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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  NOT RELIABLE - 1998 Audi A4
  By Gino - December 12 - 3:34 pm

  Very fun to drive, awesome in snow. However, **extremely** unreliable. Guaranteed to fail (all happened to me): -ABS Module (min $2000 to replace, for cheaper alternative checkout autoecu.com) -oil leaks (at least $1500 to replace $8 part, do timing belt at the same, same labor involved) -tie rods -Control arms (theres a recall on one of them, but ALL of them will eventually fail) -rear deck speakers (easy fix, just glue the poly-cone, it comes loose causing vibration) -side mirror reflective material deterioriating (ive seen it on other A4s in parking lots) -side door base-molding rots/falls of

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  Rare CVT - 2002 Audi A4
  By CT/CVTer - December 12 - 10:00 am

  The CVT is a pleasure to drive! The car has performed flawlessly. The 1.8t has plenty of power around town and does great on the highway.

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  I like it !! - 2006 Audi A6
  By mikey - December 11 - 2:47 am

  Put the shifter Sport mode or use Tiptronic and you can get rid of that 3rd car you got to have fun. AWD is spectacular, not just in snow and rain but at all times. I could not be more pleased by the manufacturer and the dealer that sold it and services it. The value and pleasure are immense. Try it, youll like it,

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  Cute and Diverse - 1998 Audi A6
  By Jeniver - December 10 - 12:15 am

  I love this car! Though I got this car used it was in good condition. It is a stylish piece of automotive niceness. It handles better then my other cars and speedy as well. It moves nicely, brakes great, and is very comfortable. Make sure you take yours to a person who knows Audis. I didnt and got a higher quote then if I went to the guy who did know what he was talking about.

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  so far so great - 2001 Audi A6
  By instanton - December 7 - 11:05 am

  We have the six-speed and there is no hint of turbo lag. I get 23+ mpg on combined city/highway driving (probably because I dont always drive like I have something to prove). Acceleration is amazing when needed, and the engine picks up anywhere from 1.5Krpm upwards in any gear. we got the sport suspension and sport wheels, which means I can go around corners practically with no braking. Saves wear and tear on the brakes and gives the kids a thrill :-). The stereo (Symphony) is excellent. Bought it used with 51K mi for less than 17K$. Try getting something with the feature set (Xenons, auto-dimming mirrors, power heated leather ...) in other brands for anything close.

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  Great Value - 2001 Audi A6
  By C - December 4 - 11:44 pm

  Very happy, great car all around. Only complaint would be that the suspension can is a bit soft for my liking when pushing it in the corners.

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  Good so far! - 2000 Audi A4
  By Jaimie - December 4 - 1:01 am

  I am a member of SCCA & I know from watching the Audi in action that its a stronger car than BMW or Mercedes on the track in endurance & performance. My Audi has so far been perfect. It does idle rough sometimes, electronic gauge panel went bad, & sometimes draws back after hitting the gas.

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  Good God I love this car! - 2004 Audi A4
  By NVRMOR - December 3 - 10:00 am

  This cars "Wow" factor is off the chart. Heads turn wherever I go. People pull up next to me a red lights to tell me how much they like it. The ride is so firm and solid it feels like the car was carved out of a solid piece of metal. With the top down theres only a little more wind than if you had the windows down in a sedan.

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  Sweet Ride - 2005 Audi A6
  By Dawgman - December 1 - 9:40 pm

  This is a beautiful car inside and out! I decided on the A6 over the Benz E-350 and BMW 525i. The interior is absolutely beautiful and comfortable. When youre in the drivers seat, it feels like youre in a cockpit of an airplane, but still very comfortable. The leg room in back is really comfortabe for any two adults, and can accomodate 3 children (as we have) fairly comfortable. I love the new exterior styling for 2005, it has a much sportier look. Audi has definitely caught up to M-B and BMW with car, and in my opinion have passed them, epecially since my car was about $8,000 less (with Quattro) than a comparably optioned M-B and BMW.

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  This Thing Rips - 2005 Audi S4
  By bcze1 - December 1 - 3:29 pm

  Amazing all around package. Perfect compromise for those who need cargo space and the ability to blow the doors off anything with a Hemi. I ski a lot, and once the snow tires are on, there is no better, or faster, way to the mountains. Also, nobody does better interiors than Audi. Top-notch materials, easy to operate, and everything right where it should be. Its great when in a car this fast you dont have to take your eyes off the road to turn down the stereo.