Hello everyone,

First I want to say what a great forum this is as it has provided a wealth of information and insight.

My wife and I are looking to buying the new 2010 Q5 but have heard quite a few negative comments with regards to Audi's reliability. In particular we have heard of alot of electrical problems and engine problems.

I personally have had 2 friends that have owned A4's that have had issues with their cars when the cars were generally still very new (2-3 years old).

I just wanted to solicite your feedback and comments with regards to these reliability/electrical issues or any other "common" issues related to Audi's.

I also wanted to find out from current Q5 owners how they're liking the Q5...any positive or negative feedback for a prospective new Q5 owner?

Thanks to you all in advance.

Welcome to the forum, CoPyRyTe (http://forums.audiworld.com/member.php?u=167091)!
Car is very complicated mechanical machine and with every machine you may have problems.
I own Japanese and German cars - and some of Japanese car has more problem then my BMW- witch is not in the list "Top 10 trouble free cars".
It's all depends and you never know.....

If you want reliable electronics, Japanese cars are still #1. If you want a solid chassis and suspension and a car that is fun to drive, the Germans cars are better at those catagories. Mechanically, Japanese is about the same as German reliability wise. One last point is that germans cars have made bigger improvments in relaibilty than the Japanese car in recent years. The big three German car makers are now consider average in relaibilty according to the lastest JD power long term relaibility. Also in the latest JD power report, the Gap between average and the top rank is getting smaller and smaller. My last car was a Lexus and I had more problem in the Lexus than my A6 so far.

My 5 cents worth: I've driven mostly VW and Audi for 25 years and have had some minor issues, once had a fuel injection problem with my Eurovan, but it was covered under warrantee. I once had a Camry that was almost "in the shop more than at home" and a Ford van that was a pleasure to own. Generally what I like about German cars is the quality, ride, handling and general feeling of security. It makes driving more fun and exciting. In one sense it is personal preferance, I have come to love the Audi brand and appreciate the depth of engineering behind it. That helps to offset any concerns about reliability, but in my opinion almost all brands today have a relatively high level of reliability, the margins between them have become small, so the relative risk is not very high (even for more "unreliable" brands)
Brand loyalty and personal preferance is a personal issue that each of us have to decide on for ourselves. For me the numbers are important, but I try and see them in perspective, because it goes beyond that for me.
Hope this is helpful! :)

Wow...awesome feedback so far...please keep it coming as this definately does help to put both my wife's and my mind at ease and go from a "prospective" to an "actual" Q5 owner.

Please forgive my ignorance into German cars as this will potentially be my first one. I've always owned Japanese cars...actually all Honda's (Civic, Integra and 2 TL's). I can honestly say that I've had no issues with any of those cars (with the exception of the Integra...but I did beat it to the ground). I was just unsure if I could expect the same worry free ownership of an Audi.

I was born and raised outside of Detroit with my father working for Ford Motor Company for 20+ years. Needless to say, between my loyalty to American companies and the employee discount I got with Ford, I've never bought anything but Ford's. 2 years ago I bought my wife one of the new Jeep Wrangler's since she'd always wanted one. Nice vehicle but I will never buy another Chrysler product. They are yet to conquer their electronics gremlins.

Anyway, all that leads me up to my first foreign car purchase, my new Q5. I've always been a German car enthusiast, just could never afford one. Now I can and there is no looking back. I am pleasantly surprised at the difference in build quality, attention to detail, etc. with this vehicle. Not to knock all the Ford's I've owned but there is a noticable difference. I can't compare to any other German/Japanese makes but like I mentioned, there's no turning back for me.

phxflyboy

My first German car since my '74 Super Beetle. I've owned Jeep, Mazda and Volvo before. The attention to detail, fit, ride quality, ergonomics and comfort with the Q5 are quite high. Audi needs to offer a semester course on using the MMI, but I'm beginning to adjust to it. As for reliability, even the once infallable Honda Accord has had issues. Consider the types of problems with specific models rather than making general blanket conclusion about a manufacturer. Are they problems that will leave you stranded beside the road, or are they relatively minor afflictions common to complex machinery? My Volvo had a recall notice or something to fix at nearly every service interval. All but one were minor, were fixed the first time by my dealer, and did little to reduce my satisfaction with day to day driving. Is the 'most releiable' car you hate to drive really the best choice? Good luck...

