Audi questions from a perspective buyer
#41
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi questions from a perspective buyer
"K. Daver" <duckie74NOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:b6hYd.3138$ZB6.1258@newssvr19.news.prodigy.co m...
> Rob,
>
> That's great to hear. Although I trust the magazine, I just didn't
> understand why 2003 + 2004 (they didn't rate 2005 yet) still had a stay
> away flag, yet they listed no problems with these years. They only
> listed the problems with the 2002.
>
> Either way, I'm glad that they fixed the problem with that model and
> it's not resurfaced in later years.
>
> Thanks again!
Generally speaking, I trust Consumer Reports too. It's a good, honest
publication that provides insight into a myriad of consumer products. But it
has its flaws, just like anything else. And in this case it's basically a
flaw of omission, in that they fail to note that the wide major
problem with the 2002 A4 has been addressed and corrected.
That said, the electrical issues that they point out are something else
altogether. German cars are well-known for having an abundance of "cutting
edge" electronic gadgetry. And, thus, they are also somewhat notorious for
developing strange "issues" with some of these electronics -- most of which
are more annoyance than problem really.
For instance, my 2002 A4 exhibits two strange behaviors related to the
electrical system. The first is a bizarre interplay between the cruise
control and the fuel gauge, in which turning on the former causes the latter
to temporarily stop working correctly (basically, the fuel gauge stops going
down until you turn off the cruise, at which time it drops like a rock). And
the second is a kink in the system that causes one of my front turn signal
bulbs to burn out about once a year (probably an electrical surge of some
sort).
Are these things annoying? Certainly. But, in the grand scheme of
things, these issues are relatively minor. And, even though Audi has never
been able to figure out a cure for either of them, they are things I can
live with -- by simply keeping an eye on the odometer when I use cruise and
by shelling out a few bucks for a light bulb periodically.
All in all, I love both of my Audis and wouldn't trade them for anything
(well....okay...maybe a Lotus...).
Rob
2002 A4 3.0Q (Black)
2005 TT 3.2 DSG (Ocean Blue)
#42
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi questions from a perspective buyer
"K. Daver" <duckie74NOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:b6hYd.3138$ZB6.1258@newssvr19.news.prodigy.co m...
> Rob,
>
> That's great to hear. Although I trust the magazine, I just didn't
> understand why 2003 + 2004 (they didn't rate 2005 yet) still had a stay
> away flag, yet they listed no problems with these years. They only
> listed the problems with the 2002.
>
> Either way, I'm glad that they fixed the problem with that model and
> it's not resurfaced in later years.
>
> Thanks again!
Generally speaking, I trust Consumer Reports too. It's a good, honest
publication that provides insight into a myriad of consumer products. But it
has its flaws, just like anything else. And in this case it's basically a
flaw of omission, in that they fail to note that the wide major
problem with the 2002 A4 has been addressed and corrected.
That said, the electrical issues that they point out are something else
altogether. German cars are well-known for having an abundance of "cutting
edge" electronic gadgetry. And, thus, they are also somewhat notorious for
developing strange "issues" with some of these electronics -- most of which
are more annoyance than problem really.
For instance, my 2002 A4 exhibits two strange behaviors related to the
electrical system. The first is a bizarre interplay between the cruise
control and the fuel gauge, in which turning on the former causes the latter
to temporarily stop working correctly (basically, the fuel gauge stops going
down until you turn off the cruise, at which time it drops like a rock). And
the second is a kink in the system that causes one of my front turn signal
bulbs to burn out about once a year (probably an electrical surge of some
sort).
Are these things annoying? Certainly. But, in the grand scheme of
things, these issues are relatively minor. And, even though Audi has never
been able to figure out a cure for either of them, they are things I can
live with -- by simply keeping an eye on the odometer when I use cruise and
by shelling out a few bucks for a light bulb periodically.
All in all, I love both of my Audis and wouldn't trade them for anything
(well....okay...maybe a Lotus...).
Rob
2002 A4 3.0Q (Black)
2005 TT 3.2 DSG (Ocean Blue)
#43
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi questions from a perspective buyer
"K. Daver" <duckie74NOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:b6hYd.3138$ZB6.1258@newssvr19.news.prodigy.co m...
