gunsmoker

It takes an outrageous statement to start a discussion that is worth following. Apart from that, this forum has been pretty boring this year - we said and repeated what was there to say about the control arms, the oil consumption, the APR tune, the Conti DWS tires, a couple of retrofits, promoted the sport package better than any Audi dealer. What else did we talk about... yes, the 2012 changes - JonDeutsch ordered the coveted keyless entry after all!

Not many memorable discussions like the one where the OP said that most Audis were leased because they were unreliable or the one about how many more elephants you could cram into a GTI, or the one about how good the RWD Bimmer is in the snow (with winter tires)...

S5nirvana

You ever own a Jetta? We've had a few and the rear discs are certainly a weak spot on them. Drums will last longer!! And cost less to service. Important for people looking for cars in that price range.

nirad

There isn't a single VW on the same platform as the A4.

With the exception of the Touareg, all VW models are on transverse platforms, which is completely different from the modular longitudinal platform of the A4. The 2.0T engine in the A4 is also distinct from the ones used in transverse platform applications. Transmissions are completely different as well.

The only Audi sold in America which is truly on a VW platform is the A3. The TT also rides on a highly-modified version of that platform, but the extensive use of aluminum essentially render it a unique architecture for that model.

kikikuku

I do justttt that (Jetta S) ^_^......that's why i'm here scouting for my 1st audi.

jperryrocks

If you sit inside a passat and an A4, they are nothing alike. The MMI dash and layout are totally different.

Only Audi has the 211hp / 258 torque motor. The V dubs are still 200 / 207.

VW has taken a step back with the current Jetta and Passat. Maybe VW did that on purpose. They cetainly cheapened the cars and they are going after a differnt market.

The CC is a very nice car and I can see a quality difference with materials vs some of the other v dubs. The GTI is a very nice car for the money as well.

av_audi

They did a complete reversal of strategy. They pushed upmarket with the B5/5.5 Passat and did very well. But then they got greedy: (1) The Phaeton was a complete flop in the U.S. (2) they eliminated the best selling lower trim Passats until the point of entry got to $28K. They basically shot themselves in the foot.

The B5 was such a success because it was a niche option between the Camcords and BMW/Audis. When the entry point of the Passat got too close to the latter, the car lost its appeal.

Now they are pushing in the other direction for the U.S. market. They are going downmarket, more so with the Jetta than the Passat. Of course, they could have instead just brought back the lower trim levels of the nicer European versions of these cars.

gator232

For what it's worth, I drove the Q7 TDI, Touareg TDI and the Porsch Cayenne and if I did not know they were built on the same platform I would not have guessed. The handling and driving experience are totally unlike each other.

Gear Junky

I've read some nonsense in my day but to make a statement that Audi are just glorified Volkswagens is BS over the highest order. No car in the VW lineup has it's engine mounted the same way as your A4 and before someone says I mean cars not SUVs.

Yes the A3 and Golf share lots in common as does the A1 and Polo but the rest of the Audi lineup is unique with nothing to do with VW in anyway and even the A1 and A3 both drive and feel different to the equivalent VW. His statement is jealousy, nothing more and nothing less. I bet he drove either a BMW or a Merc.

P.S.
If you need convincing then go drive the Passat and see for yourself if your car is just a glorified Passat.

no cell

It's absolutely true. you should sell your car immediately before you embarrass yourself being seen driving it.