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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  3rd Audi & love this the best by far - 2005 Audi A6
  By Rich - July 21 - 8:07 pm

  Wanted an 04 A8L and "settled" for an 05 A6 and Im very glad I did. Black/Amaretto combo is beautiful and the interior looks (and acts) nearly as big as an A8 ... but not quite. Great highway cruiser!

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  Stay away from Audi A8s - 1997 Audi A8
  By Rodney Hager - July 21 - 6:54 pm

  We own an A8 after a long series of Audis. This car is crap. Electronics are a total failure, Audi knows the transmissions are defective but wont do anything, both windshields cracked, coolant and fuel lines had to be replaced, the heater and AC are terrible this is the 3rd week of AC repairs at large cost, the sun roof leaks, and the overall quality is terrible... not as good as a cheap Fiat. It is not surprising Audi cant be reached by email. Many dealers refuse to sell 1997 A8s. Keep your eyes open, youll see lots of newer ones broken down. A8s are crap!

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  Dont Do It - As Much As You May Want To - 1999 Audi A4
  By Kansas Joe - July 20 - 11:57 pm

  I love how this car drives. And the body style still holds up even though it is six years old. The handling, power and quality of the interior design are all pluses. But the lack of mechanical reliability is a huge negative. Ive spent over $6,000 in repairs since purchasing this car just over 3 years ago. Repairs include - new oxygen sensors, water pump/timeing belt, ABS control module, brake rotors, etc. Ive had it - and will be selling this car soon.

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  Great car - 2001 Audi A6
  By Chris Rich - July 19 - 12:01 pm

  I bought this used 2001 A6 2.7T with the sport package this year after my 2000 A6 2.7 (without sport package) was totaled out. Both cars are very similar, but if you are a driving enthusiast, I highly recommend the sport package, which gives you larger wheels and stiffer suspension. It is a great car with lots of room. I love the Quattro in winter (here in Wisconsin).

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  A4 - the real deal - 2002 Audi A4
  By greenant - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Im disappointed with the 02 A4. The exterior styling is great, but the interior is drab and monotone. Ive had many problems in 6 months. Twice I had it towed to the dealership with igition coil problems. The cruise control and windshield washers also had to be fixed. The engine revs too high, even at low speeds and the car could use a 6th gear. The road noise, vibrations, rattle & squeaks are excessive and the overall build quality of the car doesnt compare to that of my 99 A4. The seats are also narrow and hard. On the plus side, the all-wheel drive is great. The handling is impressive when the car is driven hard on winding backroads.

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  The 2002 Audi A4 1.8T quattro - A winner - 2002 Audi A4
  By vpandya - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Have had a wonderful time with this car. Looks like a beauty (inside, out), is immensly fun to drive and is pretty well priced for its class - its tough to find a well engineered all-wheel-drive sporty sedan with great interiors for around $30,000 Have had the car for over a year now - with absolutely no mechanical problems so far. The only time I needed to take it to the dealer was for its 10,000 mile check-up - which incidentally was completely free and covered under the standard maintenance plan

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  Almost there - 2003 Audi A4
  By ks - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Got the 1.8QTip over the BMW 325xi. While I prefer the BMW design, I think that the Audi is classy and it grows on you. Quattro handling is unbelievable here in snowy New England. Its a solid car at a fair pricetag. Front seats are very comfortable, controls are where they should be. Fine city car.

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  Almost there - 2003 Audi A4
  By KS - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Got the 1.8QTip over the BMW 325xi. While I prefer the BMW design, I think that the Audi is classy and it grows on you. Quattro handling is unbelievable here in snowy New England. Its a solid car at a fair pricetag. Front seats are very comfortable, controls are where they should be. Fine city car.

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  Is it just me? Or is it my A4? - 2004 Audi A4
  By Winnietfor2 - July 18 - 6:19 pm

  Longtime lover of the Audi series. Friends all swore by A4s. I finally leased one in 2004. At first I was pleased, coming off of many high end japanese vehicle leases, but I have now been in the shop with a lot of little issues. Started out with drivers power window not closing. Then water leaks in dashboard window which led to freezing ice in winter on the INSIDE. (blamed on water drains clogged?!) Window broken again. Now a/c doesnt work and transmission not shifting properly on hills. Anyone else have these issues or just me? I love my car and Im saddened by all the time it spends in the shop.

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  Can not wait to sell this car. - 2013 Audi A4
  By Danaehamma@gmail.com - July 18 - 1:50 pm

  I bought this car brand new in 2013 and Ive had issues ever since. The car is obviously a very low profile car and I live in New England so I went through 6 Pirelli tires before I finally put all weather continental tires on the car. The car does not drive as smoothly now but at least I have not gotten any bubbles in the tires or cracked any rims since purchasing the continentals. There have been multiple recalls for the heating system, air bags, electronic, etc. that have required repairs. The check engine light came on around 30,000 miles and required multiple valves to be replaced. The dealership claimed they were "faulty" but gave no explanation as to what or why. Then, at 41,000 the car DIED on the highway due to transmission failure. I had to have the vehicle towed in the middle of the night to the dealership. The ENTIRE transmission needs to be replaced. Again, the only explanation is that it was "faulty" and they are unsure what exactly went wrong. Thankfully the car is still under warranty, but this does not make me feel any better. There is no reason there should be this many issues and "faulty" parts on a car this new. I will definitely be selling this car in the Spring and have NO intention of buying another Audi. Every car has its issues, but given the amount I have had with this car in a short period of time with NO real explanation of the problems from the dealership, leads me to believe Audis are not as reliable as the price tag would suggest.