2003 Audi A4 TDI 130 review from UK and Ireland

Nothing.

This is a very high quality, classy car, both inside and out.

The performance from the 1.9TDI engine is amazing, particularly overtaking between 50 and 80mph - it just goes like a bullet. There is an enormous amount of torque, but you have to keep it within 1700 and 2500 rpm - outside of this band it can be a bit flat. If you move quickly, you really find yourself grabbing for the next gear, it's that quick. Performance is effortless. And yet, amazingly, on a long journey, it returns 53mpg and in day to day short journey driving 46mpg. The brakes (unlike my 2000 A4) are superb and the handling (standard electronic stability program ESP) is excellent. You can cover distances on poor enough roads very quickly and safely. The steering could be a bit more 'alive', but it's by no means a problem. Stability, at all speeds, is top notch.

The comfort levels are excellent. Climate control comes as standard which is great, you'll never have wet interior windows again! The seats are excellent and you emerge after a four hour journey totally relaxed. At cruising speeds, even over 100mph, this is one quiet machine. Add to this an excellent stereo and a very well finished, pleasing to look at interior and you couldn't ask for much more. Cream leather would really be classy, if you can afford the €2,500 demanded by Audi on the options list!

Quibbles are few and far between. The climate control blows at full blast when you select either 'Lo' or 'Hi' temperature settings and the button on the remote for the boot release can take a bit of prodding before it works. Apart from that, there is nothing I can really complain about in terms of the car itself.

Running costs for a relatively prestigious and powerful car are low. Apart from the initial purchase price (a whisker under €40K) and the astronomical cost of Audi options (€750 for metallic paint & €280 for a center armrest) the fuel economy and service intervals make the day to day running costs quite low. The car has an electronic brain that tells you when it needs a service based on the way you drive etc - mine is currently indicating 18,000 miles until its first service.

The quality of the car inside and out is just exceptional. The paint finish, panel gaps, way the doors thud shut are way above average. Indeed, I looked at the 320d and the C220D and there is no comparison, particularly with the interior. I would go as far as to say that you will not find a higher quality interior in any production car today - it is really top class and classy to boot!

Overall I could not, but recommend this car. Yes, it does cost several thousand more than a similarly powered VW 'Passat', but you have to drive it to appreciate that the engineering integrity is in a much higher league. The whole car works together in a way the VW just does not. Bear in mind though that its several grand cheaper than a BMW320D or Mercedes C220D and when it comes to resale, the residuals are a good as you'll get - particularly for the TD red 'i' (130bhp model)

Love the car, and would only swap it for an A4 Cabriolet with the 2.5Tdi engine!!