially where I live, no front plate required so the front grill is one big massive angry looking grill with no plate mount going accross it. Looks bad-ass.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/2010%20A6/ebeyder/01967902.jpg
The new A8 should have the streight LEDs, not curvy. That dissapointed me.
If they did that, I’d have trouble telling this one apart from every other mundane medium-large sedan on the road.
I think Audi has the best looking cars on the road. The price tag is a little much for me, but they look good. Same for their CUVs.
I have no doubt that Audi will meet its financial targets. It will do so on replacement parts.
This all started when Top Gear moved the RS4 to the “Un-Cool” wall.
At 60000 miles, my 04 A6 drives like it is still new. Even kinda smells new. Every other car I have had started to fall apart, literally, at 60000 miles. Granted they were all fords but still…Audi’s poor reliability reputation is undeserved now. It’s still expensive as hell to replace “wear items” but mine has not had any major issues aside from that.
Good point on build quality, frizzlefry. My 2006 A3 has had its share of quirks (failed AC compressor, diverter valve, PCV, bad clips on the OpenSky roof), but that sucker has stayed taught and rattle-free over five years and 75,000 miles. I was in a 2008 Caddy CTS crossover thingy two weeks ago and at 30,000 miles I was shocked at a few things: terrible wind noise from the back C pillar, driver door handle faux-chrome peeling and creaks and rattles everywhere.
Comfortable-ass seats, but the rest of it was pretty junky. Knock on wood, I haven’t had a mecahnical failure on my A3 since 51,000 (of course, the AC compressor failing 1,000 miles out of warranty), so I’m hoping the streak continues.
Audi makes better cars than the other Germans. They are the standard in interiors across all classes, the cars are better built, Quattro is awesome, their designs are elegant yet restrained, and you avoid the image of a typical BMW driver. Audis are for people with class.
Please elaborate on what _your_ image of a typical BMW driver is.
No they don’t. The only standards their interiors set is how much they can exfoliate the cheap coating Audi puts over them to save from using more expensive materials.
Audi is ersatz luxury. Always will be.
I agree. I would like to see an Audi that would out accelerate my 1956 B Gas Olds.
mikeolan: Mind elaborating why Audi is “ersatz” luxury, outside of maybe not offering quite the driving dynamics as a BMW? Most would consider it a Tier 1 brand, right up there with BMW, Mercedes and Lexus.
I’m not sure where your beef with the interior is…do you seriously think BMW/Mercedes does better interiors than Audi? I could see maybe arguing Jaguar does. But I’ve sat in the latest 7 series, and the design inside is an absolute cluttered, busy mess. And the C-Class/3 series have poor material usage considering their cost. In short, which company is it that makes Audi only “ersatz” luxury, as I certainly can’t think of one that does.
mikeolan –
This will definitely come across as fanboi-ish, but last week I was at the BMW Ultimate Driving event in my area, to promote the new 5-Series (nice car, but HUGE and bad turbo lag on the 550i model).
They had several new E-Class sedans for comparison. I was shocked at how pedestrian and bland the interiors were, with the controls and switchgear feeling like they were taken off of a Chrysler, circa 2005. You want ersatz luxury? I would argue that the new E-Class would be it, because everything about it screamed “cheap” and made me think that MB is just riding on its heritage.
Audi makes a really nice looking and driving car, but not very unique in drivability. It’s Lexus vanilla to me, which is a shame because it looks nice.
I drove an A4 wagon recently thinking it would be my next car, but it was a bore. Granted, it was an 08 and not the newer version, but there was absolutely nothing unique about it…. and it was 2k more than an equivalent 3 series wagon! Aspirational pricing, indeed.
I suspect Mr. Baruth might disagree. I seem to remember a very bright green Audi in his past.
Torque steer is caused by unequal length front drive shaft and the angle of the CV joint. I noticed using a CV joint on my impact drive do zap away a bit of the energy, I guess the higher the angle the more parasitic loss it gets.
I think I have seen some FWd cars uses equal length of front shaft, they built one shaft long on one side so the slanted half shaft becomes equal length. I think that kind of equalled the torrque on both side. The car will not jerk to one side when under hard acceleration.
