Wow! S-line package, nav, shades, and only 10,000 less then my B7 S4 avant MT6 with the same packages! half the cylinders, and no MANUAL transmission. I'll have to wait a little and then I'm sure I'll have to order since not one dealer in the US will order a car this way. There have to be others as shocked....

Sweet ****amoley that's a lot of cash. And that's for housewife/appliance Ibis White. Before destination and taxes. Audi could at least buy me a nice dinner before making a strong move to the back door. I'm a little irked that the Prestige Avant has gone up another $500 since prices were announced six days ago. Granted $500 is a drop in the overall bucket but its the principle.

With metallic paint, ADS, ACC, and rear air bags you could get the 2.0T A4 into the $55K neighborhood once taxes and destination are factored in. Jesus.

But for $47k god damned dollars I'm certainly considering other options.

Gas can go to 5 a gallon and I'll still stick with my V8 at least for now....maybe a manual will come next year.

Many are upset when the V6 is $3-4k more. $10k extra for the V8 seems like a lot to me. Especially when considering it is more than twice the size, but not twice the power.

Should make for good deals come the end of the year.

The base price still only went up very little for a completely redesigned model.

A 2008 configured similar to the 2009 you want is $41,750.

So you might ask what does $5,400 get you over the '08?

Good question...

19" wheels easily $500-$1000 extra
Sport seats $250-$500
Parking systems $500-$1000
Advanced Key $500
Power tailgate $500
Side assist $500-$1000?
Voice control

There might be a couple more I'm forgetting.

I admit that many of those things could be argued that you don't need/want or are bundled with something else you do want, but fact remains those extra items are there and have a cost associated with them.

Also remember these are the launch configurations. There will be lesser vehicles to follow later on.. FWD, cloth.

I love all the new models from the 2009 A4 to S5/A5 to RS4 and R8 but Audi is pricing cars higher than competition from Infiniti, Lexus, Acura, BMW and Mercedes. This tells me resale will suck and bargains to be had in few years on the high end Audi cars. Maybe R8 will be collector and hold value but will see what happens. I see deals now for 10k off sticker for new RS4 cars.

Have to say that both are great cars. To me, Audi has that classy interior and amazing Quattro AWD. BUT Infiniti is catching up quickly and the 330HP V6 engine in the new G37 Infiniti coupe is amazing. It really comes down to budget and taste and needs.

If I ever moved to a snow and/or rainy state or place like Boulder, Seattle, etc. then the Audi would be my first choice. BUT living in southern California makes me less inclined to need AWD when it never really rains in San Diego. Also the tough part is look at 40k for a fully loaded G37 coupe versus 50k for a loaded Audi A4/A5 sedan or coupe. It is tough to swallow a 10k price increase for the Audi based on logic. It must be an emotional decision at this point. Now my dream Audi would be the R8. And that car is selling 20-40k over sticker which is just obscene robbery.

I was okay when the car stickered out at $46.6. $47k+ trips some sort of insanity trigger in my brain. At what point do you run afoul of the luxury tax?

B&O, Nav, advanced key and a power lift gate would make for a much more tempting package.

P.S. The federal luxury tax expired after 2002.
I was nailed with it for my 2001 S4 but it has since been gone.

Too bad Audi seems to always package new/weird tech with other things that are more desirable. Forces it into the market I guess.

Thus pricing is getting up into A6 territory. As is the way with most car lines the A4 is growing. Eventually there will be an A3 sedan that will replace the A4 as the entry sedan. It still is a lot of car for the money.

You people are nuts making the comparison. The seats fell apart within 800 miles of me owning my Nissan 350Z and G 35 is worse.

as inexpensive as other cars that don't even offer the options to begin with. I looked at a Saab that didn't have nearly the equipment level of the new A4 and it stickered for 43k. Nevermind the quality of the interior/exterior as a whole. Audi isn't forcing us to purchase ADS, S-Line, etc. Knock those off and its less than the competition. My thought is that at least they are offering us a very high level of equipment 'IF' we want it. I'd say a Premium + level with a Sport Pkg is an excellent value - but of course we want all of the newest options, etc. I'm sure later they will break up the packages better but it will be awhile.

