2005 Audi A4 from North America - Comments

Bought the car and on the same day, the check engine light came on. Took the dealer 3 1/2 weeks to fix. Found out the dealer I originally bought the car from did not perform a PDI and falsely signed the papers. Since then, had take the car in for three more times with airbag and check engine light.

There is overwhelming rust on the drive axle.. dealer and Audi service has no comments or any corrective action in place.

The interior is absolutely beautiful and best among all (Lexus, BMW, Mercedes and Infiniti).

Handling is superb.

Check engine light every few months..unacceptable.

I have the same model as you - 2005 Audi A4 2.0 Turbo Automatic and my experience has been very satisfying so far.

Indeed, it's my third Audi A4, after a 2003 A4 1.8T Quattro Automatic and a 2001 A4 2.8 V6 Quattro Automatic and they were very reliable cars.

I do believe you got a lemon and you should appeal to the "Lemon Law".

Why don't you give the Germans another chance?

Come on! They are a lot more characterful than the Japanese.

I'm not dissing them, because they utterly reliable.

Is just that I feel the Japanese are not fun to drive as the Germans.

Rust on the dive axles is NOTHING to worry about.

You need to cross your fingers when it comes to the ignition coils, AC evaporator growing stinky mold and the engine sludging itself to death.

I don't know what you think you know about cars, but rust should not appear anywhere on a car if properly driven and maintained everyday. Rust is the number one cause of cars being taken off the road. I agree 100% with the reviewer rust on a brand new car like that is unacceptable.

I have been driving a new A4 2.0 for 2 months now and the experience has been great, the fuel mileage is close to as good as they say, and there is ample power. Nothing has appeared to be wrong with the car and it looks great. It drives very smoothly and I look forward to getting in to it everyday, great car.

It's inevitable that some surface rust is going to appear on the undercarriage. Go to a new car lot and you'll see cars fresh off the truck with a slight patina of surface rust on bare metal parts. Now that is different from rust bubbles appearing in the body work. It's unrealistic to think that you won't get some surface rust on your differential housings, sway bars, springs, brake disks, steering box, crossmember, etc. The only way to never get a speck of rust anywhere on a car is to put it in a constant heat/humidity controlled room and never drive it.

Hi there, I have a BMW 318 MODEL 2003 full options except the sliding roof, I'm thinking about switching to A4, I checked the car it looks great, but what I'm afraid about that he only engine it comes with in my country is 1.6 with 102 hp which less than my current bmw about 40 hp, the cars interiors so great... does anyone comment that shift, is there any differences... appreciated any comments.

The Audi, like the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C Class, are relatively heavy cars vs. their predecessors.

So 102 hp is hardly adequate to motivate this vehicle unless your only reason for owning one is commuting. But the Audi is supposed to be a driver's car and with such a weak engine you will never find that out.

I think it's unrealistic to expect no parts under the car to have rust. Every car will get rust under there not long after it is new just like the brake disks. Unless you want to look for someone who makes all stainless steel cars with the most expensive undercoating money can buy, just forget about the rust.

DUDE people. rust on axles is normal. doesn't matter what brand it is if it has axles as soon as it leaves the factory they begin to rust. its nothing to worry about its normal. people just have to get a life and not worry about oh the paint scratched that's a problem with the car... oh I ran out of gas another problem... not talking about this review, but some people are like that.

Thanks for all the information... I just bought a 2006 Audi A4 2.0T about two weeks ago, and noticed rust on two both sides of the axles. Not sure what its called, but the cylinders connected to the boots. Anyway, I was going to contact the dealership, but it sounds like this is normal. Is that true?

"Unless you want to look for someone who makes all stainless steel cars with the most expensive undercoating money can buy, just forget about the rust."

Well, the only one, who is building stainless cars is AUDI, in the A2 and A8 models, which are from aluminium, so you don't have much choice anyway.

I am looking at a 2005 A4 1.8 AWD, and have read diametrically opposed reviews. Whom do I believe? I've always loved driving German cars, but I don't have time to spend taking them to the shop... hence my departure to Japanese cars for the past 10 years. I'm trying to break out of the routine --- will this Audi disapoint me? Is there a better year that I should be looking at for the money? Appreciate your help.

I have a "certified" pre-owned 2005 Audi A4. I purchased this vehicle in July and it is now the first week of December and the following has gone wrong:

Airbag light sensor broke

Amplifier shorted out

Window washer fluid leaking "fixed" 3 times before it actually was.

3 of the 4 windows automatic feature broke

Oil leak

flat tire (I know, just had to throw it in there)

Broken windshield (once again...)

Auto-armor discolored my paint-dealership fixed with a bunch of swirl marks.

I love my Audi, but when I have the money I am trading it in for something else. Buy Audi only if you have a lot of money and patience.

Hi All.

I'm the author of the original post. Your taking this rust issue a bit too far (minor cosmetics compare to the rest)

Latest news:

At 51k, the trans mission hose rupture on the freeway.

Problem fixed!

At 57k, the diverter valve seal (Rev. B) broke and replaced with Rev G. Now it drive like new again.

At 60k, the trunk won't latch at times.

The Audi is sweet...it's still very high my list.

Drives very nice, I'm thinking A6 next but with reserve.

Options are: Lexus IS, BMW 335 and Acura (?)

I'm just tired of all the problems.

She's high maintenance but a beauty to drive.

Buy an Acura TSX... You won't be sorry! Amazing cars!