1997 Audi A4 Quattro Base Sedan 4-door 2.8l on 2040-cars
Murphysboro, Illinois, United States
149k one-owner miles; always garaged; well-maintained
by professionals; oil changed with full synthetic every 7k miles (per factory);
service records and original manuals Pros Four-door, V6 2.8L naturally-aspirated engine,
all-wheel Quattro drivetrain, power steering, adjustable steering column and
wheel position, superb anti-lock power brakes, excellent traction/stability
control, new wheel bearings, alloy wheels, new tires, 5-speed manual
transmission, digital heat/air controls, power windows, power mirrors, power
door-locks, multi-function power trunk lock, all-way power driver seat, Audi
Delta cassette stereo, power sun/moon roof, leather, polished walnut inlays, new
high performance headlights, alarm, driver and passenger airbags, seatbelt
pre-tensioner system, four and five-star crash test ratings, U-Haul installed trailer
hitch w/electrical hookup Cons Cruise control inoperable, a few pin-light
dash lights out, left rear brake light plastic cover repaired with red tape,
interior plastic piece by moon roof came off, rear leather seating surface a
bit rough, original front license plate holder missing (replaced with angle
brackets); this was required repair after another car scraped across front bumper and left a scuff mark. The Bottom Line
Affordable European
luxury sports sedan, runs and drives great. One test drive and you’ll be sold.
Original expert review from 1998:
An appealingly affordable European.
by Ray Thursby Providing luxurious transportation in a tidy package has become a lucrative
business for many manufacturers. A wide range of choices are available, with a
price spread equally broad. European offerings in this realm are generally more
expensive, but have their own special appeal. Although Volvo threatens to break
out of its conservative mold with its new replacements for the 850 line, the
BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class sedans are the major players. Audi has long contended in this niche, but none of its past entries have
combined charm, style and value as desirably as the year-old A4. And U.S.
buyers have responded to this sleek small Audi, pushing the company's sales up
to levels it hasn't enjoyed for many years. Like its German rivals, the A4 adds sporty flair to expected luxury
trimmings in an effort to appeal to driving enthusiasts. Walk-around
Few sedans can match the A4 for clean, distinctive styling. In profile, it
displays a definite but neatly rounded wedge shape, minimal front and rear
overhangs and large glass areas. Nose and tail are equally clean, dominated by
lighting and, in front, a large understated air inlet. You won't see any
extraneous trim; the designers have chosen to let a strong basic form speak for
itself. Although it's executed on a small scale, we think this is arguably the
most graceful design from Audi in decades, and a strong rival to the BMW 318i
and 328i in appearance. The Inside Story
Four adequately sized doors allow easy access to a very appealing interior.
The first thing that strikes a first-time passenger is the quality of materials
and finish: from the leather-look dashboard to the fabric seats of our test car
-- leatherette upholstery is a no-cost option -- every surface looks and feels
durable and attractive. The feeling of general solidity in the A4 cabin is
reinforced by the precision with which all controls operate. Experience with
several A4s indicates to us that careful assembly is the rule rather than the
exception. The Audi interior is attractive and, for the most part, laid out with
functionality in mind. In front of the driver, instruments monitor road and
engine speed, fuel level, coolant and oil temperature and battery state. These
readouts can be supplemented with an optional trip computer that displays fuel
economy and other information. The only element that might be seen as a debit
is the night lighting, which is a lurid red, a la BMW, but more so. Radio controls are a little fussy (some time spent reading the owner's
manual will help) but the climate control is easy to use. Both A4 models carry an impressive list of standard features. Manual front
seats have a height adjustment in addition to the expected fore/aft and
backrest movements, and are thoroughly comfortable. The steering column is
adjustable for both angle and reach. Power assists are standard for windows
(the windows offer one-touch operation up and down, a nice addition) and door
locks. A remote lock/unlock feature is optional, but we preferred using the
key-in-the-door method, which also allows the operator to raise or lower the
windows. Cruise control is standard across the board, and the rear seat has a 60/40
split folding back allowing access into the roomy trunk. The 1.8T carries
interior trim accents in aluminum (coated with an attractive "pixel"
graphic surface); the 2.8 gets polished walnut. Options are similar for both cars, though only the 2.8 can be ordered with
leather seating ($1320). The 1.8T is available with an optional Sport package
($1000) that adds larger (16-inch) alloy wheels and tires, sport seats and
steering wheel and special upholstery. Either version can be equipped with a
power sunroof ($1190), All-Weather package (including heaters for the front
seats, windshield washers and driver's door lock, $700)), a five-speed
automatic transmission ($975) and, most desirable of all for anyone who expects
to drive in less-than ideal traction conditions, the all-wheel drive
"Quattro" system, a bargain at $1600. Ride and Drive
Some people still consider the A4 a bit pricey for its class -- those who
haven't taken a close look at the stickers on the competition, anyway -- but a
