I am thinking about going to 2009+ Audi A4 2.0T. Just seeing if anyone has any input on this? I like the options acura gives and my TL has been more than reliable. Although I test drove the 2012 A4 and was pretty impressed with its handling and gas mileage. Lots of performance mods you can do for it as well. Dare if I say they look pretty clean. I like to hear if anyone here has changed from one or traded the TL for an audi.

Thanks,
Andy

 

I've had an audi. Great car, loved it to death. But the service and repairs bills are EXPENSIVE!! $1K to replace the thermostat, $120 per oil change, etc. The engine is laid out so DIY is tough. Honda/acura engines are very easy and intuitive to work on..

Other than the cost, the car was awesome.

 

No

 

My girlfriend has a 2011 Audi A4, I like the car but I still prefer the 3G TL. The plus for the A4 is her's has the quattro all-wheel drive system. I don't really drive her car that much though, we always end up taking my car when we go anywhere. She always wants to borrow the TL if that says anything And yes the maintenance on the Audi is pretty expensive.

 

When I got my 06 TL back in 2008 I debated Audi or Acura, they both make great looking and high quality cars...I am glad I chose the TL though because as it turns out I absolutely love to DIY and that would have been much more difficult if I had chosen Audi.

 

A4 interior is smaller, but since the wallet will be lightened up and smaller it probably wont matter

good part is I think you can direct deposit straight to audi repair

 

^Lol

 

Andy.

I've always loved the A4 and even though every car needs maintenance, I've heard that parts are VERY expensive. For that reason alone, even though I love the cars, I've stayed away.

 

I would stay away from German cars unless you have a lot of time to go to dealerships and spend all your hard earned cash.

 

owned an audi, as a younger guy. Just no.

I've been able to put the same mileage on my TL in 1/2 the time, because it's never truly broken. Audi? one thing goes bad, you don't fix it? 5 more things break.

If you want to get worse gas mileage, reliability, and more expensive insurance, go ahead.

But don't do it.

 

Audi's are fun cars IMO. I've had two friends that owned them (Audi TT and A4 1.8T). I was impressed by the fit and finish of both and especially liked the TT's handling and ride. I never drove either but just being the passenger was enough

Downsides are the same as everyone else has said - reliability and cost of repairs and maintenance. The guy who owned the 1.8T said it best to a girl at a party about a month ago when she said she might get an Audi - "Go to Strong Audi, they're a great dealer. And they have free drinks. And since you'll be there so much getting the car fixed, you'll appreciate that".

I loled. He drives a Lexus 250is now. Just as nice without the constant dealer visits. Hate to say it, but the Germans need to head to Japan to see how they do things over there. At least when it comes to longevity.

 

my friend purchased an A3 hatch with a MT CPO and had to have the clutch replaced shorty after under warranty if that says anything

 

LOL this made my day.

 

Was that because of his driving style though? I've heard of a few people burning through clutches in 10K miles or less.

 

could be, dealer deemed it under warranty though so i dont know. I think it needed a new turbo too for oil consumption issues.

 

It's really simple... Audi, BMW, Benz....buy new or CPO and buy the extended warranty. Done.

 

yeah, I thought that once.

 

I used to have an s4 before the TL.

The S4 handled awesome, really quick, great interior, but so unreliable and maintenance heavy in comparison (and I emphasize compared) to the TL.

My wife/tools/bank account thanks me for buying the TL. The s4 was fun and new ones are some of the nicest looking cars on the road, but I'm a TL guy for life now.

Once my '04 6mt needs to be replaced, I just going right to the type-s, unless the Gen5 TL is just as awesome as the Gen3.

 

Personally I would stay with an Acura. Audi cost too much to repair unless you have a great extended warranty. My ex girlfriend has a 2002 A4 Quattro and she likes the car but it cost like hell for maintenance. And the TL gets better mileage

 

Oh I still understand. Lol. I'm just saying if you're going to buy one of those cars that is the ONLY way to do so.

 

the newer audis are very nice but like everyone says. its a killer to the wallet to maintain.

 

good thread... i've said to myself so many times...after owning about 12 acuras.. that it was time to switch it up to a different brand and go German..but yah, the costs associated with owning a german luxury vehicle is insanity... if i was a millionaire, yes i'd do it though.

 

Why not? The new A4 is pretty reliable, if you get CPO....you should be worry free. Most people with the exception of like 2 here have never even owned a german car, they just talk about what they hear from friends cousins brother or 5th cousins ex gfs brothers gfs dad. Check out Audizine.com to get info from current owners. Personally I love the B8 A4.

I would suggest posting the question here https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/ or here https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/official-audi-discussion-thread-719563/. You will get better responses.

