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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  Beware of Beautiful Cars - 1998 Audi A4
  By Gaucho Guru - November 28 - 2:00 am

  I bought my A4 new and have maintained it meticulously from the day I bought it. I would not buy one again. It started falling apart after 4 years: alternator, battery, engine control module, tie rod ends (twice), upper and lower control arm links, drivers side airbag, sunroof control switch, rear shocks, engine mount. All of this cost about $5,000. Luckily, I bought an extended warranty that defrays some of the cost. If you plan to buy one of these cars and keep it after the warranty expires, be prepared to spend a lot on repairs. And those repairs will cost you at least twice as much as you would expect.

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  Falling Apart - 1999 Audi A4
  By Concerned Jonny - November 21 - 2:00 am

  Loved the car when I bought it but friends warned me to get rid of an Audi after 50k miles. How true! The door handle latch broke recently and then the water pump seized and left me stranded on the highway. Suggest that future prospects think hard about status vs. reliability. Me? Im buying another Subaru. They DONT fall apart.

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  Buy it if you know how to fix it.... - 1997 Audi A4
  By maliguinem - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Audi is a very fun car to have. I love my Audi but be prepared to pay big$$$ once you hit over 50K. I am spending about $2000 /year on repairs and I will be selling it as soon as it gets fixed again... hope it helps.

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  A cute, exciting lemon - 1999 Audi A4
  By jedison - November 2 - 2:00 am

  This car is lots of fun to drive and the front seats are reasonably comfortable. The rear seats are really only for children and small adults. Unfortunately, as soon as this car came out of warranty numerous problems cropped up. Audi USA has been nothing short of terrible in terms of responding to our concerns. No more audis for us. I would suggest only purchasing this car with an extended warranty that includes coverage for gaskets and leaks.

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  Totally Unsatisfied - 2002 Audi A4
  By Brian Gibbons - October 19 - 2:00 am

  When I purchased this car for 39,000.00 I thought I was buying a reliable car. I quickly learned that this car is anything but reliable. Thus far the blinkers went out, the windshield wiper blades broke, the sterio died, the coolent hoses were leaking the starting coils went out and the entire dash board system failed so the car read 140 mph all the time. Now my check engine light came on last night and the car was in for service 1000 miles ago. I am now looking to trade my car in on a much more reliable car like a Honda Accord.

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  Wouldnt buy an Audi again - 2001 Audi A4
  By Miami mama - October 3 - 2:00 am

  While the 2001 Audi A4 can be fun to drive, its had FAR too many mechanical problems for such a new car (45,000 miles). Windshield fluid pump, brakes (had to change the entire brake set, couldnt do just the pads!), airbag, now something with a faulty oil system (its been there the last 3 days), and other strange things. Also do not like its low clearance, it just invites ripping off the front bumper guard on a parking space divider. Would never buy Audi again after this one. I cant wait to sell the car and go back to Toyota.

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  Dissapointing A-4 - 2002 Audi A4
  By jetchefg4 - September 29 - 2:00 am

  Bought car new, traded a 99 2.8Q, had it for a week and had to return for a clutch"adjustment",they actually replaced the clutch. First snow storm my windshield wipers failed completely @ 2000 miles. The driver side seat squeaks like crazy, the trunk never closes correctely, and now @ 11000 miles the sunroof sticks when it closes, very fun when it rains. Oh for potential and current owners avoid the front end bra. I had mine dealer installed, it flops like crazy over 80 miles an hour, it will destroy your paint job, dealer says its just the way it is. It looks cool though it doesnt work, kind of like the car it was designed for.

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  BACK TO THE DEALER - 2002 Audi A4
  By DUMPTHEAUDI - September 20 - 2:00 am

  My wife has owned this vehicle for about a year and its been back to the shop 14 times. We have decided to get rid of the thing. Its got 11000 miles on it. What a complete disappointment this vehicle has been. I have never owned such an unreliable vehicle in my life. Back to Toyota.

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  100+ Days in the Shop - 2001 Audi TT
  By TTrouble - September 12 - 2:00 am

  Constant problems with electrical components. Both door rattle like they are half open. Losing 1 quart of oil every 100 miles, new engine at 20K. Transmission has been grinding in secand gear for 2 years (they said there was nothing wrong with it), and it tore itself apart at 30K. They will not honor the warrenty because one of their techs said he knows I race the car (this is a blatant lie). Audi personnel have put over 700 miles on the car. They want $9000 for the new trans and $2000 to install it. The car has depreciated 50% in 3 years and is now "totalled" (trans is over half the value of the car) with 2 years of $850 payments left on it.

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  Fun but costly - 2000 Audi A4
  By go4th - September 4 - 2:00 am

  This is my wifes first new car and I can say with certainty we will not be purchasing an Audi again. This car may be fun to drive but we seem to be constantly taking it in to the shop. In our case the troubles seem to be with the key fob, water pump, headlights, and brakes. The dealership was good while vehicle was under warranty but repairs post warranty are now terribly expensive no matter where we take it. Large acceleration lag when you put your foot down. Cruise control works only occasionally. We will go with something more reliable next time that is also cheaper to maintain.