Ordinary RWD cars with live axle can also experience a little of torque steers, as one side of the shaft is turning the wheel on that side has more pressure, opposite side will have less pressure on road surface, therefore the pressure side will have more grip. When u do your stop light grand prix u will notice the car will go to either left or right temporary for a moment until the torque dies down then the car will go straight, u do compensate the steering a little too or car will nail the guy next to u.
So as a shaft drive bike, it behaves oppositely when doing l or r turn.
If you buying an Audi, you go Quattro. That’s it. Don’t bother cross shopping a BMW against a FWD Audi on a dry road.
FWD Audis are front heavy and have really poor resale value. You might as well have an Accord or TSX.
In the dry the 3 and 5 series BMWs are great, but in the rain or snow Quattro is the great equalizer. The BMW AWD system is marketedly inferior not to mention the “outback” ride height which cannot be changed.
The usual folks will chime in about changing over to winter tires on RWD cars, but most drivers don’t want that hassle or cost.
I purchased our first A4 on a business trip to Colorado, within 1 mile of the dealership there was a snow blizzard. 3 more Audis in the family since then.
Back in 96 my A4 was a rare sight, however now in the Pac-NW they are very common. There are now 3 in my cul-de-sac of 6 houses.
“I purchased our first A4 on a business trip to Colorado, within 1 mile of the dealership there was a snow blizzard. 3 more Audis in the family since then.”
That’s what is called good business location.
More like an Audi pimporial than an objective analysis Bertel. In terms of sales even Acura and Infiniti kicks Audi to the kerb.
Gee. There is a whole world outside the U S of A that also buys some cars, you know…
Audi makes decent cars (but bring back the V8 S4 and give us more diesel offerings please).
However, I think their US success has a lot to do with their branding as the AWD luxury car. I also think this is a big contributor of Subaru’s recent success.
It seems no AWD has become a dealbreaker for many people.
I’d be interested to see an Audi sales breakdown by state.
ajla –
A lot of people wanted the V8 to come back to the S4 until they drove the new 3.0T S4. The general consensus is this: you lose the beautiful growl of the V8, but the V6T is otherwise superior in almost all regards: lighter, more fuel efficient, tunable and torquier.
There are a few discussions over at Audiworld/Audizine where guys have compared their S5s to the new S4 and everyone who drives the new S4 declares it the winner over the V8. Besides, a new APR or Milltek exhaust system will give the 3.0T a great growl that comes very close to matching a V8’s sound.
I like your point about Audi and Subaru. Here in Northeast Ohio it should come as no surprise that those two brands are some of the fastest growing – I think they have some kind of a symbiotic relationship in many ways. From talking with friends in the Northeast, Pacific Northwest and Rockies I can tell you that it seems both brands are very popular there as well. Coincidence?
I also think one of the reasons for Audi’s success is luxury fatigue over at BMW and Mercedes-Benz. I’ve said it before and it bears repeating here: I have several friends who won’t buy BMWs because they tell me they see them everywhere and are bored of them. Take that for what it’s worth.
To a lesser extent, I also think that Audi is not perceived as being as “snobbish” a brand as MB or BMW (in North America, at least). I think there’s a general trend toward ‘de-blinging’ these days, and while newer Audis are definitely more flashy than before, they come off as much less ostentatious than their German partners.
The reality is that Audi has made major strides in vehicle dynamics, design and quality control in the last five years and I think that is really starting to pay off for them in North America.
It seems a significant portion of the yuppy Bimmer and Merc crowd has decided to jump into an Audi. I can’t for life of me figure out why. I shopped the S4 against cars like the G37S and Genesis Coupe TE and I would honestly enjoy the Hyundai more than the S4 on nearly every level. I ended up with the Infiniti, but the S4 was not even in the running. Someone else put it best when they said Audis are just “gray”. The car was so overwhelmingly bland, I couldn’t imagine spending $45k on one. I love AWD, but it will take a lot more than that to make these pimped out Volkswagens interesting.
It might be because some people appreciate tasteful appearance, but are a bit put off by the Jet Jaguar school design typically favored by Japanese (and Korean) coach builders, along with their moonlighting engineering colleagues (from the JVC boom-box division) who “design” Japanese (and Korean) instrument panels (“put more flashing light and useless knob on dash, Yoshi…American guy like video game and flashing light plenty long time…”)
TampaWRX –
I think in many regards you make a good point about Audis being “grey”. It reminds me of Clarkson’s famous rant about Audis being suitable for cement salesmen, and little more.
