Audi A4 Impressions - 6/10

[arfur]

Evening all...

I normally run a very leggy 2007 110k Forester, Full Prodrive XTen with a few extra bits and bobs ... Runs about 300/300 on SUL. Do about 220 miles a day commuting.

It broke down today - water pump. So it's now sitting at Halfords Auto Centre (pray pray) for the next few days.

I needed a rental car asap that could take a couple of bikes, so on a Saturday afternoon I ended up at Avis in Heathrow. They gave me a A4 Avant 2.0 TDi (10k miles) for the princely sum of 60quid a day ... not bad price (BA discount was 20 quid a day just for a blue card so note to all ! )

I've never ever driven an Audi before so this was actually of interest to me;

Initial thoughts..... in no particular order;

1) Cramped in the front for the driver
2) Hateful handbrake ... grrr
3) Understeer crazy ... st handling overall, did not feel planted or in any way entertaining
4) Great mpg ... done about 150 miles already avg 40mpg (I'm used to avg of 22 on SUL so anything is good)
5) Big boot bikes went in well
6) Nice fit and finish inside
7) Horrible mix of reds and whites on the dash
8) Gutless after about 50 mph
9) Lifeless steering
10) Quiet
11) Good brakes
12) No bass in stereo
13) Motorway ride excellent

I'd be very intrigued however to try a S-Line 3.0TDI Quattro A4 or A6 (avant) at some point though ... I have a feeling that with a remap that could be an interesting car.

So that's my induction into Audi world ... I'd rate about 6/10

Arf

[nsmith1180]

Sorry to hear about the Subaru. Glad someone else isn't overawed by Audi! Im not a massive fan either.

[McSam]

If you're used to 300bhp, I'm not surprised it feels gutless

I popped in in case it was about my era of A4, the 95-2001, because I'm quite interested as to the impressions anyone jumping into one of those from something else got?

Anyway, still interesting to hear that the Audi stereotype for a basic A4 - 'nice place to be, wants more kit, doesn't handle' - is about right! Hope you get the Subaru sorted, and let us know how the shiny new Halfords Autocentre do!

[al1991]

I can't get over the ste feel of the steering in Audi products.

They're certainly not terrible, but it's certainly a case of 'don't believe the hype'

[Scuffers]

al1991 said:

I can't get over the ste feel of the steering in Audi products.

They're certainly not terrible, but it's certainly a case of 'don't believe the hype'

to be fair, they are not all the same....

lot of the problem is the combination of what power steering/wheel/tyres they have fitted, the poverty spec cars seem to have PS with some really woolly feedback (what little there is), whereas the spec'ed up ones seem to have a much more proportional setup.

As said, a 2l TDi is always going to feel slow/gutless compared to a turbo petrol Subaru, and even a chipped up 2L TFSi is not going to be able to match 300Bhp.

[davethebunny]

arfur said:

....
12) No bass in stereo......
Arf

Did you have the subwoofer turned off???

Every Audi i've owned/been in as had a stonking stereo.

I had a a4 1.9se new in 2004 and that had one so i can not think a newer one would be without.

[McSam]

davethebunny said:

arfur said:

....

12) No bass in stereo......

Arf

Did you have the subwoofer turned off???



Every Audi i've owned/been in as had a stonking stereo.



I had a a4 1.9se new in 2004 and that had one so i can not think a newer one would be without.

Since yours was an SE, I wouldn't expect a boggo hire car to have the same level of kit, especially not with the trend for premium brands to make everything a cost option!

[arfur]

davethebunny said:

arfur said:

....
12) No bass in stereo......
Arf

Did you have the subwoofer turned off???

Every Audi i've owned/been in as had a stonking stereo.

I had a a4 1.9se new in 2004 and that had one so i can not think a newer one would be without.

I'll have a look ... it was dark when I picked up the car ...

[arfur]

hora said:

I view most audi's as very similar to Toyotas- just a nicer place to sit in.

Why didn't you a hire a aygo/c1? Stunningly fun

The bit about bikes ....

[HowMuchLonger]

220miles a day commute! That is some commute, and fuel bill.

[arfur]

HowMuchLonger said:

220miles a day commute! That is some commute, and fuel bill.

I know ... luckilly I get 45p a mile (mind you it covers the fuel and some of the maint ... but none of the dep )

[McSam]

arfur said:

HowMuchLonger said:

220miles a day commute! That is some commute, and fuel bill.

