Whats the big deal with this, its no Buick Enclave.

This is all dandy, but it does not affect us whatsoever. We will get this car with 2 engines, vs. 5-6 in Europe. Also, I suspect, there is a large number of taxi owners opting for this, since they pay no tax (or very small tax) on new car and have a good incentive to purchase new models to increase ridership in their cabs.

i quite like the new A4 even though its looks very much like an A5

Yes this A4 is hot, however checkout this video review of A6 diesel, EURO edition.

I prefer the A6, but this looks sweet.

It’s a shame that I would never buy anything tainted with VW quality, outside of the self-administrated exotics. Otherwise I would add Audi to my list of brands to consider.

If I’m a college kid this woud be on top of my list. But currently only the top of the line TT, A5, and R8 interest me. The A6 is a nice ride too but it’s way too big.

Veda what college kid do you know who can afford to buy an Audi?

If you said something like “If i’m a college kid this would be on top of my list …..to beg my parents to buy me”….than i’d believe you.

There are pockets of areas all around where kids drive cars FAR nicer than anything the average Joe could afford. I’ve seen the HIGH-SCHOOL kids in brand new Range Rovers. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if some college kid picked up an A4 on a lease.

And, of course, it’s often the power of the parental dollar.

(By comparison, I remember my high-school buddy literally BEGGING his mom to drive to school in the family Pony one day…)

celeron: I take it you didn’t go to USC or USD? With the amount of allowance they’re getting they don’t have to beg. Though I’m sure those Modenas are gifts from their parents…

Jon: I remember back in college there was a freshman who had a brand new supra that got totally vandalized at the end of his first year. A lot of kids can afford to drive expensive rides but chose not to because of their environment. Newport Beach, Irvine, North San Diego to name a few, you just have to drive around to see at least 1 exotic a day.

Yup… SoCal is definitely one of those pockets. The parking garage at UCLA looks like a BMW sales lot.

And yes where I grew up (coastal S.D.) lots of kids had bad ass rides. Nothing better then having a hot rich girlfriend w/expensive car to play with when shes to drunk to F, I mean drive.
Put a girlfriends 325i in ditch on side of freeway while racing someone, while she was passd out. She had no respect for her car, so I drove accordingly, donuts, ebrake parking, shredding tires at every chance like they were free. I had more fun drivin her car then I’d ever had in my own, its much harder to enjoy the sound of suspension btm out and crunching sheetmetal when its your own.

It’s a different kind of animal here. My little cousin got a 325i when she got her driver’s license at 16..

Me, I got a used Dodge Dynasty.

If parents can afford to buy their kids all these cars why do they complain that college costs are out of contol.

Ahh yes, that decision to become an Audi salesperson is looking mighty fine right now

Why the hard on over this car? I don’t get it, it looks like the last one, that looked like the last one, that looked like the last one. Granted, I like Audi, they’ve nailed a style and don’t want to stray from it, but why are people only noticing now?

hateful: the Audi has always been special because they pay atttention to the littlest thing that nobody ever thought of, like the sound of the door locks and such… It’s those things that separate them from the rest of the entry level luxuries.

Audi is well tuned-in to a growing desire for inconspicuous consumerism. Plenty of owners, myself included, are happy to be able to drive a beautifully-built luxurious car which doesn’t broadcast arrogant self-importance like a Merc does or display a very unimaginative need to be fashionable like a BMW.

Its a pity that VW products seem to develop quality problems on the boat-ride to North America, if they were as reliable as the ones we get, I’m sure this rush would make a lot more sense to you guys.

Its no Buick Enclave LOL
Thank God for that If it was it would be an unproven POS that will sell for a couple of months and then sit on the lot
Why buy Audi when you can buy G35 3 series or C class

1115: G35 is the only competitive contender to the A4 based on price and features. The 3 and C are nice but highly overpriced for what you get.

1115: Read Got Handling’s post above you. He nailes it right on about the appeal of Audi, and to a lesser extent, Volvo too.

I’m not sure what to think of it. It looks more mature, but I’m not sure to consider that a positive thing, as Mercedes and BMW also look more mature.

hateful- I agree, Audi’s are about the blandest looking cars out there and haven’t really changed too much. To me, their overall shape, looks, things like simple lights, roof lines and the GM esque (I could care less who came up with it first, I’m only saying it looks outdated) interior are like text book shapes. To go along with what Veda said, Audi takes some time into their products, but so does BMW and Mercedes Benz. I think the premonition that BMW is only for people who want to look flashy and Merc’s are made for people with their noses stuck in the air is a bit over rated, but so are most luxury vehicles.

But I must add that Audi has made a really bold, amazing looking SUV. Ironic enough, I had first seen one camping a year back, it caught my eye for a second and I couldn’t help but think “Why is Audi not so bold with their cars?”

Veda- If I were you, I’d just forget about addressing 1115.
C-class is overpriced, but it has a lot of options and choices that others just don’t offer. For a price, that is.

jayjc08: In US, the primary reason people buy Mercs is the ego boost. In Asia, it’s mostly cheap luxury being that the resale value is higher than Bimmers and Audis. It’s the same Rolex mentality, which is why they’re both so freakin popular with the chinese. I disagree with BMW going into details as they apparently didn’t rethink the i-drive enough and the recurring design flaws (ie. watery lights, peeling interior, and electrical issues) kept appearing generations after generations. All in all, the only german I’d use personally is an Audi. The rest are just business tools.

Regardless, I think it’s the snobby german execs mentality that gets trickled down to their cars. At least the japs while stubborn would listen once the sales numbers show up. Trust me, I’ve experienced firsthand their BS in the automotive world.

I love Audi and I love this car. It’s a little overpriced, but in 2.0T Quattro trim it’s a perfect little roadburner with room for 4 or 5, plus it hauls ass in Canadian winters. I love it.

I love it. Audi’s have always made some great cars. Mercedes recently was quoted as saying that they were not even considering Audi as a competitor. It is when companies start getting arrogent that things start to change. I hope Audi really takes it to mercedes.

Give me an A8.

Jon: “The power of the parental dollar.”

Hell, yeah. Beverly hills HS. Kids are in baby Benzes, 3-Series, ’Vettes and the odd Porsche. Teachers are in old beat-up cars.

Kids I went to high –school with drove Porches, Ferraris and Jags … that would be reported stolen shortly.

atourya: “My little cousin got a 325i when she got her driver’s license at 16..

Me, I got a used Dodge Dynasty.”
I was allowed to drive the family Subaru.

Veda: “hateful: the Audi has always been special because they pay attention to the littlest thing that nobody ever thought of, like the sound of the door locks and such… It’s those things that separate them from the rest of the entry level luxuries.”

Good analysis, though I don’t care for the entry-level luxury terminology.

Got Handling: “Its a pity that VW products seem to develop quality problems on the boat-ride to North America, if they were as reliable as the ones we get, I’m sure this rush would make a lot more sense to you guys.”
Or as beautiful. Man how I loved the Euro-market Passat!

1115: “Why buy Audi when you can buy G35 3 series or C class.” Can’t go wrong with any of those.