2000 Audi A4 1.8 turbo from North America

Summary:

Piece of junk manufacturing and service.. Don't buy one, you'll get burned...

Faults:

I thought that this was the perfect car when I drove it off the lot until the following:

- Coolant smell on the inside cabin whenever the A/C or heat is on. Had it at the dealer about 5 times. At first they said it was normal (yeah, right), then replaced the heatercore (4 day job) and the problem still persisted. Drove around in winter with the windows down because the smell was so bad. When the dealer gave me a rental, it was either an S10 pickup or Ford Focus (not exactly the same class of car).

- Excessive wind noise when traveling over 70 mph.

- Radio presets tended to reset frequently. There doesn't seem to be any solution for this either.

- On hot/humid days in the summer, the A/C compressor would not even kick on.

General Comments:

Worst car that I've ever owned. Totally blew my expectations of owning a 'German Sports Sedan'. Definitely better off with a Lexus or Acura. I had to sue Audi in order to them to buy it back from me (Lemon Law).

Something to laugh at, I just found out that they re-sold the car to someone else without fixing the coolant thing and they have already taken it to the dealer... Would never buy another Audi again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 6th June, 2001

10th Aug 2001, 09:32

Just wanted to say, I think no matter what car you buy it is somewhat the luck of the draw. No more Honda products for me! I have had a problem free Audi A4 for only 6-months now and love the car, but had an '97 Acura 3.0 CL. The Acura was a real piece of junk and the worst car I ever owned! It was a rattle trap and in 40,000 miles it shouldn't have needed 3 transmissions! The car was in the shop every 4-6 weeks for something, power windows stuck down, air conditioning and other small things. The transmission was the worst. I've never had to have a tranny replaced ever before in 22 years of driving.

29th Apr 2007, 12:32

My wife had one of these 'units' on lease - never again!! The wheel bearings went out as did a neighbors (same year and model), the power steering gave out (Audi fluid runs about $40cdn per litre) repair was over $1000, Leather interior looked great first year, but then quickly looked five times its age because of inferior indian water buffalo leather, heater problems to the tune of $800 - okay the list is too long. Do you want a good all wheel drive sedan? Look elsewhere for much less cost and headaches! Anyone that says that this is a good car and/or good value is just trying to justify it to their spouse... Don't take it from me, ask my neighbor - his was a real lemon!!

2nd Dec 2007, 01:02

First of all, there is NO SUCH THING as a 'perfect' car!

Secondly, you should be more down-to-earth, and appreciate this fine car for what it is!

I have a 1986 Holden Commodore. She's worth about $400, but to me she's irreplaceable.

2000 Audi A4 1.8T from North America

Summary:

Cannot stand the WIND NOISE!!

Faults:

Bought the car with a lot of WIND NOISE, it can even whistle from 70 MPH. I just hate it. Even a Ford Focus was better from my experience.

Extremely difficult to find a good service center, have to drive almost 40 miles to get a good service center.

Something loose in the back door, creates vibration noise.

Dash started to vibrate after 20 miles on a not perfectly smooth road.

Trunk lid's one shock is going, therefore it does not open smoothly anymore.

General Comments:

Look great, feels solid.

Good warranty.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 25th January, 2001

2000 Audi A4 1.8 turbo from North America

Summary:

Solid performance - shoddy details

Faults:

1. When it rains, the inside leaks. There is always water on the driver's side floor. Dealer finds nothing.

2. Rear passenger door jammed - dealer fixed.

3. CD changer broke - New one on order.

4. Rear tail light blew out - dealer fixed.

5. CD player acts up occasionally.

6. Extremely squeaky brakes - this just happened last night.

7. Headlights are too dim. Noticed last week while driving in fog.

8. Window wipers not efficient - they drag on the windshield even when it is pouring.

9. Center console is not horizontal - it leans down a bit with use.

10. One day the car engine would not turn over - took 30 minutes of cranking for it to start. Dealer found nothing wrong.

11. Even thought the window sticker claims up to 28 mpg, I don't think I have ever averaged anything over 18.

11. The entire radio system quit after tinting the windows. Dealer fixed.

General Comments:

I wanted an A4 for quite some time. I was dead set on the 2001 1.8T. I saved for months. After driving a Honda for years, I was used to Honda reliablility. I expected the same from AUDI. WRONG!!!!! Although I have added a H&R suspension kit, Remus exhaust and K&N air filter, it's the little electrical problems that are making me think this car is cursed. It runs fine, when it is running, and I get many admiring looks on the street. If you buy one just cross your fingers and hope you didn't get one that the Quality Assurance guy let slip through on the assembly line.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 31st October, 2000

21st Dec 2000, 08:49

I did a load of research on the Audi A4 1.8T before I went and ordered mine, and let me tell you that I think this is the first message I have come across that is negative!! Since 1999, the A4 has had a very good level of dependability rating (almost as good as Honda and Toyota).

It seems like you had a lot of stuff done to your car - window tinting, suspension kit, exhaust kit, air filters - I mean could it be that adding all those aftermarket parts is the cause of some of your problems?

If not, I guess you've been unlucky and got one of their lemons - keep in mind that every manufacturer has lemons, they just differ in terms of percentage.

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