Audi reliability - is it really getting better?

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by javadog

Not sure why Fred needs an entire weekend to change an alternator belt.

JR

Because he wanted to his back-hoe, that's why....

[fanaudical]

Originally Posted by javadog

Not sure why Fred needs an entire weekend to change an alternator belt. Mine are all serpentine belts and the last belt R&R I paid for cost me $80 in labor.

JR

Both of my A6's need to have the front clip put in "service position" before you can get to the front of the motor to do ANYTHING. And once you get there, you try to do everything you can just so you don't have to mess with the front clip again for a long time. It usually takes me ~1.25 hrs to get the clip opened up, and another ~1.25 hrs to put it back. There's ~2.5 hrs invested before you can do any "real" work.

I've got 10 hrs into replacing an alternator this spring in one of the A6's (and I like to think I'm what you call "Audi-savvy").

I love my Audi's (have had several since I got my license long, long ago) but I'm getting tired of working on my "daily drivers". (The Porsche is "fun", as is working on it.) All of my Audi's have been very reliable, but they also get good preventative maintenance. (The running joke in the family is that we own three to ensure that two are always in driving condition...)

As much as I like them, I'm most likely getting rid of both the older cars and replacing them with a Chevy truck this fall. (At least one can reach the alternator with limited drama.)

[beepbeep]

Hehehh...I'm on my 7:th year of ownership with my 21 year old Audi UrS4. 200k miles+

It's actually more dependable now than it was when new. I just had to change few wear items: doors, rear differential, ignition system, radiator, turbo hoses (probably three times), two clutch pedals, front suspension, front calipers, rear calipers (x2), fuel pump, Hall-sender, sway bar linkage (x2), valve cover seal and couple of batteries.

Other than that, it was perfectly reliable...

[LeeH]

This is the car I was looking at:
2006 Audi A6 3.2 with Tiptronic For Sale In Glendale Cashion El Mirage 1 Stop Auto Mall
KBB says private party fair is $12,500. Their list price is $12K.

[rfloz]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Why do you need a "real spare tire"? Most people don't - it is a holdover from a previous era. If you travel long distances in the middle of nowhere, then I can see it. But a lot of people don't.

Because:

A. Run-flat tires ride as if they were filled with concrete. Our E-46 with sport suspension and 108,000 miles rides considerably better than the E-90 with standard suspension and 55,000 miles.

B. All too often run-flat tires don't. Run whilst flat, that is. If the tire goes flat on the freeway while in the fast lane, it will be destroyed by the time you slow and get off the freeway. This has happened twice on our E-90. So, you can't plug it and you can't drive with it.

Oh, and BMW run-flats are "special" so, if you want a matching new tire, you can just leave your car sit until UPS drops off another one from TireRack. After you have it flatbeded home.

Progress this is not.

[porsche4life]

Lee, I'm on audi world. It seems like a decent forum, with some good knowledgeable guys on there, at least about the 8 series cars.


Want me to go look at that a6 with you? C'mon you know you want it.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Lee, I'm on audi world. It seems like a decent forum, with some good knowledgeable guys on there, at least about the 8 series cars.


Want me to go look at that a6 with you? C'mon you know you want it.

I have to go down town to meet with a client on Wednesday. If all goes well, I'll get done in the early afternoon and I can swing by then... when I'm already kind of in the neighborhood. Would be great if you could come along, but I can't say when or even if I'll be able to make it on Wed.

[porsche4life]

No big deal lee, just thought I'd throw it out. If you go some other time drop me a call or a text.



Oh and as far as the comments about Japanese cars, we have a Toyota sienna right now with an airbag light on. Reading online that it was a widespread issue, and in many cases it can cost upwards of 3k to fix...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Now take my Boxster engine pleeeze.....



For all you engineers and mechanics out there do you ever think why is this engine so complicated? Okay you got your air quality so you got to have an AOS.



How many sets of chains? And the two sets of chains have to be within a certain tolerance. Camshaft deviation tolerance etc.



