1998 Audi A4 User Reviews

This Car Is A Tank, If You Can Pay For It — I "inheirited" this car when I was 18 years old. This was my mother's car since new, and he didnt want her commuting in a then-7-year-old car with 104,000 miles. So for her 50th birthday, he bought her a Mini Cooper S (which, by the way, is fantastic to drive). I took over this car, and my previous car, my beloved 1987 Jeep Wrangler, went back to my cousin because the insurance cost was unbelievably high. I had been driving this car since I was a junior in high school because, before I got the Jeep, this was usually the car I drove because my older sister had priority over the car that we shared. I learned how to drive stick, and she didn't, so I would always get to borrow Mom's car. She's a beautiful 1998 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro that my parents bought new when we moved back to the US from France. My mom wanted a stick shift, and my dad wanted AWD, a combination that was exclusively provided by Audi in the late 1990s. The 2.8-litre V6 engine was updated that year, going from a single-overhead-camshaft (12-valve) configuration to a dual-overhead-camshaft with 5-valves-per-cylinder (for a total of 30 valves) and variable valve timing, which boosted output from 172 to 190 horsepower. This particular Audi was bought off the lot of Pray Audi in Greenwich, CT and came equipped with a standard 5-speed manual transmission. Optional extras included: leather interior, 6-disc CD changer, and optional Hibiscus Red Mica metallic paint. All for $30k. You can't buy a base FWD A4 for that nowadays. It also came with a free 3 year/50,000 miles service plan which included a loaner car, which is also something Audi doesn't offer anymore. Now, 10 years (and 9 Northeast winters) later, the car is still with us. It's a tick shy of 130,000 miles, and as a testament to its German engineering, it still feels very much as solid as day 1: not a squeak or rattle can be heard on the road, unlike the various American and Japanese cars that I drive at my place of employment (Enterprise Rent-a-Car). This is surprising given the fact that for the first 104,000 miles, the car was beat on by my mother; thankfully, the Mini hasn't been driven all that much to have been given such a beating. It has also taught both me and my brother how to drive stick, and is still on its original clutch, which is surprising given that its an AWD car with 130,000 miles. More praise can be extended to the interior, which is simple and remains in original condition with routine cleaning. The all-weather quattro system attributes to nimble handling in most conditions, and is very handy in the snow. The highway ride is spot-on: it rides like a bigger A6 (it has the standard suspension). It surprisingly has handled the many roadtrips we've thrown at it, and is a very comfortable traveller. Now, my relationship with the car hasn't always been filled with sunshine. Because of the car's rough history with my mother, when I inheirited the car, it came with a faulty Mass-air-flow sensor, something that has been replaced on the car 3 times since I've taken over it. The wheel bearings are an Audi sore-spot, and despite having replaced the rears at 90,000 miles, they are once again beginning to make noise not even 40,000 miles later. This past fall, there was a major service done at 126,000 miles where the technicians diagnosed many oil leaks (among other things), and recommended that the car have a valve job done because it was burning oil. The other repairs were too expensive, so the valve job was not done. The exhaust system has a few leaks here and there, but the rest of the system is still in good condition. DIY maintenance has been fairly decent: due to Audi's notoriety amongst driving enthusiasts for having its engine mounted forward of the front axle, the oil drain plug and filter are conveniently located right behind the bumper. Other nitpicks: performance has decreased noticeably in 10 years (can't keep up with my friend's 2000 BMW 528i which has similar power, more weight, and an automatic tranny), trim panels have started to fall off (which i've noticed happens to other A4s of the same vintage), electronic gremlins (seat belt/headlight warning buzzer stopped working so I sometimes leave my lights on; radio works intermittently, sunroof pops open sometimes). Overall, I appreciate the car for what it is. My parents have picked up the maintenance tab; I otherwise wouldn't be able to afford this car. From a personal standpoint, I need a car that's rugged and simple to work on (ie cheap), something that I won't worry about when I haul all my gear around or tow a 500 lb. race car, or carry a couple kegs (hey, I'm a college student). This car is too nice (even at 10 years old) to be able to do any of that, which is why a Jeep Liberty or Wrangler is more appropriate for me. But if I had a legit job, or needed to impress people, then this car is tremendous value, if you don't abuse it and you're able to pay attention to the upkeep.

Great Car! High Maintenance Though. — This has by far been the most capable, most satisfying, and most technologically advanced vehicle I have ever owned. It is solid, well thought out and very well built. However, keeping it in top condition is not cheap. This is a maintenance intensive car, and while most parts are reasonable in price, the overall cost of frequent maintenance and service can be quite expensive. The 1.8 Turbo engine has been troublesome to Audi. The original timing belt change interval was reduced from 90,000 miles, to 60,000 miles by Audi after numerous belt failures resulted in destroyed engines. Unfortunately, mine was part of that number. Thankfully I had a good warranty and a VERY good dealership (Carousel Audi in Minneapolis). This car is a blast to drive. Very solid on the road. And with the AWD, the car has excellent grip in rain and snow (it's outstanding in snow), and it even resists pulling out of the lane when the wheels on only one side of the car hit water puddles. Overall I would recommend Audi and the A4. Just be aware of the cost of ownership and if you own a car with the 1.8 Turbo engine... have your timing belt changed regularly without fail!

I Want Another. — The Audi Quattro system is second to none. I spent the entire winter in the Rocky Mountains and drove though all weather conditions. The interior styling is all quality with fine leather and wood grain. On long drives you never experience fatigue because the seats are so comfortable and supportive. Off the line acceleration is not too impressive but there is plenty of power. At highway speed there enough power to overtake most cars. I have always been a big fan of the German design both on asthetics and engineering. Not one thing is missing in this car. There are automatic windows all the way around not just the driver. Climate control is very effective and keeps everyone comfortable.

Primary Use: Commuting to work

Its A Great Car Overall — This car is a really comfortable car. Its not the best in acceleration but it performs well. driving at high speeds the car is real steady. I haven't spent any big bucks on it yet. and without any apperance mods the car still draws some eyes with a nice wash and wax.

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

Oettinger — performance and handling both outstanding. Maintenance costly....:-(