Sorry for the re-post, posted this in the wrong section and couldn't figure out how to move it
I'm in the process of replacing my '09 Mazda 6 after it suffered a catastrophic sub-frame failure (long story for another thread) and one of the possibilities I keep noticing is the 2010-2013'ish Audi A4. This car checks a lot of boxes for me but the the "Audi-factor" has me feeling nervous about the potential for repair costs down the road. I've always associated Audi's with frequent reliability issues and excessive repair costs. I've found most of the online reviews seem to contradict my bias. I'd be really interest in seeing what everyone has to say. Am I wrong or will one of these leave bankrupt and car-less?
Also, feel free to compare and contrast the A4 against similar era 128's and 3 series as they are also on the shortlist.
Thanks!
I have no significant experience with Audis of that model and generation, but my general experience with VAG products is that they are far more difficult to DIY than BMWs of similar age, and that while competent performers, they are not as well-balanced as BMWs and certainly do not feel as much a driver's car.
I have had my 09 128i for just about a year, and I am nothing but pleased with it.
I've owned Audis since 2000, and I don't think I'd agree about the "far more difficult to DIY". The main difference is that the quattro drivetrain layout tends to make for some tight packaging for stuff on the lower half of the engine, exhaust manifolds, turbos, etc. There's also not much room in front of the motor, but Audis have a "service position" that allows you to pull the front end of the car away from the motor with about 10 minutes of wrenching. It looks nuts the first time you see, but once you've done it a couple times you wonder why nobody else has that feature. :)
Audis from, say, 97-2007 have a reputation for being less reliable than similar year BMWs (neither one of them is even on the same page as Honda, though), but in the last decade that gap has been narrowed significantly.
They are like cockroaches where i live. They seem to be very popular. A friend of mine that specializes in European cars has always told me to get the a4 with the 1.8 turbo.
Slade
Jefferson Starship
Bon Jovi
and of course the Del Shannon classic
Nothing good can come from buying the heaviest, most powerful vehicle on a given platform, especially with all-wheel drive.
I would not buy any early (pre-'14 or so depending on model) VAG TSI/FSI-engined vehicle as a daily. A $600 walnut shell blasting to remove massive carbon chunks from your intake valves every 40k is ridiculous.
Supposedly they finally figured it out for the Gen 3 EA888 that came in '15 (complete rethink of the PCV system), but anything before that...yikes.
pointofdeparture said:
I would not buy any early (pre-'14 or so depending on model) VAG TSI/FSI-engined vehicle as a daily. A $600 walnut shell blasting to remove massive carbon chunks from your intake valves every 40k is ridiculous.
BMWs of the same vintage do the same thing, as do many other direct injected cars.
codrus said:
pointofdeparture said:
I would not buy any early (pre-'14 or so depending on model) VAG TSI/FSI-engined vehicle as a daily. A $600 walnut shell blasting to remove massive carbon chunks from your intake valves every 40k is ridiculous.
BMWs of the same vintage do the same thing, as do many other direct injected cars.
Many OEMs have figured out solutions though. Mazda heats the intake charge. Honda and Kia/Hyundai have a very elaborate PCV system. Etc...it’s not that VAG was the only company to have the problem as much as they have now solved it along with many other issues that plagued the FSI/TSI in that time period (poorly designed timing chain tensioner, HPFP cam follower, etc).
We have an '11 A4 Avant bought new with 90K on it now. It got a steering rack at low mileage (seal leak), a turbo at middle mileage (no idea why), and a ring/piston job at late middle mileage - all under warranty, with the last 2 big ones @ ~6 years out & 60-70K. It hasn't needed the valve cleaning as of yet.
Other than those rather big exceptions, the car has had nothing but regular maintenance. The ring job was a factory TSB carried out even though the car didn't meet the tech spec for excess oil usage. The repairs were painless & the wife got a new car to tool around in for a couple days. So I'll give a thumbs-up to Audi for standing behind their product (even if it was prompted by a class action suit..).
That said - I'd be wary of an '09- early '12 A4 that didn't have the ring recall done & documented. Otherwise, it's a solidly built, comfortable & pleasant place to spend your time.
Thanks very much for the feedback everyone. I ended up passing on the A4 I was looking at as it definitely hadn't been maintained well and the owner couldn't produce any maintenance records at all. I did end up coming across a 2011 323i in excellent shape and low miles. It fit the bill so I pulled the trigger on that one this evening. Hopefully it has years of reliable service left in it.
Thanks again!
Hey good luck after your Mazda 6 debacle. You deserve a break.
