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Test Drive: Has Audi's A4 Really Reformed It's Wicked Ways?

Agent009 submitted on 9/18/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 10:44:42 AM

73 user comments | Category: Reviews | Source: | SOURCE: www.detnews.com

I once owned an Audi while stationed in Hanau, Germany.

It was a late '70s A100 and it was not a phenomenal machine.

The A100 taught me how to replace a water pump and eventually all of the hoses that carried coolant. I could never get lost in that dingy yellow claptrap, as I could always follow the trail of radiator fluid and oil home. The A100 did more for my German vocabulary than a hammer smacked on my finger.

During the carmaker's dark days of the '80s it looked like Audi would go the way of the electric car circa 1920. (It was even featured on "60 Minutes." Here's a tip to the auto industry: never invite Mike Wallace into your office.)

But then the company began to turn things around. Not overnight, but it started with the A4's arrival in America.

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Test Drive: Has Audi's A4 Really Reformed It's Wicked Ways?

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"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
— Agent009 (View Profile)

User Comments

The new A4...respectable but I wish Audi would not have been so conservative with the exterior design which looks very similar to the previous generation. I wonder if this new model will appear outdated long before it is replaced by a new model in eight or nine years.
— SixxFive (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 11:21:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Much like the way the 3-series has evolved, if it ain't broke dont fix it. Same goes for the G35/37 for Infiniti - sure, they're only on their 2nd generation but the 1st was a success, so you notice only the slight evolution in design.
— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 4:05:42 PM | | Votes: 5

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz more Audi propaganda from 009.
— 911gt2 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 11:45:43 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

I like the new A4 its refined in its own simple way
— B7FAN (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 12:05:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

what your car
— B7FAN (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 12:07:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

The Audi A4 is an underpowered, underperforming, overpriced, harmless Milf car.
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 12:46:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

but yet you and amazin would sit here and waste your time reading and posting about cars that you don't like. get a life.
— 1dott8 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 1:27:51 PM | | Votes: 1

I used to own an Audi. Stop being so bitter.
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 2:49:01 PM | | Votes: 3

I have reason to trash them because of my ownership experience. Or am I supposed to forget that I ever owned one? And not mention anything else about them?
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 10:57:53 AM | | Votes: 1

under power? its faster than the 328, c300, and lexus 250....over price? u can get one at 35,000....and performance.....lets not get there.....cause I know you will bring up the 335, c350 which is slower, and lexus 350, g35...im agree ..some of these cars are faster....but will it matter if u get to work 12 second earlier or home 1o sec earlier...the end is how enjoyable is the car....
— VWAUDITECH (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 9:19:11 PM | | Votes: 2

Ah, the power of jealousy.
— MeanVulcan (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 1:35:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

What is there to be jealous about?
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 2:44:07 PM | | Votes: 2

milf car! that would be the bmw 3,the world wide chick car. that's all you see driving the
— maxpnts (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 2:26:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

300hp, 0-60 in the 4's. Yeah, that sounds like a MILF car. LOL!!
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 2:47:53 PM | | Votes: 3

You mean like the BMW 3-series that just recieved a facelift after only 3 years.
— Heyhuub (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 3:11:03 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

3 years in halfway through its life cycle. Nice try!

And it's 4 years BTW (which is more than halfway)

06',07',08' = old style,
09' = new style.

No matter how you slice it. Audi have given us a half-assed product with the A4 3.2.
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 11:11:19 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

You can never say something as stupid as this. Audi and BMW have different product cycles and their cars are redesigned at different times. For instance, between 1998 and early 2005, the 3 Series was revised or redesigned two times while the A4 was only once (new for '02).
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 9/21/2008 1:21:03 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Its called MMI and it has been univerally praised while IDrive has been univerally slated. Wake up !! get your head out of the sand.
— steve27t (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 3:35:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

MMI works much better than idrive, so why dont you go suck A ROD
— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 4:07:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

It doesn't work better than the new re-designed I-Drive.
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 4:25:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

are you serious? what year did Audi start using the MMI in the A8? wasn't that 2002 if i'm not mistaken? where was this so called idrive in the so called trend setting bmw?
— 1dott8 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 9:57:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

sorry 2004
— 1dott8 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 10:15:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

The current A8 was taken in production in 2002, so you where right, the MMI was used back in 2002.
— Heyhuub (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 3:10:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

How bout the Double Clutch Transmission (DCT)? Did Audi imitate BMW with that as well?
— bintintin (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 12:14:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Idrive made its debut in the E65 7 series which hit the roads in Europe in late 2001, 1 year later in the US.

