Howdy all,

I've had my car for almost 2K miles and 2 months. In that time, I've done all sorts of driving and feel that I have a good grasp of what this car is about. So, below you will find a list of all the things I think that are wrong with this car or things that just annoy me or things that I wish were different. You might think of these as "bitching," because this is only a $28K base car, after all. But still, feel free to comment, add to it, etc.

First, my car. It's a 2006 Arctic White B7 CVT (Multitronic) with the following options: Sport Suspension, Optional Sport Wheels (split spoke), Premium Package (beige leather), Lighting Package, Navigation Package, Vavona Wood, Sunroof, Technology package w/ Bluetooth, and I think the Audio Package (though minus the Bose, but with the CD-in-glovebox included).

So, here it is, in no order:

* Engine Sound: At Full Throttle, it sounds very angry, but if driving in the city under D, it sounds like a tractor. Thus, I find myself sticking to S (puns on the loose), which kills gas mileage.

* Acceleration: If you're not still and you accelerate, the car just pulls like there is no tomorrow. When the turbo comes in, wow, what a feeling! However, from 0, it takes a few seconds, even under S, for the car to get going. It has to go to about 3K RPM to then take off. The previous 750ms to 1.5 seconds are lame. Also, upon sudden acceleration, the steering wheel likes to pull sharply to the left or right, mostly the left. I think this is the Servotronic trying to work, but I'm not sure.

* Car Jerk: Sometimes - or rather, whenever you're not careful with your foot work - the car tends to jerk upon slow acceleration, from a stop sign, for example. Sometimes this is very strong and causes one to move back and forth in the car pretty visibly. Very annoying, though I think I'm used to it by now or it doesn't occur because I've changed my habits.

* Road Noise: Combined with the engine noise, general road noise can sometimes be pretty bad. This is less pronounced on asphalt than concrete (freeways), but still not what I expected.

* Rattling Passenger Seat: I don't know if this problem is only in my car, but on some freeways, the passenger seat keeps moving (rattling, really) back and forth very rapidly. Not only was I scared the first time this happened, but the sound and sight of it is not pleasant.

* Hill Rollback: According to AudiWorld's publishing of Audi's press release about 2006 models, there is supposed to be a "Hill Hold" function. There was no clarification in the release and my thread on this site went without a response, but supposedly it was supposed to cure the problem of the car rolling backwards on a hill before you can accelerate. This happens when you're stopped at a light on a steep hill, for example, and move your foot over from the brake to the gas. Once I almost hit the person behind me. My car is 2006 and the manual does not mention this. Perhaps this is only on 2007+ cars?

* Sport Suspension Too Rough: Okay, it is stupid to put this as a con, since it is supposed to make the suspension stiffer, but it can literally hurt the back on some surfaces or if there are road irregularities. It does corner fabulously, though, and looks killer on the outside than non-sport cars.

* Inaccessible Buttons: The trunk release and fuel door release buttons (and a couple of others nearby) are located in a very inaccessible place. It is very uncomfortable to use them, even with the door open. Not a big deal for some people, but I have to contort to get to them. One premium Lexus model, for example, has these buttons in a flip-down area near the dash.

* Interior Gaps: There are some gaps between the wood trim and the interior center console. In some areas, this is as much as a few millimeters, which ruins the continuity of what it was meant to do in the first place. In a couple of other ares, the wood doesn't seem to fit perfectly (suich as the wood above the glovebox as it meets the passenger side wood trim) and the area around the light switch is not routed correctly, thus exposing some non-finished wood.

* Seatbelt Ring: You can't enjoy your radio or communicate with the passenger(s) if you're parked with the key open (for radio, nav exploration, etc.) without an annoying ding every few seconds to remind you to fasten your seatbelts. Yikes!

* Airbag Light: The only yellow thing at night. Very annoying! I am a person who likes symmetry and completeness, and this just kills it. I know some people here have covered it up from the inside, but why couldn't audi make it red, too? Sure, it wouldn't get the same attention, but it wouldn't annoy some people, either!

* Silver Lining Under Trunklid: The silver thing under the trunklid looks cheap. It destroys the rear of the car and makes it look like a Hyundai or some car with more utility than form. Is it removable without damage to the car/finish/etc.?

