Not Very Impressed With the Audi A4

"E. Julius" (soonerfrommi)
12/23/2014 at 20:27 • Filed to: None

Over my winter break, I've gone from the fake world of a college student who is 'busy' when he spends more than a few hours a week on homework and cooks the same meal every other day, to the fake world of adults who let you stay in their house, give you brandy in snifters and drive you around in their German luxury cars. I have to say, the Audi A4 (2013 RHD TDI) has not impressed me much. The switchgear feels nice and little things like the headliner are higher quality than many cars, but overall I'm underwhelmed.

From the backseat, it barely felt nicer than my dad's Golf, and the dash is pretty plain. A few 'piano black' (AKA expensive plastic) accents weren't really doing it for me. Maybe fully optioned they're much nicer, but the 3 series and MBs I've ridden in before have topped this Audi for sure. What am I missing here?

DISCUSSION (44)

E30Joe drives a Subaru > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 20:29

I'm quite bored with any BMW you can buy except for the very expensive and limited type (think M cars with lots of options or individual accents)

I work at a BMW dealer so they feel like hondas to me now.

jkm7680 > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 20:30

I've driven the 3-Series, C Class, and A4. I've owned two A4's, that speaks for itself.

The C-Class felt cheap, the steering wheel was the only redeeming quality. The 3-Series wasn't fun, but the B7 A4 was a good balance. So I bought a B7, Then I bought a B5. That's two A4's.

It sounds like a pretty base model car, That probably explains that. You're missing what comes with more optioned out cars.

E. Julius > jkm7680
12/23/2014 at 20:33

Yeah, that's what I was thinking—some sort of low–level euro trim they don't even bother to sell in the states. I've ridden a lot in an friend's mint '01 S4 and that thing is great. Love the wood, supple leather, but the one I'm riding in here doesn't even compare. The one here's an S–line too, but I guess that doesn't mean anything.

jkm7680 > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 20:34

Yup, My B7 was an S-Line also. That's probably going to be cosmetic only on that particular car, as it was on mine. But sometimes it includes suspension and that sort of thing.

The stripper models are usually only as good as middle of the line Jetta's and such.

E. Julius > jkm7680
12/23/2014 at 20:40

That sounds about right. I was pretty 'meh' about the whole thing (clearly). I'd like to drive a better equipped one of a comparable year now and see how they compare. Newest well–optioned A4 I've ridden in was '07.

jkm7680 > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 20:43

Nice, I've currently got a B5 and the build quality of it is just as great as the B7 I used to have.

I've driven the Allroad, Several B8 A4's, and a couple of B8.5 A4's. All were the American base models, but probably mid level in Europe. They all were pretty great feeling cars, Everything seemed good with them.

Try a dealership! Or an S4, Haha.

E. Julius > E30Joe drives a Subaru
12/23/2014 at 20:47

Not being blinded by the reputation, how would you say they compare to their competitors? Honestly, now that I've ridden in a couple S-classes, 7 series and the like, I've really come to realize that the insane $100k+ cars aren't as different as you think they are. Sure they're nice, but in my experience, the fancy speakers and leather and all that never look quite as impressive as they do in all the press photos. It all feels better for sure, but it's not quite the revelation one might expect for 2-4x the price. Maybe I'm just jaded or don't know what to look for, but it all seems like some kind of scam cooked up to make you feel dissatisfied until you're buying the most expensive model.

Manuél Ferrari > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 20:49

Was it brand new?

The current A4 and 3 Series are pretty crap if they are base model. They need options to be fun. In the old days this wasn't the case. An E36 BMW 325i without many options was still a fun car (especially if manual). But all the German cars have become more about luxury than sport so you have to pile on the options to make them sporty.

Manuél Ferrari > jkm7680
12/23/2014 at 20:50

BMW FTW! ;)

E. Julius > jkm7680
12/23/2014 at 20:51

Honestly it wasn't even build quality—that felt great. The doors still had that satisfying 'thunk' that you get in a solid car, and the switches felt nice and crisp. It was just that people always talk about Audi's amazing interiors, and this was one just bland plastic and cloth insert sears. Felt very Jetta to me, like you said.

