why do I find myself wanting a A4?
My dad recently purchased a 2011 A4 2.0T quattro. It's a fun car when you're not driving in a straight line with your foot down. I would say if you're looking for more fuel economy, and A4 would be great. I stuck one into a corner at 65mph with my dad in the car and it held, no Traction Control kick, and only a slight understeer push. The 2.0T it uses is based on the same one that's been in the MKV GTI since 2004. It's epically reliable. Touted somewhere as one of the ten best engines of..something...I can't remember where...I think Audi's 4.2 V8 was on that list too.
Typical VQ driver answer: YOU'RE NOT DRIVING FAST ENOUGH *****.
Typical VQ driver answer: YOU'RE NOT DRIVING FAST ENOUGH *****.
I seriously considered an A4 before settling on my G. I love their styling, but the reliability issues are just too much to overlook. The only way I would ever buy one is if I could afford to pick one up with a warranty.
I've said this for years, I wouldn't let a VW/Audi engineer wire my Christmas tree. Case in point, an article I just read today that describes an electrical glitch in some new Jettas where if you honk the horn, it kills the body control module and TURNS OFF THE CAR!!!
http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/28/auto...call/index.htm
Just more proof that when you have aspirations to be the biggest car company in the world, quality suffers significantly. Historic examples include GM and Toyota and now VW. All companies had or do have stated goals of being the largest auto company in the world. A few years back, VW/Audi formerly and publically recognized their quality control issues, but long-term dependability surveys are still showing VW/Audi as one of the worst automakers in the world in terms of dependability.
FYI, Infiniti above the industry average. German makes also don't mean the cars are unreliable. Porsche has ranked near the top for years now. It's still not enough to convince my wife that I should have a 911 4S
http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/28/auto...call/index.htm
Just more proof that when you have aspirations to be the biggest car company in the world, quality suffers significantly. Historic examples include GM and Toyota and now VW. All companies had or do have stated goals of being the largest auto company in the world. A few years back, VW/Audi formerly and publically recognized their quality control issues, but long-term dependability surveys are still showing VW/Audi as one of the worst automakers in the world in terms of dependability.
FYI, Infiniti above the industry average. German makes also don't mean the cars are unreliable. Porsche has ranked near the top for years now. It's still not enough to convince my wife that I should have a 911 4S
for you guys saying 201hp VS 260-280hp.
a 2.0T chipped A4 ($500 or so)should put down somewhat close to the numbers of a stock g35x. yea this is modded VS stock. But the mod is perfectly safe. and brings to something like 240hp/240tq compared to our like 260/240? should post similiar numbers around town and better MPG.
Now cost to keep is another story. Having been around dubs. i've learned some reasons why they break more. Mainly reason why I believe so is because routine maintence is key. A honda/nissan/toyota can normally afford to skip a routine maintence. But a VW/bmw/benz cant. turbo motors need oil changes often, they need their belts done, they need everything taken care of before hand or they break when its too late. Most people who buy the entry level jetta/GTI go and think they can just treat it like the honda. oil change when they want and thats it. if VW tells you do your coolant flush at 30k and you dont do it and at 45k you overheat and blow a headgasket, you blame them. Honestly this happens more often then not.
most people are not auto enthusiastic. they just wanna stunt. People complain about $100 oil changes VS $25 on civic.
In america these car at frown upon but over in europe the jetta is the civic over there. They love them and use as beaters. maybe they take better care of their cars over there.
a 2.0T chipped A4 ($500 or so)should put down somewhat close to the numbers of a stock g35x. yea this is modded VS stock. But the mod is perfectly safe. and brings to something like 240hp/240tq compared to our like 260/240? should post similiar numbers around town and better MPG.
Now cost to keep is another story. Having been around dubs. i've learned some reasons why they break more. Mainly reason why I believe so is because routine maintence is key. A honda/nissan/toyota can normally afford to skip a routine maintence. But a VW/bmw/benz cant. turbo motors need oil changes often, they need their belts done, they need everything taken care of before hand or they break when its too late. Most people who buy the entry level jetta/GTI go and think they can just treat it like the honda. oil change when they want and thats it. if VW tells you do your coolant flush at 30k and you dont do it and at 45k you overheat and blow a headgasket, you blame them. Honestly this happens more often then not.
most people are not auto enthusiastic. they just wanna stunt. People complain about $100 oil changes VS $25 on civic.
In america these car at frown upon but over in europe the jetta is the civic over there. They love them and use as beaters. maybe they take better care of their cars over there.
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well I should have said general maintenance.. sorry!
It's understandable that you could "want" an A4. The looks are freakin' amazing. A5 
But the thing about "wanting" is that it doesn't come with the pleasure of actually having to own one.
But the thing about "wanting" is that it doesn't come with the pleasure of actually having to own one.
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EXACTLY!!!! good point made about taking care of them too.. I love the fact that my G goes on 4 years and 100,000 miles with me and hasn't giving me a "service engine soon" light or extra expense! can't say an Audi would do that and that's what scares me away from there good looks!
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for you guys saying 201hp VS 260-280hp.
a 2.0T chipped A4 ($500 or so)should put down somewhat close to the numbers of a stock g35x. yea this is modded VS stock. But the mod is perfectly safe. and brings to something like 240hp/240tq compared to our like 260/240? should post similiar numbers around town and better MPG.
