What ya'll know about audis?

[dirty30]

I think that makes me more qualified to speak on how reliable they are, or aren't.

Go get em' tiger!

[trent]

Go get em' tiger!

I just realized your sig says "WaterWings"

[dirty30]

I just realized your sig says "WaterWings"

Like pool floaties? for kids?

[LINUS]

yup.

Cheap to buy
Expensive to own

My experience as well. I had a 4000 quattro that was pretty decent, but I never could get a weird vibration in the center tunnel to quit. Changed bearings, bearing carriers, had the driveline doublechecked for warpage - nothing. It only happened over 55-60, but still was a PITA. Then the other was a 5000 5 speed FWD that was horrible electrically. Audi crams MB/BMW amenities in on a VW budget, and there's the reason for the high failure rate. My opinion.

[Jean]

I know this is a BMW forum and all, but take a trip to your local dealer and just check a new generation of cars out. I've driven probably 80% of cars BMW has to offer and some MB cars also, also attended BMW and MB "Test drive/charity events when you can pick almost any car they offer and drive it w/o a sales person and most lower BMW and MB models feel very cheap inside and boring to drive compared to even to a lowly A4. I've had a 03 VW and 04 VW before, and fit and finish doesn't even begin to compare, it's that much better. Even though the car is probably close to 3700lbs+ it drives and feels like a much lighter car, hence I was able to toss it around autox course like it was a smaller car and had times better than lighter/nimbler cars out there..

What VW budget are we talking about here, spec the a4 out with better suspension, dual stage hid, heated front/rear seats and you are in the low to mid 40s. My a4 2.0t quattro s-line was just over 42k, that's not VW budget when you can buy a new vw for under 15k.

my 2 cents, I just felt necessary to say because blanket statements are gay...

[winstontj]

what kind of money pit are you really looking at with your ix? if tthe body is good I'd say the devil you know is better than the devil you dont know.

Keep the BM or get yourself a 20v coupe gt.... thats a badass car

[LINUS]

@ Jean-

I suppose that was a vauge statement, what I meant was that, in the timeframe I owned Audi's(90-93), I had 6-8 year old cars that were built using VW style connections in the wiring harnesses, so all the standard stuff about VW electrical gremlins were present, but to an even greater degree. For example, a VW HVAC panel had the exact layout of our E30's, even simpler because the heater core valve was cable operated. The only thing on the whole system that could break was the resistor strip for the multispeed fan. If it broke you had full fan or no fan, no steps in between.

Now the Audi (5000) has temp driven climate control. Or so you thought by the display. It never worked right in my car. I had that thing all apart a few times, and it was one complex POS. it had a set of servos driven off a vacuum accumulator, at least 5 poly vacuum hoses routed from the HVAC unit up to the engine bay, a ton of wires, and who knows what else. It was too fancy, and completely unreliable. I finally got a newer unit from the wrecking yard, and it worked better, but still not perfect. And forget buying a new one, it was just under $500 for a new unit.

Then there's the windows. VW gave you a knob to crank on, Audi had those dang power windows, and until you have had one stick open at Mt. Baker ski area, they work great. But mine stuck, i threw a trash bag in the doorjam, closed it and we rode that day. Froze my frickin' ear, despite wearing my cap the whole ride home.

If Audi didn't have 'gremlins' in the electrical system, cars like a V8 quattro would rock. I remember them new in ~92, and they were $50-60K. About 6 months ago I saw a pearl white one FS in Idaho with high 40's on the odometer, and they were asking like $8k - and I thought that was a ripoff, because of the cost to maintain. I can only guess at the price of parts for a car like that.

It sounds like we have totally different baseline VW's for comparison. I had ~8 A1's, ~6 A2's, and only a Corrado, and a GLI 16v had power windows. I've never even driven a Passat. I drove a couple A3's, but never owned one, let alone any newer VW / Audi than that.

[ddavidv]

Linus, you echo my experiences pretty closely with cars I've either owned or came into our shop back when I worked as a parts guy. Weren't those HVAC units the same as GM used in some Cadillacs around the same period? Didn't last in the Caddys, either.

The day VAG makes a power window system that doesn't fail in either the switch, cable or motor is the first sign of the apocolypse.