E. Julius > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 20:54

It's a '13, still on the first owner. I didn't get to drive, so I'm not even talking about sportiness. It's mainly that Audi's interior materials/fit and finish are so lauded, yet this one didn't feel much better than a VW. I'm suspecting the case here is that I was in a sparsely optioned euro-model, but it's just strange that there's such a stark difference.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 20:54

My opinion (this isn't taking in to account Audi's S cars, Mercedes AMG, or BMW M's)

If you want a sporty, fun to drive car: BMW

If you want a nice, luxurious car: Mercedes

If you want a practical, more reliable car: Audi

Manuél Ferrari > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 20:55

Yeah the luxury isn't good enough either on the base cars. You gotta tick a couple of the option packages for the car to feel special.

I saw an Audi yesterday that looked like this. My gawd that's a nice Audi

Kinja'd!!!

Manuél Ferrari > jkm7680
12/23/2014 at 20:56

Please buy this Audi. Thanks!

Kinja'd!!!

E. Julius > E30Joe drives a Subaru
12/23/2014 at 21:00

Makes sense. Honestly, the only one of the three I've been impressed with has been BMW. I used to be a 3 series hater, and thought it was just some bandwagon thing, until I drove one. I thought it was a really solid, well–balanced car that mostly deserved it's reputation. Newer MB has fallen a bit short on the luxury for me, as in it's been good but still seems pointless, and I haven't really ridden in enough Audi's to form a cohesive opinion. I've ridden in classic MB though, and those have been excellent. Some of my favorite cars.

E. Julius > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 21:03

Yeahhhhh I'd rock that haha. Like I said in a different comment, even on the older S4 I've ridden in, the interior is very nice. It's just amazing how much they skimp on the lower models. On top of it all, my sister was very intrigued by the CLA when I told her it was the 'cheap' Mercedes. Makes me want to puke.

Manuél Ferrari > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 21:07

They are all getting skimpy. I believe all LCI E90 BMWs had LED tail lights, but they reverted to the old tail lights for the replacement to give people a reason to buy a premium package. "Not gonna pay more, no pretty tail lights for you!"

CLA, lol

E. Julius > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 21:15

It just seems like a perpetual game of tempting more and more people with attractive lease offers and sparse base models (that are never on dealership lots) to goad them into spending money.

Agreed on the CLA. Not wanting my sister to be ensnared in MB's trap, I just outright told her it was mostly a money grab on MB's part trying to get people to buy it because they want the three pointed star. Hopefully she'll have some sense going forward and won't waste her money on some crap CPO CLA or something when she could've gotten a far better car for the same money elsewhere.

jkm7680 > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 21:15

If my wallet wasn't so empty I totally would, Haha.

Manuél Ferrari > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 21:17

Exactly! Leasing has changed the game big time.

I haven't been in the CLA but I heard the ride is crap.

Manuél Ferrari > jkm7680
12/23/2014 at 21:18

You can always start selling drugs!

White RS5 goes so well with cocaine sales, haha

jkm7680 > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 21:20

Haha, Hard to take that up!

E. Julius > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 21:22

Yeah I haven't been in it either, but it just seems like it's so not worth it to me. Your comment makes me think of how surprised I was with all of my coworkers' nice new cars this summer, until I realized that every single one of them was leasing. At least one had a hemi Charger and another had an SRT Grand Cherokee.

E. Julius > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 21:24

This is what I think every time I see the guy at my school with a blacked out white S5 haha

Manuél Ferrari > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 21:24

Leasing is the devil! People used to buy cars and keep them for 10 years. Now they are throwaway objects. And car companies don't have to make cars that last because nobody gives a shit anymore!

Manuél Ferrari > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 21:26

Hahaha

You need to sell drugs to afford the out of warranty repair costs

jkm7680 > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 21:29

Totally Gotcha, In the higher spec models it's amazing in there. Extremely high quality, and solid. Not a single bad plastic, yet extremely durable.

