A new car to the family

[washernoob]

Well we sold the 1961 thunderbird, and traded in the 2003 Ford Expedition, and got this pretty little car.

This is a 2005 Audi A4 3.0 Cabriolet. Its a very fun and cute car. I was quite impressed with the quality of the build.

Has 32,000 miles on her.

 

[washernoob]

Rear.

 

[whirlcool]

OOoohhhh watch it with that Audi. Most of them are expensive maintenance hogs.
I have never known anyone with a reliable Audi. Of everyone I have known that had them they ended up spending $$$ after $$$ on repairs.

Other than that it's a nice looking and handling car!

 

[a440]

Nice

Great Car Brandon.
I have only driven Audi's and VW's since 1983. I have had about 25 different models. I have never had issues with any of them. Maintenance was very low in price compared to most cars.
The biggest maintenance price is the timing belt and water
pump and that is at 120,000 miles.
You will love it!
Brent

 

[rp2813]

I had the first generation of this vehicle, an '88 Audi 80.  Even today it would be able to pull off a handsome and contemporary look inside and out.  These cars are fun to drive and yours should serve you well if properly maintained.

 

[arbilab]

You SOLD a 1961 Thunderbird?? That was the last GOOD one. Hope you got a lot for it.

Good luck with the Audi. No offense, but I wouldn't have a German car if you gave it to me. Why? Oh, 8 Volkswagens from 1959 to 1982 that got substantially worse as they went along. The last one took 12 trips to the dealer and a factory rep who spoke German to get the initial problems out of it. It still always overheated on the freeway with the AC on. Never again.

 

[~sudsshane]

Congratulations!

On your Audi Purchase!

I have 2009 Audi A6, and I have to say it's the best car I have ever owned! They can be expensive to maintain, and I would suggest shopping around before using the dealer, unless it is an Audi Certified car. What ever you do, DO NOT run anything less than premium gas in the car as well.

As for Audi's not being reliable, that isn't the case with the Audi's made after 2004,2005 model year. The older models did have repair issues, but Audi seems to have worked out all the kinks with the new models. Audi is doing so well as a brand, they are actually taking market share from BMW. Your car has very low miles, so you should be ok.

Best of Luck!

 

[~sudsshane]

German Vehicles.

Dude, 1982 was 30 years ago...Seriously, don't you think VW has improved leaps and bounds since then? We are a BMW, Audi house and wouldn't buy anything other than German cars. Nothing beats them IMO.

 

[rp2813]

I'm with you, Shane

I loved my '97 Passat and put 140K miles on it with no serious mechanical issues and it never left me stranded.  I really wish Dave hadn't traded it in on a <span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde;">gas hog</span> 2005 Audi Allroad, a car that helped give Audi the bad rep it deserved during that period, and one that I knew in my gut would offer an array of catastrophic mechanical failures.  I jumped at the chance to unload that thirsty pig.

 

In late 1989 I bought a '78 Audi Fox, which was basically a VW Dasher, and that was the tightest, super nimble, and virtually trouble-free car I have ever owned.  I'd leave traffic behind when signals would turn green, and that was with a stick and I'm not a leadfoot off the line either.  I bought it with 119K miles on it.  It was in great shape and handled so well that I never even looked at the odometer until after the test drive. Never have I had a car before or since, even a Benz, that had such a solid undercarriage and was so rattle-free.  It was supposed to be temporary wheels after my '76 Fox wagon got totalled, but I hung onto it until 160K and then handed it off to Dave's daughter for her first car.  She called it a hooptie, but being older and wiser now, she talks about what a great car that was compared to some of the others she's had since.

 

[firedome]

Very pretty car

my cousin has an '08 one and likes it, hubby's a doc so they maintain it well. My sis has an '06 A6 bought new and also dealer maintained, 80k miles now and nothing but expensive and troublesome, she's ready to trade it. Different model though.

 

[arbilab]

Oh, the buses, bugs, and Rabbits had their charms and practicalities, it's just that they were headed the wrong direction. Example, from 64 to 67 VW went from cast pedals and throwout fork to welded ones and I had to replace one of each when the welds broke.

I sold the 82 for an 86 Celica and I'm still driving it. Besides normal maintenance--tires, batteries, one set of brakes, 3 taillights--the only repair it has required was a coldstart thermostat and a compressor outlet O-ring. No offense, but there has never been and will never be a German car that will run 26 years and only require 2 parts replaced. It didn't even leak oil until 5 years ago.

 

[twintubdexter]

Obviously when you buy a car like that Audi you're going for flash & flair. Always remember...it's much better to look bad in a convertible than look good in a station wagon.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Very nice car that's fun to drive.  I hope you have better luck with yours than my boss had with his A4 convertible.  His was always in the dealer shop for something, and they never did get the electric headrest to work right.

 

Ken D.