Question: Audi`s, Over rated or poor quality?

[reptor245]

Hey guys. I was just wondering if the brand Audi is over rated as quality. The reason I ask this is that I’ve been a member on here a couple of years and read countless post from members about how much they cost to run after replacing countless parts. Even using Vag-Com to nail down the part required, members still post about having to keep replacing parts.

Having owned mine for 4 yrs. now I have replaced, coil packs, rear wiper motor twice, front wiper linkage, temp sensors, both windows arms down to windows dropping (was before I knew about just the plastic clips and Audi robbed me...lol) Alarm box packed in but have a full closer Clifford alarm so not bothered about that, starter motor due to noise, Air-con pump failure and had roof painted due to the roof rail rust.
That's not to mention the personal upgrades I’ve done due to choice.

Anyways what I’m saying is the above I’ve listed seem to be common failures with most members as well as other part failures that I’ve not listed.
So what’s the general feeling with you guys, did you think buying an Audi would be a solid buy?
Sure I love my car and wouldn't change it but having read about other member’s problem over the years I think they don't have a name of Quality.

 

[S3Steve]

I think Audi's are definately a quality make. What you need to remember about forums is that people only post when they have problems or failures, not when there car is running perfectly. Personally ive had my S3 for over 6 years and the only things ive replaced have been servicing items and things ive upgraded.

 

[Inertiauk]

Their reliability is a bit over rated IMHO. Still love them though. they have a solidness and quality to them, but they do have a lot of issues.
If you want something that's going to be cheap to keep in good repair, buy a vauxhall.

 

[symun]

you've never owned a land rover then.

 

[alijames]

I had 2 Mazda 323 1.8 GTs back in the 90s, 1x 3 door and 1x 5 door, and an MX5 and I can honestly say, apart from the odd bulb and the usual tyres, brakes and other service items, did not have to spend a bean on them. Did ~100k in the two 323s, and 50k in the MX5 over the years I had them. Both 323s were at ~200k when I sold them, and both were still on the original clutch too!!

More than can be said for my S3 which has had 2 clutches in the last year, the first due to slave cylinder failure, and the second courtesy of an oil leak from a faulty VVT unit, plus several sensors and springs.

Although not quite Japan standard in reliability, my S3 has been better then a mate's 2 Focus STs which have spent major time in the garage!!

Cheers,

 

[reptor245]

I bought a Vauxhall Astra Sxi brand new and had only 2 miles on the clock. I owned it for 8 years until i sold it for my Audi. It had 83000 miles on it when i sold it. I can honestly say as above, apart from the odd bulb and wiper blades, plus the normal service parts i.e oil and filter and plugs. It didnt cost me a bean either.

bought my Audi 4 years ago and cost me about 4K...

Im not moaning or compairing because clearly they are worlds apart on build and legacy but i think that is just it. Your buying a name with low reliability i think.

Its all well and good saying people on forums only mention bad points / faults and thats true to a certain extent but......But members since signing up will mention a fault or failiure every few months in general i think.

As i said, im not moaning about my car and suggesting i sell it. Im just saying i dont think the "Audi" brand is a legend and we are led to beleive..

 

[Ash B]

I'd say Audi's have good quality. As Steve said people will post when they have problems and not when the car running perfect.
And remember some of the cars on here are over 10years old. So things are going to go wrong and need replacing. My car only a 54reg A3 had it over three years and done over 40k. Only thing ive had to change is the clutch and that was due to be messing around

 

[reptor245]

And remember some of the cars on here are over 10years old

That is also tru and with that i mind, how can you explain people who have changed the coil packs only to find out they need changing a few years if not within a year later?
Also ive read a fair few comments from members who seem to say "Its a common fault" i.e coil packs, temp sensors, limp mode, wiper motors, Central locking pump fails..

 

[a3Nate]

the difficulty is most of our cars are pre owned in varied states of care even if sold with full Audi service history members now know of parts that will still fail so with the best intentions in the world you cant gaurantee the quality of your car. Ive had a lot of Fords and they have sensors go and engine problems but the engine bays are simpler than Audi and easier to fix IMHO. Whilst theres a few rust spots in common A3 rust homes my same aged Escort was far worse even with regular underseal treatments. The headache I have with the VAG is cost,parts are dearer and as youve said without decent fault scan you could buy a heap of wrong parts and still run rough,faulty etc. I personally wouldnt say poor quality perhaps just a tad over rated.

 

[JoeD]

Audi's are reliable lol

 

[Inertiauk]

Audi's are reliable lol

My S3 doesnt get called reliable by me when my clutch pedal fails (after replacing it 3 months prior) and i'm on my way to an important appointment but left stranded. Literally i was relying on it and it failed to be reliable.

i love the car, but they do break. and when you fix them with genuine parts, they still break again.

 

[aragorn]

Most cars have design flaws, and the more innovative a manufacturer is, the more of these flaws are likely.

COP ignition was pretty new/rare when Audi fitted it to these engines, so as a result, you get teething problems and it takes a while for the parts to be produced of satisfactory quality. As always money comes into it as well, as each company along the supply chain want to maximise profit.

A quite a few of the "common faults" are imo simply down to bad maintenance.

 

[S3 Nattie]

Everything i thought a s3 would be it hasnt, dissapointed in a fair few areas but it was the best overall car i could afford at the time.

Oh well mines going very soon, been there done that but wont be repeating it.

 

[Endacy]

I have a 1969 Land Rover. It leaks and bits fail all the time, they are poor design generally and all the new bits are th same still, design unchanged for 40+ years, so they still fail. I still love it though!

