The Audi brand of vehicles

If you have an Audi or you had one
What has been your overall experience with the Audi brand

 

My wife wants one. I have not heard much positive about them but I don’t know of anyone who has one personally. The interior is sterile to me but as I said in the beginning, my wife wants one. So I’m hoping to make a informed selection

 

We have a 2018 Q5 and we love it. The turbo 4 cylinder is nice and is much peppier than anything else comparable at the time. Had a few oddball computer problems but nothing drivetrain related. Other than that it's been a good ride.

 

have had an Audi for 20 years. Rock solid ride and built like a brick house. sold the first one when we needed more seats for grandkids and now riding a Q3 Quattro 2.0 Turbo. Perfect car and just a little smaller than the Q5. Had Subaru and Honda before - the Audi makes them feel, ride and drive like a cheap piece of tin. Buy new is my only advice.

 

Only one experience with a 1998 A4 Quattro. Lots of turbo lag but with winter tires it was amazing in the snow. I gave it to my mom about 15 years ago. She still drives it and loves it with only minimal repairs over the years.

My neighbor has a Q7. He loves it and it’s been perfectly reliable for him. It’s an older one that he bought new. He can afford a new one but he keeps telling me that he sees no reason to upgrade when his runs so well.

 

My wife drives a 14 q7 tdi, was a super low mileage one owner from an older couple. We bought it in September of this yr with 35k on the clock. Regular averages 25 mpg. Suppose to improve after a “breathing treatment”

I don’t imagine I’m much help though as they stopped offering the tdi’s in the states after 2015. She came from a Jetta wagon with the tdi and still daily an 04 Jetta with the tdi

 

My next-door neighbor had one and loved it. However the transmission went out on it and now he drives a base model Toyota Corolla...

 

My ex bought a used one even though I told her not to. A4 Quattro. The alternator went out and I don't remember what the garage wanted to replace it but it was enough to have me do it. The research on the process yielded a total removal of the front bumper, grill and radiator, to 'properly' R&R the part.

I had very little tools at the time and it was cold in Seattle that winter. The alternator came in 4 different variations and a new one was gonna be $600. I ended up buying a used one that didn't fit, and another one that did. Pretty sure I sheared a bolt head off and was able to get to the other one without having to pull all that stuff off.

That was the end of our short lived experience with Audis after that.

 

Always thought their mainstream cars to be a bit on the boring side, but they have a few fun quirky cars like the RS3 which has a turbo inline 5.

 

My wife rented an Audi Q5 on a girls trip to Fredericksburg / Austin. On the way back into town to catch their flight the rear seat occupant spilled their drink trying to put it back into the center armrest drink holder that's oddly designed. All the dash lights came on and the car lost power and they had to pull over. It would not power back on or restart. They had to have the rental company tow it. Rental car company wanted to charge me $1750 for the repairs. I'm like what repairs?? The dang car broke down on them. Apparently the BCM is in a recessed area under the middle rear seat (and cupholders) and is not sealed for moisture intrusion. So if you spill a drink in the back seat, it will pool in the recessed area, ruin the electronics housed there and it will disable the vehicle. Cool design.

 

I had an 85 5000 Turbo, great car, fast, comfortable, just a beautiful vehicle.

But it was a fucking nightmare to keep running after the warranty expired. When I told my mechanic that I was selling it and he became very upset, said that my monthly maintenance bills were keeping his kid in college.

If you buy one just sell it before the warranty expires.

 

never owned one but i have noticed 2 things about them.
1) IME Audi drivers are by far the most likely to be speeding in traffic
2) I barely ever see Audi's that reach 6 figures on the odometer.

 

Old Audi was great. Those one taken care for rust are still on the road. They felt like tanks. In Europe they still have Audi 80 and 100 road worthy.

VW spoiled Audi, pretty much like Ford spoiled Volvo. Now it's all about convincing customers to buy a new vehicle every few years. With rare exceptions a new Audi will give 99% trouble free warranty period, and maybe a couple more years after that. Then at some point it starts to fall apart. If you're handy, you'll keep it afloat for more years, otherwise a post-warranty repair cost is just prohibitive.

 

My wife only drives 2,500 miles a year. She had an Audi TT convertible we bought 22 years ago and kept for 13 years with no problems. Her next vehicle was an A7 and after 4-5 years (less than 15,000 miles) it developed some electrical issues. when we replaced the A& Audi's reliability ratings were not good so she got a lexus

 

My parents had an A5 convertible, and Q7. This was their experience to a T. Now that dad is retired, they're down to a new Highlander and the '99 7.3 Powerstroke

 

Your question is a little open ended.

What experience are you concerned with?

Comfort?
Longevity
Repair cost?
Resale?

Are you looking at something sporty or something SUVish?

Old Audi vs newer Audi?

 

My son has a S5 convertible. It’s a blast to drive. Handles like a go cart, hauls a$$, and has a great exhaust note.
Only problems have been with the AC. He’s had two repairs recently, both running ~$1,200 to fix at an indie shop he uses.

 

My dad had the big Audi sedan. 5 cyl engine. German engineering required lots of specialty tools. Maintenance hog and expensive parts.

 

I worked in a Euro tech shop in past life, they are great under factory warranty with lower mileage. Once they hit about 65-85k miles, things get expensive fast.

 

We have been happy with our 2016 2.0t Q5. It has had no mechanical or electrical issues whatsoever in the 65k miles. If you buy new the Audicare is worth it IMO. Not sure I would be overly confident in buying used and they do lose value quickly. I lowered and tuned mine to make it a bit more fun to drive.

 

I've had two first generation TT's and a B7 S4. All awesome vehicles in the snow, very fun to drive, THE BEST heated seats, looked like I was driving a lot more money that I really was. I bought them all around that 100k mile lower end of the depreciation curve and spent lots of time and money in neglected maintenance that I never got back when selling. Although I enjoy DIY projects. I've only driven Toyota's since - 9 years clean and sober from Euro fever but I'm also not as cool as I once was.

 

Makes the later model 2.5 gens look like rock stars with their absent transmission coolers...referencing design flaws that is...

 

Oooooookay.........

 

Over-engineered and unreliable, maybe if you are leasing or don't mind bending over for repairs. I'd take her to the lexus dealer instead.

 

Friends dont let friends buy Volkswagen.
Make sure you get a sunroof, it will make pouring money into it easier.
If you flip your cars every few years go for it, they are amazing to drive.

 

Audi is apart of the VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group). General rule of thumb. DONT EVER BUY A VW OR AUDI. They are money pits, over engineered, special tool requiring nightmares. I have owned 1 and will never own another. 2007 GTI, sank 7500 into general repairs and preventive maint before I said enough was enough.

 

Audi has been a part of VW for a very long time, almost 60 years.

Ford took care of Volvo much quicker.

 

Only vehicle I've ever walked away from was a 2006 VW Jetta. Bought it for the wifey. Loaded up with all the goodies, sunroof, leather, vision 17" chrome wheels, Navi etc. Fun car to drive and drivetrain was rock solid. Electrical gremlins spoiled the show though. Navi was erratic. I left it at the VW dealer after they refused to repair faulty door and trunk latches that wouldn't stay closed and wouldn't allow the alarm to arm. Even had the extended warranty (which I only bought because it was a VW). Bought a new SUV from a buddy of mine at the GM dealer and had him send someone to get my trade in at the VW dealer. He gave me a really good deal and later regretted it. Took them over 270 days to get rid of that car at a loss. Thanks buddy!!