> Rob,
>
> That's great to hear. Although I trust the magazine, I just didn't
> understand why 2003 + 2004 (they didn't rate 2005 yet) still had a stay
> away flag, yet they listed no problems with these years. They only
> listed the problems with the 2002.
>
> Either way, I'm glad that they fixed the problem with that model and
> it's not resurfaced in later years.
>
> Thanks again!
Generally speaking, I trust Consumer Reports too. It's a good, honest
publication that provides insight into a myriad of consumer products. But it
has its flaws, just like anything else. And in this case it's basically a
flaw of omission, in that they fail to note that the wide major
problem with the 2002 A4 has been addressed and corrected.
That said, the electrical issues that they point out are something else
altogether. German cars are well-known for having an abundance of "cutting
edge" electronic gadgetry. And, thus, they are also somewhat notorious for
developing strange "issues" with some of these electronics -- most of which
are more annoyance than problem really.
For instance, my 2002 A4 exhibits two strange behaviors related to the
electrical system. The first is a bizarre interplay between the cruise
control and the fuel gauge, in which turning on the former causes the latter
to temporarily stop working correctly (basically, the fuel gauge stops going
down until you turn off the cruise, at which time it drops like a rock). And
the second is a kink in the system that causes one of my front turn signal
bulbs to burn out about once a year (probably an electrical surge of some
sort).
Are these things annoying? Certainly. But, in the grand scheme of
things, these issues are relatively minor. And, even though Audi has never
been able to figure out a cure for either of them, they are things I can
live with -- by simply keeping an eye on the odometer when I use cruise and
by shelling out a few bucks for a light bulb periodically.
All in all, I love both of my Audis and wouldn't trade them for anything
(well....okay...maybe a Lotus...).
Rob
2002 A4 3.0Q (Black)
2005 TT 3.2 DSG (Ocean Blue)
#44
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi questions from a perspective buyer
"K. Daver" <duckie74NOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:l9hYd.3139$ZB6.1703@newssvr19.news.prodigy.co m...
> Bob,
>
> Appreciate the help. What types of problems have you had? For me,
> it'll be the most expensive car I've owned. Never been in a position to
> have a new(er) car before, so obviously I want to do my homework before
> I plunk down the money for it. Repairs, can be costly, so obviously I'm
> very interested in their upkeep.
>
> The dealer told me that I must put premium gas in it. Several people at
> work drive them (and love them) but use regular gas. One person has a
> 99 and says he's put nothing but regular gas and it's never been an
> issue. Can there be heavy repairs associated with non-premium gas?
>
> I'm in the states and around here premium just spiked to about $2.20 vs
> $1.95 for non-premium. No Audi Hybrids yet, right?
You don't have to use premium. It's just recommended for optimal
performance. All of today's computer controlled engines will essentially
de-tune themselves in order to harmlessly utilize regular gasoline. However,
the engine will not be quite as responsive under those circumstances and gas
mileage will suffer a bit too. So, despite the front-end savings on fuel,
the overall cost may not be any less.
Rob
2002 A4 3.0Q (black)
2005 TT 3.2 DSG (ocean blue)
#45
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi questions from a perspective buyer
"K. Daver" <duckie74NOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:l9hYd.3139$ZB6.1703@newssvr19.news.prodigy.co m...
> Bob,
>
> Appreciate the help. What types of problems have you had? For me,
> it'll be the most expensive car I've owned. Never been in a position to
> have a new(er) car before, so obviously I want to do my homework before
> I plunk down the money for it. Repairs, can be costly, so obviously I'm
> very interested in their upkeep.
>
> The dealer told me that I must put premium gas in it. Several people at
> work drive them (and love them) but use regular gas. One person has a
> 99 and says he's put nothing but regular gas and it's never been an
> issue. Can there be heavy repairs associated with non-premium gas?
>
> I'm in the states and around here premium just spiked to about $2.20 vs
> $1.95 for non-premium. No Audi Hybrids yet, right?
You don't have to use premium. It's just recommended for optimal
performance. All of today's computer controlled engines will essentially
de-tune themselves in order to harmlessly utilize regular gasoline. However,
the engine will not be quite as responsive under those circumstances and gas
mileage will suffer a bit too. So, despite the front-end savings on fuel,
the overall cost may not be any less.