I have changed LOTS on my A3 1.8TQS, BUT most of the parts i've changed have been uprated and fixed by Audi, new design ARB's, new type dump valve, to name a couple. Others have been age / maintenance related.

People say to me 'aren't you going to get a new car, you're always fixing that one it's unreliable'. Then I point out it's 11 years old and they say 'really? oh...'. It's an old car so I expect it.

I recently helped someone choose a car, between an Audi A3 or BMW 118 M-sport. The BMW had 50k miles, the A3 80k. The interior in the BMW was awful, worn cheap and naff. The Audi was mostly as new. Such a difference I was shocked actually. I thought the BMW would have been nicer really. So they bought the A3, lovely car, DSG gearbox turned out to be faulty though

 

[Inertiauk]

lol @ gearbox.

im shocked at the bmw too, i bet it was clocked.

 

[voorhees]

Over rated or poor quality...neither,owned mine nearly six years and it has never not started

 

[Lings]

Most cars have common faults .Audi's are reliable but expensive to repair .they drive much better than most and hold there value well . I had 2 8ls one was awful the other was excellent .I now have an 8p which so far is sound as a pound .Time will tel

Audi should not be charging for certain extras though .Imo they have gone a bit over the top charging for certain extras .thats why i will never ever buy new ...

 

[reptor245]

hold there value well.

Hardly...Look

Audi A3 Hatchback S3 Quattro 3dr 2001 (51)
110,000 miles
Dealer £3,755
Private £3,680
Part exchange £3,610
Trade £3,445
Cost new £25,000

£25k new and £3.5K now...Not realy holding price well..id say more like normal.

Just for a laugh i compaired that to my old astra..Heres the reults..

Vauxhall Astra Hatchback 1.6i 16v SXi 5dr 1999 (T )
130,000 miles
Dealer £875
Private £680
Part exchange £670
Trade £575
Cost new £13795

The new price i paid was £13700 so that would be a loss of about 12k for a 12yr old car as opposed to the loss of 21k from the S3 and thats provided the S3 has only 110,000 miles.

 

[sportstractor]

It's unfair to say that they are generally unreliable. But they are complex and therefore require a fair bit of maintenance. Although there are some faults that are not excusable, like clutch pedals snapping!

With you on the depreciation, as with any premium car. They have dropped on par with with rising fuel and road tax. I think il get another one, although it will probably a tdi, and no older than 5 years old

 

[tyrrelll]

I own an Audi because I love them all round. I owned an 8L now an 8P and guarantee my next car will also be an Audi. Sure they have their faults but what car doesn't? I dont think the brand is over rated, I love the brand thats why i'm an Audi owner.

 

[DenCar]

I think the A3 8ls are let down by the gear box, just should have been better

DC

 

[Sock]

I expected superior quality when I bought Both my Audi's and even though i am new to the name i think the quality over all is far better than some of the other names I have had.

As may be obvious I am very unlikely to buy another Ford as i had more problems with the 3 fords I have owned then the rest of my cars put together, and to add to that the customer service from them is appauling!

Yes I have had a few problems with the Audi's but nothing is perfect and the feel and looks still make the A3 and S3 a great place to be and Audi so far have given good service over all even if they were not able to find the faults.

Maybe I just expected to much from the Fords and they were not able to cope with what I put them through lol

 

[sportquattro]

The Audi S3 is a £25-£30k car that a lot of people on here modify well beyond the origional design, there are a number of inherant design faults that are not good, but, it's also important to remember that the 8L is now aproaching 15 years old for the early ones and on any forum you are going to hear about problems far more than the "my Audis running great" threads, that said if they are properly maintained with regular oil changes and as a lot of A-SN Members have proven they can go on for a long long time, any car can have problems but lets face it we all continue to run and mod our A3/S3s so they cant be all bad. View them for what they are, 10-15 year old £30k cars that have been frequently modified and have corrosponding running costs.

Nige

 

[Lings]

Hardly...Look

Audi A3 Hatchback S3 Quattro 3dr 2001 (51)
110,000 miles
Dealer £3,755
Private £3,680
Part exchange £3,610
Trade £3,445
Cost new £25,000

£25k new and £3.5K now...Not realy holding price well..id say more like normal.

Just for a laugh i compaired that to my old astra..Heres the reults..

Vauxhall Astra Hatchback 1.6i 16v SXi 5dr 1999 (T )
130,000 miles
Dealer £875
Private £680
Part exchange £670
Trade £575
Cost new £13795

The new price i paid was £13700 so that would be a loss of about 12k for a 12yr old car as opposed to the loss of 21k from the S3 and thats provided the S3 has only 110,000 miles.

what the feck ? your cars old lad !
8l are bound to depreciate .8p have been arond for a long time and the new model is imminent .

 

[reptor245]

what the feck ? your cars old lad !
8l are bound to depreciate .

Errr thisis a 8l forum. Think you will find most member is here are

old lad !.

As i said.. Hardly

hold there value well .

 

[JoeD]

My S3 doesnt get called reliable by me when my clutch pedal fails (after replacing it 3 months prior) and i'm on my way to an important appointment but left stranded. Literally i was relying on it and it failed to be reliable.

i love the car, but they do break. and when you fix them with genuine parts, they still break again.

Was only joking mate, mines spent more time in the garage than it has on the road. I've almost perfected the axle stand stance for the S3...

 

[superkarl]

I don't care if it breaks on me, il love it some more and make it even better.
For me my car is a hobby and project anyway. Bring on the work!

 

[Dane]

Mines fecking sweet, I think it's unreasonable to expect 10 year old + cars to perform as new, particularly the performance models. And Whilst it has it's moments, working through them only makes me more attached to mine.