Build quality and ride. This is a well built German automobile with handsome styling. The 4 link suspension is superb, and the quattro all-wheel drive system grips amazingly well.

Clunky manual gearbox, as well as an unrefined 4 cylinder engine when pushed. Way too much vibration in the passenger compartment for a car of this price and caliber.

Well built solid German car that gives other German manufacturers a run for their money in terms of build quality alone. The major weaknesses, however, for me are the gearbox and unrefined engine. These are things that I should have been able to discern during my several test drives, but they really didn't reveal themselves fully until I had driven the car for several weeks after purchase. In the end, I'm trading the car on an automatic with a 6 cylinder - probably an Acura TL, as the 6 cylinder automatic version of the A4 is $5,000 more and just doesn't seem to be worth that extra amount of money. If you're young and want a car that is very modifiable (to the point of boosting horsepower by nearly 22% just by adding a chip), then this is the car for you. If you want a refined German automobile with a smooth engine and transmission, look to BMW or Mercedes.

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BMW 325 - Better value, if you like the 1.8T engine in the A4

Quattro AWD, accurate steering, excellent brakes, quality of interior materials, solid feel, value (many amenities for the price), good warranty & free service

too much body roll (non-sport package), weak factory rubber, many intermittent rattles and squeaks, dealer attitude sub-par, many service backups

Realistically, this is a good car for the money, and a great deal if you want an entry-level German sports sedan. Comparably equipped BMW and Mercedes models were literally thousands more, and no AWD for Mercedes. After owning Japanese cars (Hondas) for about a decade, I find myself dissapointed, though. Perhaps I got spoiled - I never had ONE unsceduled maintenance trip for any of my four Honda products. I've been to my Audi dealer twice now for things that just shouldn't be wrong on a $30,000 car. The car seems so meticulously assembled from the finest of materials, but as seasons change I find more and more ralltes, squeaks and groans than any car I've ever owned. I've had to make appointments weeks in advance, and service has been less than attentive to my concerns. Audi of America customer relations was polite but no more helpful.

Bottom Line: I want to hate it because of all of the stupid little problems, but driving it still brings a smile to my face daily despite the excessive body roll. If you keep it past the warranty period, expect to pay alot of money and wait a long time for parts. If you don't need AWD and are used to Japanese cars, consider something along the lines of a TL, CL, Accord or Maxima - they are not up to the level of amenities of the Audi, and nothing handles like Quattro, but they'll be cheaper to maintain and you'll be better off in the long run.

Bang for the buck wise, save yourself some money and get the Subaru Impreza WRX. Very plasticky inside, and the doors seem about a half and inch thick (although every car I've been in seems tinny compared to my Audi) but if you can live with that, it will give you the security of AWD with more performance and better reliability

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Subaru Impreza WRX (test drive); past cars = Hondas

Perfect ride/handling combination, great creature comforts/convenience features, fit and finish, outstanding Bose stereo, German precision.

Brake dust (I have to wash the wheels 3 times a week), awkward cruse control on turn signal stalk (put it on the wheel like everybody else)... umm, I'm thinking.

I bought the car from my father who was leasing it. The first time he let me drive it I couldn't believe the level of refinement, firm but compliant ride, quietness and overall surefootedness. This car does everything exceptionally well. It has every option except quattro (which I thought was a bit strange). However, the front drive car is quicker off the line than the all wheel (I've driven both) and with traction control and ABS I don't miss the quattro.

The Tiptronic is a blast and works perfectly. I never use auto mode. And the brakes are so good they're scary at times. Fellow owners, do yourselves a favor and get a K&N air filter for this puppy. The difference in throttle response is amazing. Also, put some decent rubber on it (I installed Dunlop SP8000s and do they stick!).

As a used car (sorry "pre-owned"), this car's a genuine steal.

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3-Series Bimmer (they're EVERYWHERE!), VW Passat (only the new ones are worth looking at), various Japanese (been there, done that).

Since I have managed to get in a wreck, one of the key strengths of the car is Safety. After a major wreck I managed to walk away from it. The performance, even at 150 hp is not bad.

The car's styling including the red console.

I had problems with the stereo (Bose) since the day I bought the car. I don't know if the dealership messed up the wires when installing the cd changer or what but constant speaker static issues (took 2 dealerships 3 years to finally resolve the issue).

