Fellow's, the time has come. My '00 A4 should soon be replaced with an '04 Cab 1.8. I've been lusting for a year and Audi has a new offer to return my lease early, no charge.
So, should I do it? Is it sweet? Is it Reliable?
Please give me some guidance here.

i was on the wailist for an S4 for about 13 months and just got fed up and bought the A4 cab on the spot...so glad i did if you live in sunny climates (like SoCal) then this car rocks and is the one to get. The other contenders are the BMW and Benzo's but I love the fact the A4 has the dual split tailpipes from the factory. And it seems everyone has the BMW droptops.

i dont understand all the complaining about the rattles. My car is slammed w/ Neuspeed sport springs and Bilstein sport shocks on 35 series tires and the rattling is minimal at worst.
Also, best cure for the ratttles, turn up the stereo

I love my cab--had it since January and have put 11,000 miles with no major problems. Of course there will always be some vibrations and rattles --convertibles all have some regardless of who makes them. The BMW's are everywhere here in No. Cal. Old design, boring interiors, and just as many problems as any other car. The BMW 330 I test drove last year (2002 model) had a problem with the top closing.
Make sure you shop around and don't let them get you with the lease stuff, you still have some bargining tools for you --not many people are buying $39,000+ cars these days.

HCUK, you are one of the very few unlucky who had built quality issues. Same thing happens to all car manufacturers. Check out the bimmer or merc forums and you'll see what I am talking about. Sorry you were unlucky enough to have built quality problems, but the majority of people in here, as you can see, are very hapy with their cabs.

I agree I was unlucky, but check out the forums on www.tyresmoke.net and they tell a very different story. 5 Owners now have sold their cabs due to quality issues and a couple more are having theirs replaced. I have even spoken to a regular guy in a local car park and he expressed the same concerns :-(

Maybe UK cars are worse or we expect more from our cars :-(

In 12 months mine's had more replaced than 5 years worth of other Audi's but I guess I must be unlucky. Never mind, I didn't really need to loose £7K in depreciation in the first year especially when on average it's been in the garage once a month.........

rant over.

Theres always going to be the odd car with problems no matter what car you buy.

and after just installing the European bumper and crash support on my US car I can see why. The quality just doesnt compare. They shortchange Europeans because its such a tough market in the US. They battle the Japs here and Toyota/Honda quality is hard to beat.

So frustraiting to deal with a lemon. Especially the lack of support you had from you UK dealer.
I do agree that all cars are going to have issues...my commuter car is a 2004 Scion by Toyota. Rattles like a mother _ _ _ _ _er. And so so performance. It is not like they say Toyotas are supposed to be.

As I have said in other posts, my Allroad was terrible..bad brakes, engine, rattles all over the place. But Audi USA treated me well and gave me all my money back--so I bought the Cab. Of course. I sweat it out a bit when I read how much trouble you have had ( HCUK) and the others you know. I have to say that so far...I still love this car and have had no major probs.......yet.

More than the odd problem.

In all my negeotiations with Audi UK, they did in the end admit that they are having serious quality issues with the A4 Cab.

A dealer even said that Audi have told them that each time a Cab comes in for warranty work to pull it apart and learn from it.

Shame they did their final testing on the people who splashed out hard earn cash for one of the products.

people bitching about their rear bumber impact ratings.

trust me, I lived in Europe from 00-02 and drove Euro - spec Benzos - Beamers - and Audis . Theres no comparison on material. They use different plastics/materials for the US market.
My aunt is a manager at the BMW plant in Munich and she said that they have different quality checks for US bound cars. The US market is more important to them than the home market. It's more competative. NOBODY drives Japanese in Europe, and I know that Ford-Germany is no threat for the big German 3.

another new owner on Tyresmoke, had the car 10 mins before the hood failed.

there's so many unlucky people about......

My A4 cab was rear ended a few months back and it only appeared that it needed a new bumper and boot lid. But once they stripped it down they found so many other damaged parts and also the gear box was cracked that they have now written the car off. If I were you I would stick with your US rear bumper and better crash protection. I have ordered a new convertible and its not an Audi.

...An E46 cab is 3-5K more than OURS and the finish is not up to par IMHO. If you guys want a 'perfect' drop top then drop a few K more and move UP. I am ENJOYING this cab so much that it is the best 40K I've EVER spent on a car. Few minor issues but hey what Euro car doesnt? Drive a friggin TOYOTA solara convertible if all you guys want to do is whine.