Faults:

The six speed transmission is clunky and refuses to go into reverse. The problem started upon delivery and continues 2 years later. After 5 attempts to repair the problem, it still intermittently refuses to go into reverse gear. One repair attempt resulted in the car going into first gear while clearly positioned to be in reverse gear.

The car is suffering a chronic oil leak from the overhead cam oil seal. Three repair attempts still leave puddles of oil wherever I park the vehicle.

The parking brake lever clunks and snaps loudly, sounding as if an interior plastic part is breaking. This problem was first repaired after one year and one year later is re-appearing.

The plastic trim pieces covering the front seat rails continually fall off and need to be replaced.

As many people note the car suffers from severe hesitation off the line.

This car has been in the shop 42 days this year alone! Not what one expects from a European luxury car while still under warranty.

General Comments:

This car is a treat to drive on the highway.

The all wheel drive feature is phenomenal on wet or snow covered roads.

Under warranty service, Audi provides rental vehicles from Enterprise... It is an expensive way to get to drive a Ford Focus or Pontiac Grand Am.

Unfortunately predicting the run-around from Audi is much more reliable that the 2.7T.

Faults:

The front bumper pulled off twice (parking at cement barriers and sidewalks).

The air bag light went on intermittently.

The "open trunk" light went on intermittently.

General Comments:

This is a potentially good car. If Audi would, at the very least, warn owners about the front bumper. Otherwise, there is no way to know about the defect until it's too late. Better, if Audi wanted to actually maintain customers, they would spend almost nothing and change the design. Best, they would recall existing cars and modify the front bumper at the cost of a few hundred each, but cheaper than the eventual class action settlement and loss of customers.

Faults:

Bose Symphony stereo system was defective. It was cheerfully replaced by the dealership.

Windshield developed stress cracks, but was quickly replaced (free of charge) by dealership.

Purge valve malfunction caused "check engine" light on dash to glow. A dealership 2000 miles away from home fixed it within 15 minutes of pulling into the lot (without an appointment). The valve failed again, but was replaced by home dealership.

General Comments:

The V-8 offers unbelievable performance and combined with the quattro drive system is an experience unequalled in any vehicle. There are faster cars, but they don't handle like the A-6 and can't hold a candle to its level of luxury, engineering, and design. The sound of the engine is a masterpiece. All this and 24 mpg on the highway while cruising at 75 MPH.

Road noise from the wide tires is about the only drawback I have noticed.

Dealerships (with one exception in North Dakota) are eager and willing to answer questions, solve problems, provide the free regular service, and (this sounds corny) make you feel like one of the family.