Transit77

The 2006 a4 front track i picked up is truly amazing and its not even a quattro. The build quality and ride are excellent and its great when i drive and dont see many around me. I live in toronto so i have not witnessed that many of them floating around. Great on snowy days and enough power until i get a flash. Im very pleased with the car and being my first audi it will be one of many to come. Pictures comming soon.

cpurick

Shhhhh. It's our little secret. Nobody else knows!!!

daveak05

You okay with the new styling vs 2002-2005? The reason you don't see many around is because the A4(post changes) is not selling like the previous version(B6).

I don't see many around at all and I live in Audi heaven, silicon valley! It's been out for almost 2 years now.

This does not bode well for Audi, but rumor has it there's already a new model slated for 2008.

The A3 will also become a very hard sell in preferred AWD version. At mid 30's cost for a stretched VW Golf, what the hell is up with Audi?! Neat car, but should be <$25k FWD, and <$28k AWD...for what you get. Come on!

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kvanwagoner

I think the b7 is an overall better car than the B6. I had a loaner B6 last week and it seemed very bland compared to the new styling of the b7 and the 1.8t isn't close to the 2.0t

daveak05

Showed up at dealers Feb 2005 as 2005.5 model, replacing the 2005 A4 which was sold thru 2004.

The B7 styling is a major downgrade in appearance, fit and finish, and materials.
The 2.0 engine is an improvement, but shamefully noisy at idle, and reliability will be interesting to see, as direct cylinder injection/firing makes for high heat. And combined with a turbo under there, that's one hot engine, literally!

Time will tell...

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kvanwagoner

in my opinion the b6 styling is very bland, the hard lines of the b7 give it a sportier look. Fit and finish may not be on par, but the new style is amazing in my opinion.

daveak05

Sorry, 2 years if you include Europe. My mistake.

Well, one being bland and the other being weird front and rear is a matter of opinion, I guess. I'm not against the shield grill per se, but they need to square it off and contour it back into the hood instead of having it jutting out there like some Jaguar on steroids. It's quite a snoot, any way you look at it! all the major car reviewrs/mags didn't like it. But they are being kind to Audi becasue of the car's other attributes.

The rear tailights are puzzling, to say the least. Almost like an afterthought in the way they are painted on with no integration with the rear deck whatsoever. The B6 had careful design. It's lines were sleek and sophisticated. A continuation but improvement on the orig A6 look, which I don't think people considered bland or unimaginative.

The B7 almost seems like an attempt at a transition into the masses styling cues.

The next one better be an improvement.

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defunkt

and I thought this had something to do with the new look and engines. I was under the impression Audi had really hit their stride with the new A3, A4, and A6.

daveak05

Leave out the A4. Sales figures are largely being carried by the new A3 and A6. A3 is a new addition to the model line-up which adds exponentially to overall sales figures. You would need to do a comparison of A4 model years 02-03-04-05-06 to get a more accurate reading. Price jump to upper 30's and low 40's is hurting it too. I know many a former Audi A4 owner who refuses to pay $40k for an A4.

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Bob58

The new exterior styling has grown on me.

Like many others, when I first saw photos of the B7 in the magazines, I was turned off, but now I prefer it.

Of course exterior styling is a purely subjective thing. Some people will like it, others won't.

However, styling aside, my B7 is far superior to my B6 in every measurable way. And yes, partly because of that, it costs more.