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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  Very nice - 2005 Audi A6
  By Riz - March 29 - 3:52 pm

  Great car. Handles and drives really well. I went from a 330i to this and am really impressed. Its a lot bigger, but doesnt drive as big.

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  Save your Money! - 2001 Audi A6
  By LH - March 27 - 8:41 pm

  There are many pros behind this car. It has a beautiful interior, it is fun to drive, it handles better than most other cars and has amazing pick up. The cons, however, completely out weigh the pros. This car was purchased certified pre owned with 36K miles. Within the first year, it has broken down(thermostat overheated and coolant tank cracked), and has been taken in 18 times due to various problems (ie- when driving the automatic, it would slip into 2nd gear for no reason), and has most recently required a new transmission. I regret falling for the aestetics and strongly recommend anyone against the Audi. Its not worth the headache.

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  Audi A6 4.2L - 2000 Audi A6
  By PBW - March 27 - 3:39 pm

  Attracted by styling and beautiful interior, and of course, typical German handling qualities. Ride and comfort exceeded expectations. Some quality glitches but nothing major. Still as good as new with 65K.

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  A great car, when it works - 1998 Audi A4
  By joeyb - March 26 - 8:31 am

  First of all I would like to say that overall, Ive had pretty good luck with this car considering all of the problems items Ive read about in other reviews. It has great interior and exterior styling, rides nice, and coupled with good tires, the AWD is awesome for the New England winters. But If you are going to purchase an earlier year Audi, 3 conditions must be met. 1- make sure you are under some kind of warranty 2- If not, make sure you are handy with a wrench (many of the problem items can be fixed yourself). 3- if you cant fix it yourself, find a good mechanic as the dealer repair costs are horrible.

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  It was the best of cars..it was the worst of cars - 2003 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By good_apple - March 26 - 7:50 am

  Purchased 2003 Allroad in September 05; parted ways in November 11. I chose the car for practicality and a need to be able to get around in winter..no matter what. It was perfect for that and was super comfortable on long trips. The downside: it went through tires and brakes like crazy. I am embarassed to admit how much I spent in repairs: the front suspension bladers, turbos, heater over and over, etc. Even my mechanic told me I could not afford to keep it. I will miss the winter reliability, but not the drain on my bank account.

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  New Audi Owner - 2005 Audi A6
  By jg - March 22 - 3:46 am

  I have had the Audi A6 3.2 for several weeks now and although I generally do not get emotionally involved with respect to vehicles, the A6 does provide some joy to the driver. The interior can only be described as phenomenal with regard to comfort, style and functionallity; the MMI system is far better than the BMW Idrive. This is a great car inside and out. Buyers should read the Audi A6 forum with regard to tip lag which can be overcome but is a pain. I drove all of the competitors and this car was the best in its class,

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  At the Crossroads - 1999 Audi A6
  By dan596 - March 19 - 12:17 pm

  This car has fit the bill..mostly. We wanted a wagon for hauling stuff, AWD for New England weather, the comfort and quality of luxury car, and priced less that $25k (we bought used). We make regular cross NE trips with confidence and car leaves us refreshed, not tired. Four years later were untimely faced with the cost of new brakes, new tires, expensive timing belt change, oil leak fix, repainting front bumper, and regular maintenance all at the same time. As with all VW/Audis I have owned they are plagued by electrical inconsistencies that we learn to live to enjoy the german driving experience. So, the question is do invest $3K to fix and keep it or get $6-7k, maybe, on trade.

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  Love the car, never again - 2003 Audi TT
  By endophil - March 18 - 4:51 pm

  Have the TT for over three years. Love the way it rides. Fun, handles great, though alittle heavy. Inside a little claustrophobic with many blind spots. Most disappointing is reliability. The car has 6400 miles. So far the electrical system, air cond. system, dash cluster fuel gauge, glove box have been repaired. Need I say more? Would think twice about the 2003 TT.

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  Gets expensive after 70,000 miles - 2002 Audi A6
  By BW - March 15 - 8:03 pm

  I bought my 2002 pre-owned Audi in 2005. This is truly an awesome car inside and out. The features and performance cant be beat in the same price range. However, you may be able to afford to buy an Audi, but you may not be able to afford to drive one. The transmission started slipping at 60K miles. Electrical problems (interior lights cutting on and off) were an issue, little noises and rattles (drive me nuts), the engine went to 300 degrees on normal summer days and finding someone to service the car was a task. Unless you live in a metropolitan area or down the street from the dealership, Id suggest looking elsewhere. I traded it in after 12 months.

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  Lemon or not? - 2002 Audi TT
  By Charlie - March 11 - 9:52 am

  I have dreamed of owning an Audi TT for years. I found an 02 with 14K miles on it, garage kept (impeccable condition). Still smells new. I thought I was getting a real good deal for paying $23,900. I thought there cant be anything wrong with this baby. Well, I bought it on a friday evening, took it home had it for the weekend and noticed a knocking noise coming from the front drivers side tire. Called dealership where was purchased, said you have to call audi, had it picked up monday, shipped to San Antonio TX, they kept if for 2 weeks, received it friday. Drove it 2 miles and same loud knocking. Its getting picked up mon again and god only knows how long it will be before i get to enjoy.