C'mon CoPyRyTe, go and test drive a Q5 and give us YOUR feedback! :)

C'mon CoPyRyTe, go and test drive a Q5 and give us YOUR feedback! :)

I've been on 2 very short test drives...'bout 10 minutes each. It's kinda hard to get a real sense of the "quality & ride" in such a short time.

However...the salesrep at the dealership will be loaning me a Q5 next weekend and I should get a much better idea.

I am very impressed with the layout and build quality of the interior...pretty much all Audi's I've ever been in had awesome interiors.

I'll keep you guys posted on the outcome of the loaner.

Thanks again for all your feedback.

I still think, as a general rule, the Japanese cars are more reliable than the German cars. All the Consumer Reports results have been pretty consistant regarding this. Anecdotaly, my 2000 A4 burned out more bulbs than I care to remember,my 2009 has been brought in to check the tunk opening up unexpectedly x4, my 2008 Lexus RX not even a squeak. It seems to me, and I could be waaaaaaaaaaaaaay off the mark here, that very much effort and expense goes into design and engineering, but not enough into "quality control" as in there are the (many time outsourced) small parts/switches/chips/whatevers that are not of high enough quality to perform well over time, or maybe some things are just too over-engineered, or maybe even having the attitude that these are performance cars, and as such just may need a bit more maintenance, but that's the price you pay, the bargain you make, for "German Engineering".
The good news is that overall the reliabilty of the Audis has gotten better and the Q5 is by far, the most fun car I have ever driven.

Bob

I don’t think is so much a quality control issue, it’s more of a technology issue. Companies such as Lexus and Toyota like to let someone else make their mistakes and then improve upon them. That is how they make their cars so reliable. Whereas the Germans like to push technology to the limit. I had 4 Lexus before I bought my A6 last year and my wife is about to pick up her Q5 next week. I can truly say that the newer Lexus are not as reliable as my 15 year old LS. In fact, every Lexus I have owned have been less and less reliable and the quality have also decline.
I think car companies' quality goes up and down in cycles, Lexus is on a down cycle and Audi is at or near the top right now. I see remarkable improvements in Audi quality and reliability in recent years. Don’t get me wrong, Audi is still not a Lexus when it comes to reliability, but chances are, it will not leave you stranded on the side of the road and the fun to drive factor more than make up for the occasional trip to the dealer.

I don’t think is so much a quality control issue, it’s more of a technology issue. Companies such as Lexus and Toyota like to let someone else make their mistakes and then improve upon them. That is how they make their cars so reliable. Whereas the Germans like to push technology to the limit. I had 4 Lexus before I bought my A6 last year and my wife is about to pick up her Q5 next week. I can truly say that the newer Lexus are not as reliable as my 15 year old LS. In fact, every Lexus I have owned have been less and less reliable and the quality have also decline.
I think car companies' quality goes up and down in cycles, Lexus is on a down cycle and Audi is at or near the top right now. I see remarkable improvements in Audi quality and reliability in recent years. Don’t get me wrong, Audi is still not a Lexus when it comes to reliability, but chances are, it will not leave you stranded on the side of the road and the fun to drive factor more than make up for the occasional trip to the dealer.


Maybe so, but the Japanese cars have always been top rated for reliability, German cars less so. And I think the Lexus top series (LS 460???) is pretty up there in technology. IMHO, I would rather wait a bit to get quality/reliability rather than be on the cutting edge ans having my car in the shop. Anyhow, the good news is that Audi's are getting better in all ways, including reliability.

Bob

I think the Lexus top series (LS 460???) is pretty up there in technology. Bob

I cannot think of one automotive technology that Lexus or ToOyota have invented, can you?

I cannot think of one automotive technology that Lexus or ToOyota have invented, can you?

Oh, I don't know any in particular, because I wouldn't know who made what first...on any car, but but do remember seeing and watching the presentaion as well as hearing the schpiel about the "new" technology on the LS 460(?) at the Lexus dealer, as well as driving in my friend's LS 460 and was incredibly wowed in both cases, by the handling as well as the technology. And I am not referring to that "automatic parking" manuever that the 460 does.
I would agree, the Germans do tend to be the leaders in ground-breaking technology though.

