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new audi reliabilty

Question for the brain trust. Wife wants a new ride. She currently has an 08 mdx. That will be my ride. We rented an audi a3 last summer in the uk and she liked it. So I am thinking a3 or a4 or possibly a6. Are they good now or is getting rid of them before 100k still the case? Thanks ken

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Old 05-19-2016, 04:00 PM
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Now in 993 land ...
 
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My only in person Audi experience currently is a coworker who has a 2015. 12k miles. Something is making noise in the rear suspension when going over parking lot entries at low speed. Struts is my bet. Completely unacceptable. This should just not happen. I would stay with a Japanese make. I hate to say it ...

G
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Old 05-19-2016, 04:55 PM
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Fleabit peanut monkey
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aigel View Post
Completely unacceptable. This should just not happen. I would stay with a Japanese make. I hate to say it ...
2003 B5 wagon, 1.8T.

176k. Love it but it is a PITA. 37 mpg if I drive it like a blue hair. 28 highway if driven in anger.

Endless CEL struggles. Mostly chicken-s**t stuff but annoying.

Trust me. Get used to the CEL.
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Old 05-19-2016, 05:21 PM
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2014 Q7 tdi here
Bought new and have 28k miles so far.
Been in for routine maintenance only, along with 1 set of tires.
Not real happy about OEM tire life there.
It's been a good vehicle, and turns 28-30mpg on highway at 75-80, and it's a tank.

Hoping my experience (wife's car) continues with no issues.
Old 05-19-2016, 06:31 PM
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My experience is now only with "older" Audi models (newest in the garage is a 2001 A6). I'm a longtime Audi owner and fan and do all my own work, but am finally admitting that I think the tech has gotten too complicated for the good of the marquee.
Old 05-19-2016, 07:06 PM
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Cars Ruined My Life
 
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Right in your face
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I make living repairing servicing Audis.

2009-2012 Audi A4s with 2.0T avoid them. Excessive oil consumption due to bad piston rings.

3.0T supercharged motors are relatively reliable. Cooling system issues on high mileage cars.

Never Ending carbon deposit build up on intake valves on both 4 and 6 cyl fsi motors.

Upper control arm bushings programmed to go bad at around 70-80k on all a4/5/6/7/8 cars.

Crankcase ventilation valve failures are common all across model line up.

Except the 2.0T A4s in general Audis are great reliable cars. Relatively inexpensive to maintain, and repair.

Electronics are very reliable despite common perception (post 2005 models).




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Old 05-19-2016, 07:17 PM
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Send a message via Yahoo to James Brown
2005 allroad, "comfort module" is a pain to troubleshoot. Bentley wiring diagram is worthless.front bumper and lock career must be removed/slid back for any work on the engine, pricy if dealer handles timing belt change $1800. add valve cover gasket change, known leaks, $2200+ (2.7tt BEL engine) throttle is electric, sometimes it thinks about it for a few seconds before it accelerates, a little bit un nerving.
but a great quiet car and fast. best instrument panel in the industry.
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Last edited by James Brown; 05-19-2016 at 08:22 PM..
Old 05-19-2016, 08:16 PM
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....
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by impactbumper View Post

Upper control arm bushings programmed to go bad at around 70-80k on all a4/5/6/7/8 cars.
No zerk?
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Old 05-20-2016, 01:04 AM
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2013 A4 1.8T here. Very reliable and no issues whatsoever. Gives good mileage when I don't drive it like a hooligan, and oil consumption is non-existent.
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Old 05-20-2016, 01:25 AM
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I have an '07 S4. Awesome car. Best sounding V8 on the planet. High oil consumption but I knew that likelihood going in. Had chain rattle til I replaced the check valves. Absolutely zero electronics issues.

Wife has had a '12 A4 for over two years with no troubles at all. 2.0T.

Both cars daily drivers.


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Old 05-20-2016, 02:37 AM
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Hi
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by impactbumper View Post
I make living repairing servicing Audis.

2009-2012 Audi A4s with 2.0T avoid them. Excessive oil consumption due to bad piston rings.

3.0T supercharged motors are relatively reliable. Cooling system issues on high mileage cars.

Never Ending carbon deposit build up on intake valves on both 4 and 6 cyl fsi motors.

Upper control arm bushings programmed to go bad at around 70-80k on all a4/5/6/7/8 cars.

Crankcase ventilation valve failures are common all across model line up.

Except the 2.0T A4s in general Audis are great reliable cars. Relatively inexpensive to maintain, and repair.

Electronics are very reliable despite common perception (post 2005 models).




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What are your thoughts on 2013 A5 2.0T? Better than the 2012?
We just bought one, 15k miles. It was a lease car.
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Old 05-20-2016, 05:14 AM
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Driver, not Mechanic
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SF Bay Area
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I'm just leasing mine. No interest in buying one.

Water pump replaced under warranty 1 year in.

Developed lump on the dash. Dash replaced. Came back because of rattle.

2015 A3 1.8T the base model.
Old 05-20-2016, 10:49 AM
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Control arm bushings are issues on pretty much all German cars at 70-100k. Not unique to Audi by any means.
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Old 05-20-2016, 11:41 AM
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Now in 993 land ...
 
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All German cars have it? Because the buy the same ****ty components? I mean, does any of those suppliers have a reliability program? A quality system? ISO certified? How about certifying the supplier? Why does the German stuff fail, yet Japanese companies pull it off?

G
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Old 05-20-2016, 12:05 PM
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KNS KNS is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aigel View Post
Why does the German stuff fail, yet Japanese companies pull it off?

G
Because they know their customers will put up with crap like that and keep coming back. Japanese car customers won't tolerate it and the manufacturers will do their best to correct the problems.

Audi, BMW Merc customers will certainly complain about the problems but enough of them always return.
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Old 05-20-2016, 12:22 PM
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I have had a 02, 08 and now 2013 A4, my wife a 98 and 05 A4. The 98 with 2.8L was a oil leaker, the 05 a oil leaker from the back end. My 02 normal timing belt, control arms and when I let it go the heating unit was acting up but with 160K miles. The 08, replaced the normal timing belt and the heating unit was also acting up but with 140K miles. The new 13 now with 40K miles, no issues. All these cars are manual trans.

Am currently looking for a replacement to the 13, because the lease is up in 4 months and since they are not bringing in manual trans anymore, will buy a 2015 or 2016 with manual. If I can't find anything will drive this one maybe forever, just rebuild motor and stuff.

Also, all my Audi's have sport suspension, need the stiffer stuff cuz the car is heavy and with normal suspension, its way too soft.
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Old 05-20-2016, 01:08 PM
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Wife drives a 2011 S4. It's got about 80K miles and has generally been reliable. Servicing and repairs are on the expensive side, but we expected that and her company pays for it. We would probably buy another to replace it, but won't because Audi is phasing out the option of a manual transmission in all their models as they're updated.
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Old 05-20-2016, 01:11 PM
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new audi reliability follow up... alternatives

thank you all for the feedback on the current audi models. as a follow-up, other than japanese, we have two hondas, and an acura. which make would you get, bmw, mb, or volvo. the panamera is abit big. would be looking for a sedan, about the size of a 5 series. thanks again for the audi feedback, sounds like abit of a mix between good, so so and pretty good cars. ken.

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Old 05-21-2016, 02:02 PM
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