Any thoughts on the 2009 A4? other recommendations?

[mart242]

My quest to replace my 2002 impreza 2.5rs with something more comfy continues... (wife complains about the seat, she needs something with good thigh support and I want something that I'll enjoy driving). The original plan was a fully loaded outback of legacy is in the 40k ballpark, so is a honda / toyota minivan so I figured that I might as well take a look at the A4... the new one seems really nice and I'll try to go see them tonight or this week-end. Car shopping with 2 kids is a PITA so I tend to do most of it online.

Any thoughts on the A4? The one I'm looking at is the sedan, 2L, manual. It's got a large trunk and interior room is supposed to be much better than the previous one. The center diff has been tuned for 60% power at rear, 40% at front so it apparently doesn't understeer like a pig as it used to.

I'll also look at the VW... since the audi is supposed to simply be a passat for the rich (and if it doesn't the job I'd definitely not pay the premium for audi!)

Reliability is what worries me the most thought.. I don't know if a car like that can be kept for ~8 - 10 years without breaking the bank Laughing. I've read quite a few horror experiences on this forum.


What I need the most:
- fun to drive (was I spoiled by a subaru?)
- good seats with thigh support (ie: like the sports package in the A4)
- awd would be nice... but I'm not sure it's a must.

I also can't believe how many "sports car" aren't available with a manual transmission. Or that option disappears when you click on the "awd" option.

[ES_Revenge]

The center diff has been tuned for 60% power at rear, 40% at front so it apparently doesn't understeer like a pig as it used to.

I would not go so far as to say previous generation A4s (B7 and B6) understeered "like pigs", but yes the 60/40 split was designed for more of a RWD feel than before.

I'll also look at the VW... since the audi is supposed to simply be a passat for the rich (and if it doesn't the job I'd definitely not pay the premium for audi!)

Nope. This similarity ended quite a while ago (since 2005). The current Passat is no longer the shared on the same platform as the A4, and it's transverse/FWD based (PQ46 platform). In fact no VW-branded car is on the A4s current platform (B8 or more correctly "MLP") nor was there one on the B6/B7 PL46 platform either... The previous generation Passat was the one on the B5 platform, same as the A4.

B6 and forward A4s and current gen Passats are totally different cars.

Reliability is what worries me the most thought.. I don't know if a car like that can be kept for ~8 - 10 years without breaking the bank Laughing. I've read quite a few horror experiences on this forum.

Not sure about laughing to the bank, but it's hard to read the reliability "stories" posted by ppl on RFD without laughing, I'll tell you that much.

- awd would be nice... but I'm not sure it's a must.

On the A4 it pretty much is. Front Track A4 is pretty pointless IMO. Doesn't sell in huge numbers and it's probably much easier to find a Quattro than a front driver. (All of the launch B8s were Quattros though I believe the FWD started coming in later on.)

I also can't believe how many "sports car" aren't available with a manual transmission. Or that option disappears when you click on the "awd" option.

Doesn't happen on the A4, so nothing to worry about

[VivienM]

What I need the most:
- fun to drive (was I spoiled by a subaru?)
- good seats with thigh support (ie: like the sports package in the A4)
- awd would be nice... but I'm not sure it's a must.

I also can't believe how many "sports car" aren't available with a manual transmission. Or that option disappears when you click on the "awd" option.

The big problem with the A4 is its ever-increasing price if you want to lease. But you seem like somebody who wants to finance (or pay cash), which helps hugely.

Another big problem: if you want a manual with sport package, there might not be much in inventory (the first manuals only got to dealers like two months ago) AND it is now too late to order 2009s. So if there's nothing in inventory or in the system that you're happy with... ooops. You'll get a 2010 at the end of the summer.

If you're in the GTA, PM me, and I can point you to some good sales people...

[BAM]

I am not sure why Audi's get a bad name here in NA. In europe and the UK they are considered to have the best residuals in class.

I would conclude that people think them quite reliable in europe.. might it be all perception.

[Engi-Nir]

Sales guy told me it is 3.9% leasing rate, month free, and no security deposit on the A4 premium for 48months, so he said. Why till May, better incentives.

[CaptSmethwick]

If you're in A4 quattro $ territory, I'd consider the G35 awd, the CTS-4 (only auto with awd, I'm afraid), and the Passat CC. I considered all of these during our last car search. There's also the new TL with SH-AWD.