I doubt that it's a widespread problem or the G's would not be selling as well as they do, and how exactly do your seats "fall apart"? just curious...

that the MAIN reason that the G35 gets so much attention is that Nissan was smart enough to give it more power than the competition. They obviously know that hp/torque sells, because its other traits just don't do anything for me:

1. Blah interior design
2. Sewing machine sounding V6
3. Hideous exterior design
4. Slightly better than average handling

But because it was always given more hp than the competition, people are willing to overlook what IMHO are fairly bland vehicle attributes with the only redeeming traits being the power numbers.

You do have to give Nissad kudos for doing it. But "meh".

Walk out on a the used car lot and look at a 1 year old Infinity, or Acura or Lexus. Its insane how quickly the painted surfaces wear and the leather cracks, due to its thin-ness. Most people never do this. Its a great way to see what cars look like after people have driven them for a year...Audi/MB/BMW interiors still look fantastic.

it's got 300+ hp. :)

I agree. Pop the trunk lid, look at the finish on the inside of the lid. Look at the trunk floor, the quality of the tie downs.

Look at the gaps between the bumper and the body. Look at the weld seams on the roof (that Audi doesn't hide with black plastic trim pieces).

But hey, the G can smoke it at the dragstrip.

in there somewhere.....

Bought a loaded 2005 A6 3.2 Quattro (CPO) a few weeks ago with 21,865 miles, Navigation, engine start, advance key, Bluetooth, voice, power sun shades, 18" sport package for $26,600. However, I was considering the B8 A4 3.2 prestige, but $46,775 is insane. I take my A6 and $20,000+ savings any day over the B8.

Pictures of my new A6 :)<ul><li><a href="http://forums.audiworld.com/c6a6/msgs/48409.phtml">http://forums.audiworld.com/c6a6/msgs/48409.phtml</a</li></ul>

The seating surfaces are in excellent condition, headliner looks great, carpet is top notch. I still smile when I get in the car after detailing it since so much of it looks new.

I've not done the long term look at an Infiniti or a Lexus but the Acuras I've seen haven't impressed me that much.

Using the BMW config. it comes to about 3K more than the comparable Avant I ordered a month ago. And for that 3K, I get worse EPA mileage(17/25 vs. 21/27), slower 0-60 times (7.3 vs. 6.9), 58 ft/lbs less torque, a smaller interior and cargo area plus a butt ugly interior. The deals may be better but it all evens out in the end.

I don't track my cars so I don't need something with handling that will help me win the Le Mans series. And it comes with great tech gadgets, much better nav system, hard drive based audio system, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I love the new A4 and I think as far as fit and finish, looks, interior, etc it is better than the Infiniti, but I can't justify shelling out close to $50k for a 4 cylinder with less equipment.

You can argue that you're paying for quality, fit and finish all you want, but if I can save several G's and get more power, decent looks (this is subjective)and quality that IMO is almost as good I have to consider it.

If that engine did something like 260hp/260 lbs/ft torque they'd have a better case with me.

Especially when folks were paying a tad more than that for S4s and M3's not too long ago??

My friend paid about $49k for a nicely loaded C6 A6. I think there were 2 options he didn't get, I can't remember exactly. But with that in mind, paying the same for an A4 doesn't sit right with me. That's just me.

I love the looks of the A4 and think it looks better than the 3, C and G. But $48k? Nah...

People are willing to overlook certain things as long as it has the power/torque that appeals to them.

And yes, certainly some of the things I mentioned are subjective and I don't expect everyone to see things the same way, but IMHO, if the G had the same hp and torque as the A4, how many more people would seriously consider it over an A4?

As I said, Nissan did the right thing by making sure that their cars had more power than the competition to make up for the other things.

But if you want Night Vision, And Surface to Air weapons and increased armor, I bet you can get em up to 2 million. My point is that if you dont want to spend 45K dont get soo many options. In a Porsche Boxter you can add over $40,000 in options if you want. Not everyone needs all the toys....The core car is still miles ahead of everyone else.

It seems like some, if not most, are willing to overlook the shortcomings of the engine for styling and quality. It all comes down to individual preference, budget, what you will and won't pay for, etc.

But if pricing patterns stayed the same, and the G had the same hp and torque numbers as the A4, it would still be cheaper, and probably cause the same folks rethinking the A4 now, to rethink it again in this hypothetical scenario.

Provided you can stomach the price!

My 2005 A6 3.2 was $53,286.

