Faults:

Impressive reliability - has needed servicing and tyres only.

General Comments:

It's a beautifully engineered car which feels the same at 62,000 miles as it did at 2,500. Typical Audi reliability too.

No fun at all to drive. EVO magazine once described the VAG 1.8T 20v engine as "the most charisma-free internal combustion engine ever designed", and they're right. It's torquey thanks to the turbo, but the delivery is linear and uninteresting in a way that the exotic 5-valve, turbocharged spec doesn't even hint at. Can be made to guzzle fuel (as little as 22 mpg) without trying too hard as well.

This is one type of car where you wouldn't be missing out on anything by going for the diesel version. Handling is like the engine - competent and inoffensive, but it doesn't exactly encourage or reward exploration of its upper limits. For pounding motorways, and for making easy progress, both of which this car excels at, one of VAG's excellent TDI engines would be punchier where it counts, far more effortless and significantly more economical.

On the whole, the A4 does exactly what you would expect a premium saloon to do, in that it gets you from A to B in a comfortable and refined way, and with better build quality than the mainstream manufacturers (although do not disregard the strides they have made recently). It's not a better car than the 3-series, but on the plus side, it enjoys a far better image, not to be underestimated when it comes to other drivers letting you out of junctions or generally behaving courteously.

What it doesn't do is tug at the heart strings though, or invoke any emotion in the driver apart from respect. How much of an enthusiast you are dictates how much of a problem this will be for you.

Faults:

Frequently the fuse was blowing on the dome lights, rear latch, and other minimal features. Dealer could not correct, but problem seemed to cure itself.

Wiper linkage went bad. This apparantly may be a design flaw on the car.

Ash tray jammed, dealer replaced.

Rear cup holder jammed, dealer replaced.

General Comments:

The car is amazing in the snow, the quattro system is why you buy this car.

Other than aforementioned fit and finish problems, the car has an interior better than the vast majority of cars in its class.

Faults:

Loose torsion bar resulting in knocking noise which took dealers 18 months to locate and repair.

General Comments:

For a car marketed as a performance sedan it is a sheep in wolfs clothing. The suspension is particularly poor with too much body roll and inadequate suspension dampening. Compared to BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class it is a loser regarding its suspension.

Despite what the makers say turbo lag is a problem especially with the auto multitronic transmission.

The sports suspension offered after I bought the car is a huge improvement which makes it a class leader in handling.

Finally the brakes are far too sensitive making controlled braking difficult.

Apart from the above the car is equipped with quality finishes, but the assembly is not up to that of my previous Audi 500SE which was a gem.

Faults:

In the first 12 months of ownership, nothing has gone wrong with this car. This is my first time I have owned a car that did not require any dealer assistance. Very pleased and surprised.

General Comments:

A fast family car with average fuel consumption (28 mpg). Very well designed car with exceptional build quality.

Only issue is that the suspension cannot handle bumpy / poor road surfaces at speed. As I paid extra for sports suspension, this is not acceptable.

The lack of standard equipment and the ever increasing price of Audi options on new cars is unacceptable, and will probably end my Audi ownership when I renew this car.

Service costs are also expensive.