I am trying to decide between a 2006 Audi A4 Quattro and a 2005 Acura TL. ?

Question

I have heard that Audis can have a lot of issues, but when I read some consumer reviews, it seems like you have to get a real lemon to experience that. I am trading in a 2001 Acura CL and have really liked having that car. It seems like Acuras are really reliable, but the Audi seems really nice as well. I like both equally looks-wise, but need some additional information about the reliability of an Audi.

Can anyone help with some additional knowledge about the history of the Audi and how reliable it is?

Answer 1

they are reliable when they are running right. your repair-maintance bill for a acura tl is going to be less than an audi especially one with quattro. example, radiator fan on an audi - common problem

take of whole front end of vehicle. headlight's, bumper, support, ext.

radiator fan on a tl - I do just that a radiator fan!

Answer 2

My brother has an '01 TT and hasnt had any reliability issues. Parts and trim have been his main expenses. Snow damage to the undercarriage aerodynamic pieces and headlight washers in the bumpers are costly.

I had a co-worker who traded her CL for a Jaguar and she missed the fuel mileage she used to have with the 2.2L. There will be that trade off when you move up to the V6 even with the 2.0T. Audi do have very nice interiors and the red dash is very cool. I've owned 3 Hondas and 3 VWs myself and have not had one bad experience with either product. I guess it comes down to trying something new. AWD or FWD take your pick.

Answer 3

As with all german cars, they will run perfectly while the warranty is still good. You will go to the dealer a few times with little electrical blips, and factory recalls and so forth, but once that warranty is done, forget it, the electrical will go crazy, the engine will make wierd noises. I cannot speak on the 2.0t in the new car since it hasn't been around long enough, but talk to any of the 1.8t owners and i can put money that 1 out of 3 of those guys have blown thier engine before hitting 50k miles, thank god i opted for the extended warranty, mines blew at around 60k, and the dealer had no excuse since they took care of my maintenance as well, so i got a free engine and turbo from audi.

Below i added a link to this years jd power and associates, dependability list, as you can see, lexus is the top brand when it comes to reliability (again), with acura not far behind. BUT if you were to lease an audi, i say go for it, the quattro is great for snowy winters, and like all VW's, audis have this wierd charm to them.

Answer 4

Audi A4 has one many awards for its reliability. Consult your consumer reports for this, compare it to the history of the acura TL. Also, if you life anywhere that has inclimate weather, you'll surely appreciate the all wheel drive that Audi has. Audi's warranty is 4yr/50k miles bumper to bumper, and you can purchase the additional extended warranty carrying it to 6yr/100k miles where you only pay $50 for service or visits for problems. I don't believe Acura offers this but there are probably many companies that will offer copy-cat warranties. Also, you must decide how long you'll want the car....most americans own a car for only 3-5 years before trading it in.

Answer 5

Your choice really depends on how well you take car of your car. If you neglect the Audi your going to have some rather large repair bills, where as if you neglect the Acura it doesnt really matter that much since Japanese cars are easier and cheaper to fix. The problems you hear are from people who treat their Audi like an old Ford and expect to just have to put gas in it and not worry about anything else.

If your not going to beat up your car I would recommend the Audi since its going to out perform the Acura, especially with its all wheel drive.

Answer 6

In the recent Consumer Reports Car Buying Issue, the Audis consistently got the highest rankings in both safety and reliability.

Answer 7

Stick with the TL and you'll be much much more happy later when the break down occurs.  If you can, stay away from all German engineered vehicles, maintenance and service repair are very very high but they are very good reliable cars.

Answer 8

Audis are very beautiful cars, reliable and safe. The problem with them is that they are more expensive to fix than a Acura TL. But Audi's do not break very often. Trust me, I have a 2005 Audi A4 Cabriolet with 65,000 miles and runs like new. The secret is to take care of it.