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 most camoflaged car on the road! - 2004 Audi S4
  By Bogue - July 30 - 2:00 am

  Third child came/ TT had to go/wife got minivan and I got a world class sports car disguised as a family station wagon.Audi builds great exteriors(Black on Black)and even better interiors(two-tone black/grey Alcantara,Recaro seats,both front&back seats).Bose concert sound is very nice but the throaty rumble of 340HP is even nicer.Quattro lends confidence that even in the worst weather my family is safer in the Avant than in our minivan.A note about gas mileage big V8s can have big appetites especially in city driving, however I found the highway gas mileage to be comparable to other V8s.

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  Audi - 1993 Audi 90
  By choleric - July 29 - 2:00 am

  This was my first car, ive always been an audi enthusiast so i was pretty when i got this car for such a low price. Nothing really wrong with the car, runs smooth looks great.

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  94 Audi S Wagon - 1994 Audi 100
  By taohk - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car at May 2003 at a very good price. Because it is a wagon, and this car is not a quattro. The car was in good condition with dents. I replaced power steering pump right after purchase. It was the only problem. This is a 94 car, but it only had 74500miles. The car is solid. I never did any major serice since I had. Now it has 96500miles. It still goes strong. I replace new tires and break discs at May 2004. Front wheel drive is much cheaper to maintain. I am getting a turn-up next week. So far, I only spend about $1200 on the car include the new 80k tires and break discs.

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  Loads of fun to drive+Stylish to boot - 2003 Audi A4
  By IllinioisAudiDriver - July 26 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. It has everything I wanted: sporty, fun to drive, powerful, yet classy and luxurious. Much better priced than BMWs, and a whole lot classier of an interior than anything else in its class.

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  current leak from battery - 2005 Audi A8
  By kona358 - July 26 - 2:00 am

  The battery has gone dead twice and will go d ead if the car is not driven daily. Charge will fall b y 50% overnight. Has anyone else run into this p roblem- so far not fixed by dealer. Any solution? u sual mileage will be 15-20,000 per year

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  my TT - 2004 Audi TT
  By heymrfrancis - July 26 - 2:00 am

  looks like a million bucks but only costs 36grand

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  I looooove it - 1999 Audi A4
  By randomsurfer - July 22 - 2:00 am

  The car is beautiful, sporty, fun to drive, and gets compliments everywhere I take it. That may be for aesthetic reasons...and I understand some people have problems with Audis, however this is a good year (as opposed to problem years 96-97) and I think I got a good one.

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  abundance of luxury - 2005 Audi A8
  By chris cotran - July 22 - 2:00 am

  the best ever.. no problems fast driving.awsome ride. silent interior. great fit and finish. no electrical or any complaints. the asf frame is rigid and responsive.. the handeling is sublime.. love every inch of it

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  fun, comfortable, rocket - 2004 Audi S4
  By 47xuf1 - July 22 - 2:00 am

  I traded in an A4, which I loved, for this car, but this car is in another league from any other car I have ever driven or owned. The engine is just unreal. It pulls from any RPM. The handling is sublime and the interior is just beautiful. Every time I drive this car it puts a smile on my face.

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  Good! Good! Good! - 2002 Audi A6
  By David Big - July 22 - 2:00 am

  Great car, comportable, easy to ride, good on long trips.