A4/S4/RS4 Question on A4 Reliability & Interior Quality

[metalblaze]

Hi,

I am a newbie in this forum and a been silent spectator till now. I do not know if this question has been asked before, but I am curious to learn about reviews/comments on A4's reliability in comparison with the competition (3-series, C-class specifically).

Also, I'd like to know whether A4 is "considered" a class leader in interior quality for its category? I guess this is quite subjective, but I'd still like to hear logical opinions.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

- M


PS. If these issues have been discussed before (which I believe have been), I'd appreciate if you can point me to appropriate discussion threads/articles.

 

[SDNR]

Hello metalblaze, cheers for your first post.

In my opinion, the A4 has the best interior of the three cars. Audi is considered by many to be the market leader for interior design. Of course, some people do think the Audi interiors are boring and ultra conservative -- that is also a reasonable point. Audi does not set out to wow people with design. I have not seen the C class' interior first hand yet, so I cannot comment on the build quality, but IMO it is not a particularly beautiful interior. The BMW is good but is a little bit flimsy in a couple of places.

 

[Yperion]

Haven't seen the new C class but compared to the previous model A4's interior is better build and more solid, the materials and ergonomics are also top notch.

BMW E92 has well build interior also but i would give the A4 a slight edge in build quality and material quality.

Note here that i have a B6 A4 for 3 1/2 years and after 42,000 tough kilometers (Greek roads suck , pleanty of potholes and imperfections) you can't hear any rattle at all. The plastic parts are all in excellent shape.

 

[bmer]

I agree with Rob and Yannis. The A4 has the best interior quality when compared to E90/E91 3 Series and W204 C-Class. (Although I think E92 3 Series Coupé is on par with the A4).

 

[metalblaze]

Thank you all for your inputs -- much appreciated. At present, I am also seriously considering Lexus IS 250 AWD (haven't test-driven yet). I know Lexus is recognized for its reliability, but I would like to know your opinions about driving dynamics & interior quality.

Cheers,
- M

 

[Dante_JoseCuervo]

Well, personally I'd go with an A4. My sister has an IS 250 AWD, and while it's a nice car.. it's not like a german car. I mean, you can drive it of course, but it's a bit understeering and the gearbox is very slow shifting in manual mode. The big plus is the fact that it's a toyota, so you know that you're probably not gonna have any problems with it. On the other hand, it's not gonna be as fun to drive as an audi or a bmw.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I simply do not understand how the new A4's interior can be said to be superior to the 3-er and C-Class. I found it entirely unimpressive. Quite poor in fact.

Rob you say you have not spent time in the C's interior or seen it first hand, have you done so for the A4? Judging the A4 by the pictures is hugely decieving. It photographs far far better then it actually is. The entire opposite is the case for the C.

Sure Audi interiors were once outstanding benchmarks, for a small car my A3 is excellent, but the new interiors are not as good as the old ones.

Here is a review I did not long ago:
http://www.germancarforum.com/pit-g...edes-c-class-vs-audi-a4-help-us-choose-4.html

 

[Dante_JoseCuervo]

I'm curious about the reliability of the new A4, I mean I know it's not going to be a peugeot or an old lambo in terms of breaking down all the time, but I mean I have to wonder. Does anyone have any experiences with Audi's either good or bad in terms of the A4? Are they more prone to reliability issues than like a bimmer or what? I only ask this cause I'm looking into a new car soon, and I wanna know EVERYTHING about the car, aside from the test-drive

Ive found that it pays to do one's research and find out as much as they can when looking for a new car.

 

[SDNR]

Rob you say you have not spent time in the C's interior or seen it first hand, have you done so for the A4? Judging the A4 by the pictures is hugely decieving. It photographs far far better then it actually is. The entire opposite is the case for the C.

I have been in the A4 ...and sure it is not as good as the A6 (which I am very familar with) ...but to be honest, I wasn't really thinking much about it at the time.

I'll take your word for it that the C Class is superior

 

[Zafiro]

A4 has lost the edge in quality material among the competition, its not better anymore. E90 recently got a facelift and the quality materials has been improved according to the pressrelese. C-class interior is good but not fantastic.

This is what disturbed me the most, looks very cheap and plastic for an Audi.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

A4 has lost the edge in quality material among the competition, its not better anymore. E90 recently got a facelift and the quality materials has been improved according to the pressrelese. C-class interior is good but not fantastic.

