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| 2005 Audi A4 Review | |||
| Whether you're about to spend $40K on a brand new car, or half that on a used car, it is always important to learn as much as you can about the used car. Read these car reviews to learn about all aspects of the vehicle. Each of the usedcar reviews cover interior and exterior features, options, road tests, and more. | |||
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Introduction
| Road Test
| Inside & Out
| Other Thoughts
| Last Word
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| Other Thoughts | |||
For the record, Audi's makeover took place at a random point in the 2005 model year, probably confusing everyone. While configurations have shrunk somewhat, the A4 continues to give the most choice. Choose between front-wheel-drive (FronTrak) or all-wheel-drive (Quattro). Between a 4-cylinder (2.0T) and V6 (3.2) engine. Between a 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic (Tiptronic), and Continuously Variable Transmission (Multitronic); don't be surprised if Audi's innovative clutchless manual transmission (DSG) joins us soon. Sedans and wagons (Avants) ride on the new body style; the convertibles (Cabriolets) have not caught up yet. These elements only combine in certain ways; let's use real terminology instead of Audi's marketing schlock.Filtering by engine first, 4-cylinder models get the most variety. Both front-drive and all-wheel-drive ($2,100 extra) A4s start with the 6-speed manual. Front-drivers optionally get the CVT while all-wheel-drive models go the 6-speed automatic route. $1,200 either way. The V6 ($4,750 extra) keeps things easy, coming only with all-wheel-drive and the 6-speed automatic. Audi calls the V6 model the "A4 3.2," demonstrating less math proficiency than the average third-grader. Quick, someone tell these guys that 3,123cc rounds to 3.1 liters! Wagons ($1,000 extra) are all-wheel-drive only and therefore either come with a manual or automatic attached to the 4-cylinder, or with an automatic attached to the V6. The V6 lineup has been the victim of downsizing. In 2002 the front-drive, V6, manual model vanished. This year the front-drive, V6, CVT and the all-wheel-drive, V6, manual models join the casualties. Why scale back on the upscale models? Seems to me that V6 with all-wheel-drive is the way to go. It's the only way to escape the viewpoint of the A4 being an overpriced Volkswagen, which will gain validity when the 2.0T engine finds its way under the hood of the 2006 Jetta GLI. Jetta is of the same size and space, similar mechanicals (despite separate platforms), feels 90% as nice, and surely will start thousands below $28,070, the price of the least expensive A4. And isn't there something iffy about an Audi with four cylinders? Did I mention that the V6 also gets Audi's FSI technology, a super-efficient 12.5:1 compression ratio, and makes an astounding 255 horsepower from 3.1 liters? The V6 would cure the A4's low-speed torque and behavior quirks in a snap, and is better suited to hauling around the extra mass of all-wheel-drive. That's not to imply that four driven wheels are better than two. In fact, anyone living in a sunshine state would be better off with any of the A4's myriad rear-drive competitors. But aside from the V6, Quattro is the other piece of mechanical legitimacy that lets the A4 rise above the Jetta. So it's settled: you're getting an A4 3.2 Quattro - the first four-seasons sports sedan that could always go where no Mercedes C-class, Lexus IS300, or Cadillac CTS dare tread. But four other automakers snuck in new AWD models while Audi wasn't watching. Today, the $36,120 A4 stands a tad under the 2005 BMW 330xi ($39,420) but above the Infiniti G35x ($33,410), Jaguar X-Type ($31,905), and Volvo S60 2.5T ($30,712). The Bimmer and Jag still offer manual transmissions, the Volvo's a tad safer, and the Infiniti's interior is the least cramped by far. Each has its own driving flavor; the A4's fun factor falls in the middle. Few would disagree that this Audi is more accomplished than the Volvo or Jag. |
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