Overview & Reviews

In business for more than 100 years, Audi is an automaker that builds luxury cars and SUVs. The company was started in Germany and has remained Deutschland-based to this day.

"Audi Automobile Works" entered the German car-manufacturing business in 1910 and remained independent until the Great Depression. Because Audi's founder, August Horch, had left a 10-year-old company bearing his own name, he chose a Latin form of his name -- Audi -- for his new company. Audi joined with three other auto manufacturers in 1932 to form Auto Union. Audi, the only surviving nameplate from that union, was purchased by Volkswagen in 1964.

During the 1970s, Audi started to get noticed in the U.S. with its 100LS luxury sedan and compact and sprightly Fox coupe and sedan. By the late '70s the brand had replaced the dated 100LS with its new 5000 luxury sedan.

Every manufacturer has its defining moments. For Audi, one such moment came in March 1980 at the Geneva Motor Show. The automaker unveiled the Audi Quattro, an all-wheel-drive sport coupe that was met with a wildly enthusiastic response on the show floor. The Quattro's all-wheel-drive system went on to help Audi win accolades in motorsports and it was eventually integrated into the entire model range.

That year also saw the Fox replaced by the 4000. Four years later, the range-topping 5000 was redesigned. Audi's sales shot up nearly 50 percent, thanks chiefly to that newly aerodynamic yet handsome flagship that featured what would become an Audi hallmark -- an elegantly stylish, high-quality cabin.

Sadly, Audi's fortunes turned for the worse when the carmaker's 5000 model was accused of unintended acceleration in a 60 Minutes television episode. A subsequent government investigation found Audi innocent of the charge, but the resulting drop in sales nearly put Audi out of business in the U.S.

The late '80s saw Audi redesign the 4000, renaming it the 80 and 90 (with the 90 having more equipment) and also rename the 5000, dubbing it the 100 or 200. The 200 featured a turbocharged five-cylinder with all-wheel drive as opposed to a non-turbo five and front-wheel drive, as on the 100. A Coupe also debuted, as did a new flagship, a V8-powered 200 sedan simply called the "V8".

The following decade saw the A4 and Cabriolet models, as well as the renaming of the 100 to A6. The stunning A8 was introduced as Audi's new flagship, boasting all-aluminum construction and a beefy V8. High-performance versions of the various models bowed, dubbed S4, S6 and S8.

The start of the new millennium brought the TT, Audi's low-slung sport coupe (and later roadster). It also introduced RS versions of the A4 and A6, providing even more performance than "S" variants. In addition to "S" and "RS" versions of the TT, Audi's more recent releases include the A3 hatchback, Q5 crossover SUV, slick A5 coupe, exotic R8 sports car and A7 luxury hatchback sedan.

Today, Audi continues its success in the prestige car marketplace by offering a wide range of vehicles that impressively combine luxury and sport.

User Reviews:

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  nice, but needs fixin - 2000 Audi TT
  By whippit - October 25 - 2:00 am

  i bought this car as a certified pre- owned which included the extended warranty. good thing. the car has required regular car and attention and many parts have been replaced similar to the experience of other reviewers-- suspension, problems with alignment, etc. i have the same problem with the wheels and i am not convinced the wheels are ever balanced and aligned. the car is fun to drive, performs well on the road and is terrific for passing and moving up in the pack at high speed. shifting is tight and the clutch seems a bit "delicate" so shifting smoothly is not always easily.

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  Problems with Audi TT - 2004 Audi TT
  By mit - October 22 - 2:00 am

  Not a 2004 TT, but a 2000. Problems encountered out of warranty: AC Compressor - $1,500. Cooling Fan - $300. Belt Tensioner - $280. Insulation fell into AC Blower - $275. Broken Wire to Turbo - $115. CD Changer Stopped Working - $350. Oyxgen Sensors - $700. Electrical problems come & go. Car is serviced regularly, never abused and looks like new, but hesitate to go more than 25 miles from home.

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  1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20 Valve - 1990 Audi 90
  By DPAlcorn - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! Fun to drive, great MPG, a snow machine!

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  audi a6 - 1998 Audi A6
  By pbenster - October 17 - 2:00 am

  great car. elegant interior. very stable - 100 mph feels like 60. excellent audio system. quattro sucks up the road like a Hoover. most comfortable power seats ever. looks and drives like new after 80k miles. good hiway mileage. hardly a scratch on the bumper after 45 mph rear end collisionin LA ($5k damage onoffending 2002 Camry font end). Tasteful and understated. I would buy another in a heartbeat.

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  Too Tempermental !! - 1998 Audi A6
  By phuston723 - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Bought used with 35 K miles. Since I bought it two weeks ago, it has spent 1 and 1/2 weeks in shop with electrical problems. I love this car- when it works. I dont have the time or patience to continue taking it in for repairs. Im very disappointed. If I can unload it, it will be back to Japanese cars for me.

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  Probably wont buy another one... - 1998 Audi A4
  By cgray88 - October 15 - 2:00 am

  For about 2 years, it was by far the BEST used car I ever owned... Then I hit 60,000 miles... Since then the car was in the shop every other week. My brakes gave out, tie rods were shot, 4 tires had to be replaced, ignition coil replaced, headlights replaced twice, speaker blew, cd player stopped working, fuel pump went out, trunk stopped opening, alternator kicked it, and the AC compressor died. Finally, I decided to give up and sell it, and literally the day before, the timing belt broke. It has now been at the dealer for 2 months, as of yesterday. All told, approx. $8800 for repairs since 60,000 miles (and I never did get the AC fixed). Bah.

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  GREAT CAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2001 Audi A8
  By jackscam - October 14 - 2:00 am

  Why pay the big boys what they want, this car is right there with them. This is pure heaven. My warranty goes until 2007. what a deal.

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  Fundamental design flaw - 2000 Audi S4
  By Florida Owner - October 8 - 2:00 am

  There is a reason Audi stopped selling ars with the 2.7 liter engine. The engine is flawed BY DESIGN. The 2000-2002 S4s (B5 platform) all came with K03 turbo chargers. Given the way the 2.7 liter engine in the S4 was designed, this turbo does not have adequate cooling to prolong its life. IT WILL FAIL, even if you dont race or chip the car. When the turbos fail, it requires removal of ENTIRE ENGINE to replace them. This is close to $6000 in labor and parts. The problem can be avoided in the future by replacing the K03 with K04 turbos, but its expensive. This flawed design has contributed to the lousy resale value. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR! STAY AWAY!

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  1998 Cabriolet in UK - 1995 Audi Cabriolet
  By Lee J C - October 6 - 2:00 am

  Ive wanted one of these for a long time. Difficult to find with low mileage these days over here in UK. ITs a pleasure to drive. And they hold their price well! Always turns heads.

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  My A4Q experience - 1998 Audi A4
  By J Wright - October 6 - 2:00 am

  Overall it has been a very pleasant experience, except for dealing with the dealerships. Very difficult to tell if you will receive good or poor experience and it varies between dealerships as well. The car itself has been fine in the snow, and the gas mileage isnt bad for a 4wd car. Great looks and comfortable interior. Wish it had more power though...