This is what disturbed me the most, looks very cheap and plastic for an Audi.

Yes completely Just Me. The A4 felt cheap and hollow. The door panels are even made of a 'soft' foam that felt 'light' compared to the denser feeling materials used in the 3 and C.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I have been in the A4 ...and sure it is not as good as the A6 (which I am very familar with) ...but to be honest, I wasn't really thinking much about it at the time.

I'll take your word for it that the C Class is superior

LOL thats very kind of you Rob.

But seriously, If you've got some time you should check out the C-class's interior and A4's interior back to back. Just don't use the all black versions of either to judge them, as neither comes off particularly well in this colour.

I don't understand how you have not yet come accross a C's interior but have found the time to look at the A4. *tut tut*

 

[SDNR]

^ my stepmother has a 2008 A4 ...I was visiting her about a month ago.

 

[coolraoul]

Honestly the new A4 has lost everything in the interior department. Plastics are average, finish is average, and I find it quite messy. The previous Audis had sublime interior, really the best in class, this is no longer the case.

One thing I read in a German forum, is that the Audis use hard platic with a huge layer of soft material on it. Good-looking, but with time the soft-paint tends to fall and it looks ugly. BMW or Mercedes don't use it: if a plastic is soft, it's entirely soft; if a plastic is hard it is hard.

Also the buttons in the Audi don't feel very upscale, some parts are quite thin... I prefer the interior of an A3 to the one in the new A4.

The interior of the C-Class looks way better IRL than in pics. Yet the material of the dash is not the best you can get. However, the finish is impeccable, and every button feels heavy, the door have huge fixations and make a good old noise when closed.... Everything feels over-sized and build to last, it's very Mercedes. Very comfy too.

For me, the Audi has the worst interior of the three, the Beemer has a good interior, the C-Class the best quality.

Concerning the reliability, the C-Class seems absolutely bullet-proof, the Beemer very reliable, the Audi not so good. Some probs with the 3.2 V6, ans with the Common-rail 2.0l TDI, I heard, and some interior issues too...

The Lexus, I don't know. Sat inside once, the finish was quite impressive, but no room at the back, and some probs with the 220d. Very good car it seems, but not as good as the Germans in the comparos.

 

[SDNR]

Wow Amaury, you've sure made the Audi sound like crap

 

[Human]

Let me be honest and open. I am very particular and a pain in the a$$ when it comes to INTERIOR QUALITY and MATERIALS USED. I've owen a W202 C180; W203 C180 model year 2000; W203 C180 Kompressor; E46 325Ci; 120i 1er and X5 4.4i the latter two my wifes and myne. Audi's precieved quality looks good! But durable and absolute QUALITY and BUILD-TO-LAST interiors ARE THOSE OF BMW - QUARANTEED! I've seen a 2005 A8 interior belonging to my Nephew Adam Human - switch gear in middle console white not black no more = painted plastic = perceived quality. NOT IN A BMW. NO HARD PLASTICS IN BMW with the exeption - the 1 Ser (BMW knows that and resolve the problem partially with the 1er facelift)

 

[martinbo]

^ I agree with you. Whilst the visual and tactile quality of Audi's interiors is up there with BMW and Merc, the latter two have vastly more solid feeling interiors. Take the A6 for example: it's got lovely soft-touch surfaces and textures but a good wallop on the top of the dash reveals a very hollow sounding dash/bulkhead zone. It's like it's all a very expensive facade but underneath there's something altogether less substantial. I have never experienced this with an E60 or E90 and neither the current E-Class or new C-Class. Sure, some of the plastics in the BMW's are harder, rougher to the touch but they always come across as being solid. I can't say that for the Audis. Did I ever tell any of you how impressed I am with Merc's interior on the new C-Class? Rougher? Possibly. Tougher? Unquestionably!

 

[SDNR]

Now Where are the Audi boys

 

[martinbo]

LOL - great use of that highly appropriate popcorn emoticon Rob. Watch the kernels fly.

 

[Centurion]

The B7 A4 had top interior quality and was one of the cars which led to Audi getting praised for their interior quality. With the B8 they have taken a step back while Mercedes have made a giant leap forward. Having sat in both cars the A4 center console is built using cheap plastic materials rather than dense and rubbery plastic used in the B7.

On the other hand reviews have been good, so don't let the drop in interior quality turn you off completely.