The D3 A8 was introduced in 2003 model year, hit the roads in late 2002.

DCT was first introduced by Porsche in the 80's. No, they are not the same company, Porsche purchased a majority stake in VW(parent of Audi).

Love the new A4, love Audi as a company. Just setting things straight.

— kablaam (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2008 12:10:13 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

300hp most car have that! still a milf car.most 3's are drivin by women in ca,look around.
— maxpnts (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 4:19:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4

300hp. Most cars have that? Most cars but the A4. LOL!! And your calling the 335 a MILF car?

If the 335 is a MILF car then the A4 is a Teenage girl car. Words like "underpowered" and "weakest engine in its class" can never be said about the 335. Could you say that about the Mighty A4? LOL!!

I’ll take the 335 over the weak engined A4 regardless of who drives them.
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 5:18:12 PM | | Votes: 4

LexSucks - you kill me. not only you but people like you kill me. i bet you've never even been to a track and you're worrying about hp. the A4 and 3 series are daily drivers, you know, to and from work, supermarket, pick up the wife and kids, things of that nature. most of the posters on this site kill me talking about hp. lets worry about that when we're on the track and our cars are tuned to our liking.
— 1dott8 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 10:03:40 PM | | Votes: -3

1doot8,

Then why even buy (or be interested in) these types of vehicles if all they are used for is to pick up groceries etc...? We should all just buy Toyota Yaris' and be done with it. You see the flaw in your logic?
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 8:54:23 AM | | Votes: 3

Engine change for the 3.2 next year? First time hearing about that one. Could you point me to a link or some more information? Thanks

The only thing that is preventing the A4 from being a true contender (and perhaps winner) is its weak engine.
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 8:59:12 AM | | Votes: 4

I was looking for something official from Audi. Not a bunch of Audi fans speculating on an Audi Forum. Nice try but I need actual proof.
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2008 10:43:42 AM | | Votes: 1

Most 3 series are 328I's.
— truthpursuit (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 4:23:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

So the 328's are MILF cars and the 335i's aren't?

He said 3 series which the last time I checked implied all.
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 4:28:09 PM | | Votes: 4

I think the A-4 is a great car,its just going to take Audi a long time to come back from the 60min program.
— truthpursuit (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 4:24:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

when u see an audi, i bet u notice it before a bmw! like an a5
— maxpnts (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 4:26:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

In that pictures A4 looks really beautiful but it desperaterly needs a 300BHP engine(i think even that is modest now as Infiniti G37 makes 350BHP here in Middle East).

JUGNU
— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 6:03:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

It's called the S4 coming in early 2009. Amazingidiot the only crap around here is the one that come from you.
— VISO (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 10:03:29 PM | | Votes: -1

Yeah but the S4 will cost about $5k more than the 335 while offering the same performance. Audi by far offers the least HP/$ among the "premium" brands. And that is unacceptable IMO.
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 8:57:13 AM | | Votes: 3

Can someone point me to where you got that information from?
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 10:56:23 AM | | Votes: 1

Bulldogz,

I may not have been clear. Where did you get that information from?

Thanks
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 11:00:16 AM | | Votes: 1

The A4 3.0T will most likely come out next year, but if it doesn't they'll probably up the power of the 3.2 a bit and give the new S4 a tuned version of the 3.0T with 330hp+.

The A6 3.0T got a very favorable review in AutoWeek this week, saying it did what the 3.2 was supposed to do. I'm very excited to try this engine out for myself. Yes, confusingly it is called the 3.0T.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 9/21/2008 1:24:08 AM | | Votes: 1

such a genius, the gallardo's engine is made by audi. i guess the got lucky with that technology. go suck a tit and shut up.
— 1dott8 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 10:55:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

The new A4 is a great looking car it's just seriously underpowered...A joke considering they had about 2-3 years to up the power to compete with the 335i, IS350, & G35/G37.

The A4 is a more masculine looking machine than the 335i no doubt, & if they'd brought the power to match the looks, I'd call it best in class.
— MunichRob (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 9:27:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

There are those who don't need the cutting edge handling of the BMW, but would instead, trade that for more interior appeal, because the truth is most people commute in their cars and rarely do they ever drive their BMW/Audi to 90% of its limits.

