5 Best/Worst Aspects of Owning Audis
We gathered the five best and the five worst parts of being an Audi owner.
Intro
Owning and driving an Audi automobile can be a special experience. The company has made some truly outstanding automobiles over the years. Whether your priority is speed or luxury the chances are good that you will find an Audi to meet your needs. However, life is full of ups and downs and so is the Audi ownership experience. We put together a list of the five best and the five worst aspects to Audi ownership. If you are a prospective owner this list will help you prepare for what you can expect. If you are a current Audi owner we suspect that many of these will ring true for you.
Worst #5 – People Asking Why You Didn’t Buy a BMW/Mercedes (Less Prestige)
Everyone has an opinion, and they are all too willing to share it with you. If you roll up your driveway in a beautiful new A6 sedan your neighbor will come over to check it out. They will like it, and then ask you why you just didn’t buy a Mercedes. Some folks are all about brand names and in their minds Mercedes and even BMW have more prestige that comes with their badges. For those that are all about trying to impress the Joneses an Audi might not be “good enough” to do it. But for those of us are looking to buy an excellent car we know that Audi can deliver.
Best #5 – Beautiful Styling
Audi builds beautiful vehicles. Both inside and out Audi typically leads the automotive industry in design. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course, but you would be hard pressed to find someone that doesn’t think an Audi is a great looking vehicle. And this has been the case for years. Even if you are looking at a ten- or fifteen-year-old Audi, you will be driving a good-looking ride.
Worst #4 – Expensive Volkswagen Perception
Those same people that ask you why you didn’t buy a Mercedes might also hit you with this one. They might say something like “you know this is really just a Volkswagen, right?” Is there parts sharing between VW and Audi? Sure, there is. But that is common throughout the industry, and it shouldn’t really matter at all. Folks sometimes like to just throw comments out there like this just to be annoying. Ignore them and enjoy your Audi.
Best # 4 – Advanced Technology
Audi is cutting edge in their design and in their technology. Heigh-adjustable suspensions. Cars that can literally lean into corners. Push-button drift mode. Interior lighting. Audi Virtual Cockpit. Some manufacturers still don’t offer things the way Audi does. So if you want the greatest in tech, you are going to want to drive an Audi.
Worst #3 – Less Sporty Compared to Corporate Siblings
Audi is geared more towards luxury and comfort than sportiness and handling. That may be exactly what you want, in which case all is good. But compared to the Porsche model siblings the Audi models just don’t have quite the same performance threshold. The Macan will outhandle the Q5, the Cayenne will outhandle the Q7. You might not care, and you will pay through the nose for that Porsche performance. But, if your top priority is handling, the Audi can be lacking.
Best #3 – Quattro / Rally Heritage
Audi changed the automotive landscape with the quattro all-wheel drive system. It started with the Ur‑quattro in 1980. It was originally to be a low-volume vehicle but high demand for it forced Audi to make it a regular production model. Audi quattro vehicles dominated rally racing and the system has been part of Audi vehicles ever since. Plenty of cars today have some form of all-wheel drive but the Audi quattro started the revolution. Owning an Audi ties you to that heritage.
Worst #2 – Checkered History (Dieselgate, Unintended Acceleration)
Unfortunately, Audi has suffered a few black eyes over the years. And even though some of them may not be deserved they still linger in some folks minds. There was the infamous unintended acceleration fiasco back in the 1980s. That was mostly hogwash that the media tried to blow up into a story. But it damaged the Audi reputation. More recently there was the dieselgate scandal where some Audi TDI engines were using illegal software designed to cheat emissions testing. Jobs were lost, and billions in fines had to be paid. The scandal had far-reaching implications throughout the automotive industry, and it took some of the shine off the Audi badge.
Best #2 – Price Advantage Over German Rivals
Most folks see BMW and Mercedes as the main German rivals to Audi. And while those companies can certainly make excellent cars, they will typically be more expensive. With an Audi you get a high-quality German vehicle that costs thousands less than you would spend on a rival vehicle.
Worst #1 – Reliability and Maintenance Costs
Buying an Audi over a BMW or Mercedes may save you money up front. But maintaining and repairing an Audi is going to likely cost you just as much. That is not to say Audi doesn't make reliable cars. But they are advanced and complex machines that are going to cost you a pretty penny to keep on the road as the years go by. That should not keep you from buying and enjoying an Audi. But you should be prepared for it as you pile on the miles.
Best #1 – Performance
Audi makes some incredible performance cars. The R8 of course sits at the top, although 2023 marks the final year of that model. But Audi has an entire line of “RS” models that can satisfy any performance enthusiast. Even the diminutive Audi RS 3 will rocket you to 60 mph in just over 3 seconds and get you to a top speed of over 180 mph if you choose the Performance edition. Throw some snow tires on it and the Audi quattro system will help the car perform like that in any weather. Audi builds some stunning performance cars, and you need to drive one to understand just how special they are.