Water pump condition? If old gotta replace that in case it explodes into a thousand fragments.



While in there replace the coolant reservoir coz it is old.



While in there you gotta replace the IMS to prevent the engine grenading. And while in there gotta replace the RMS and the clutch and don't forget the flywheel condition.



I crave the simplicity of the old VW bug engine. When did Porsche start to go sideways with their cars? If a person added up all the replacements then it is not a far stretch to say to heck with it and spring for a new Porsche!



3 years of extreme fun. There is no substitute!? Okay I am on vacatiion from anything German. 2 months not driving the Boxster and I am not missing it yet.

G

So the car is unreliable because you spend too much time on the Internet and replace every major component that MIGHT wear out? I don't think being neurotic is the fault of the car.

[nostatic]

I drive my car and have roadside assistance. Kinda simple...

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

So the car is unreliable because you spend too much time on the Internet and replace every major component that MIGHT wear out? I don't think being neurotic is the fault of the car.

You are reading too much into what I said.
I never said I replaced what people suggested. I could see that is what folks can do. It is certainly not what I would do.
Guy.

[MRM]

My experience with a very expensive and supposedly high-end Audi was so bad that I will never buy anything from that brand again. More than a dollar mile in maintenance, repairs and depreciation. I may never have a car that does 4 flat to sixty, but I will never own another Audi as long as I live.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

You are reading too much into what I said.
I never said I replaced what people suggested. I could see that is what folks can do. It is certainly not what I would do.
Guy.

I've never replaced any of those items, and I've refurbished five 996s, two 986s, and am currently working on a 997 and 987. Mileage on those cars between 60k and 137k, and I've put thousands of miles on them as daily drivers. Not saying that they don't fail, but don't spend so much time reading internet forums and bashing cars as unreliable based on hearsay.

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

i've never replaced any of those items, and i've refurbished five 996s, two 986s, and am currently working on a 997 and 987. Mileage on those cars between 60k and 137k, and i've put thousands of miles on them as daily drivers. Not saying that they don't fail, but don't spend so much time reading internet forums and bashing cars as unreliable based on hearsay.

+1

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by MRM

My experience with a very expensive and supposedly high-end Audi was so bad that I will never buy anything from that brand again. More than a dollar mile in maintenance, repairs and depreciation. I may never have a car that does 4 flat to sixty, but I will never own another Audi as long as I live.

Just for the record, what year and model? Miles?

[black_falcon]

Owned a 1995 90S for 5yrs/45,000k and it was one hell of a road car. Well built, silky smooth, fast, fun and reliable. Love the simple yet elegant interior. Great HVAC system with the best heated seats ever. Made Minnesota winters a breeze. Very Germanic in its feel.

I knew of Audi's spotty reputation going in but it turned out to be one of the best cars I've owned. Huge Audi fan after that car.

[onewhippedpuppy]

As a kid, I occasionally rode to school with a neighbor girl in her dad's Audi 5000. I still remember how much different it felt from the ordinary domestic crap of the era. My parents also had a Vanagon and Dasher wagon, so I was cursed with the German car bug from childhood.

[porsche4life]

My folks didn't get german DD's until I was 10, when mom got a TDi bug, followed by a TDi Jetta. Both had issues, but they were still the nicest cars we'd ever had.

But the vast majority of my early driving was buzzing around our acreage in an '82 diesel rabbit pickup. I guess I got the sickness there... Keep the revs high and have a blast!

And lee, if that car doesn't pan out, see what Matt can find for you at wholesale. He's been working with me a bit already, and I'm liking what I've seen so far.

[unclebilly]

Audi is German for 'Dont own off warrantee'.

[recycled sixtie]

Truedelta I think is a good source to establish what is a reliable car or not. Owners report on that website on the kind of problems they have had. As mentioned before there is no guarantee that anything mechanical will last forever.

Everybody has a degree of tolerance of what they can sustain in terms of car problems.
It is not the same for everybody.
Guy.