Audi Problems

If you want to succeed in the prestige car business in this country you need to field a competitive mid-sized model.BMW gets by on the back of its 3-Series, 'Benz depends on its C-Class, and Audi its A4, so when it comes time to renew these models there's an understandable level of nervousness among executives of the respective companies.It was the turn of the Audi execs to feel the heat when the company revealed its new A4 in 2008. The company had established the credibility of the A4 over previous generations, but knew the on-going success of the brand depended heavily on the eighth generation model. The previous generation fell somewhere between the BMW and 'Benz. It didn't handle as well as the 3-Series and wasn't as comfy as the C-Class, but the B8 A4 was improved on most fronts, which was needed to keep pace with the competition.Unlike its rivals the Audi is predominantly front-wheel drive with some premium four-wheel drive models. There was quite a selection of petrol and diesel engines, ranging from a 1.8-litre direct injection turbo four boasting 118 kW and 250 Nm to a 3.2-litre V6 petrol with 195kW and 330Nm powering the range-  topping four-wheel driver.The base four came standard with a six-speed manual; the diesels were hooked up to a CVT, and the 3.2 V6 to a dual-clutch auto. With its engine moved back a little and the steering rack shunted forward the A4's handling was improved, although it was still not quite in the 3-Series league.The ride was also found to be a little too hard for the class, especially when stacked up against the C-Class. Inside, the cabin was well fitted out and nicely refined, with little road or wind noise to upset the inner peace. The seats were comfortable and supportive, and there was plenty of head and legroom for those in the front and the back.As befits a car in it class the A4 came with a decent list of gear, like climate-control air, auto headlights and wipers, leather trim, fog lights, alloy wheels, 6.5-inch colour info screen and a split-  fold rear seat.IN THE SHOPThe eighth gen A4 is relatively new to the market, so there's little to report in the way of niggles or serious flaws. Right now it's important to find a car that has been well cared for and serviced according to the book.Most on sale will be fresh out of a lease so should have been maintained, but check for a service record anyway. Oil changes are important with modern engines so make sure the oil and filter have been replaced at the correct intervals.VW and Audi engines tend to consume a little oil, which makes it important to keep an eye on the oil level at regular intervals. The oil usage is minor and not an issue, but it has caught some people out before when they never bother to lift the bonnet. Make the usual checks for panel damage, that's poor panel alignment and mismatched paint etc.Overall the A4 is a sound vehicle and not one to give serious trouble.IN A CRASHFive stars says it all, there's no higher rating available. To get the top tick of approval the A4 had eight airbags, ABS brakes, traction control and stability control.UNDER THE PUMPThe choice of petrol and diesel engines gives buyers plenty of choice when it comes to fuel consumption. The best of the bunch is the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel at 5.8 L./100 km; the thirstiest is the 3.2-litre V6 that Audi claimed would do 9.0 L/  100 km. All petrol engines required 95-octane premium unleaded fuel.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $50,900 to $88,500Engine: 1.8-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol, 118 kW/250 Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel, 105 kW/320 Nm; 2.7-litre V6 turbodiesel, 140 kW/400 Nm; 3.2-litre V6, 195 kW/330 NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, 8-speed auto, 6-speed auto. FWD and AWDEconomy: 7.2 L/100 km (1.8 TFSI), 5.8 L/100 km (2.0 TDI), 6.9 (2.7 TDI), 9.0 L./100 km (3.2 V6 Q), 7.4 L/100 km (2.0 TDI Q), 6.9 L/100 km (3.0 TDI Q)Body: 4-door sedan, 4-door wagonVariants: 1.8TFSI, 2.0TDI, 2.7TDI, 3.2-litre FSI Quattro, 2.0 TDI Quattro, 3.0 TDI QuattroSafety: 5-star ANCAP.Not as sporty as the 3-Series, not as comfortable as the C-Class, the A4 fits somewhere in between. Worthy of a look.

