Startl_Respons

EXACTLY. There is little new about that A4. The design is so old and stale. The facelifts do little, especially the taillights.

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

i think they are beautiful cars inside and out. i would deffinilty consider this car after my 8

Startl_Respons

I remember thinking the exterior design was pretty darn cutting edge when they first came out. I'm not sure but I think that was over 5 years ago. All I remember was taking a friend to an Audi dealership at night and finding that one of the A4's was unlocked so we sat in it in awe. That was the car with the more rectangular taillights. Now they changed the taillights to be thin and horizontal with a complex curve twist. I know Audi thinks it adds character in a sophisticated way but I think it takes character away. I'm really tired of seeing those taillights. As if that wasn't bad enough, Acura copies those taillights in the MDX and RDX!

valpac

iTrader: (2)

Good for you.

http://www.audiforums.com/

StewC625

I've been looking a lot at the Audi A3 - similar to the A4 but a bit more sporty, smaller and affordable - the V6 version in the S-line can be had for under $40,000 - great car for the price.

BlueEyes

I think you're overlooking the fact that you don't need AWD just because you live in a cold weather climate. My mom drives a rear wheel drive car and we live in the snow belt. It's really not that tough.

I'd be looking at a 335 sedan.

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

or just get the S5

Startl_Respons

With the new A3 and A5 available, the A4 is not cool anymore. The A3 comes from the A4 anyway. That leaves the A4 as merely old.

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

the A3 is entirely different then the A4... completely different chassis, the A5 and next gen A4 will be kissing cousins

Startl_Respons

Oh, so all the A3 shares with the A4 are the engines?

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

yea... the A3 the engines are mounted transversely like a FWD car and the Quattro system is a FWD based haldex system while the A4 has a longitudinal RWD style engine layout and the quattro systems are torsen based preloaded 50/50 or 40/60 front/rear split

Startl_Respons

Thanks for the info, rotor.

But back to the topic. I honestly think a lot of people see the current A4 on the street and, because they haven't followed the model through its facelifts over the last 5 years or so, think it is a new cool model. It is not new. It is not somewhat new. It is OLD. Not somewhat old, but OLD OLD.

Now is not the time to get the A4. Can you imagine all those people who bought the last generation BMW 3-series just before the new 3-series came out? Would you be pissed off? I would. And you would only have yourself to blame. My dad's wife, like many women who don't know jack about what's going on in the car world, saw a Mercedes SLK convertible and wanted it, so he and she went out and bought it a couple years ago. I told him a new one was just about coming out, and he said she doesn't care, she saw one on the lot and wanted THAT ONE. Nuts, just nuts.

If you just happen to have a thing for Audi and specifically for the A4, wouldn't you want to wait until just around the corner for the new A4 to come out? Doesn't that make sense?

freebird_78

Well, I hate to admit it, but I'm now considering a Speed6 as well. I'm up in the air whether I should "splurge" and spend the extra $15K on the A4. I know the A4 is a great car and all, but $15K better?

Still not sure.

ocrapitzleon

why not the 335i?
E90 or E92 or even the E93?
awesome cars

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

I personally might look at getting a current a4 this summer... the new gen coming out in fall puts me off because it will be significantly bigger then the current model and i dislike big cars. The current A4 and Lexus IS are the only entry level lux sedans left that haven't grown out of proportion...

freebird_78

Too rich for my blood. 335xi starts at $42K. Looking to stay ~$35K.

Detrich

my boss just got a 2007 335i and that car hauls mother f'g ***... the lease programs are very aggressive he said. something like $3k down, $600/ month for 3 years.

ocrapitzleon

335 is

Startl_Respons

Not to mention you can buy the Vishnu chip for $1300 to $1500 to increase the car by about 100 HP and torque.

Revvittupp

Based on the 300/300 numbers which have been shown to be VERY conservative. It appears average is more like 320hp/340tq,

m477

Even if it is possible to hit 30+mpg in the A4 on the highway while driving like a granny, I'm guessing the real-world combined mileage is much, much lower than that.

I mean, it's gonna be pretty hard to stay off the boost when you've got a 2.0L engine in a 3,500lb car.

ocrapitzleon

that's why i'm sold!

Startl_Respons

The car is heavy though.

ocrapitzleon

oh well, can't wait...
just a few more weeks!

sleeperx8

good luck if u get that a4, i went from an a4 to rx-8; not cuz i hated the styling, but because the d*mn thing broke down every other month for some stupid electronic malfunction. (makes any complaints about my rx-8's reliability evaporate) the quattro is nice tho... handles inclement weather like a champ.