Oh, I don't know any in particular, because I wouldn't know who made what first...on any car, but but do remember seeing and watching the presentaion as well as hearing the schpiel about the "new" technology on the LS 460(?) at the Lexus dealer, as well as driving in my friend's LS 460 and was incredibly wowed in both cases, by the handling as well as the technology. And I am not referring to that "automatic parking" manuever that the 460 does.
I would agree, the Germans do tend to be the leaders in ground-breaking technology though.

From what I have heard, the LS's auto park does not work too well. Besides, I dont think I would let a computer drive my $80000 car :) I can see the insurance claim form now, the computer wrack my car :)
The A8 is by far the superior car when compare to the LS in my opinion. As a friend of mine put it, Lexus are cars design for passengers and BMW and Audi are cars design for the driver.

From what I have heard, the LS's auto park does not work too well. Besides, I dont think I would let a computer drive my $80000 car :) I can see the insurance claim form now, the computer wrack my car :)
The A8 is by far the superior car when compare to the LS in my opinion. As a friend of mine put it, Lexus are cars design for passengers and BMW and Audi are cars design for the driver.

Oh, I agree with letting that car park itself. The LS had a waaaay different feel than the other soft, cushy Lexus' - way more fel of the road. Having said that, I'D LOVE TO CHECK OUT THE A 8.
The only Audi I didn't like was the Q7 loaner they lent me while my Q5 was in to get checked out. Funny thing, I said to my wife, sort of feels like a Lexus!

Bob

Oh, I agree with letting that car park itself. The LS had a waaaay different feel than the other soft, cushy Lexus' - way more fel of the road. Having said that, I'D LOVE TO CHECK OUT THE A 8.
The only Audi I didn't like was the Q7 loaner they lent me while my Q5 was in to get checked out. Funny thing, I said to my wife, sort of feels like a Lexus!

Bob

I use to own a GS350 and that car is suppose to be the midsize sport sedan from Lexus, the handling wasnt even close to my A6. My co worker has a LS460 and his car was even worst that my GS when it comes to handling. The electric steering Lexus uses really takes away from a lot of the steering feedback. The LS is fast, but a sport sedan it is not.

Anecdotaly, my 2000 A4 burned out more bulbs than I care to remember,

That's what I notice a lot of also...so many with burnt brake lights, turn signals, headlights, etc.

To be honest, I don't really care as it's just a nuisance at best...but like everyone says, I just want to make sure that I'm not or won't be stranded in the middle of nowhere.

As for the handling questions, I'm not expecting the Q5 to handle as well as my current car ('05 Acura TL) but mind you it's not a fair comparison as one's a crossover and the other's a sport sedan that's been lowered with Eibach springs and has 19's on them. What I would like to compare the handling to is the BMW X5 as I've driven that several times and WOW...what handling from an SUV.

Any comments?

That's what I notice a lot of also...so many with burnt brake lights, turn signals, headlights, etc.

To be honest, I don't really care as it's just a nuisance at best...but like everyone says, I just want to make sure that I'm not or won't be stranded in the middle of nowhere.

As for the handling questions, I'm not expecting the Q5 to handle as well as my current car ('05 Acura TL) but mind you it's not a fair comparison as one's a crossover and the other's a sport sedan that's been lowered with Eibach springs and has 19's on them. What I would like to compare the handling to is the BMW X5 as I've driven that several times and WOW...what handling from an SUV.

Any comments?

We test drove the BMW X3, MB GLK, Lexus RX350 and the Q5. BMW X3 is the best handling of the bunch, but the interior was cheap looking and besides the handling, it really had nothing else going for it. GLK's interior was as bad as the X3 and it was the worst performer except for the Lexus. The RX350 was a soft rider with nice interior. We wanted performance and luxury, the Q5 wasnt the best at both of those catagories, but it perform well and the interior was very close to Lexus. In the end, we choose the Q5 because it had the best of both world.

We test drove the BMW X3, MB GLK, Lexus RX350 and the Q5. BMW X3 is the best handling of the bunch, but the interior was cheap looking and besides the handling, it really had nothing else going for it. GLK's interior was as bad as the X3 and it was the worst performer except for the Lexus. The RX350 was a soft rider with nice interior. We wanted performance and luxury, the Q5 wasnt the best at both of those catagories, but it perform well and the interior was very close to Lexus. In the end, we choose the Q5 because it had the best of both world.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/images/smilies/clap.gif

same here . I almost convict my wife for 328 wagon and then we saw Q5 (for almost the same price). The are no way we get back to sport wagon :)