I’ve tried the Genesis and really like the exterior of the present G37 coupe and the previous G35 coupe, but when I get into them there is just something about the interiors that turns me off, and something about the overall cars which doesn’t sit right. I can’t put my finger on it because both those cars are excellent…they just don’t seem to sit right with me.
I like the clean and relatively simple dashes in Audis, the feel of the switchgear, the heavy doors, the somewhat bland lines of the car. It has a sense of solidity that the Japanese rivals seem to lack. Yes, i know that much of it is merely perception, but I cannot shake it no matter how many times I try.
TampaWRX, if you really live in FL, you probably don’t need an Audi.I doubt I would have one.
All German cars tend to be uniformly gray, it just what it is. Way too many cliched silver exteriors too.
No doubt Audis are appreciated much more “up North”.
If you ever go hiking up here the Subies are pretty well represented at the trail head parking lot.
You’d have to raise my Scooby 3 or 4 inches to take if off the pavement, these days. :) I really have no need for anything beyond a Civic down here, but that’s sort of the point, isn’t it? To build cars people desire, rather than just machines to get from A to B, that’s what the luxury segment is about, at least in my mind.
In my case, I owned an Audi in Tampa because of the dealer, Reeves Audi.They made ownership painless. They fixed things that probably were OK, provided a loaner with courtesy, and then got pizza for lunch. They also sell BMWs among others.
I suspect that if you found an Audi boring to drive, you didn’t drive one with the right equipment. Most demo cars are probably non-sport without Drive Select. I couldn’t believe how many S4s Audi sent out to the press for review (including the review here) that didn’t have Drive Select and even worse, didn’t have the QuattroSport system.
Audis that are properly equipped are better to drive than any Infiniti, and are on pretty much equal footing with BMW, unless you want to go powerslide crazy. As good as the latest Quattro system is, only the R8 really does the tail out stuff.
Audi started to get their quality act together around 2005, and within the last few years, they’ve gotten pretty good. If you actually bother to do the research rather than just mindlessly spouting “Audi = junk, I know because I had one in 1983”, you’ll find that the A6 is now more reliable than most of the competition.
The things I like about Audi are that Quattro beats the crap out of xDrive and 4Matic, their attention to detail (drive an Audi at night, and then see what everybody else is missing) the driver information display that is now being directly copied pretty much across the entire luxury industry, and their mastery of design.
What I don’t like is that because Audi doesn’t have the sales that BMW and Mercedes do here, they choose to leave out a lot of options for US buyers, and I’m not just talking about diesels or the RS6. Buyers in the UK can customize their Audi pretty much to their heart’s content, while in the US you get the Prestige trim and hope you like what comes on it, cause that’s what you get.
And for those that want the V8 S4 back, you can get the 3.0TFSI powered S4 up to last gen RS4 power (410+) with an ECU upgrade. Try that with the V8.
+1 on what Davekaybsc says here. I will agree that a standard 2.0T A4 is going to be about as exciting as a Kia to drive. A bit more luxurious, but pretty flat. Toss on the Sport Diff and S-Line suspension and you’ve got something a bit more interesting.
That said, the 3.0T in the S4 is the car to get if you want “exciting”, and you don’t even have to load it to the hilt to get the goodies – you can get out for around $49k with the Sport Differential, Nav and B&O radio system, which really isn’t bad.
Drive an S4 with and without the Sports Diff and if you know how to drive, you’ll definitely notice the difference.
Audi may have finally reached the apogee of boring.
Only the TT and A3 are VW platform based.
All of the VW’s are transverse engines with the exception of the Phaeton.
A4 on up are longitudinal engines with available quattro.
And while the the Infiniti G37S is a very nice dry weather car it has a motor based on the same engine that’s in the Nissan Frontier pickup.
So I guess you could call it a “pimped out Datsun”.
Well, in reality the G37S is really just a Nissan Skyline 370GT with most of the options boxes checked, so yes, it is nothing more than a tarted up Nissan/Datsun. I’m fine with that, since I got mine for more than $10k less than a base S4. I’ve ridden in and driven a few Audis, and I haven’t ever been impressed. The cars are just not to my taste, I suppose.