The A4 I ordered is $47,800.

Although there are some unknowns, it seems the A4 is a lot of car -- albeit pricey. But, then again, I don't have the sport package on my A6, don't have the ADS and no B&amp;O sound system or rear camera.

The wheelbase difference is under 1" or just at 1" in favor of the A6 and the A6, I believe is slightly wider.

My assumption is the NOW current (2008) A6 3.2 so configured (or as close as possible) would be more than $54,000, probably more like $56,000.

The unknown, well ok, ONE of the unknowns is the 2.0TFSI -- but the claimed performance is better for the new A4, the quattro system and the balance is better on the new A4, the tiptronic is claimed to be better, too.

Perhaps if one clicks on Premium Plus and dials the two cars the A4 and the A6 to a similar state of optional extras, the differences would be even greater.

My point is: Audis (like most of the Germans) cost more now than then. The current A6 is older tech and more lethargic tech and MPG's even.

I would have no problem with a new 2008 all equipped A6 3.2. I just don't think it is worth north of $55K in the current market.

The new A4, hell, it too, may be over-done too.

less than the A4. So I gotta short myself on options and power?

If I'm buying the tank, I'm spending the dough to load it up. Those options could mean life and death. In the A4 vs the G, I'll live if my car doesn't look as hot driving down the parkway. And I'll have some extra cash in my pocket to boot.

The quality isn't great. I wouldn't say it is quite as bad as Blownaway has pegged it, but he is an Audi salesman, so what can you expect there?

Granted my model year is 2003, but I have had alternator failure, some issues with my steering (don't remember what they had to replace), leather cracked so I had to have my center console replaced, and many other cosmetic problems. It also rattles out of every door panel (or so it sounds like to me from the drivers seat) and I swear to god if I can make it until May with the squeak in the dash without going crazy it will be an amazing thing. The CD changer (I have the Bose) also has failed and would be about 1250 to replace the head unit from the dealer. Not going to bother.

My plan is to move up to the 2009 A4 2.0 6MT Prestige+nav as soon as April / May roll around and I think I can wheel and deal a bit. I am so damn upside down in my car that I need everything in my favor to get this to work.

Maybe Infiniti has gotten a ton better in the last few years, but from the G's I have ridden in I don't really think so. Consider yourself warned.

That said, the power is nice, and it wasn't a 3.7 at that time, so the HP is even better now. :)

Um, let me know the next time you change your flat out for a spare. Good luck driving 55 on your teeeny doughnut..You could not even tell I had a spare on my Audi...lets start there.

That is why those models sell, they lease cheaper or sell cheaper. People would prefer the Audi A4..everytime.

Having a matching wheel and tire as the spare in my current A4 has saved me plenty of trouble in the past. I hope that the new cars aren't rocking a doughnut.

shopping the A4.

Many things seems to be improved with the later model, but I have to admit, I don't know anyone who owns one, so I don't know how it holds up. I've just read many times that they've improved quality on many things. If it deteriorates rapidly over a 36 month lease, Audi would see me come back and just pay the extra dough. Or maybe some other make/model from Germany, I don't know. But being able to build a 335xi for about $52k with everything I want definitely makes you wonder. Yes, the 3 is a smaller car, but every comparison you see is gonna put the A4 against the 3, not the 5.

I'm willing to pay for the attributes that do come with the Audi, as opposed to overlooking the things that don't appeal to me on the G simply based on power/torque.

Others aren't.

And the Audi instructor at the Audi Driving Experience said that it was not limited to 55 MPH. But, I didn't take it out so I can't really say how much different it is from the others.

with a prince's taste. I might get one of these CPO in 3-4 years when some of you are done with them. While I like Audis, I don't like them enough to spend that kind of money on the entry level Euro sports sedan. My wife's '03 has every possible option on a four cylinder and it was $33K. I realize the dollar has weakend and there is now more content (electronics), but I don't see the value in buying one of these new.

My other issue is that after four A4s, I am all too familiar with the rapid depreciation of Audis. The value just doesn't hold as well as other German cars. If it did, then maybe the higher cost could be justified.

I've had no trouble spending a small fortune in home improvement this year, but I just can't justify spending $40K on a four cylinder anything that won't be worth $20K in three years.

Just thinking out loud and trying to look at things from a financial perspective and not an emaotional one.