Rob
2002 A4 3.0Q (black)
2005 TT 3.2 DSG (ocean blue)
#46
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi questions from a perspective buyer
"K. Daver" <duckie74NOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:l9hYd.3139$ZB6.1703@newssvr19.news.prodigy.co m...
> Bob,
>
> Appreciate the help. What types of problems have you had? For me,
> it'll be the most expensive car I've owned. Never been in a position to
> have a new(er) car before, so obviously I want to do my homework before
> I plunk down the money for it. Repairs, can be costly, so obviously I'm
> very interested in their upkeep.
>
> The dealer told me that I must put premium gas in it. Several people at
> work drive them (and love them) but use regular gas. One person has a
> 99 and says he's put nothing but regular gas and it's never been an
> issue. Can there be heavy repairs associated with non-premium gas?
>
> I'm in the states and around here premium just spiked to about $2.20 vs
> $1.95 for non-premium. No Audi Hybrids yet, right?
You don't have to use premium. It's just recommended for optimal
performance. All of today's computer controlled engines will essentially
de-tune themselves in order to harmlessly utilize regular gasoline. However,
the engine will not be quite as responsive under those circumstances and gas
mileage will suffer a bit too. So, despite the front-end savings on fuel,
the overall cost may not be any less.
Rob
2002 A4 3.0Q (black)
2005 TT 3.2 DSG (ocean blue)
#47
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi questions from a perspective buyer
I've owned Audis for nearly 20 years so I feel somewhat qualified to
comment. Others have extolled the Audi virtues and I won't bother repeating
them except to say if you're set on the 3.0 you ought to get quattro - it's
a nice feature and one of the most reliable parts of an Audi. Now for the
downside. First, as you realize, maintenance and repairs are fairly
expensive. Most parts - either OEM or aftermarket - come from Europe where
the euro is soaring against the dollar and there are relatively few
independent mechanics who work on Audis although that has improved in the
last decade or so. Brake pads wear out fairly quickly and when you replace
them you usually wind up replacing the rotors since the design does not
allow for much machining. When you replace the pads, consider an aftermarket
pad which will offer equivalent or better performance and reduced dust. My
A4 owners manual recommends a timing belt change at 90,000 miles but that
interval is now reduced to between 60,000 and 70,000 miles by most accounts.
TB failure is a VERY expensive disaster but replacing it and the other
components that are recommended at the same time (water pump, thermostat,
tensioners, serpentine belt) will cost you typically between $800 and $1000.
The 2.8 and I suspect the 3.0 are prone to oil leaks from the cam seals and
the valve cover gaskets after about 50,000 miles. This repair runs around
$400. I also had to replace a radiator for close to $600 at 65,000 miles and
a temperature sensor ($200) around 55,000 miles. Earlier, warranty repairs
included a clutch throwout bearing and the ventilation fan motor at 22,000
miles. Fortunately, I have so far - knck on wood - escaped the wide
control arm problem and my A4 was too early a model to have suffered from
the coil failure problem that has now been rectified.
To sum up, my A4 is enjoyable to drive, a pleasure to look at but a bit too
prone to costly maintenance and out of the ordinary failures. For now, I'm
keeping it but I expect it will be my last Audi for awhile.
comment. Others have extolled the Audi virtues and I won't bother repeating
them except to say if you're set on the 3.0 you ought to get quattro - it's
a nice feature and one of the most reliable parts of an Audi. Now for the
downside. First, as you realize, maintenance and repairs are fairly
expensive. Most parts - either OEM or aftermarket - come from Europe where
the euro is soaring against the dollar and there are relatively few
independent mechanics who work on Audis although that has improved in the
last decade or so. Brake pads wear out fairly quickly and when you replace
them you usually wind up replacing the rotors since the design does not
allow for much machining. When you replace the pads, consider an aftermarket
pad which will offer equivalent or better performance and reduced dust. My
A4 owners manual recommends a timing belt change at 90,000 miles but that
interval is now reduced to between 60,000 and 70,000 miles by most accounts.
TB failure is a VERY expensive disaster but replacing it and the other
components that are recommended at the same time (water pump, thermostat,
tensioners, serpentine belt) will cost you typically between $800 and $1000.