I love the car. When I was making the purchase I was worried about the Audi image. I hadn't seen the best of products from them for a while plus I used to hear horror stories from the old 5000 days. I went ahead and made the purchase after reading some great reviews. For the past 3 years I have been driving it and it has been great. The ride is great and I manage to get some looks from the BMW and Lexus drivers

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When I purchased the car it was because I did not care for the BMW dealership in town. I am glad I made the decision!

The handling and the brakes are wonderful. Front seat comfort and driving position are first rate. I can drive this car on the highway all day and never get tired. The trunk is surprisingly large and the back seats fold down which gives even more luggage space. The fit and finish are flawless. The cabin is very attractive. But the best of all is that it's so much fun to drive.

I've had this car now for 20 months. The only problems I've had were a distorted windshield (replaced under warranty with another distorted windshield, but not as bad, so I gave up) and two headlamps burnt out (also replaced under warranty).
The back seat as everyone knows by now doesn't afford much leg room. The controls are for the most part awful. Why can't Audi just copy what the Japanese do? I've got much superior controls on my '87 Acura. And you can't even see the Audi cruise control and wiper controls unless you buy the optional sport steering wheel. That's ridiculous!
The steering seems almost too quick. It's twitchy at times.

German quality, features, handling, braking, and comfort. If it had more room in the back seat, I'd buy another to replace my comfortable 1987 Acura Legend sedan.
I did not get Quattro, a V6, or automatic transmission. By not getting those, I saved at least $5K and more importantly, my A4 weighs only 2,998 pounds vs. 3,505 pound. Consequently, it is very quick and nimble, and IMO more fun to drive. Even without the Quattro it handles wonderfully and sticks like glue when cornering. The only option I got was the moonroof. If I were ordering today, I'd probably add the sports package (different steering wheel, 16-inch tires).

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Compared with my 14 year-old Acura, the drivability of the A4 is much superior and the driving position is far better. The controls and the radio on the Acura are better.

Looks, overall handling, tight and quiet, one touch convenience on all power controls, Bose stereo well worth it, features/performance/value for the $$ probably hard to beat, love the firm leather seating for both comfort and quality feel, lots of little things set this car apart.. like integrated antenna in glass - hinge design in trunk - integrated driving lamps - interior courtesy lamps fade feature, etc etc etc German engineering at its best!

Acceleration off the line, (redlines too easy in first gear and engine cuts out) Some guages hard to see, 2 Kids have hard time sleeping in tight vertical rear seat, seems to use a little oil (Audi service says normal for "high performance engine" but an annoyance still, only real problem mechanically has been a sort of "clunking" in front end which Audi service attributes to design of some vulnerable part of suspension (resolved when replaced)

I love to drive, well let's say in a "spirited" manner- (ie drag racing off the line not my thing anymore) but love to have the advantage in most real-world situations. I also have grown to enjoy looking good, feeling comfortable and safe secure driving. Hands down, the A4 is the best car I've ever had. Quiet, secure, GREAT looking (in my opinion) and just a blast to drive! Pop your favorite tunes on the killer BOSE stereo and off you go. Snow.. rain.. no worry mate. Many practical features and only a few impractical ones that are easy to overlook once you learn to love the car. Mine now has 48,000 trouble-free miles. What a balance of practical - luxury - driving fun. Not the fastest for off the line acceleration, but you can go in total comfort 70-100 mph all day and never know it. Getting ready to buy another in form of A6 2.7T

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Had a great Acura Integra before this (196K miles!)- Acura equally dependable and fun to drive but the Audi is much much more comfortable, 10x better in Chicago snow and a much more well equipped with luxury features. Puts my other car (850 Volvo) to shame in every category. Have driven many cars while shopping and I think Audi has the right formula for the money- best drive to value ratio which is why A4 was car of year beating the Bimmer 3 several years running in 97-98-99.

Solidly built, great fit and finish, fun to drive, handles well, great in the snow

definitly a car for a single person or a small family

(1998 Model) - I 've had Mazda'z for the last 20 yrs or so and decided to move to a different class. Looked at BMW, Acura and Audi. As soon as I drove the A4 I was hooked. Great looking, fun to drive and as I live in the Northeast, great in the snow. The all-wheel Quattro is solid and foolproof. The close attention to detail is very evident in construction and service. My wife kept leaving her Saab 900s at home and driving my A4 , so we just bought a 1999 A4 1.8 Turbo with Tiptronic for her. She loves it too. My 1998 A4 is a 5-speed standard with the V6 engine.