So when I get a flat tire I can swap the spare on and not worry about:

a) driving less than 55 mph
b) not having to drive less than 100 miles (doughnuts are only good for limited emergency use)
c) swapping the tires again - repairing the tire can be as easy as dropping off the damaged tire/wheel in the morning and picking it up in the afternoon or the next day and making the new tire my spare.

The A4 was the first car that I've owned with a full sized spare and I like the convenience and lack of emergency limitations so much that I'll actually purchase a full size, full capability wheel and replace the doughnut in any future vehicle I own, should they fail to include this feature in the future.

All of these cars used. I am very Biased in my opinion. I am a big fan of Mini and BMW so dont go throwing stones at me. I am in and out of these cars every day. So I see how they age. They are night and day. I would say the same thing about Honda, Toyota. I also own a very heavily modded NIssan Z and the only reason I like the car, is due to the fact that I have replaced or upgraded damn near everything on it.

A6 inventory by $5150 this number is on top of any and all incentives. Why, becuase the A4 is a much better value and when the A4 and A6 are sitting right next to each other, there is no way people are going to pay $54,000 grand for "the old version"

want in my next car prestige, nav, Sline, it still costs like $44k. And if I have to do without the things I really want in a car, why bother when others are offering these things??

than any one else.

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A study by B&amp;D Forecast released in German newspaper Welt am Sonntagearlier this week revealed that Porsche, one of the most prestigious names in the automotive industry, is by far the most profitable automaker on a vehicle by vehicle basis. Porsche makes an unheard of €21,799 profit on each car it sells! This isn't to say that Porsche is making €21,799 ($28,247 USD) straight up on every vehicle it makes, but rather that it earns variable profits, with some more (Cayenne Turbo S) and some less (Boxster). To see just how badly Porsche blows other automakers out of the water, have a look at these figures. BMW makes €2,475 ($3,207) for each car it sells - a handsome figure, no question. Toyota pulls in an average of €1,684 ($2,182), while Audi makes €1,580 ($2,047). DaimlerChrysler
If you want to know how to run a successful auto business, consult Porsche. (Photo: Porsche)
(including Mercedes-Benz and Smart) makes €708 ($917), and VW makes just €332 ($430) per vehicle. The study, which looked at the company's finances over 2005-2006 financial year, also revealed that Porsche sold 97,000 units and had a record gain of €2.11 billion ($2.73 bn) before taxes.

"And if I have to do without the things I really want in a car, why bother..."

I could "step down" in price to a G35x, but it ultimatley is not what I want and does not have everything I want. BMW 328xi is priced the same as the 2.0T when both are loaded up...again not what I want.

If price is the only factor when selecting a car I'd buy a Mazda3 it's quick enough, handles nice, has decent gas mileage and gets you from point A to B cheap.

I don't mean to "throw stones", but unless you carry open knives in your pockets (and replace your pants often) whenever you are in an Infiniti, I think your comment about the leather cracking is a bit off. I have been in (not nearly as many as you, I'm sure) many of them, and I have never heard of leather cracking in the early miles as being that widespread a problem, especially lower than 1k miles. I did have a crack on my center console as I posted, but that was at 70k. My seats are prestine.

I always take a salesman's word with a grain of salt, and I just had to disagree in that statement. Didn't notice the Honda part on your sig, but I did notice no Nissan / Infiniti. ;)

And another thing, it appears the B8 A4 has a donut spare, so your comment on that seems a bit off, unelss I am misunderstanding something. Either way, I plan on buying one and don't really care much.

rolling circumference in AWD car.... I wonder how they do that.

I see what you wrote here and have written in the numerous other replies....but can you come across as any more of a car snob?

And we still lost sales, its a very small item, that we current Audi owners take for granted. And now that Audi doesnt offer it anymore everyone bitches and says Audi is pinching pennies. But if it doesnt help you get sales, why not take that $250 and put it towards lease subvention. That was my point.

Engineering. And Audi is very good at it. I have customers that come in and want to look at Leases....not cars....just leases....Is a lease price going to save your life if your in it and flip over several times...thats my point. People should take the time to see value in why one car is more than another. Sorry if I come off that way. I say what I want. I have been on the forum since its inception. I speak my mind...

And when they, eventually, do. It's going to be more.