The 2.8 and I suspect the 3.0 are prone to oil leaks from the cam seals and
the valve cover gaskets after about 50,000 miles. This repair runs around
$400. I also had to replace a radiator for close to $600 at 65,000 miles and
a temperature sensor ($200) around 55,000 miles. Earlier, warranty repairs
included a clutch throwout bearing and the ventilation fan motor at 22,000
miles. Fortunately, I have so far - knck on wood - escaped the wide
control arm problem and my A4 was too early a model to have suffered from
the coil failure problem that has now been rectified.
To sum up, my A4 is enjoyable to drive, a pleasure to look at but a bit too
prone to costly maintenance and out of the ordinary failures. For now, I'm
keeping it but I expect it will be my last Audi for awhile.
#48
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi questions from a perspective buyer
I've owned Audis for nearly 20 years so I feel somewhat qualified to
comment. Others have extolled the Audi virtues and I won't bother repeating
them except to say if you're set on the 3.0 you ought to get quattro - it's
a nice feature and one of the most reliable parts of an Audi. Now for the
downside. First, as you realize, maintenance and repairs are fairly
expensive. Most parts - either OEM or aftermarket - come from Europe where
the euro is soaring against the dollar and there are relatively few
independent mechanics who work on Audis although that has improved in the
last decade or so. Brake pads wear out fairly quickly and when you replace
them you usually wind up replacing the rotors since the design does not
allow for much machining. When you replace the pads, consider an aftermarket
pad which will offer equivalent or better performance and reduced dust. My
A4 owners manual recommends a timing belt change at 90,000 miles but that
interval is now reduced to between 60,000 and 70,000 miles by most accounts.
TB failure is a VERY expensive disaster but replacing it and the other
components that are recommended at the same time (water pump, thermostat,
tensioners, serpentine belt) will cost you typically between $800 and $1000.
The 2.8 and I suspect the 3.0 are prone to oil leaks from the cam seals and
the valve cover gaskets after about 50,000 miles. This repair runs around
$400. I also had to replace a radiator for close to $600 at 65,000 miles and
a temperature sensor ($200) around 55,000 miles. Earlier, warranty repairs
included a clutch throwout bearing and the ventilation fan motor at 22,000
miles. Fortunately, I have so far - knck on wood - escaped the wide
control arm problem and my A4 was too early a model to have suffered from
the coil failure problem that has now been rectified.
To sum up, my A4 is enjoyable to drive, a pleasure to look at but a bit too
prone to costly maintenance and out of the ordinary failures. For now, I'm
keeping it but I expect it will be my last Audi for awhile.
comment. Others have extolled the Audi virtues and I won't bother repeating
them except to say if you're set on the 3.0 you ought to get quattro - it's
a nice feature and one of the most reliable parts of an Audi. Now for the
downside. First, as you realize, maintenance and repairs are fairly
expensive. Most parts - either OEM or aftermarket - come from Europe where
the euro is soaring against the dollar and there are relatively few
independent mechanics who work on Audis although that has improved in the
last decade or so. Brake pads wear out fairly quickly and when you replace
them you usually wind up replacing the rotors since the design does not
allow for much machining. When you replace the pads, consider an aftermarket
pad which will offer equivalent or better performance and reduced dust. My
A4 owners manual recommends a timing belt change at 90,000 miles but that
interval is now reduced to between 60,000 and 70,000 miles by most accounts.
TB failure is a VERY expensive disaster but replacing it and the other
components that are recommended at the same time (water pump, thermostat,
tensioners, serpentine belt) will cost you typically between $800 and $1000.
The 2.8 and I suspect the 3.0 are prone to oil leaks from the cam seals and
the valve cover gaskets after about 50,000 miles. This repair runs around
$400. I also had to replace a radiator for close to $600 at 65,000 miles and
a temperature sensor ($200) around 55,000 miles. Earlier, warranty repairs
included a clutch throwout bearing and the ventilation fan motor at 22,000
miles. Fortunately, I have so far - knck on wood - escaped the wide
control arm problem and my A4 was too early a model to have suffered from
the coil failure problem that has now been rectified.
To sum up, my A4 is enjoyable to drive, a pleasure to look at but a bit too
prone to costly maintenance and out of the ordinary failures. For now, I'm
keeping it but I expect it will be my last Audi for awhile.