So sure, if you speed around on the track regularly, then the BMW will be the superior choice, but commuters who putter around the suburbs and average 45-65MPH on the highways will not notice the performance difference. However, they will appreciate the superior comforts of the Audi interior.
— quizz (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 10:09:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

well said.
— 1dott8 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2008 10:57:33 PM | | Votes: -3

superior comforts. Audi is not leading in terms of comfort or build quality, merc, bmw, and audi all build there cars to virtually the same standards. people just rave about Audi interiors because they have nice conservative designs. In terms of quality bmw usually ranks ahead of Audi in surveys.
— bmwM3 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 1:16:33 PM | | Votes: 2

bmwM3bmwM3 - please show me some kind of proof. i've never come across anything praising bmw interiors.
— 1dott8 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2008 10:17:52 AM | | Votes: 2

"Audi is not leading in terms of comfort or build quality, merc, bmw, and audi all build there cars to virtually the same standards. people just rave about Audi interiors because they have nice conservative designs. In terms of quality bmw usually ranks ahead of Audi in surveys."

BMW interiors have not been up to par since 2001, before Bangle took over. You are simply talking out of your ass here--while BMW interiors are underrated there is still a feeling of cheapness and poor build in the 1 and 3 Series that is not present in the A3 or A4. The plastics they use are hard to the touch and look out of place. I like the 5 Series interior and new 7 interior, and overall their interiors are average for luxury cars, but it's hard to deny that Audi ranks above them.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 9/21/2008 1:26:31 AM | | Votes: 1

At least BMW won an F1 race (this year). F1 is the highest form of motor racing. Did Audi win an F1 race? Oh.. Audi isn't in F1. Audi knows better than to even enter into F1.

And you still didn't provide the source of your information about the 300hp engine that's supposed to be going into the standard A4 next year (not the S4). I'm waiting....
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 11:20:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

Lexsucks, it helps when Hamilton takes out Rikkonin at the end of the pit lane
— aarononymous (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 8:16:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

You are right. He should have finished 3rd. But that's still more than Audi has done in F1, which is nothing.
— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2008 10:46:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Let's face it folks, 80% of the folks who buy cars in the 3 series, A4, G35 category are looking for a car that is pretty to look at, has a luxury interior, drives nicely and has some status attached. The A4 serves these 80% very well. However, for the 20% who really like to drive, they drive either the 3 series or G35. The A4 is a nose heavy beast that has nowhere near the handling characteristics as the 3 or the G. Serious drivers know this while those other 80% argue that the A4 is just as good because they don't know any better. SO keep arguing folks, it amuses me.
— goojman (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 9:41:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Im sorry, but the new A4 is different....the wheel is move forward like a Bmw, so its not noise heavy anymore. plus the power is 60% to the rear wheels, so you can say that its sportier...is it as sporty and fast like the 3 series or G35? NO, but I bet its safer on all road conditions + more space inside to fit happier passengers.....and if people care so much about handling like u are, why buy a luxury car? the a4 2.0t puts out 211hp and 256 ft tq at very low rpms....and gets better MPG. and u arent tired of see 3 series G35 lexus everywhere....audi is the new luxury....hate all you want.
— VWAUDITECH (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 9:08:20 PM | | Votes: 0

I saw my first new A4 on the road a couple of days ago, and I must say I was quite dissapointed. It looked more like the Chevy Corsica a few yrs ago. My wife thought it was a Kia!
The designers could have done a lot better job on this car.
— BMW995 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 2:43:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

so what do u say about the a5, cause its the same designer.....so you are just hating, because all the journalist are saying Audi has a better and fresher design inside out..than your played out bmw
— VWAUDITECH (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2008 9:13:33 PM | | Votes: 0

That's reallly a great argument you've crafted ther VWAudi. The A4 is safer? Go buy a Volvo. The interior is bigger? Ok...Great. If people care about handling, why buy a luxury car? Are you a moron? That's the point of the 3 series and G35. Have a luxury car that performs and handles like a sports car. You are the worst debater I have ever encountered. You dont refute my point and bring up other issues that have no relevance to my argument. Bigger interior? Safer? Who said anything about that? Not me. Let me reiterate, The A4 is a nose heavy beast that has nowhere near the handling characteristics as the 3 or the G. Serious drivers know this while those other 80% argue that the A4 is just as good because they don't know any better. Where do they find these people?
— goojman (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2008 9:13:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

I think you should do more research on the nose heavy part, because everybody in euro knows the difference between the old audis and the new ones.....I guess you not a big fan of vw or audis, thats why you don't know and don't bother to research.
— VWAUDITECH (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2008 8:17:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Test Drive: Has Audi's A4 Really Reformed It's Wicked Ways?

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