I am considering a buyout of my 05.5 A4Q 2.0 and am wondering what you guys may have experienced as these vehicles age a bit. I'd like to drive it for ten years or so; I put about 11k miles per year on the vehicle so I'd think I'd have in the range of 120k over the car's lifetime. I have done this before with Honda products w/no probelms except for routine maint. issues. I'm an older guy so I have not abused this vehicle or modified it in any way, but I'd like to know what aspects of the car might warrant particular attention as it ages. Thanks for any thoughts you might have. I must say that this is the finest car I've ever owned; the quality of the materials used to make this car are really impressive, hence my thought that 120k or so gentle miles is quite possible.

 

Consumer Reports now solidly recommends the following Audi models: A3, A4, S4, A6 and possibly the RS 4, S6 and Q7.

CR has confirmed that Audi's quality, reliability, durability and dependability have improved considerably since early or mid 2005.

JD Power and Associates and Strategic Vision beg to differ, however.

It is very important though, MIKEHSQ, that you keep in mind that CR (Consumer Reports) usually surveys 800,000+ vehicle owners per year versus 200,000-300,000 vehicle owners per year surveyed by JD P&A (JD Power and Associates) and 100,000-200,000 vehicle owners per year surveyed by SV (Strategic Vision).

In 2006, CR alone surveyed 1,300,000+ vehicle owners, nearly 1,000,000 more vehicle owners than JD P&A and SV combined.

Therefore, CR is indescribably more reliable as an automotive source than JD P&A and SV (who are both pretty shoddy as automotive sources, if you ask me).

My advice to you, MIKEHSQ is, trust CR and ignore JD P&A and SV.

 

spend some time on the B5 A4 and B6 A4 forums (search the archives too) to see how an A4 ages.

 

The B6 A4 ages significantly better than the B5 A4 but is still no Honda or Toyota yet still way ahead of Mercedes and Jaguar. The B7 A4 tends to age best.

I take it you don't read CR, Tgr_Clw. Yes, the B5 is pretty bad as far as reliability is concerned. This is, in fact confirmed by CR.

But, with the exceptions of 2002 and early 2003 (which are marginally better than B5 in reliability but still pretty bad), the B6 is far better than the B5 in terms of reliability but very good overall. All of this has also been confirmed by CR.

Start reading CR ASAP Tgr_Clw and you will see all of the above for yourself.

 

If you treat a car as an appliance then by all means treat CR reports as gospel. Most people who buy Audis (in North America) view them as more than a means to get from A to B.

My personal experience has never been in line with CR. Hell my 97 A4 has 140K+ and has never required anything more than routine maintenance. Still has the stock clutch. CR lists the 97 A4 as one of the worst years for the B5 A4. The common problems that the B5 suffered did not even involve the 97 model year.

AS Tgr-clw suggests look at the B5/B6 forums. The B5 has been out of production for over five years. I don't see discussions of massive failures occuring with the B5. Most of the problems with the B5 have been known (and addressed) for years. And nothing currently under discussion would suggest the B5 is any different from any other car from that era. It has weak points as does any vehicle. If anything the B5 has aged well, but you would not know that looking at CR.

The next time I buy a refrigerator maybe I'll look at CR. For a new car purchase..never.

And for MIKEHSQ, apparently, you have a passion for your B7 and if you do end up owning it for 10 years take some leasons from the B5/B6 track record. Replace your timing belt every 60-70K, keep an eye on the front suspension control arms, and if you have an automatic replace the trany fluid regularly. If you keep up with the maintenance these cars require, you can easily see 200K and still have a car that feels as solid as the day you bought it.

 

B5 S4, B6 S4, B7 A4 owner. B5 was so so. B6 S4 was solid and the B7 has been so far.

 

WarrantyDirect is highly recommended. No affiliation.<ul><li><a href="http://www.carbuyingtips.com/warranty.htm">http://www.carbuyingtips.com/warranty.htm</a</li></ul>

 

Apparently some of the early cam shafts are wearing prematurely where it contacts the High pressure fuel pump.<ul><li><a href="http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1771590">Really good post here</a></li></ul>

 

Some more research and reliability review reading revealed that all those poor souls who complained that the car stalled on them and required a tow to the dealership were faced with a simple problem of failed coilpacks. Simple because the part costs only $30 and it takes less then 1 minute to replace w/o any tools or automotive knowledge.

Doesn't make the car any less reliable in my eyes (provided you know the symptoms of a failed/failing coilpack). Granted I'm not a typical soccer mom tho and I would not own an Audi w/o access to AW.

Yes, the ownership is not exactly like owning a Toyota, but it's really not bad (I expected much worse at the time of buying the car).

I stopped blindly trusting CR afterwards ;-)

 

regular oil changes (preventative maintenance, brake fluid flushes, tranny fluid changes, coolant flushes, etc).

Seeing that you're on AW, I take is as a sign that you won't be treating your car like an appliance.