BTW- The clutch is a wear and tear item. You can buy a new Acura and abuse the clutch and it will likely fail quickly.

 

I also had an s4 prior to the TL and I agree with your post 100%.

I think about all of the time, stress, and $$$ that my TL has saved me since I traded in my 02 S4 for the new TL back in 06. That was a great move

I forgot to mention that my immediate family has owned 6 Audi's over the years. Every one of them has had its share of numerous small annoying issues coupled with serious major repairs needed while the cars were still relatively new (less than 4 years) All of our cars were purchased new and maintained according to schedule.

Our Audi's were: 1994 Audi Cabriolet, 1999 A6 2.8, (2) 2002 S4 (AT was mom's mine was 6MT) 2005 S4 Avant, 2009 A6 3.0t

Maybe we got very unlucky and were delt 6 lemons in a row?

 

++++1111111

 

You have a point, and I posed the same question about the clutch. You tend to only hear from the people that have had bad experiences with a car rather than from all the good. I think that 50% of the reliability of a vehicle is how it's treated. The other 50% is design and luck. Having said that, I'll likely still never own an Audi or VW since I've simply known too many people who have had bad luck with them. Despite it being the experiences of other people, I'd be a fool to ignore their experience and blow it off as being circumstance or user error in every situation.

That's just me.

 

I want to add I never owned an Audi but when everyone you know who has them (8 people) tell you they are nice cars but expensive to maintain and have issue then you dont want to get it

mind you they all loved them and outside of the 3 who make a lot of money the rest ended up with a non-german brand car

ya, i dont get experience owning one.. but I like to think people I am close who owned/own an Audi arent all liars and have an IQ of at least over 100

 

Thanks for all the inputs. I figured it boiled down to driving one to actually see it I would like one but even after driving one it's still hard to give up my TL. I wanted something different but as good in comparison. I've always heard horror stories about the German cars they look nice but just to expensive to maintain.

 

A long time ago, I was considering a Audi Quatro when that was a 2-door sport coupe. My German Uncle tells me not to buy it because Audi is the "Dodge of Europe". Fast forward 20 years to 2006. I buy a 2006 TL and this same Uncle buys an Audi A6 (used). I ask him about his reference to Audi being the "Dodge of Europe" and he replies they have changed and check out my interior and how well this car handles.

In 2008, he sells the Audi because he's sick of dealership visits and blew a transmission (imaging that even Audi has tranny issues). I meanwhile have the same car and zippo problems.

 

Big fan of Audi cars, love the styling, the craftsmanship, etc. A friend of mine had an '06 A4, she loved it but couldn't keep it out of the shop. If you are getting CPO, then no worries there. I like being able to try different models of cars when I get loaners through Acura. I'm sure that would be fun with Audi =)

But once that warranty is out, unload it quick as you can. Going for MT or AT?

I drove a 2010 A4 Hatch with the S sport trim last week for a couple of hours, got to hand it them on the auto transmission. I think it is called their ZF 6 Speed Auto. That thing shifts quick and it's not even DSG. Puts our 3G/4G auto trannies to shame.

 

Gotta remember though....even though the problems may be covered by warranties and won't cost you a DIME...it will still eat up a ton of your TIME.

Nothing more annoying then waiting on your car at the shop. And nothing more nerve racking then when you have no faith in your vehicle.

On that note, if I could buy any car right now based on looks... S5 baby!

 

Infiniti G37 S.

 

This. If you are buying used, definitely get a warranty.

 

lol Lacoastracer! Thats y I gave them a chance b/c they have come along way but I guess audi's big thing now is there oil consumptions with the 2.0t or any of there supercharged or turbocharged engines. Under warranty ok but if not it can be a money pit. Infiniti are nice but feel really cheaply put together. Drove a g35 S MT sedan didn't like it at all.

 

Agreed. I don't like Nissan interiors or gearboxes. Beyond that I love the Gs. Lol

 

the newer G35/G37 sedan I like, but apparently had a bunch of premature failures with their MT lol...and some car mag said the feel and usage of the manual was terrible, and to get the auto.

interior's not bad. leather's not as soft, but probably more durable than Acura's.

 

I don't know about you guys, but I don' think Audi's age well at all... especially compared to the TL. I think Audi's initially look great, but I personally find them to lose their looks quickly.

 

^ Agreed. Beamers on the other hand age very gracefully Or maybe it's just that I like the looks of the older ones.

 

no, you're right. The E46 M3 looks and will always look like a beast. They knew how to design em.

 

Damn, Audi's sound like my old 5 Series BMW-it nickeled and dimed me to death.


And to think I was considering Audi after my Type S went bye-bye.....