Hi

I keep hearing how expensive A4 to maintain after the 3 years, is this true?

Can someone give me some info of recent bills after the 3 years. I'm kind of indecisive between the A4 and Nissan Xterra. I test drove both of them and the A4 really kicks butt while the xterra really feels hard to handle but the -xterra would be great for my bike.

Anyway I'm leaning toward the A4 .. just the thoughts of repair is scaring me a little.

Thank you

A4 parts are pretty comparable with the cost of parts for BMW's, Alfas, and other European brands. While the parts are more expensive than those for Volkswagens, they are less expensive than parts for Volvos, in my experience. Of course, the higher performance parts made from better materials in smaller quantities are more expensive -- just like bike hardware. And, just like bike hardware, anything with the materials "carbon fiber" or "titanium" in the title tends to have lower production targets and higher prices... not all due to the parts' unique weight and structural qualities. Style fits in also, but, thankfully, very few parts made for the A4 are anodized purple.

I have no problem fitting my bike (Cannondale Raven) in the trunk of my A4 with the seatpost out, rear seats down, and front wheel of the bike attached.

I don't have any real experience driving SUV's on the road, though I've driven Rovers in desert and jungle conditions and they do quite well. The Z cars are my only experience with Nissan, and they are a great value with relatively little maintenance, plus they're fun to drive. I'd have my doubts about any truck-like vehicles more pedestrian than the Rovers, simply because height of suburbanite status tends to increase linearly while center of gravity rises exponentially.

I'd also have trouble telling my friends that I turned down a sports sedan for an off-road vehicle with a less advanced four wheel drive system than the sedan I was considering...

There are some great bike racks available for the A4 if you don't like the idea of carrying your two-wheeled ride inside the passenger compartment, the Yak is a favorite here on A4.org. The racks are relatively inexpensive and are easily justifiable if you ride sixty days or more per year.

One more note -- many of the cars you hear about here are modified... it takes a larger wallet to repair LLtek Xenon headlamps than it does to swap out a standard lamp. Also, if these costs worry you enough to enter into that cynical game of legalized gambling called "extended warranties," you can get an additional four years of coverage at reasonable prices. Not that it does you much good if you're like Cathleen at three years and 85,000 miles. Yes, the car is *that* fun to drive.

Coming to Monterey? We'll be happy to answer all your questions... if you're a Californian, stop by!

Cameron

Today... the cost of maintaining a car (after warranty service...etc.) is about the same for most manufacturer. Looking at my mom's VW and my A4... the hourly labor is about the same. Looking at my A4 compare to the Porsche service... the Porsche charges a few dollars more an hour.
To be honest, the service attitude really varies from dealer to dealer, unfortunately. If you find yourself a dealer with a good service dept., that's great! My suggestion is to ask around on this board and see who is the good, the bad and the ugly.

As for the bike... I am sure if you ask, LOTS of people will be more happy to post their pics with their bike racks loaded with bikes/snowboards/skis...etc.

Cris

In terms of the bikes.. I do a good amount of biking: both mountain biking and road riding. The A4 can easily hold a bike in the trunk with or without folding down the seat. It is possible to hold two bikes with the seats down, but it is tricky.

I opted to buy a Yakima roofrack as I normally carry at least one bike. The Yakima has a very solid connection to the car and I have had up to 4 bikes on my rack at the same time (I own 2 bike attachments, but there is a great rack shop near my place that also rents attachments). The Yakima is relatively easy to install the first time, and removal and re-installation is very quick and easy. The rack is a bit of an investment, but I love it! (I've got bikes on my car 2-3 days of the week.

Comparing the Xterra and the A4.. They are qiute different. The Xterra is based on a truck (the Nissan Frontier cab?) and will drive like one. The A4 is a sports sedan. I like some of the bike carrying options of the Xterra (internal) but I also love to drive a fun car.

The rack and A4 combination let me enjoy a great handling and fun to drive sports sedan while taking me, friends, and our bikes out mountain biking and to our triathlons without any trouble.

Wayne
99 1.8TQMS

This car may have slightly more expensive components than a Camry or Maxima (only slightly) but you usually get good quality stuff.

Consumer Reports lists the reliability of the A4 as average.

Also, don't forget that Audi provides a great 3 yr. warranty with roadside service.

Caveat: I have an axe to grind with Nissan.
(I'm not a big fan of Nissans since mine had some serious problems which were common to the car and Nissan refused to help.)

When I say that maintaining an A4 is cheaper than a car payment, I mean that an A4 will probably last longer than the Nissan. There are plenty of older Audis in New England(very tough on cars) and they almost always look good, even if they are 12 years old or older. Maybe people who own Audis care more about the cars but Audis are very durable.

Audi parts can be expensive. However, if you went to a Nissan dealer and priced an alternator I bet you'd be shocked how much that costs. Also, a lot of Audi parts can be purchased at a VW dealer especially now that the Passat shares a lot of them.

If you're worried about your bike, get an Avant and get either the Yakima or Thule crossbars that attach to the factory rack. The bike will easily fit inside but you won't want to get the interior dirty. I bike a lot(both road and mtn. avg. 150 miles/week on my road bike) and have a Yakima rack on my A4. It works well.

Keep in mind that all opinions here are going to heavily for the A4 and against an SUV. At least the Xterra is a good concept and is designed for the duty an SUV should get.

Karen,

I currently own a Nissan Pathfinder, and although the SUV drives smooth and less trucky than some of it's competitors, and it has been extremely reliable, it is not fun to drive. That is why I am converting back to the car world. The A4 is the at the top of my list, and yes I have consistently had the same thoughts as you about cost of parts being expensive and reliability on the A4. I have come to the conclusion that if you want the "fun" factor of owning a European sports sedan, you will possibly have to give up a little bit of the reliability to some degree. I have also decided that if I purchase the A4, I will fork out the money for a complete Bumper to Bumper warranty for piece of mind.

Owning an SUV subjects you to a much less fun, less carlike ride, and I would only get one if you have the need to haul many people and many large objects on a consistent basis. As far as carrying bikes, you can read on about how many of the A4 owners carry bikes, and I am sure you have seen many cars with bike carriers. That would not influence to get an Xterra, and I am partial to Nissan, having owned many.

I guess what makes my decision slightly easier is the fact that we also own a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and can use that as the major family hauler. In fact, I think alot of A4 owners on this board own SUV's and minivans as their second vehicles if they have families.

Good luck, and if you want to E-Mail me you are welcome to.