DRC

That was true in the 70s & 80s...especially the 70s! I had 2 100LS's and they were both experiences from hell. The first 100LS ('74) died in the middle of a busy intersection the day I bought it and it was downhill from there. Discovered the battery was under the back seat, then brakes, engine, steering, you name it. Then I got a Fox and it actually held up pretty well but just too small for a musician carrying equipment. So stupid me bought another 100LS ('75) because I liked the way they looked (kind of a poor man's Mercedes at the time). I remember thinking I couldn't possibly get 2 lemons in a row...could I? Not only did this one have similar problems but caught on fire while driving it. That was it for Audi. My next dumb move was replacing the last 100LS with a Fiat 131, although it wasn't quite as bad as the Audis. Since then I've had a wonderful Peugeot 504 that I traded at 200K for an '84 Subaru wagon (spent a lot of time in Anchorage, AK at the time), '95 Honda Accord EX 5 speed sedan (best car I've ever owned) and now the 2000 A4Q (need automatic due to left knee injury windsurfing).

Audi has come a long way and reliability is vastly improved according to testimonials from friends and overall ratings. And back in the 70s, Audi didn't have 3 years free maintenance. I really like the A4, it fits my needs the best of any car I test drove, and only time will tell if I've made a good choice as to reliability. But then no car is perfect and ANY new car is a crap shoot. Drive what you like and best fits your needs and don't worry about what other people say.

Jude

I am also going back to BMW. Actually have an A6. I know this is not the right forum but just tot I shared my view.

I really like the A6 very much. It is such a heartbreak to part with it. However, the list of problems is fantastic. All electrical except for the stupid low bumper that keeps geting ripped off when I park. The fuel tank sensor forget it. If I believed it I would have never have to top up.

Will I ever come back to Audi? Defintely yes. Maybe if the next A6 has solved all these problems and also if Audi parts become cheaper. In my country Audi parts cost 1.5 to 2 times more than BMW parts(Which are also not very cheap compared to MB part).

Ivan

avantster

Re: A friend in high school bought a used '83 4k and it burst into flames from an electrical fire

cheff

In the late 70's & 80's the Audi was hardly more than a re-badged, overpriced VW. I remember opening the hood of a new 4000 in '86 and seeing an engine that looked almost identical to my '78 VW Dasher's! The VW's of that era were plagued with electrical problems, and in general reliability was probably worse than American cars of the time. I think Audi has distanced themselves somewhat from VW over the last decade, but these memories die hard.