E. Julius > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 21:32

Yeah, I really don't like how it's replaced the idea of actually owning something. When you really buy a car, it's yours and you're free to keep it until breaks, or you need/want something different. You lease, and you're a slave to the company. They tempt you with gadgets and gizmos and low prices, but you're stuck spending money with them without actually building any equity. To me anyways, something that really belongs to me is better than something a bit nicer I'm just paying for the privilege to use.

ihm96 > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 21:33

Ugh I love the RS5. Some kid at Lehigh drives around in a black one that I want so badly

E. Julius > jkm7680
12/23/2014 at 21:35

Makes sense. I don't understand it, but honestly I don't understand buying new in the first place either. Different strokes I guess.

Manuél Ferrari > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 21:36

You know what the worst part is? (this happened to me once)

If you lease a car and don't drive it as much as you planned but don't want to keep it at lease end then you're just throwing away money. You don't get any money back if you turn it in with less miles than you paid for.

Manuél Ferrari > ihm96
12/23/2014 at 21:37

It's one of the best looking sedan-based sport coupes ever!

E. Julius > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 21:48

I've known people who have claimed to use that to negotiate a higher trade in, but the fact that that's not standard practice is a bit ridiculous. I know someone else who has a really nice Grand Cherokee that sits in their garage all day because they made the mistake of taking it on a couple road trips and coming dangerously close to the mileage agreement.

I really just don't get the point of buying new. If you wait for the car you want, you can find it. My parents got a 328xi with all the options they wanted, except it was black when my mom wanted white. They paid a little over half the sticker and it had less than 15,000 miles on it.

Manuél Ferrari > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 21:51

Sometimes you can use it as leverage to get a better deal when rolling into another lease. But that doesn't help you if you don't want another car from that dealer.

Yes BMWs are the best to buy new! The 3 Series is so common that you can get it slightly used for super cheap. Much harder to find a rare car slightly used.

10-25K mile used BMWs are the best BMWs

E. Julius > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 21:55

Yeah both of those points definitely make sense. I like the way you think Manuél.

Manuél Ferrari > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 21:58

Thanks!

Which reminds me that I forgot something

Manual 10-25K mile used BMWs are the best BMWs

E92M3 > E. Julius
12/23/2014 at 22:33

Audi interiors are kind of understated and simple by design. BMW is the same way, although lately they've added more materials and better trim. You kind of like them after a while. Then when you sit in a non German car you think the interior is kind of trying too hard.

E. Julius > E92M3
12/23/2014 at 22:48

The design wasn't really my main criticism. Besides the feel of the switchgear (which was great) and the headliner, the interior materials seemed just like what you'd find in an average car. I like the understated touches that the Germans are famous for, like the asymmetric door interiors on the E90 or the little secondary pull tab to close the gap between the rear view and the headliner in some Audis (although the new Mercs are terribly overwrought if you ask me). I just didn't notice much of the difference between the plastic and seats of the Audi versus a VW.

E. Julius > E92M3
12/23/2014 at 22:59

As discussed in previous comments, this is most likely because I was riding in a lower trim euro model, which is generally cheaper than the German 3 bother selling in the US.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > E30Joe drives a Subaru
12/23/2014 at 23:45

That may be the first time I've heard someone call Audi reliable.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
12/24/2014 at 02:01

In my experience, BMW's are pretty low on the reliability chain, even Audi one ups them.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > E30Joe drives a Subaru
12/24/2014 at 02:07

I'll second that. I wouldn't call any BMW that's newer than an E30 inherently reliable. I would describe those makes as:

BMW is the sportiest one

Audi is the best looking overall

Mercedes is the "reliable" (relative term, It's no Toyonda), luxurious one

E30Joe drives a Subaru > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
12/24/2014 at 14:09

Yeah I do suppose a Merc would be the more reliable of the bunch, Audi's are quite sharp these days too.

ColoradoTaco > jkm7680
12/29/2014 at 13:15

Given that the S4 is the same body as the A4, the backseat won't be any bigger.