Now cost to keep is another story. Having been around dubs. i've learned some reasons why they break more. Mainly reason why I believe so is because routine maintence is key. A honda/nissan/toyota can normally afford to skip a routine maintence. But a VW/bmw/benz cant. turbo motors need oil changes often, they need their belts done, they need everything taken care of before hand or they break when its too late. Most people who buy the entry level jetta/GTI go and think they can just treat it like the honda. oil change when they want and thats it. if VW tells you do your coolant flush at 30k and you dont do it and at 45k you overheat and blow a headgasket, you blame them. Honestly this happens more often then not.
most people are not auto enthusiastic. they just wanna stunt. People complain about $100 oil changes VS $25 on civic.
In america these car at frown upon but over in europe the jetta is the civic over there. They love them and use as beaters. maybe they take better care of their cars over there.
a 2.0T chipped A4 ($500 or so)should put down somewhat close to the numbers of a stock g35x. yea this is modded VS stock. But the mod is perfectly safe. and brings to something like 240hp/240tq compared to our like 260/240? should post similiar numbers around town and better MPG.
Now cost to keep is another story. Having been around dubs. i've learned some reasons why they break more. Mainly reason why I believe so is because routine maintence is key. A honda/nissan/toyota can normally afford to skip a routine maintence. But a VW/bmw/benz cant. turbo motors need oil changes often, they need their belts done, they need everything taken care of before hand or they break when its too late. Most people who buy the entry level jetta/GTI go and think they can just treat it like the honda. oil change when they want and thats it. if VW tells you do your coolant flush at 30k and you dont do it and at 45k you overheat and blow a headgasket, you blame them. Honestly this happens more often then not.
most people are not auto enthusiastic. they just wanna stunt. People complain about $100 oil changes VS $25 on civic.
In america these car at frown upon but over in europe the jetta is the civic over there. They love them and use as beaters. maybe they take better care of their cars over there.
Lost three ignition coils, the trip computer, the radio, the locking mechanism (also three times), water flooded the cabin all the time, and that's just starting out. My girlfriend, who had a 2003 Passat with the V6, had even more things go wrong with her car. My sister got a 2006 with the 4 cylinder, and after 24,000 miles the thing cycled through it's oil every week. My uncle got a fully loaded 2005 Passat (V6, all that), and it was just as bad. He had to replace his catalytic converter 10,000 miles in.
None of them were as meticulous with maintenance as I was. And none of them had as many problems. But all our cars were disasters to own. Which is a shame, because when they were actually running, they were a pleasure to drive. But the reliability is so far beyond unacceptable it should be criminal for VW not to warn prospective customers about what they're getting into.
The funny thing, though, is you're right about these same cars being totally reliable in Europe. I've been told the VW Golf is bullet proof over there. I don't know how to explain it. But there is definitely a disconnect between the VWs made for the Europe and the garbage that makes it way over here. But that disconnect isn't that Europeans treat their cars better than Americans - that much I can tell you.
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Gotta disagree. I owned a 2004 VW Passat (4 cyl, turbo) that I treated like cherry - how I treat all my cars - and did everything as it was scheduled. All premium fluids, all full synthetic, everything. It was a great car to drive for the first 27,000 miles. Between 27,000 and 40,000, I had TWENTY SEVEN things go wrong with it. Despite the meticulous maintenance done at the dealer.
Lost three ignition coils, the trip computer, the radio, the locking mechanism (also three times), water flooded the cabin all the time, and that's just starting out. My girlfriend, who had a 2003 Passat with the V6, had even more things go wrong with her car. My sister got a 2006 with the 4 cylinder, and after 24,000 miles the thing cycled through it's oil every week. My uncle got a fully loaded 2005 Passat (V6, all that), and it was just as bad. He had to replace his catalytic converter 10,000 miles in.
None of them were as meticulous with maintenance as I was. And none of them had as many problems. But all our cars were disasters to own. Which is a shame, because when they were actually running, they were a pleasure to drive. But the reliability is so far beyond unacceptable it should be criminal for VW not to warn prospective customers about what they're getting into.
The funny thing, though, is you're right about these same cars being totally reliable in Europe. I've been told the VW Golf is bullet proof over there. I don't know how to explain it. But there is definitely a disconnect between the VWs made for the Europe and the garbage that makes it way over here. But that disconnect isn't that Europeans treat their cars better than Americans - that much I can tell you.
Lost three ignition coils, the trip computer, the radio, the locking mechanism (also three times), water flooded the cabin all the time, and that's just starting out. My girlfriend, who had a 2003 Passat with the V6, had even more things go wrong with her car. My sister got a 2006 with the 4 cylinder, and after 24,000 miles the thing cycled through it's oil every week. My uncle got a fully loaded 2005 Passat (V6, all that), and it was just as bad. He had to replace his catalytic converter 10,000 miles in.
None of them were as meticulous with maintenance as I was. And none of them had as many problems. But all our cars were disasters to own. Which is a shame, because when they were actually running, they were a pleasure to drive. But the reliability is so far beyond unacceptable it should be criminal for VW not to warn prospective customers about what they're getting into.
The funny thing, though, is you're right about these same cars being totally reliable in Europe. I've been told the VW Golf is bullet proof over there. I don't know how to explain it. But there is definitely a disconnect between the VWs made for the Europe and the garbage that makes it way over here. But that disconnect isn't that Europeans treat their cars better than Americans - that much I can tell you.
After returning back to the U.S., at 22.5K miles and 2 years of ownership, I traded my Passat for the current G35.