I know ... luckilly I get 45p a mile (mind you it covers the fuel and some of the maint ... but none of the dep )

By my count, you're getting £99 a day for £58 a day of fuel, so if your maintenence costs are more than £41 per day, I'm glad I don't run a 300bhp Forester

Edited by McSam on Sunday 9th January 13:55

[fatboy b]

I've had a few 2.0 tdi A4 courtesy cars in the past. And I have to agree most of what the OP says. It's a big car for that engine especially if it was the 140. If you can, have a go in the 3.0 tdi quattro, as that sorts the "lifeless" steering. It's a different car.

I guess most people don't really care about having a surplus of power, so the 2.0 tdi will suit most.

Fit and finish is let down by rattles (well on my A5 anyway). I disagree about the dash colours. I find them crisp and fresh, and a pleasant place to be at night.

[Cupramax]

fatboy b said:

If you can, have a go in the 3.0 tdi quattro, as that sorts the "lifeless" steering.

The 3.0 litre has servotronic steering hence it feels much better, which the lower powered A4's dont have...

[jamoor]

I suggest you get that forester out of halfords and into another workshop.

[smartie]

McSam said:

If you're used to 300bhp, I'm not surprised it feels gutless

I popped in in case it was about my era of A4, the 95-2001, because I'm quite interested as to the impressions anyone jumping into one of those from something else got?

Anyway, still interesting to hear that the Audi stereotype for a basic A4 - 'nice place to be, wants more kit, doesn't handle' - is about right! Hope you get the Subaru sorted, and let us know how the shiny new Halfords Autocentre do!

My wife has always had a pathelogical hatred of all things Audi - completely irrational but so bad that after 5 minutes in a Audi dealership she just heads for the door without a word - for this reason, although we have owned many many cars of most makes, up until last year we had never had an Audi!

Last summer we were looking round for a 4WD winter hack and were almost set on an old (1996 ish) Mitsu Shogun 7 seat thing. Huge lump of a thing with a gutless 2.8 derv engine, wife would have bought it there and then (although if I could have found her a nice (and I mean nice) Delica for around £3K instead she would have been v. happy!!)).

I wasn't overly impressed with the Mitsu and so had a quick look around before committing and came upon a 1998 A4 2.8 Quattro. Test drove and found it to be fantastic. Feels like an under-powered M3!!

Anyway, it has been a bit of a money pit to be honest, nothing major, but lots of jobs the previous owner has ignored for a while as he must have known it was going. So I've now spent far more on it that it deserves, and for that reason I suspect we'll keep it a while to try and get our money's worth!

It's now got a set of Avon Ice Touring tyres on it and has not so much a spun a wheel in all this snow (I like at about 1000 feet in the Pennines!).

Overall, great car, a touch thirsty, and perhaps a little tired and old-fashioned inside, but a great drive.

[arfur]

jamoor said:

I suggest you get that forester out of halfords and into another workshop.

It was the only place open at 1500 on a Saturday ... and I'm sure that they can manage a water pump ! (I am praying)

I usually use AJEC Racing in Gloucester (near work, home is Surrey). I'm really annoyed with them as they should have noticed something was not quite right when the car was serviced on Wed last week ...

[1A]

Don't try an S-line whatever you do. They replace the springs and dampers with concrete - the worst riding car I've ever driven was an A6 S-line 3.0 TDi courtesy car. I've driven smoother Series Land Rovers on crossplies.

[maniac0796]

arfur said:

3) Understeer crazy ... st handling overall, did not feel planted or in any way entertaining
11) Good brakes

3. Complete weight of the engine (nice big heavy cast block diesel ) is infront of the front axle, projecting out to the headlights.

11. Twin servo

[arfur]

McSam said:

arfur said:

HowMuchLonger said:

220miles a day commute! That is some commute, and fuel bill.

I know ... luckilly I get 45p a mile (mind you it covers the fuel and some of the maint ... but none of the dep )

By my count, you're getting £99 a day for £58 a day of fuel, so if your maintenence costs are more than £41 per day, I'm glad I don't run a 300bhp Forester

Edited by McSam on Sunday 9th January 13:55

Trust me ... at the moment things just keep breaking ... it feels as though it costs that much to run !

Service Interval 10k

Service 1 - 200
Service 2 - 400
Service 3 - 600
Tyres every 15k - 700 (234/40/18 F1s)
In the garage every month at some point - £££ - Last one was clutch and cambelt - £1300

And then to add insult ... Trade in value on a 57 plate - 110k miles = 5k .... grrr