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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  The worst car I have ever owned - 2005 Audi A4
  By clark alley - November 2 - 12:58 pm

  The A4 Audi Cabrolet was a disaster from the start. Between the cars computer problems (brake and the accelerator not coordinated correctly, windows not closing as designed, timer not resetting, top not going down or up, etc...) Audi is a bad choice for a car of your dreams. Not only did Audi fail to fix the problems, Audi 1-800 # was useless: they sided with the dealers on most everything. Audi would not let me meet an Audi Rep to go over my concerns. They blame almost everything on owner abuse. There are too many other things that didnt work to mention. Think twice before you buy an Audi, unless you have deep pockets and enjoy the mental stress of dealing with a bottom line company.

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  Questionable Product Support - 2004 Audi A4
  By BB in Bedford - October 14 - 2:00 am

  I think the car will be fun to drive but since I had an accident on day 2 of ownership, I dont know yet. It will soon be three months and the availability of spare parts is keeping me from enjoying the car. Unfortunately, Audi spare parts are either unavailable or marked improperly when orderd. My repair shop classifies Audi as the worst in terms of difficulty in getting the right parts in a timely manner. Audi may be a world class car but they apparently have a third world supply chain!

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  Beauty of a Lemon - 2002 Audi A6
  By wink7854 - October 6 - 10:28 am

  My Audi is a beauty inside and out, but too bad it stops there. It has been nothing but a problem and has broken down (literally) FOUR times. First time they said I had carbon build up in all cylinders. Cleaning them cost $900 because it wasnt covered by the warranty. They also flushed the fuel injection system for $300. Breakdown again. This time they said that it was an O-ring on the oxygen intake that wasnt correctly tightened. Breakdown again. This time they changed the catalytic converter. Breakdown again. Who knows what it is. Ive also had trouble with the warranty. My instrument panel has pixel fade, but they wont replace it until all the pixels are gone! Dont buy an Audi!!

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  Stuck in Audi hell - 1999 Audi A4
  By JM - September 9 - 4:52 pm

  I bought it used at 30K miles. It was fun to drive for about 15K, 20K miles, then the timing belt snapped (long before the recommended replacement mileage). FYI, cylinder heads from the Fatherland are EXPENSIVE. Better replace the belt every 30K miles just to be safe. Since then, nothing but problems: ABS brake sensors (twice), tie rod ends (many), wheel speed sensors, an unknown compression problem that stumped three mechanics, including the dealer, power window motor, a half-moon seal(?), and more. Now the transmission is acting up.

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  Got a lemon - 2004 Audi A4
  By Tom - September 5 - 8:08 am

  Since I purchased my convertible in a matter of the first year within 7 months I had the transmission replaced 3 times. Recently the oil pump malfuctioned and the engine blew. 2 days later the radiator hose went. 3 weeks later the engine lost power. This car has been in the shop at least 25-30 times in the past 3 years for various things. I finally hired and attorney and used the lemon law which was successful monetarialy but had to keep the car the rest of the lease which is up in 2 months!!! Thank god!! I love the looks of the car but mine was NOT worth the trouble. I have a convertible and cannot use it most of the time as it is always in the shop. Good LK

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  this car sucks - 2005 Audi A4
  By Geroge - July 24 - 8:53 pm

  dont buy it t t t t t t t t t t tttt t t tttt t ttt t t t t t t t t t t t t tt t t tt t t t t t t t

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  Poor quality car - 1997 Audi A4
  By Edwin - July 19 - 12:48 am

  Like our Audi A6, the A4 is very unreliable after 50K miles. In the last 11 months we have paid over $4K in repairs (engine 3x, ignition key). They are fun to drive, but with such an unreliable nature and high-maintenance cost, they are not very attractive cars any longer.

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  Poor quality car - 2001 Audi A6
  By Edwin - July 19 - 12:41 am

  This is our second Audi and like the other one, after 50K we ran into multiple defects (engine failures, electric windows, leaks). Our latest repair at 60K miles, is more than $3K. Its a fun car, but after the free maintenance periods (multiple repairs too, but since its free maintenance and warranty you tend to brush over these quality issues), the poor quality becomes too much.

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  A4 Review - 2003 Audi A4
  By snydert - June 9 - 2:00 am

  A4 is an unreliable auto. My vehicle was towed in 2 times in the first 6 months for blown coils. Headlights needed to be changed 6 times in the first year. Car is currently out of service for a blown oil pump, turbo and two cylinders. Audi would not provide a rental car and did not attempt in any way to assist. There was to be a recall on A4s for their oil pump, but was cancelled.

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  Always in the shop - 1998 Audi A4
  By Jason - May 28 - 8:56 pm

  I have had my Audi A4 for about 6 years. I bought it used in 2000. The car is not bad, but it always has something wrong with it. I have had the Air Bag light come on about 3 times. The Check Engine light comes on a lot, too. The Turbo burned up once. The car has had many problems with the electrical system. I just cant afford to drive the car, since things are always going wrong with it.