1998 Audi A4 review from North America
"I don't regret owning an Audi. Just buying a used one"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Replaced head lights at 105,000 miles due to one leaking.
Replaced brake rotors and brakes at 106,000 miles.
Had eight hard to find engine oil leaks fixed at 106,000 miles.
Had timing belt replaced at 107,000 miles.
Transmission blew at 110,000 miles.
Front bumper keeps popping off the brackets.
Center ashtray in front console comes out.
Wiring problems under the hood, which causes the LED dash screen to turn on and off sometimes.
No cruise control.
Sunroof switch sometimes has a mind of its own as well.
Bad MAF sensor.
Leaky rear strut needs replacing.
Needs new tie rods and one upper control arm.
Carrier Bearing on driveshaft needs to be replaced.
General comments?
This car has been an absolute headache. I was in Iraq when I bought it, and the seller obviously wasn't honest with the person who picked up the car for me. He did no maintenance to it at all.
I plan to redo all of the suspension to racing spec, and get the car back to where it deserves to be.
Despite all these problems, it still handles surprisingly well and is very comfortable to drive. Audi are great vehicles to own as long as you can afford it and a blast to drive. Their AWD system makes all the difference or I would have gotten something else. This car is very tough, despite the transmission failure. I have had to drive on roads where only big trucks go.
My transmission was performance built by a racing company, and is modified to be a lot more durable. Stock Audi automatics have durability issues from what I hear as well.
Recommended reviews
| A comfortable, great handling money pit with hideous service |
|
| Great performance, fit and finish, but prepare for very high maintenance costs |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1998 |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.8 N/A V6 30V Semi-Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 1 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 102000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 112000 miles |
| Previous car | Volvo 240 |
| Date of Entry | 20th October, 2009 |