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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  Big time fun - 2003 Audi A4
  By A&D - September 7 - 10:00 am

  Just got our new 2004 puppy, love at first sight, great handling , zippy highway performance, no miles but still getting 26mpg. top operation is a snap "1 finger" confort plus in the seats,even with back problems this car is confortable. Would recommend to anyone who wants a class act convertable.

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  Great, but not perfect - 2003 Audi A4
  By daftab - September 7 - 10:00 am

  Its a fabulous car, but not perfect. Mine came with a flawed windshield that was very difficult to figure out. Initially, it made me feel a little queasy when driving past buildings with lots of vertical or horizontal lines. Then I figured out that the glass was slightly wavy. I expected better QC for such a pricey car. In the end though, the performance and features made up for the manufacturing defect and inconvenience of getting it fixed.

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  Great car for a good price - 2001 Audi S4
  By WPU2003 - September 7 - 2:00 am

  I got this car as an early 18th birthday present. paid $29k for it online. This is probably the fastest car from 0-40 in the world, and i am saying this b/c you get your max torque at 1850 RPMs, so off the line you step on it and go. Since buying this car, i have dropped about 10k in APR products and im putting down 375HP/400 torque on stock turbos, mind you that 400 torque comes in at 1850 RPMS. Anyone who gets this car should get the ECU upgrade, because for <1000 dollars you will get approx 70HP/110 Torque. Car handles great w/ stock brakes, even better w/ brembos. Great all around stock car with loads of potential to be modified into a supercar.

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  A6 Wagon - 2000 Audi A6
  By Bag - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Very useful car, holds a ton of stuff, especially if you add a roof rack. A bit underpowered at 200 HP, but adequate if you dont do a lot of hill driving. Great for kids, safe and reliable. Interior is superb for a car of this price.

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  Love my car baby! - 2005 Audi TT
  By Cartlady - September 7 - 2:00 am

  This was my mid-life crisis car, and it is the most fun I have ever had driving.

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  Great, But Expensive to Maintain - 1999 Audi A4
  By Jim in KCMO - September 6 - 2:00 am

  I love driving this car. But after owning it for two and 1/2 years Im now asking myself: is the fun is worth the high maintenance costs? Routine maintenance is much more expensive than the two VWs I drove before this. Example - new front pads and brake fluid - $350 versus about ~$200 on my 95 Jetta. Ouch. Plus, my water pump went out at 60k which required me to also replace the timing belt and serpentine belt at a $1,250 price tag. That one still stings. Ask me in two more years the answer to my above question. If no more major maintenance, then I will have loved this car - if theres much more, then Id say the costs were not worth the price.

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  $$$$ to own Beware of maintenance costs - 1998 Audi A4
  By JC Milbo - September 4 - 2:00 am

  Bought the dealers demo and got the 3- year warrenty. At 45 k, the problems started - front suspension - $ 766 tie rod end and water pump - $ 1245 60 k - rear half shaft bearings - $1400 transmission valve body $ 3200 and now the ABS unit is shot and its back to the shop for another $3000. That is $9611! Parts and service are very expensive! I am selling and cutting my losses. Ill be buying a Honda or Toyota or an American car from now on. What a piece of junk!

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  More power please! - 2004 Audi A4
  By second gen A4 owner - September 3 - 2:00 am

  This is my second A4 (3.0 black ext, black int, with ultra sport package and all options except nav). The car is superb in almost every way - e.g. elegant exterior lines understated, luxuriously appointed cabin superior storage and authoritative passing power. The only realy fault of the car is its not entirely adequate 220hp 3.0 engine. While not anemic, this power plant simply does not have enough muscle to move the A4s considerable weight with any alacrity, especially at starts and lower city speeds (0-45 mph) where it cooperates but not very willingly and with way too much drama. Considering the S4 is USD 12k plus away, the A4 needs more uumph.

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  Totally Sweet!! - 2003 Audi A4
  By LPM - September 1 - 10:00 am

  This is a fun, fast vehicle. I looked at a BMW 330 and felt that the A4 was a much superior vehicle. Not only that, but its a better value!

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  A4 1.8T Quattro - 2004 Audi A4
  By Brthor - September 1 - 10:00 am

  Great car. Great dealer.