Not so long ago you would have been laughed at if you'd suggested that your aspiration was to own a small car, but that's how far the market has matured in a very short time.Such is the maturity in our market that when Audi launched the A3 in 2004 it was quite open about its ambition for it to be a small car people would aspire to own.Audi said upfront that it wasn't out to become the volume leader in the segment; its ambition for the A3 was for it to be the benchmark in the class.MODEL WATCHThe A3 was the entry model in the fast growing Audi range and that put it up against cars like the BMW 1-Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Volvo S40 and even the Alfa 147. Although it looked less aggressive than its predecessor, and was 55 mm longer, 30 mm wider and 10 mm lower, there was still a familiarity about it that reminded you of the old model.While the A3's looks were underwhelming there was big news under the skin with a number of innovations including new suspension, electro- mechanical steering, a new and innovative direct injection engine and a direct shift gearbox.The engine range was made up of three petrol engines and a turbo- diesel. It kicked off with a 1.6-litre single overhead camshaft four- cylinder engine that produced 75 kW at 5600 revs and 148 Nm at 3800 revs and ended with a 3.2-litre V6 that offered 184 kW at 6300 revs and 320 Nm at 2500-3000 revs, but the real interest was in the 2.0- litre FSi engine and the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel that fitted in between the bookend engines.The FSi was a direct injection engine where the fuel was vaporized in the combustion chamber and not in the intake manifold, as is the case with most petrol engines. Audi claimed significant improvements in response, economy and efficiency for the new engine, which put out 110 kW at 6000 revs and 200 Nm at 3500 revs and promised 0-100 km/h sprinting in 9.1 seconds. The turbo diesel produced 103 kW at 4000 revs and 320 Nm at 1750-2500 revs.The 1.6-litre engine was available with a five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed tiptronic auto, FSi buyers could choose between a six- speed manual and six-speed auto, while diesel buyers got a DSG sequential-shift manual shift six-speed.The DSG was an innovative gearbox that had two clutches working in tandem for smooth, seamless shifting. While one clutch was engaged the other one preselected the next higher gear; then when it was time to shift up one clutch disengaged and the other automatically engaged bringing the higher gear into play.It works much like an auto 'box without the losses that come with an automatic transmission, and without the sloppiness that characterized the shifting of most other automated manual shift gearboxes.Audi offered two models in the A3 range, the entry level Attraction and the uprange Ambition. The Attraction came with a choice of the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre FSi engines, along with 16-inch alloy wheels, cloth trim, split-system air, eight-speaker CD sound, stability control and traction control. The Ambition was available with the 2.0-litre FSi engine and the turbo-diesel. Perched above them all was the Quattro Ambition with the 3.2-litre V6, all-wheel drive and DSG transmission.IN THE SHOPOverall the A3 appears to be holding up well since its launch in 2004. The things most reported by mechanics are oil leaks and brake wear, the latter a common issue raised by owners of most European cars. Check for a service record to make sure the oil has been regularly changed; old oil can be a killer of engines.IN A CRASHWith front airbags, head and side airbags the A3 had plenty of protection in a crunch, while standard ABS braking, ESP stability control, and traction control it was also packed with the electronics to help avoid the crunch. When tested by ANCAP the A3 was given a four-star rating.UNDER THE PUMPThe turbo-diesel is the hero when it comes to fuel consumption with a claimed average of 5.7 L/100 km. Of the petrol engines the 2.0-litre FSi sets the pace with a claimed average of 7.7 L/100km, while the 1.6-litre has an average of 8.1 L/ 100 km and the V6 9.9 L/100 km. When Cars Guide tested it the 2.0-litre FSi Attraction averaged 8.9 L/ 100 km.OWNER SAYSThe only thing Aldo Scodella doesn't like about his 2007 Audi A3 is the cost of servicing it. It costs a "fortune" he says. It's a 1.8- litre TFSi and he's done 20,500 km so far without any trouble to report, but says he's still getting used to the hill-start assist and is having trouble getting away smoothly.LOOK FORUninspiring looksGood build qualityFSi performanceDiesel economyRobust and reliable.THE BOTTOM LINE: A well equipped, smooth and advanced small car that grows on you.

The mid-sized prestige market has been a very lucrative one in the past 20 years or so, particularly for European carmakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and more latterly Audi with its A6. Audi has been aggressively, and successfully, chasing market share and the A6 has been an important weapon in its campaign to overthrow its rivals.The most obvious change to the A6 introduced in 2006 was the bold new grille, but that change alone said plenty about the model and the brand's intent. In one fell swoop the A6, and the brand, took on a more aggressive, in your face look. It emerged from the pack and said 'look at me'. If the grille was the centrepiece of the overhaul, there were other changes to the body as well. Again, given BMW's move to more sharply defined, chiselled lines, the smooth, sweeping lines of the Audi were appealing to the many buyers who found the BMW looks challenging.The new A6 was larger than the previous model, with more cabin space and a larger boot, made even more useful thanks to a folding rear seat. The interior was nicely designed and finished, with comfortable and supportive seats, and everything else you could wish for in the segment. When first launched the A6 had a selection of engines ranging from a 2.4-litre V6 through to a 4.2-litre V8, along with a new 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6.But in no time at all more engines were introduced, including a new fuel-efficient 2.0-litre TFSi unit. The transmission choices were a six-speed automatic with tiptronic shift control and a smooth CVT continuously variable automatic gearbox, and there was a choice of front-wheel drive or Audi's popular Quattro all-wheel drive system.Not surprisingly given its price the A6 came with plenty of luxury features, like leather and wood trim, CD sound, power seats, sat-nav and a raft of others. On the road the A6 was a smooth operator aimed more at giving the executive a smooth ride than a driving thrill. It wasn't as sporty as a BMW 5-Series, but that was Audi's claimed point of difference. Even though it didn't pretend to be as sporty as its main rival it still displayed a fine handling balance with a reassuring neutral poise that dealt corners with a minimum of fuss. The ride, too, was blissfully smooth and supple on all surfaces, and bumps and broken pavement was soaked up with consummate ease.IN THE SHOPIt's European, which means it comes with technology that can  sometimes be temperamental, and parts and repairs can be expensive. Before buying a second hand Audi it's a good idea to have it checked  by someone with experience in the brand, someone who can pick the faults and advise on what could go wrong. It's also well worthwhile to be on good terms with an independent Audi specialist who can not only expertly service your car, but also source more affordable parts if and when needed. Look for oil leaks around the engine and coolant leaks around the cooling system, check the service record, and inspect for poor crash repairs.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $80,600 to $145,900Engines: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol; 125 kW/280 Nm 2.4-litre V6 petrol; 130 kW/230 Nm 2.8-litre V6 petrol; 154 kW/280 Nm 3.2-litre V6 petrol; 188 kW/330 Nm 4.2-litre V8 petrol; 246 kW/420 Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel; 165 kW/450 NmTransmissions: 6-speed auto, CVT, FWD, AWDEconomy: 8.5 L/100 km (2.0T), 9.8 L/100 km (2.4), 9.7 L/100 km (2.8),  9.9 L/100 km (3.2), 13.2 L/100 km (4.2), 8.3 L/100 km (3.0 TDi).Body: sedan, wagonVariants: Base, Avant, and Quattro Safety: 5-star ANCAPVERDICTSmooth driving, smooth riding, well-equipped alternative to the BMW with a smooth new look.

You only have to look around you while parked in the daily traffic grind to know that Audi has made great strides in recent times; the multi-ringed badge of the German prestige brand is now a familiar sight on our roads. Where once Audis had a reputation for smoky engines and rusty bodywork they're now cars people