I've owned a B6 Avant, currently own a B7, and got to drive my brother-in-law's B5 quite a bit. I dare say that the A4 line got better with each generation, in just about every category: looks, interior, handling, power, etc.

Can't wait to test drive the B8 when it comes out. (And the S5, for that matter.)

Just my $0.02.

Actually it should be B6 > B6=B7 > B8 then :)

I'm guessing those aren't "greater than" signs, but "came before" signs?

Rumours that the A8 at the time was sold at cost or at a small loss. A4 was priced to be extremely attractive to win new customers. And it worked. Of course, the bad side of this is that the prices have slowly readjusted itself to the competition, regardless, Audi's doing very well in North America now.

Blame 60 Minutes back in the late 80s for misleading the public, surprised they didn't get sued over that.