SFLGuy24

Hi everyone,

I was thinking about trading in my 2001 325ci for a 2004 3.0 A4. It seems the
pricepoint on the A4 is good in this area ($600 over invoice). Two
questions... from real users out there, how does the A4 compare to the 325ci..
(automatic transmission).. I know the A4 has a more powerful engine.. what abou
handling, RELIABILITY is also big with me - I had HUGE reliability problems
with the BMW. The second question is whether it is advantageous to trade-in now
after 3 years or wait longer.. I still owe $ on the BMW (purchased)... Thanks..

GT

"SFLGuy24" <sflguy24@aol.com> a écrit dans le message de
news:20031121144214.09973.00000714@mb-m01.aol.com...
> Hi everyone,
>
> I was thinking about trading in my 2001 325ci for a 2004 3.0 A4. It seems
the
> pricepoint on the A4 is good in this area ($600 over invoice). Two
> questions... from real users out there, how does the A4 compare to the
325ci..
> (automatic transmission).. I know the A4 has a more powerful engine.. what
abou
> handling, RELIABILITY is also big with me - I had HUGE reliability
problems
> with the BMW. The second question is whether it is advantageous to
trade-in now
> after 3 years or wait longer.. I still owe $ on the BMW (purchased)...
Thanks..

I would say Audis are reliable, however there are horror stories on all
german cars. Up to now I was happy with all my BMWs and my Audi, even at
high mileages.

--
Best regards.
Giovanni Tarantino
Bevaix (NE)
Switzerland
1997 BMW 535i 208,000 km (127,000 miles)
1997 Audi A4 2.8 Q 212,000 km (130,000 miles)

Interious

Here's a data point for you. I have a 99.5 A4 2.8L Quattro 5 speed,
purchased with 80 k miles 6 months ago. I've had the following
problems:

1) All 4 door squeal badly when opened or closed. The drivers side
rear window clicks and clacks.

2) The alarm system is a useless nightmare. It would go off without
the slightest provocation. I've had most of it disabled. A few days
ago I came out of Hellmart and heard a car alarm going off. Wasn't my
car--it is was somebody's A6.

3) The drivers seat now squeaks during any acceleration.

4) The windshield wiper jets are positioned such that it is impossible
to adjust them so that the wipers do not interfere with the spray. The
headlight washer pump was in a state of disintegration when I bought
it, causing profuse fluid leakage. I pulled the whole thing out and
plugged the hole with a cork.

5) The crankshaft position sensor is now failing, causing intermittent
restart problems.

On the other hand......

1) The 190 V6 seems to be a wonderful engine. Smooth and powerful,
though it does sag quite a bit in the heat. Some complain that the
2.8L Quattro is underpowered. I disagree. True, it is not a chipped
S4.

2) I have the sport suspension package and the car handles very well.
It is supremely confident on the highway, I thought superior to the
328i, though the BMW does have superior cornering road feed back.
This A4 does have some body roll and understeer, but not a bad.

3) It is truly a driver's car. Heretofore a very conservative driver,
I drive this thing like a maniac. I have to constantly exert
self-control.

So would I buy the '04 A4 with a the 3.0 liter engine??

Yes.

Dave





On 21 Nov 2003 19:42:14 GMT, sflguy24@aol.com (SFLGuy24) wrote:

>Hi everyone,
>
>I was thinking about trading in my 2001 325ci for a 2004 3.0 A4. It seems the
>pricepoint on the A4 is good in this area ($600 over invoice). Two
>questions... from real users out there, how does the A4 compare to the 325ci..
>(automatic transmission).. I know the A4 has a more powerful engine.. what abou
>handling, RELIABILITY is also big with me - I had HUGE reliability problems
>with the BMW. The second question is whether it is advantageous to trade-in now
>after 3 years or wait longer.. I still owe $ on the BMW (purchased)... Thanks..

Interious

Should read: "All 4 door windows squeal badly..."

>Here's a data point for you. I have a 99.5 A4 2.8L Quattro 5 speed,
>purchased with 80 k miles 6 months ago. I've had the following
>problems:
>
>1) All 4 door squeal badly when opened or closed. The drivers side
>rear window clicks and clacks.
snip

Jim Bransfield

I have an 02 A4 3.0 and the only problem that occurred to date was with the
coils. There is one coil fo reach injector and Bosch had some problems with
them. Audi provided a rental while they replaced the coils and car has been
trouble free since then.

-JB

"SFLGuy24" <sflguy24@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031121144214.09973.00000714@mb-m01.aol.com...
> Hi everyone,
>
> I was thinking about trading in my 2001 325ci for a 2004 3.0 A4. It seems
the
> pricepoint on the A4 is good in this area ($600 over invoice). Two
> questions... from real users out there, how does the A4 compare to the
325ci..
> (automatic transmission).. I know the A4 has a more powerful engine.. what
abou
> handling, RELIABILITY is also big with me - I had HUGE reliability
problems
> with the BMW. The second question is whether it is advantageous to
trade-in now
> after 3 years or wait longer.. I still owe $ on the BMW (purchased)...
Thanks..