New car time: Audi A4. Advice?

[RampantAndroid]

Hi all,

Acura finally got me mad enough with my oil issues (they claimed the oil pressure issue was due to my "aftermarket" oil filter despite the problem existing even when they did the oil changes. When I told them that, they finally admitted they had no idea and gave up.)

So I've been looking around. I looked at an IS350, but even with the dealer's "deal" of 45k for the car, it's too much for too little money.

I get an employer discount with Audi - 6% off sticker. So I'm looking at an A4: Premium Plus, with MMI+. What I cannot decide on is whether I want the sport package for 1k. Is it worth it? Different wheel, tuned suspension and new seats. Can anyone say if it's worth 1k? When I'm paying 42k for a car already, another 1k for sport tuning seems like chump change.

Any other reasons to NOT get the Audi? I'm disregarding the "german cars are not reliable" stuff since my Honda has been nothing but problems and Honda is supposed to be ULTRA reliable. I take it all with a grain of salt now.

Thanks!
RA

 

[Phanuel]

I'd say look at the 328i as well, or wait for the A3 but you clearly need to purchase now. The 328i might be just as pricey as the IS350 with any options. None of these "entry" level German sedans are reasonable at all anymore. The A4 quickly balloons up past $45k as well if I recall.

I have an older B7 chassis A4 and it's fine so far, ~70k miles. But it might be an exception as well in the other direction on the reliability scale. I'm planning on seeing how the S3 materializes and probably replacing it with that next year.

 

[RampantAndroid]

I'd say look at the 328i as well, or wait for the A3 but you clearly need to purchase now. The 328i might be just as pricey as the IS350 with any options. None of these "entry" level German sedans are reasonable at all anymore. The A4 quickly balloons up past $45k as well if I recall.

I have an older B7 chassis A4 and it's fine so far, ~70k miles. But it might be an exception as well in the other direction on the reliability scale. I'm planning on seeing how the S3 materializes and probably replacing it with that next year.

The A4 doesn't balloon so much - again I have that 6% advantage, but an A4 that's the middle package (premium vs premium plus vs prestige) isn't too bad. Premium plus doesn't come with nav for example, but prestige does.

I drove a 328 and it was more money than I wanted to spend, configured. For what I want, it looked like I'd need to order and wait 11 weeks. The A4 I want is on the lot (albeit I might not get the nice blue I want with a black interior, but I can accept dark gray or black on the outside.) I'd wait for the A3, but I'd rather wash my hands of this TSX sooner rather than later.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I really have a problem when you only get 210HP for a $41K price - that just seems absurd.

 

[RampantAndroid]

I really have a problem when you only get 210HP for a $41K price - that just seems absurd.

220, actually, with torque being 258 iirc. 0-60 in 6.2 seconds. I'm fine with that, really. The A4 felt just as powerful as the IS350 despite the 80HP/20ft.lb. difference in favor of the Lexus (6 speed vs 8, I guess.) I'm not buying a sports car here, I'm buying sports sedan, I guess. I don't care if my 0-60 is 5 or 6. I want a car that it has get up and go when I need it. Which it does.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

I really have a problem when you only get 210HP for a $41K price - that just seems absurd.

I was shocked that its the only one of its competitors that's fwd unless you go for the awd option.

 

[lavaheadache]

New cars are such a scam