* NAV Destination Search: Maybe I haven't paid a lot of attention to this in the manual and elsewhere, but there doesn't seem to be a way to search for destinations by name. This became a problem when I was trying to find an address in West Hollywood (of a famous comedy club, no less!), but the NAV would keep me from just searching for it by name. I later found out it did have the destination in its database, but under "Los Angeles", instead, meaning it also kept me from inputting the street number (or using the special destination function), because it will only allow you to put in the street number if it happens to be in the city you selected previously, which is another annoyance, but obviously also helpful (and perhaps necessary) in some instances.

* Bad Fuel Economy: I can't seem to get Audi's City/Highway MPG numbers. On the highway w/ cruise, it can be pretty economical, but street, nope! I can barely manage 20 mpg, but usually less. It costs about $50 at the pump about 3 times a month, which also gets expensive rather quickly. Also, the trip computer seems to be way off.

* Brake Dust Problem: I'm not sure about this, but my car seems to be covered in it. Since the wheels are open, it seems to me that any expelled dust attaches to the car immediately and later, to my pants!

* No RWD: Okay, so I'm kidding about this, but an RWD would have made this car a lot of fun!

Okay, there you have it. Feel free to correct me, yell at me, curse at me (though I'll curse right back!), and generally pay attention on your test drive. Cheers!

 

um... the fuel economy on the car is GREAT! and imo, the sport suspension isnt stiff enough!

 

Fuel economy is great? It's a 2 liter tiny engine and I can barely manage 20 mpg in the city!

 

you bought the wrong car

 

Just the kind of idiotic response I was expecting. Kudos.

 

Several of your gripes would be gone with a 6-speed and no sports suspension. My passenger seat doesn't rattle. I don't like the trunk and fuel release door location either. The silver lining under the trunklid also drives me nuts -- impossible to keep water spots off. Also agree on the seatbelt bell -- put on the parking break and it's worse.

I don't like how the armrest and parking break interfere. The climate system is a somewhat unintuitive. My driver side window creaks sometimes when rolling down.

 

You are saying it as if..."I can barely manage 20mpg on the highway!"

IMO, with my TT225 I'd be very happy to get 20mpg in the city and that is only a 1.8T engine and a much smaller/lighter car.

You're right, you have a 2L engine, but with a turbo! Go drive an older model Jetta with a 2L engine without a turbo, BIG DIFFERENCE both acceleration wise, top speed wise, and fuel economy.

Lay off the turbo and your mpg will increase.

 

But that's the thing: in the city, when I'm not on the S, I try to keep it under 2K, but yikes, I still get hit in the tank. I don't know.

 

buy CVT and complain about gas mileage????

Buy sport suspension and complain about road noise ?????

as I said before you got the wrong car for you - you did not do your homework.

 

<i>* Engine Sound and Acceleration:</i> I didn't like either in the 2.0T. The 3.2 V6 would solve all of your complaints in terms of sound and acceleration. The steering problem is probably related to FWD aka "torque steer".

<i>* Car Jerk:</i> This is in part due to the "drive by wire" computerized throttle system, but IMO it is exacerbated due to the turbo. The turbo just seemed too "herky jerky" to me which is one of the reasons I opted for the 3.2.

<i>* Road Noise:</i> This can be fixed somewhat with better tires. Sounds like you might have gotten performance tires instead of all seasons.

<i>* Rattling Passenger Seat:</i> I've noticed a few more rattles now that the weather is getting cooler and parts are beginning to contract a bit. Nothing chronic though.

<i>* Hill Rollback:</i> CVT issue -- no clue.

<i>* Sport Suspension Too Rough:</i> well, yeah. Again this will be worse depending on your tires.

<i>* Inaccessible Buttons:</i> Hehe they definitely take some getting used to. I hit the wrong ones all the time. It's annoying to go to pop your trunk and hit the fuel door by mistake.

<i>* Interior Gaps:</i> Fit and finish in my interior is flawless.

<i>* Seatbelt Ring:</i> Totally annoying...totally fixable with Vag-Com. I have not been motivated enough to get it taken care of.

<i>* Airbag Light:</i> Fixable...but I see your point. Should have made it red, I agree.

<i>* Silver Lining Under Trunklid:</i> Doesn't bother me.

<i>* NAV Destination Search:</i> The Nav is definitely not without it's quirks. However, it has worked great for me here in the Seattle area, all across WA state, and through Idaho and western Montana where I go hunting.

<i>* Bad Fuel Economy:</i> I get around 22 in town and about 26-27 on the freeways. Excellent for a V6.

<i>* Brake Dust Problem:</i> Yeah there is a lot of dust. Will probably be much more of a noticeable problem now that the weather is getting colder and I am not washing the car as much.

<i>* No RWD:</i> hehe...quattro.