#49
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi questions from a perspective buyer
I've owned Audis for nearly 20 years so I feel somewhat qualified to
comment. Others have extolled the Audi virtues and I won't bother repeating
them except to say if you're set on the 3.0 you ought to get quattro - it's
a nice feature and one of the most reliable parts of an Audi. Now for the
downside. First, as you realize, maintenance and repairs are fairly
expensive. Most parts - either OEM or aftermarket - come from Europe where
the euro is soaring against the dollar and there are relatively few
independent mechanics who work on Audis although that has improved in the
last decade or so. Brake pads wear out fairly quickly and when you replace
them you usually wind up replacing the rotors since the design does not
allow for much machining. When you replace the pads, consider an aftermarket
pad which will offer equivalent or better performance and reduced dust. My
A4 owners manual recommends a timing belt change at 90,000 miles but that
interval is now reduced to between 60,000 and 70,000 miles by most accounts.
TB failure is a VERY expensive disaster but replacing it and the other
components that are recommended at the same time (water pump, thermostat,
tensioners, serpentine belt) will cost you typically between $800 and $1000.
The 2.8 and I suspect the 3.0 are prone to oil leaks from the cam seals and
the valve cover gaskets after about 50,000 miles. This repair runs around
$400. I also had to replace a radiator for close to $600 at 65,000 miles and
a temperature sensor ($200) around 55,000 miles. Earlier, warranty repairs
included a clutch throwout bearing and the ventilation fan motor at 22,000
miles. Fortunately, I have so far - knck on wood - escaped the wide
control arm problem and my A4 was too early a model to have suffered from
the coil failure problem that has now been rectified.
To sum up, my A4 is enjoyable to drive, a pleasure to look at but a bit too
prone to costly maintenance and out of the ordinary failures. For now, I'm
keeping it but I expect it will be my last Audi for awhile.
comment. Others have extolled the Audi virtues and I won't bother repeating
them except to say if you're set on the 3.0 you ought to get quattro - it's
a nice feature and one of the most reliable parts of an Audi. Now for the
downside. First, as you realize, maintenance and repairs are fairly
expensive. Most parts - either OEM or aftermarket - come from Europe where
the euro is soaring against the dollar and there are relatively few
independent mechanics who work on Audis although that has improved in the
last decade or so. Brake pads wear out fairly quickly and when you replace
them you usually wind up replacing the rotors since the design does not
allow for much machining. When you replace the pads, consider an aftermarket
pad which will offer equivalent or better performance and reduced dust. My
A4 owners manual recommends a timing belt change at 90,000 miles but that
interval is now reduced to between 60,000 and 70,000 miles by most accounts.
TB failure is a VERY expensive disaster but replacing it and the other
components that are recommended at the same time (water pump, thermostat,
tensioners, serpentine belt) will cost you typically between $800 and $1000.
The 2.8 and I suspect the 3.0 are prone to oil leaks from the cam seals and
the valve cover gaskets after about 50,000 miles. This repair runs around
$400. I also had to replace a radiator for close to $600 at 65,000 miles and
a temperature sensor ($200) around 55,000 miles. Earlier, warranty repairs
included a clutch throwout bearing and the ventilation fan motor at 22,000
miles. Fortunately, I have so far - knck on wood - escaped the wide
control arm problem and my A4 was too early a model to have suffered from
the coil failure problem that has now been rectified.
To sum up, my A4 is enjoyable to drive, a pleasure to look at but a bit too
prone to costly maintenance and out of the ordinary failures. For now, I'm
keeping it but I expect it will be my last Audi for awhile.
#50
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi questions from a perspective buyer
Hi Ian!
Wow.. I'm sorry to hear that you had such problems with them. I
probably forgot to mention it earlier, but I was looking into the A4 3.0
quattro model, not the non-quattro.
Were any of your repairs under warranty? As I'd be looking at a
certified model, it should be warranteed for up to 100k miles.
Some non-Audi dealerships offer an aftermarket warranty, which I will
probably go for. From what I understand (and what you mention), I'd
rather have it warranteed for as long as possible. I'm not sure how
reliable the aftermarket warrantees are though. I think some places use
Pinnacle which apparently is accepted at any Audi Dealership (with a
$100 deductible).
Thanks again!