Styling, Ride, Fit & Finish

Rear seating

(2000 Model) - In my opinion, the Audi A4 1.8T is the best-of-class in the entry/near luxury sports sedan market (Lincoln LS, Volvo S40, BMW 323, Acura CL, Infiniti I30). It combines a fun ride with good looks at a very competitive price. The Lincoln and Volvo are new models and, though popular, have yet to prove themselves. The BMW constantly gets high approval ratings as a driver's car but is overpriced, especially when loaded. The Acura and Infiniti models are also favorites with the critics, and though well priced, only provide a ho-hum driving experience. If you're looking for a great ride with real attention to detail, and you'd rather not spend more than $30K, the Audi A4 1.8T will make you one happy puppy.

-Beautiful car inside and out and very comfortable to drive.
-Lots of bells and whistles.
-A pleasure to drive.

-Very expensive to fix.
-Not very good mileage. 18 mpg around town. 23 mpg highway.
-Some road noise at higher speeds.
-If you don't mind shelling out money for rentals, taking time off of work, waiting for "special order parts", and waiting for days for it to be repaired this is the car for you.

This is a great and responsive car to drive. I fell in love with it as soon as I test drove it. The interior is beautiful and it is a great looking car. I love the sunroof and the sound system. It has all the bells and whistles that I could want on a car. I did my research on the vehicle and most of what I read was favorable and the reviews all described what a blast it was to drive. I was happy to find a 2.8 in a five speed! It isn't a race car but has enough power for me. I bought it pre-owned and was assured that it had been through rigorous diagnostic testing before it was placed on the lot. I felt I paid a fair price for it also. Two months after I purchased the vehicle, I started noticing oil and coolant leaks. I took it in to the dealer where I purchased it and that's when the nightmare began. My car was there for three weeks while I got the run around every time I called to get the status on it. The cooling system was worked on and it also needed oil seals. I thought everything was fixed for a while. Soon after that, it needed brakes, then an axle boot, then an oil pan, then spark plug wires, then another axle boot. I lost count after $4,000 of how much I had spent on repairs in one year's time. The honeymoon is over with this car and I am selling it. Every time I get hit with another frequent and expensive repair bill, the fun of driving it fades even more. Looking back, I made a hasty decision and should have brought my mechanic with me to check it out before I purchased it. I am done with Audi.

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In the past I have driven Ford, Infiniti, and Acura. I would have to say out of the three, the Acura and Ford were a lot more reliable and low maintenance.

- Good powerplant, no turbo lag, great passing acceleration.
- Smooth transmission, VERY impressive handling and front wheel drive.
- Superb styling...a gorgeous car to look at, a joy to drive.
- Great warranty and maintenance included.
- German styling and solid engineering for $26,000? Thank you.

- The gas tank is a bit too small, poor range on city driving.
- The stock stereo is unimpressive and the rear speakers are too difficult to replace.
- Dashboard ergonomics leave something to be desired.
- No power seats?

This is a very fun car and a great value. There's nothing in the price range that even comes close. The stock engine is silky smooth and peppy at 170 hp and is only a chip away from 220 hp. The sport suspension is a little too firm for me but it handles so well...I don't mind at all. The seats are also a bit firm and I was mildly disappointed that they weren't power adjusted. The dashboard is also kind of funky, it seems that a good portion of the gauges are blocked out by the steering wheel. This is poor design...I'm only 5'10".

Fit and finish is fantastic. The build quality is superb as well and I've got a 4 yr./50K bumper to bumper warranty to put me at ease.

Sure...the cupholder is useless, but my main complaint is with the stereo. I opted for the non-Bose system thinking I would upgrade with better aftermarket gear. I've found the there are severe limitations in just replacing the speakers. The prospect of having a car stereo installer cut into the metal of the rear of the car does not thrill me at all. But there seems to be no other way to swap out the terrible sounding stock speakers. In retrospect, the Bose option is a better value, for sheer wattage and lack of expensive installation.

My only other concern since I do almost NO highway driving is the range of the car. I'm averaging about 220 miles on a full tank of gas. If I were a highway driver, I'm told this would jump to 320 - 350. I would like to see about 5 more gallons of capacity added to the fuel tank. I believe every car should have a minimum range of 300 miles.

All of this being said, I love this car. It is as fun as any other car I've owned. The styling is beautiful and I would not hesitate to buy another one.

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