Really does depend what you are looking for in terms of performance. With my Audi, I like the interior and being in a snowy place, the Quattro is awesome. The big thing I like about my 2004 S-Line A6….the torque. Audi tends to design engines not for 0-60 numbers but for usable torque. Compare the torque numbers for my 2004 A6 S-Line to the 2010 G37. G37 has 267 lb-ft at 5200rpm. My A6 has 285 at 1800rpm. No need to play with it to get power. I have tons of passing power at any speed in any gear. My boss has a new Hyundai Genesis Coupe with the V6. Its FAST and beats my A6 to 60 by half a second…but he said that his car does not have the instant neck-snap that my Audi does. Once the rpms get into the 5500 range I’m toast but the power during low RPMs is awesome. Oh, and when on the highway in the A6, I can drink coffee without it spilling everywhere due to bumps (and I have the S-Line sport suspension)…if you go somewhere in the Genisis, yeah coffee is going to end up all over you. :)
A lot of buyers in the luxury market are buying perceived status more than they are performance or quality. To Audi’s credit their recent lineup looks great, the interiors are very well put together, and I’d say the quality is there. The equivalent BMW model will still kill it in a race, but as hardly any luxury car buyers really care about handling and performance beyond bragging rights, it’s no surprise that Audi is attracting more buyers.
And I think, NulloModo, you hit the nail on the head as to why Audi has had a lot of success these past years. They successfully recognized the need for their mainstream product (A4/Q5/A6) to be sufficiently price and option competitive without needing to be needlessly “sporty”.
So long as the manufacturer can provide specialty models (S4, S6, S8, A7, S7, Q7 Diesel, A3 Diesel, upcoming A4 Diesel) that keep the enthusiasts happy, they can ‘blandify’ their core offerings to their hearts’ content to keep the masses happy.
This is also one of the major benefits of the VW group’s new product development ‘matrix’ as Bertel explained it. They have incredible flexibility in individual vehicle platform development while retaining significant component sharing. This gives them a lot of design and layout flexibility to help differentiate models based on more than just trim levels. This is why they can put out the A5/A5 sportback, and now the A8/A7 Sportback and upcoming A6 as well.
As consumers we get the best of both worlds: basic models that are sold en-masse, and speciality models that TTAC readers will actually get somewhat excited about (depending on the day of the week and present phase of the moon, of course).
This is purely anecdotal towards Audi reliability, but my 2001 S4 Avant is running good at 202K miles. I purchased used from my father-in-law at 85K in Jan 2005, with installed Stoptech front brakes, AWE exhaust, and BBS wheels. Maintenance so far has been oil changes at 5k intervals, 2 timing belts, 2 windshields, 6 CV joint boots, 1 set upper contol arms, brake pads and rotors, tires, and wiper blades. And an absolute blast to drive during daily commuting or weekend cruises. I’m shooting for 300 to 400K on this one.
@frizzlefry:
To be fair, the 2.7T is not exactly apples to apples with the VQ37. Forced induction always has the advantage over normally aspirated engines in torque. When it arrived in the A6 it was a fantastic engine, one that the 528i and E320 couldn’t match. 250/258 were great numbers, and the final A6 S-line’s 265/280 were even better. Audi’s normally aspirated 2.8 and 3.0 V6s were always underpowered and underwhelming, so it was nice to have a V6 Audi that could really move.
By the way, if you want to beat your boss’s Genesis Coupe, have APR flash your ECU. $550 gets you 318hp and 382ft.lbs of torque. Keep up with that, Hyundai.
Unfortunately when they retired the A6 2.7T and replaced it with the considerably heavier and less powerful A6 3.2, it was back to business as usual. 255/244 were numbers on the weaker side of the class. The A6 3.2 wasn’t dog slow like the old A6 2.8, but it didn’t get your blood pumping either. As an Audi A6 fan, it was hard not to feel a little disappointed.