The Audi reliability reputation doesn't faze me in the least. Ditto VW, Infiniti, and Cadillac.

[notanexpert]

Wouldn't the 328xi be the most direct competitor to the A4 quattro? At least it is in Europe. The BMW is probably just a smigen smaller inside and a little bit more sporty, with a nice straight six purr. If you need a bit more space, explore the Touring model (or Avant with Audi).
If you are concerned with reliability, I'd think the 6-cylinder should be a bit better longer term than the 2.0T
Although on this forum I hear about as much BMW reliabilty related BS as Audi/VW related BS.
Truth is, both these cars will be a bit more to maintain than your Subaru, especially so if you go to the dealer, but both will be loads more fun to drive.

[tdott]

2009 data is not available yet.

But here is the A4s track record.

[CaptSmethwick]

Wouldn't the 328xi be the most direct competitor to the A4 quattro? At least it is in Europe. The BMW is probably just a smigen smaller inside and a little bit more sporty, with a nice straight six purr. If you need a bit more space, explore the Touring model (or Avant with Audi).
If you are concerned with reliability, I'd think the 6-cylinder should be a bit better longer term than the 2.0T
Although on this forum I hear about as much BMW reliabilty related BS as Audi/VW related BS.
Truth is, both these cars will be a bit more to maintain than your Subaru, especially so if you go to the dealer, but both will be loads more fun to drive.

Good call. Of course, the 328xi is a few grand more when equipped similarly to how most would trim an A4 quattro. I'll confess that when I went searching for my last car, I quickly moved up size-wise to the A6 quattro and 528i xDrive. The smaller models were more tossable, to be sure, but that characteristic did not figure regularly enough in how I drive to make me sacrifice space and comfort for it.

[commie]

What kind of deals has people been getting on the 2009 A4?

Originally, I was looking at getting the BMW 335i, but now have started to look at the A4's...personally find the A4's look better and have more space in the back..I am looking at the 4 door sedans.

Now i just found out that my firm has an deal with Audi where we get audi employee pricing. The deal is 7% off MSRP and 2% lease rate.

[Goodcat]

I replaced my Audi with a Subaru Outback. Audi is a far better car, if you do not mind the reliablity problems.

Mine had a gearbox problem in the first year and replaced under warranty. Since you go for manual, that may not be an issue. Then came the brake system. Brake disc, rotor... replaced once under warranty, and once after warranty. Still it suffered premature wear of brake pad, front and rear. Power group like sunroof and rear right window replaced once, all under warranty.

Minor problems like engine oil leaked (gasket), brake oil leaked (as above), premature wear of light bulbs (two front, one rear, one spot light), hard to start once for a while disregard warm or cold weather and this problem remains till the day it was sold.

Fun to drive ? Generally yes. The car came with a sport package. Steerling is very precise and the front always point to the direction where you steer. Power is OK, good torque. If you need more horses and fast acceleration, go to BMWs. However, fun to drive for me is only you can start your car and drive without those problems behind.

The above is a '98 Audi A4 Quattro 2.8. I had another Audi trace back to 80s, an Audi 100. And I found their product quality is very consistent.

[VivienM]

What kind of deals has people been getting on the 2009 A4?

Originally, I was looking at getting the BMW 335i, but now have started to look at the A4's...personally find the A4's look better and have more space in the back..I am looking at the 4 door sedans.

Now i just found out that my firm has an deal with Audi where we get audi employee pricing. The deal is 7% off MSRP and 2% lease rate.

I think $1500 or so over invoice (not counting the $500 rebate on 2.0T premiums) is doable; some people have been doing a bit better...

The Audi supplier program is not a great deal for leases anymore. For financing, it's good, and I think it still includes Audicare?

One thing: there is no A4 that has comparable performance to the 335i...

[mystery]

I recommend the Mercedes Benz C230 4matic:

http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?id=3208

$39,500.

[bembol]

I am not sure why Audi's get a bad name here in NA. In europe and the UK they are considered to have the best residuals in class.

I would conclude that people think them quite reliable in europe.. might it be all perception.

It's pretty much where they're Built right?

[bembol]

I recommend the Mercedes Benz C230 4matic:

http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?id=3208

$39,500.

+1 I am loving this, took it out for a spin.