STW

Just did my own test drive of 2002 A4 - not impressed.

I currently have a 2.8 quattro A4 avant 5-speed manual trans. Lease is almost up, so I went to the dealership to talk about next steps. Drove new A4 sedan 6-sp manual 3-liter v6. The 3 liter engine is an improvement - no dispute there. However, it isn't very much of an improvement. The car does not feel significantly quicker to me. Engine noise is tinnier. Highway wind noise is only marginally improved. Suspension is stiffer and there is less squat and dive. 6spd trans is something I thought would be a great new feature, but the shifter action sucks! Especially going from 1st to 2nd. Clutch feel is super-light, so it's hard to feel exactly when it's going to engage. Steering is also way too light! It's another real step in the wrong direction. Interior styling has added some nice new touches but nothing that improves upon my existing A4 in any significant way. I liked the new seats well enough, but my wife hated them. She couldn't get comfortable despite all the adjustment options. Exterior styling is a real disappointment. Looking at pix on this site and others made me think it looks too much like a passat. In person, it just doesn't stir the soul. Existing A4 styling is really nice. It was a groundbreaking shape when it arrived; and it's still a handsome car. New one gets totally lost in the crowd. Overall, I'd have to say that this is a whole series of steps in the wrong direction. When I got back in my 1998 A4 after the test drive, I realized that they'd tinkered with a lot of individual elements to come up with the 2002 A4; but the total package just isn't coming together as well as the old one did. I had high hopes and expectations, but this car isn't meeting them.

toddm1234

What are you going to test drive next?? Buy an A6

EricPA

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

Audi 90
<img src="https://www.audiworld.com/model/historical/95/pix/90.jpg">
<img src="http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/pictures/119629.jpg">
Audi 100
<img src="http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/pictures/119190.jpg">

Audi A4
<img src="https://www.audiworld.com/model/historical/98/pix/a4.jpg">

Yes, the first gen A4 is a handsome car but I would not call it's shape groundbreaking. The front and side of the car shares a lot of styling cues with the the 80/90. The rear shares styling cues with the 100.

Here is a funny thing. The A4 was introduced in 1996 to replace the 80/90 series. When comparing the 80/90 to the A4, the A4 sure does look more bulky/fat. That is the same thing a lot of people have said when comparing the 2nd gen car to the 1st gen car. Hmm? I wonder if the 80/90 guys have been running around all these years saying how much more bulky/fat the A4 is compared to their cars?

A4Driver

I know it's a small point, but I purchased my A4 in Nov. 1995, and it had been introduced in Europe a year earlier, I believe.

... But I liked the points you made about its shape! And great pictures of the old cars!

EricPA

I was speaking in terms of model years. ;-)

A4Driver

What happened to yer sig? It's gone!

dwichman

Good point.

EricPA

Just kidding. I am resizing the pic because it is too big/annoying.

cjjk3

I could not agree with you more.....Like I said before, the more I look at the new styling, the less I like it,,,The whole package just isn't coming together for me either. One styling cue that bothers me, is that it does look alot like a Passat, it's too round or something. I don't understand why the front fenders extend below the bumper and into the unpainted area?? The new interior is definetly a big improvement, but I think that this current style will show it's age much more than the previous generation's will. My hopes and expectations were extremely high, but have been dulled by the boring exterior. Counter point,,,The car is definitely a winner for quality, efficiency and handling,,

EricPA

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