Marty
Ian S wrote:
> I've owned Audis for nearly 20 years so I feel somewhat qualified to
> comment. Others have extolled the Audi virtues and I won't bother repeating
> them except to say if you're set on the 3.0 you ought to get quattro - it's
> a nice feature and one of the most reliable parts of an Audi. Now for the
> downside. First, as you realize, maintenance and repairs are fairly
> expensive. Most parts - either OEM or aftermarket - come from Europe where
> the euro is soaring against the dollar and there are relatively few
> independent mechanics who work on Audis although that has improved in the
> last decade or so. Brake pads wear out fairly quickly and when you replace
> them you usually wind up replacing the rotors since the design does not
> allow for much machining. When you replace the pads, consider an aftermarket
> pad which will offer equivalent or better performance and reduced dust. My
> A4 owners manual recommends a timing belt change at 90,000 miles but that
> interval is now reduced to between 60,000 and 70,000 miles by most accounts.
> TB failure is a VERY expensive disaster but replacing it and the other
> components that are recommended at the same time (water pump, thermostat,
> tensioners, serpentine belt) will cost you typically between $800 and $1000.
> The 2.8 and I suspect the 3.0 are prone to oil leaks from the cam seals and
> the valve cover gaskets after about 50,000 miles. This repair runs around
> $400. I also had to replace a radiator for close to $600 at 65,000 miles and
> a temperature sensor ($200) around 55,000 miles. Earlier, warranty repairs
> included a clutch throwout bearing and the ventilation fan motor at 22,000
> miles. Fortunately, I have so far - knck on wood - escaped the wide
> control arm problem and my A4 was too early a model to have suffered from
> the coil failure problem that has now been rectified.
>
> To sum up, my A4 is enjoyable to drive, a pleasure to look at but a bit too
> prone to costly maintenance and out of the ordinary failures. For now, I'm
> keeping it but I expect it will be my last Audi for awhile.
>
>
Wow.. I'm sorry to hear that you had such problems with them. I
probably forgot to mention it earlier, but I was looking into the A4 3.0
quattro model, not the non-quattro.
Were any of your repairs under warranty? As I'd be looking at a
certified model, it should be warranteed for up to 100k miles.
Some non-Audi dealerships offer an aftermarket warranty, which I will
probably go for. From what I understand (and what you mention), I'd
rather have it warranteed for as long as possible. I'm not sure how
reliable the aftermarket warrantees are though. I think some places use
Pinnacle which apparently is accepted at any Audi Dealership (with a
$100 deductible).
Thanks again!
Marty
Ian S wrote:
> I've owned Audis for nearly 20 years so I feel somewhat qualified to
> comment. Others have extolled the Audi virtues and I won't bother repeating
> them except to say if you're set on the 3.0 you ought to get quattro - it's
> a nice feature and one of the most reliable parts of an Audi. Now for the
> downside. First, as you realize, maintenance and repairs are fairly
> expensive. Most parts - either OEM or aftermarket - come from Europe where
> the euro is soaring against the dollar and there are relatively few
> independent mechanics who work on Audis although that has improved in the
> last decade or so. Brake pads wear out fairly quickly and when you replace
> them you usually wind up replacing the rotors since the design does not
> allow for much machining. When you replace the pads, consider an aftermarket
> pad which will offer equivalent or better performance and reduced dust. My
> A4 owners manual recommends a timing belt change at 90,000 miles but that
> interval is now reduced to between 60,000 and 70,000 miles by most accounts.
> TB failure is a VERY expensive disaster but replacing it and the other
> components that are recommended at the same time (water pump, thermostat,
> tensioners, serpentine belt) will cost you typically between $800 and $1000.
> The 2.8 and I suspect the 3.0 are prone to oil leaks from the cam seals and
> the valve cover gaskets after about 50,000 miles. This repair runs around
> $400. I also had to replace a radiator for close to $600 at 65,000 miles and
> a temperature sensor ($200) around 55,000 miles. Earlier, warranty repairs
> included a clutch throwout bearing and the ventilation fan motor at 22,000
> miles. Fortunately, I have so far - knck on wood - escaped the wide
> control arm problem and my A4 was too early a model to have suffered from
> the coil failure problem that has now been rectified.
>
> To sum up, my A4 is enjoyable to drive, a pleasure to look at but a bit too
> prone to costly maintenance and out of the ordinary failures. For now, I'm
> keeping it but I expect it will be my last Audi for awhile.
>
>