With the introduction of the A6 3.0T, DriveSelect, QuattroSport in the S4, and the other improvements made to the Quattro system for the RS5 all of which will be rolling out in future Audis including the next A6, it feels like Audi’s performance side is firmly back, and unlike the current A6, we won’t have to wait four years to get the engine and the handling the A6 deserves. The 2012 C7 generation should get all the goodies from day one, and APR, STaSIS, etc. should be able to transform it into a 400-430hp car with a minimal amount of effort and $600-800 or so.
It really is too bad that the 2.7T was such a bitch to maintain. I seriously think that Audi lost its shirt with that motor and its warranty repairs. Incredible shame, too, because it was a fabulous motor.
My old man’s 2000 2.7T is still kicking strong. And a former co-worker has the S4 with the 2.7T, APR chiped. Its at 90000 miles and still going strong. But you are right to an extent, the 2.7T is an awesome engine but you have to know to warm her up and cool her down or you risk turbo’s failing. I think in 2003 or 2004, Audi increased the size of the oil lines to the turbos and from what I understand that helped a bunch. I hear of 2.7T turbo failure in ealier models but have not heard of one in the 2004s aside from one that had a GIAC stage 2 kit installed. Even then, lasted him 50000 miles after having been modified.
In 2010, Audi wants to sell more cars than ever before, and wants to make more money than ever before.
No kidding! Do most car companies aim to sell fewer cars and make less money each year?
Just go to http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/YIDZ and listen to “I Wanna BMW”
A cell phone rep with my company, a metro-sexual to the max, bought a 2002 bimmer. Said it was the worst decision he ever made. MAJOR repairs, dead on the side of the road once. Vowed never to do it again. He just bought a new 335xi, dealer chiped with a dynan. Said he could not handle not having a german car. Loved it that much despite the pain in the a$$ it was. I think you hear people talk about the issues they have with german cars is because they have high performance engines in, what is for many buyers, an A to B car. EVERY car should have the little warning lights the E39 M5 had. Little lights on the tachometer that warn you about reving the engine too high when the oil is still cool. And they turn off when the oil is warm. That would save EVERYONE time and money when it came to repairs and engine life.
I just thought the BMW song was funny, and, to a large extent, true insofar as the purchase of a BMW is made mostly to impress, and rarely to exploit the high-performance aspects of those cars (not that most people could do so, anyway, what with gridlock and strict speed enforcement). I also liked their “Kash For Klunkers” song.
I don’t think the extra “idiot lights” really help.
When you try to make things idiot proof you just get better idiots.
Had a conversation with a guy who drove his German sports sedan with a check engine light flashing for 20 miles and couldn’t understand why his catalytic converter caught fire. The subsequent visit by the Fire Dept did even more damage when they chopped the battery cables.
I pointed out that what he did was somewhat stupid and if he had parked in his garage he could have burned his house down.
He says he won’t be buying any more German POS.
You have a point. “A rich houswife was recently given a new BMW converable as a gift. When asked how often she should change the oil in thge engine she replied ‘whats an engine’? After 2 years of ownership she reported she would never buy a dumb BMW again.”
An idiot proof car will never be exciting. Never be fun. To design an engine to put up with abuse, missed oil changes, its has to be slow and safe. No stress on parts. I knew a guy who put 25000 miles in a civic without an oil change. Seriously. The engine died on him. He hates Hondas and denies their reliability to this day.
In nearly every griping post on this site about Audi’s details lack. People never seem to say WHY they find Audi’s unreliable.
My 13 year old A6 Quattro Avant is doing quite well, thank you very much….153k with no worries. So, maybe I got a Wednesday built Audi? And style-wise, the design has held up quite well. I do share the quibble about the color pallette….my next intender is a TT…and none of the colors excite me….but if that’s the only bitch, who cares?
And I disagree with the “Return of Conspicuous Consumption” headline….I think of the decision to buy an Audi as the opposite….under the radar, (for now), financial prudence…
I had an A4 Quattro for 11 years and 160 kmiles maintenance(excluding tires) was under $300 a year. Never broke down, sold it for a very good price in October 2008.
Still see it occasionally driving around, paint still looks good.
Our TT (bought used) has been pretty good too, although I did just replace the clutch and that was $$$.
@Mark MacInnis
“I do share the quibble about the color pallette….my next intender is a TT…and none of the colors excite me….but if that’s the only bitch, who cares?”
That’s what Audi Exclusive is for.