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2008 Audi A4

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2012 Audi A4

Overview

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2008 Audi A4 Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

With so much to love about the 2008 Audi A4, it's hard to find a reason not to own one. From a driving enthusiast's point of view, the A4's quattro all-wheel drive and energetic turbocharged four-cylinder engine make it the nearly-ideal car, while young status seekers crave it for its upscale pedigree and reasonably affordable price. Audi even nails the little things many of its competitors overlook, such as backlighting every switch and control regardless of importance. If it weren't for the A4's somewhat cramped rear quarters, we'd almost be tempted to call it the perfect sedan.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you like the idea of paying thousands less for a European sports sedan that is as frugal with fuel as it is quick off the line, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better choice than the A4. Optional quattro all-wheel drive is a bonus for snow belt residents.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you think a bona fide premium sports sedan has rear-wheel drive and a normally aspirated, non-turbo engine -- like the Mercedes-Benz C350, Infiniti G35 and Lexus IS 350 -- you may find the Audi A4 a little impure for your tastes. Taller folks might also find the driving position somewhat confining.

What's New for 2008

All A4s receive the S line package as standard equipment. The package includes aggressive front and rear fascias, larger side moldings and an integrated trunk spoiler.

Driving the A4

Driving Impressions We drove the six-speed automatic and six-speed manual versions of the 2008 Audi A4, each with the four-cylinder turbo engine and quattro all-wheel drive. While the automatic model was a...

joy on the highway -- delivering a quiet, comfortable ride, inspiring stability and with plenty of power to pass -- the transmission magnified the engine's turbo lag in the stop-and-go of city driving. The manual car, on the other hand, was equally impressive on the highway while also providing more of the kick we expect from a sports sedan. When sunny skies turn to rainy weather the all-weather traction advantages of the renowned quattro all-wheel-drive system are much appreciated and, even in dry weather, we could feel its calming influence while negotiating curving on-ramps and the like.

Favorite Features

One-Touch Windows
Even when we expect a vehicle to have four one-touch up/down windows, we're still delighted with their ease and convenience. They make life a little easier.

Audi Navigation
The simple and intuitive touch screen fits nicely into the dash. Behind the flip-down screen you'll find two SD memory card slots, which can be used to play MP3-formated music files through the audio system.

2008 Audi A4 Details

Interior

The A4's rear seat can be tight on legroom for some, and the front armrest can interfere with the parking brake lever. Beyond these minor points, however, we find the A4's comfortable, stylish and well-crafted cabin nearly without fault. The textured aluminum is one of the finest examples of interior metal trim we've ever seen, and every surface and seam is pleasing to both the eye and the touch. If you're looking for a nice place to spend a commute, you won't have to look beyond the A4.

Exterior

From the side, it wouldn't be hard to mistake the 2008 Audi A4 for the last-generation car (model year 2002 to 2005). And if your vision isn't what it used to be, you might be excused for confusing the two from the rear. But only from a mile away, on a moonless night in the middle of the Black Forest, could you mistake the two models from the front. At first, we thought the Audi family's trapezoidal big-mouth grille looked less graceful on the A4 than when we first saw it on the larger A6 and A8. But, like its big brothers, the A4 seems to embrace its identity a little more warmly every time we see it.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The base A4 powertrain includes a four-cylinder turbo engine, six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. In addition, the well-equipped entry A4 features an AM/FM stereo with in-dash six-disc CD changer, one-touch up/down windows, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth seats, leather-wrapped wheel/shifter/handbrake, four-way adjustable/multifunction steering wheel, cruise control, fog lights and 16-inch alloy wheels. Standard safety equipment includes a sophisticated anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control, active front head restraints and front, front-side and two-row head-curtain airbags.

Optional Equipment

In addition to an impressive list of standard features, the A4 also features a long list of options, including a choice between leather and premium leather seating, DVD-based navigation, premium sound system, heated seats, driver-position memory, rear-window sunshades, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, wood trim, Homelink, auto-dimming/power-folding outside mirrors, bi-xenon adaptive self-leveling headlamps, retractable high-pressure headlamp washers, 17-inch wheels, a sport suspension and rear side-impact airbags.

Under the Hood

The A4's available four- or six-cylinder engines come with sophisticated FSI Direct Injection technology designed to deliver increased power and better mileage. The V6 is the smoother and more powerful engine of the two, but the four-cylinder turbo is lighter (promoting better handling), less expensive and delivers better fuel mileage. Also available in varying combinations are front-drive and quattro all-wheel-drive systems, plus six-speed manual, six-speed Tiptronic automatic and continuously-variable transmissions. The front-drive V6 A4 comes with the automatic transmission only.

2.0-liter in-line 4 Turbocharged
200 horsepower @ 5100-6000 rpm
207 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1800-5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/31 (FWD, manual), 21/30 (FWD, automatic), 20/28 (AWD, manual), 19/27 (AWD, automatic)

3.2-liter V6
255 horsepower @ 6500 rpm
243 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/27 (FWD, automatic), 15/25 (AWD, manual) 17/25 (AWD, automatic)

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2008 Audi A4 Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.7

Out of 10

Based on 300 Ratings for the 2005 - 2008 Audi A4 models.

Review this car

Value

8.9/10

Quality

9.0/10
Reliability

8.9/10

Performance

9.1/10
Comfort

9.0/10

Styling

9.2/10

Oil consumption issues.

By Rich (NY) on Thursday, May 24, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 79,000

10 6.0

overall rating 6 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 6/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 1/10
Quality: 3/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Handling, Great Performance and Driving Pleasure."

Cons: "Poor Reliability."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"Let me first say I love my Audi it has been one of the best driving cars I have ever owned. However I have had nothing but disappointment with the engine in particular. At 35,000 miles I noticed a little bit of oil on the top of the engine it turned out to be a bad PCV valve. At 45,000 the oil burning started about one quart of pile every 2,000 miles around 55,000 the PCV valve was found to be blown again and was replace oil consumption was now around 1 quart for about 1,700 miles driven and over time it continued to get worst. At 75,000 mile I could not get the car to shift and it tuned out to be a break light switch a $350 part at that time I had the timing belt replace with the water pump and rollers and thermostat. $2200 a week later white smoke was poring out the tail pipe. It turned out to be a bad Turbo Charger... $2000 and then after another 3000 miles I find out the piston rings are shot which is causing the crank case to pressurize and blow oil into the exhaust threw the turbo. Either a full engine rebuild or replacement. I am do with dumping money into a car like this. I can afford to keep it. So I am forced to let her go... I loved the car but be warned. The truth in engineering is that there was no engineering of this car."

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Iron stallion

By GW (TX) on Thursday, April 05, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 27,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Strong build, Attractive looks, Powerful engine"

Cons: "Acceleration is not smooth as butter (newer one is"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This car is a beauty. The wagon is very rare in Texas. The 3.2L Engine is a rocket and the quatro handling will make speeds of over 100 even 130 seem smoother than 50 when taking on the west Texas state highways. Maintenance has been minimal - this car is extremely well built and the Audi mechanics in Dallas sing its praises every time we bring it by "just to make sure" everything is running smoothly. We though about trading this car in for a newer model, but love this version so much for its heavier weight and sturdiness relative to the newer models that it will remain a keeper."

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