Audis have really been taking off in the last 5-7 years (probably Due to media exposure). In fact, my friend just picked up an RS5 a few weeks ago. Lots of Mercedes around too but those seemed pretty trouble free according to the tow truck driver.

I sold my 2000 A4 1.8T after one year. It took Audi three months to replace the defective radio that was in the car when I bought it. I kept reading about suspension bushings failing on slightly older cars and how it cost $1700/side to fix. I literally got cold feet and sold the car while it had low miles and still looked like new.

Wasn't too long ago I received notice that there was a class action settlement about coking in the engine on the 1.8Ts. I loved the car, but think I would have regretted owning that car long term.

Very true! But SoCal has been a BMW mecca for more than 30 years.... that tow truck driver might spend all day picking up 1995 BMWs and doesn't differentiate age. He just knows he picks up lots of BMWs :D

My sis in law had a Passat that was just beautiful. It rode really well and built tight like a sports sedan. I think it too had a 1.8T. Anyway, it had engine sludging that the dealer couldn't address so they sold it. I thought it was just a one off issue.

Exactly. I'm at coffee shop and there are 5 new or almost new BMWs next to each other at the curb, angle parked. It looks like the front line of BMW dealer with all of the CPO cars.

We have leased 2 A4 Avants for my wife & have not had any problems. As in, none. Granted we only drive them for about 30k miles or so....

I REALLY like our (4-cylinder turbo) A4 Avant. While it is too sedate to be my DD, it is a great family car, fantastic on the freeway, etc. I like a lot about it. Great car. We will probably lease her an A4 Allroad next time.

FYI, before the Audis, we leased 2 Passat GLX 4Motion wagons for her, & they were both great cars too for the 3 years we had them.

My 2 cents, FWIW.

Audi A4 & Volkswagen VW Passat Class Action Settlement Of Class Action Lawsuit Over 1.8 Liter Turbo Engine Oil Sludge | Class Action Lawsuits In The News

I'm very happy with my 2010 Q5, actually I love it.

Same goes for my cousin's A6 S Line, quite a beautiful car.

I've had a few 1999-2005 era VW and Audis with the 1.8T and engine sludge issues. Bought them broken. I will no longer fix them, they're simply too expensive and complicated given their current value (or lack thereof).

Back in 2001-2002 I used to travel to Florida every month for their Volkswagen/Audi Credit sales to buy factory and off-lease cars. Many, many of the 1.8Ts had "SLUDGE" or "MOTOR NOISE" written in bold letters on their windshields so they did not come back in arbitration. They knew of the issues a loooooong time ago.

Is the sludge issue a result of extended oil change intervals or (?).

My 08 A3 bought new, has been problem free for 54K miles, except for a diverter valve failure which was a DIY job. My 95.5urS6 avant has been excellent except for body parts falling off with age. Daily driver Audis beats the uber dependable, Asian appliance cars hands down in my book. YMMV

No, it's a result of two things.... One, emissions running a "hot" head as well as a naturally hot turbo. Two, a restrictive PCV system. Combine the two and you've got automotive ateriosclerosis.

Shorter oil change intervals and synthetic will help. But won't do much after the damage is already done.

I thought it was due to heat shield issues with the turbo, I may be wrong.

No, not really although that's related to the heat issue. It's like the chicken and egg, I suppose

Wife drives a 2011 S4 and it's been superb. I think it has about 30K miles on it so far. Time will tell however.

My 03 has a twin turbo 8 putting out about 525 horse power and will do 0-60 in a touch over 4 seconds. That makes it hard on transmissions. Otherwise it has been fine for me. Wear items are expensive, though.

One is always going to pay for that level of performance. There is no getting around the laws of physics. :)

......like transmissions?


Just kidding

Over a 10 year period in 3 different states at 3 different Audi dealers I was snubbed by the salespeople with attitudes. Each one left me feeling like they were entitled to something and did not want to waste time with me. One woman at the Richmond, VA dealership asked me if I was buying that day and I said I had just started looking at my options and she walked away from me saying that she was not going to waste her time with me. Later that day I drove back with a new Acura and told her manager the story. He did not seem to care. I found this attitude on 3 separate occasions and have since decided that Audi will never be on my list of options again. Maybe I was saved from 3 lemons by these encounters.

The highest paid auto technician that I have ever heard of works at Beverly Hills Audi. He made more than a lot of MDs a couple years ago. I've known his service manager for over 25 years and he is the one who told me.

Apparently they are a gift that keeps on giving for dealer service departments.