Pretty interiors are nice to look at while you're waiting for the Roadside Assistance truck to come and get you. Like I said, nice designs, but poorly executed. I don't know that modern BMWs are any better, as they are also loaded to the gills with (IMO) unnecessary crap that will likely break, but pushing the idea that Audis are somehow the creme de le creme of German cars is misguided.

[winstontj]

Remember VW = the car of the people (roughly translated). You're not buying a premium product with VW and you should know that right off the bat. Of course some will want to kill me for that statement but honestly what does VW mean then? Audi is a step above with the 4-infinate rings symbolizing that their cars run on and on (ever notice how all major german cars have circles in the logos).

All 80's and early 90's cars had issues IMO. Corrados are GOOD cars, 90quattros are GOOD cars, but bottom line is we went from cars like the e21 & 2002 and tried to turn them into a refined vehicle like the e36. VW/Audi took the 4000/gti platforms and tried to turn them into the A4/modern GTI. So they had some hickups along the way - who cares?

I'd seriously look at your budget and ask yourself if it's worth junking the ix (or selling it) and shelling out cash for a new car. I bet that you can spend $2,000 on your IX and it'll be like new. You still havent' mentioned if you are mechaniclly inclined OR what's really wrong with the IX. Quattro is an odd beast but the FWD audis are not too bad. I'd either stick with a 4000q or a LATE 1993 or 1994 90csQ just because it will be most like your current IX. Bottom line is you should take the time to seek out a vehicle that has been well taken care of and if you have to pay a premium for it.

I searched for many months for my current e30. It litterally took us about 8 months to find it. In a heartbeat I would have paid $500-$700 to have a car shipped from CA if it was the right one. I ended up finding one locally but still I didn't compromise. The PO is an avid BMWCCA member, racer (s38 platform m5/m6) and took very good care of the car. VWAG junkies are just as crazy as us propellor heads so take your time and seek out a solid, rust free, clean, never been hit, well maintained car.

Can you turn a wrench? What's wrong with the IX? $1,000 isn't a lot to spend to buy parts & a case of beer for 3-5 friends to help you fix it up over a long weekend.

[ddavidv]

Remember VW = the car of the people (roughly translated). You're not buying a premium product with VW and you should know that right off the bat. Of course some will want to kill me for that statement but honestly what does VW mean then? Audi is a step above with the 4-infinate rings symbolizing that their cars run on and on (ever notice how all major german cars have circles in the logos).

Not so much.
Volkswagen did indeed mean "people's car", but I'd hardly say the VWs of today are the same caliber as the Type 1. Even the least expensive Golf (or Rabbit, if we must) is light years better than any of the entry level cars sold by Suzuki, Kia, etc.
Ironically, Audi in Europe is not as highly respected a nameplate as you may think; VW actually carries a bit more cachet as I understand it.
The 4 rings symbolize the union of four distinct brands into the Auto Union back before WW II. DKW, Audi, Wanderer, and Horch. They do not have anything to do with the Olympics or eternal running. :loco:
The rest of your post, however, I think you nail it pretty well.

[trent]

Like pool floaties? for kids?

Exactly, what do you think "Quattro" is? :)

[trent]

I know this is a BMW forum and all, but take a trip to your local dealer and just check a new generation of cars out. I've driven probably 80% of cars BMW has to offer and some MB cars also, also attended BMW and MB "Test drive/charity events when you can pick almost any car they offer and drive it w/o a sales person and most lower BMW and MB models feel very cheap inside and boring to drive compared to even to a lowly A4. I've had a 03 VW and 04 VW before, and fit and finish doesn't even begin to compare, it's that much better. Even though the car is probably close to 3700lbs+ it drives and feels like a much lighter car, hence I was able to toss it around autox course like it was a smaller car and had times better than lighter/nimbler cars out there..

Dood, nobody is compairing HOW they drive or the interiors. I agree with the statement above, at least you have a pimp interior to hang out in while you are sitting on the side of the road.

[dirty30]

Exactly, what do you think "Quattro" is? :)

HAHAHA you got me there. 80+ mph down a snow covered gravel road isn't any fun anyways.

:b

[Jean]

Dood, nobody is compairing HOW they drive or the interiors. I agree with the statement above, at least you have a pimp interior to hang out in while you are sitting on the side of the road.

LOL!!! I actually want to sell the audi and get an M Coupe instead, that's the car I should have bought when I sold my r32. ghey i know.