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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  hot tt - 2003 Audi TT
  By agwinn - December 3 - 2:00 am

  This car is spectacular.

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  LUXURY WITH STYLE - 2002 Audi A6
  By ursomaior - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Overall we are quite happy with the A6 Avant. The car looks great, the interior is luxurious and somewhat spacious. Very nice exterior design. we are so glad that we did not buy ML320.

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  Dont Buy This Car! - 2001 Audi A4
  By RyanC - November 27 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 2001 A4 in Sept. of 2001 and it has given me nothing but problems. In a little over a year I have had a laundry list of problems ranging from engine problems (cylinder coil, faulty oil pump, problems with the turbo,etc.) to safety problems (faulty air bag) to just plain annoying problems like a leak in my rear windshield, leak in the washer fluid system, bad CD player, buttons on the console that stopped working, and an ashtray that doesnt open! It seems ive been driving a rental more than my own car. If I wanted to drive a Ford Escort I would have bought one! DONT BUY AN AUDI!!

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  91 Audi 80 - 1991 Audi 90
  By sting - November 26 - 2:00 am

  This car is excellent, im glad that i ended up with this car instead of the one i originally intended to buy. It has great acceleration and is very reliable. I love the look of the car, and its built very well. It has pretty good room inside, and is very comfortable.

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  Highs and Lows - 1999 Audi A4
  By fleetguy - November 26 - 2:00 am

  My wife is the primary driver of this car and loves the handling. She loves the suspension and the ability to navigate anywhere in the snow. The downer is that as soon as the warranty expired, so did the car. $1000 in repairs in the last 9 months.

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  Rims and Tires - 2002 Audi S4
  By pauliem - November 23 - 2:00 am

  I love everything about the car but the Rims and Tires. All Wheel Drive should be good up North. Not according to Audi. They tell me to expect no more than 7500 miles from these tires and I should change rims at least once a year. At $3000 a year that is not comfortable. Pirelli says if you can afford the car you can afford the tires. Check what you are willing to pay. I have gone through $6,000. The stock tires are horrible in ice and snow.

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  96 Audi A6 Avant Ownership - 1996 Audi A6
  By Satisfied in Sumner - November 22 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle was my third Audi that I have purchased since 1982, and by far, the best of the three that I have owned. The driveability and road feel of this car brings driving to its highest level. The quality of the interior and exterior are on par with all of the German luxury brands, i.e., BMW and Mercedes-Bentz. Even at seven model years old, the vehicle still looks and drives like a new car.

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  Fun car! Unreliable. - 1999 Audi A4
  By caro - November 20 - 2:00 am

  At 23,000 miles, 20 days after the warranty expired, the water pump seized up and destroyed the engine. Audi rebuilt the engine and covered the cost. Whew! Audi service is wonderful (at least at Barrier Motors in Bellevue, WA) Since then the car is more reliable but continues to have small problems beyond the usual Audi issues. That said, I love the look and feel of the car and will buy another Audi -- probably the all road or the A6 Avant. The Audi visual appeal exceeds that of BMW.

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  NIGHTMARE AUDI A6 - 2003 Audi A6
  By radu2002 - November 20 - 2:00 am

  This is the worst experience ive ever had with a foreign car in my life At 2000 miles rear brake replacement (discs, pads)rear suspention components replaced, steering weel pulling to the left, undercoating leaking on converter making it smoke almost a fire under the car.Rattle, clunking noises from uner the car, rear mostly.Brought the car in for service 4-5 times they took care of brakes suspension undercoating except the clunking noises wich became worse every day, now the car has been in the shop for 32 days

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  Hottest Wagon on Earth - 2003 Audi S6
  By mpyles1 - November 14 - 2:00 am

  Thought my 2002 A6 4.2 was as good as family cars get . . . then I bought an S6. It has the punch and handling edge of my 1998 Corvette, with infinitely better build quality and chassis solidity. Only downside is car was delivered with warped rear rotors (which might have been caused by the dealer over-torquing the aftermarket wheels I had him install). But the dealer replaced the rotors the same day I picked up the car and discovered the problem. LOVE this car!