few miles behind the wheel may change their minds. The A4's long suit is
refinement, mile-eating smoothness and sure-footedness that make it a genuine
pleasure to drive. Most buyers will find the V-6-powered 2.8 to their liking. It is commendably
quiet in most driving situations and delivers good fuel economy. In typical
European fashion, power delivery is biased toward sustained high speed rather
than neck-snapping stoplight performance; even so, the 0-to-60 mph sprint takes
only eight seconds or so, which isn't bad. A five-speed manual transmission is standard equipment. While not possessed
of the crispest shift linkage around, it shifts well and has gear ratios
well-suited to the engine's power delivery. Driving pleasure in the European manner is another A4 plus. There's minimal
body roll during cornering, and crisp variable-assist steering to keep the driver
in contact with what the wheels are doing. Quattro models raise the enjoyment
level a notch, increasing traction in situations where it's most needed,
whether during brisk driving or careful motoring down a snowy lane. Despite the
firm springs and shock absorbers, the A4 delivers a smooth ride. Rough pavement
doesn't faze it; nor do highway expansion strips or small potholes. Final Word
In the face of formidable opposition, the small Audis continue to impress
us. They are well-equipped, carefully-assembled cars that combine style, fine
road manners, comfort and reasonable -- if not exciting -- performance in a
reasonably priced package. If they're not the best buys in their class, either
A4 certainly comes close. |
Audi A4 for Sale
- 2001 audi a4 1.8t turbo sedan b5 5speed 1owner low miles immaculate all original(US $6,499.00)
- 06 audi a4 2.0t leather sunroof turbocharged low miles clean carfax(US $8,988.00)
- 1999 audi quatro a4
- Any question call 201 286 8101(US $4,200.00)
- 2005 audi a4 cabriolet convertible 2-door 1.8l
- Audi a4 s line s4 look low miles convertible
Auto Services in Illinois
Zeigler Chrysler Dodge Jeep ★★★★★
Walden Automotive ★★★★★
Twin City Upholstery Ltd. ★★★★★
Truetech Automotive ★★★★★
Towing Recovery Rebuilding Assistance Services ★★★★★
Tony`s Auto Body ★★★★★
Auto blog
2014 Audi SQ5
Thu, 03 Oct 2013No Diesel? No Problem
With the exception of a handful of markets (including the US), the Audi SQ5 was a pioneer for the company's S/RS performance line as it was the first model to wear the badge and also get diesel power. Our general "everything is better with a diesel" mentality was put to the test when we first heard we would be getting a non-diesel SQ5 in the US (despite the availability of the diesel-powered Q5 TDI here already), but as usual we can only blame our federal emissions standards. As Audi tells it, the SQ5 TDI engine would require AdBlue to meet US emissions regulations, and the packaging of such a system just wasn't possible, so the global SQ5's diesel engine was replaced by a gasoline-powered V6 borrowed from the Audi S4/S5. To show that little, if anything, was lost in translation from diesel to gas, we headed to southwestern Colorado to spend an afternoon with the all-new 2014 Audi SQ5.
Our drive program had us taking the SQ5 from Durango, CO to the city of Gateway, before heading to Grand Junction the next morning. There's nothing like spending five hours strapped into a seat, traversing hill and mountain, to truly test a vehicle's comfort and driving dynamics. From the first touch of the SQ5's push-button starter, we knew this was no ordinary Q5. As the engine came to life with a deep burble and raspy pops, and we spent the rest of the day trying to come to terms with the fact that not everything needs a diesel. Wait. What?!
2013 Audi RS Q3
Thu, 19 Dec 2013The year 1994 was a really good year for German performance fans, because it was that year when Audi released its very first official RS model (for "RennSport," or racing sport), the RS2 Avant. Recently, I was invited to participate in a three-day leg of the Audi Land of Quattro Alpen Tour, a blatant flaunting over hill and dale of the company's current lineup of RS models. We hit Austria, Switzerland and Italy - the roads were epic and the weather held for this exquisite boondoggle.
Our chief focus on this tour, which included the RS6 Avant and RS7, was the newcomer RS Q3 small crossover that will absolutely never be coming to North America, but which starts deliveries in November of this year. This no-North America policy is because we still don't have enough customers who see the thrill or sense in a $52,000 all-wheel-drive baby sport utility that gets to 60 miles per hour from a stop in under five seconds. Meanwhile, in crazy, drunken Europe, orders for this ridiculous, wondrous set of wheels have, to quote Quattro head of technical development Stephan Reil, "far outstripped the limited production numbers of the business case." Those silly Europeans, don't they know that an RS Q3 makes no sense at all? Sheesh.
Audi A9 Concept teased in video, new design chief tells us what to expect in LA
Thu, 06 Nov 2014Audi has just dropped another teaser for the A9 Concept it'll be displaying at this month's LA Auto Show. This time around, instead of one static image, we get a tantalizing video of the showcar narrated by new Audi design chief Marc Lichte.
In terms of the A9, we get a better look at the body form than we've yet seen, and we also sneak a peek at its massive, blocky, turbine-style wheels that the conceptual flagship will wear in Los Angeles.
Lichte also takes this video opportunity as a chance to say how-do-you-do to the enthusiast community, commenting not only on his vision for the A9, but also offering up his bona fides in terms of family racing and art heritage. Get to know the man behind the car behind the sheet, here.