2001 Audi A4 Quattro from North America - Comments

The ignition coils went bad twice at about 20-30,000 miles. Prior to the recall, Audi told me there was nothing wrong with the vehicle.

As soon as the warranty ran out, the brakes went.

Then, the water pump went bad costing 1000.

Then, the timing belt and numerous other items went costing 3000.

Additionally, both headlights went within a week of one another costing 700 a piece.

Of the last three months, I have only had my car for about three weeks because of being in and out of the shop.

This car was a blast to drive, handled great, great in the snow, was beautiful, however who can afford the maintenance???

I completely agree... this car's a blast to drive. I've had so much fun in it I won't sell it until its wheels have fallen off (which may happen). Unfortunately I'd have to agree that it's a maintenance pit.

The trouble is that I've (ab-) used the hell out of it, so honestly I feel I've gotten what I've paid for (in high maintenance costs) several times over. To give you an idea: I've jumped it off a dirt mound (skid plate made it a "jump" and not a "crash"), crashed it through an electrified barbed wire fence (the quattro is brilliant, but I was purposefully seeing how much it could take on gravelly dust roads), raced it countless times on the highways (many times near/at max revs in 4th or 5th gear - it sucks these up just fine), taken it to track days all over the place (of course the track seemed almost tame by the time I got there :-) ), and severely bent two wheels within a week of each other (truth be told both were absolutely traumatic bumps... one was a rained out pothole with a 6+" vertical shelf and the other a large pipe fixture I didn't see until it flew out from under the car in front of me). I had an ignition coil go and had a spark plug somehow come loose which led to carbonization and an improvised helicoil by a great mechanic at Carlsen Audi (Adli). I'm sure there's more, but the thing is this isn't all...

It works around town without blinking. Plenty of space, seats hold a bunch (groceries, friends, even furniture (put towels down) ), comfortable ride (w/ Sport package), easy to clean (I do it myself), moderately easy to make it look really cool (cleared the corners and switched bulbs to Pure Whites... it looks like a modded S4 since I have the Alu-Alloy wheels that come with the sports package). I sincerely look forward to long drives up and down highway 101 from Humboldt to SF to Paso Robles to Santa Barbara to LA and every trip therein.

But there's the funny thing. This car isn't *that* fast. Sure, my German friend with the little hatchback tells me to stop complaining. The thing is I'm not. It's got a strange thing about it. I grew up around a lot of fast cars (some graceful, some not) and this car (despite me clocking it at 6.9 0-60 stock with Pilot Sports) is *not* that fast. What's funny is it has these moments where something about it kicks in and it feels like you're faster than anyone else on the road and you start wishing (disclaimer: "...foolishly") for a cop to notice you so you could Cannonball out of sight with an audience. This isn't the well-documented (and poorly researched) "cold weather turbo boost" or some hidden sport mode like the M3 supposedly has.

I think I know: it slyly harnesses the power of contrast. Most hot, muggy days when you're feeling relaxed and it's hot out and you're driving with friends down to the beach it won't feel terribly quick (and it probably isn't...). But there will come one night when you have a 20 mile drive home from work and you've decided your recent raise warrants risking a ticket. You'll hit the accelerator and watch the needle move steadily and surely and get a smug satisfaction that can't quite be described and which nothing, not cars passing you nor rice-keteers trying to race you, can shake.

I suppose, after all this, you're wondering why I would write a review where I seem to shoot down all of my own points and invalidate my stance. I haven't. There are two ways to see it. First, if the maintenance was all/largely my fault, then you're in the clear. No worries. If, however, it was inevitable (as the ignition coils seem to be), then I was fortunate enough to be blessed with the driving temperament to make the best of an apparent sunk cost. This car's a great ride if you use it. If you want something for maintenance-free occasional boosts of speed to get you from A to B go get one of the faster Civics or something until you find the driver within ;-).