From: brad@buck.viewlogic.com (Bradford Kellogg)
Subject: Re: 1990 Audi 100 SUCKS !! (a bit long)
Originator: brad@buck
Organization: Viewlogic Systems, Inc.
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 23:35:45 GMT


In article <8f=VQ4e00WBLQ2pHET@andrew.cmu.edu>, "Joseph D. Mazza" <mazz+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
|> 
|> Sounds like deja vu!  Back in 1970 I bought an Audi 100LS in its first
|> model year.  BIG mistake.  EVERYTHING, and I mean literally EVERYTHING
|> went wrong with it.  

I have a 1987 Audi 4000CS Quattro with 120K miles on it. My experience has
not been quite the same. 

|> 
|> Temp & Fuel guages either dead altogether, or else erratic and inaccurate.
|> 
Never a problem with these.

|> Windshield washer inop.
|> 
Never a problem with this.

|> Air conditioner noisy and completely useless.  Warm air only.
|> 
A couple of breakdowns with this. After repair, works fairly well.

|> Hubcaps kept falling off -- literally.
|> 
Never a problem with this, but these are Alloy wheels with snap-in small 
plastic hubcaps, so this probably doesn't compare. 

|> The car didn't merely hesitate -- it LURCHED every time you even looked
|> at the accelerator --  IMPOSSIBLE to drive smoothly.
|> 
Hesitation problem with a failed O2 sensor, and again with a split hose. After
repair, no problem.

|> Alternator mounting bracket failed repeatedly, as did the alternator.
|> 
Never a problem with this.

|> OFTEN failed to start.  It got so bad that after the fourth time the
|> dealer brought me out a new loaner 100LS one evening while he towed mine
|> back to be fixed.  The next morning the LOANER wouldn't start!  (Late
|> for work yet again...)
|> 
Never a problem with this (except for that time I mistakenly pulled out 
the fuse for the fuel injection...)

|> An engine mount failed allowing one corner of the underslung engine to
|> shift downward and screw up the drive train alignment.
|> 
Never a problem with this.

|> The exhaust BURNED A HOLE INTO THE TRUNK when a leak developed in the
|> top of the tailpipe where it jogged upward over the rear axle.
|> 
Never a problem with this.

|> IMPOSSIBLE to keep the front end aligned.
|> 
I've had a few alignments, but only after many miles on very rough roads.

|> From what I've read, the 100LS was so bad that Audi banished its name
|> from the U.S.  The "100" continued in Europe, but here it was the
|> "5000." (Apparently, even the mere mention of the 100LS sent shivers up
|> Audi's corporate spine!)
|> 
The 100LS evidently proved to be ill-conceived or ill-executed.

|> Ever since my 100LS experience I've avoided Audi's like the plague --
|> despite their seemingly high quality/cost ratio and many testimonials
|> about how much they've IMPROVED over the years.  Forget it.  They had
|> their chance with me.  I had a friend at the time who was car shopping
|> along with me.  On the same day that I bought the Audi he bought a BMW
|> "Bavaria."  His cost about $1500 more than mine at the time, but he had
|> NO problems with it -- and I had to endure his constant raves about how
|> great a car it was while mine was limping (or being towed) into the shop
|> every couple of days.  Long story short: Two BMW's later I've never
|> missed the Audi for an instant.  
|> 
|> I'm sorry about all your problems, but not surprised.  It's just the
|> "100" living up to it's proud heritage!

I wonder if the design team that conceived the 4000 was different than
the team that designed the 100. My mechanic, who specializes in BMW's,
says that the 4000 was the best car Audi ever made. From my experience,
I would consider buying another Audi. The only BMW I would consider 
would be a 325iX, because the rear drive ones are notoriously terrible
in the snow, and I frequently head up to Vermont in the winter. I guess 
that's the way the cookie crumbles.

- BK
Newsgroups: rec.autos