I had a new Audi GT Coupe in 1986, and it was a wonderful car to drive, had good A/C (which '80s Benzes never had), a nice gearbox, and a smooth 5-cylinder engine with reliable K-jet injection. The bad things were that little things like power windows would screw up and cost $500.00 to fix after the warranty expired. (This was before Audi tried to fix its reputation with endless warranties) I have heard and observed that the newer Audi "A" series cars are of very high quality. The looks, design, colors, and interior materials and textures are far and away the most attractive of the German cars. The interior of the TT is SO cool! The A6 is available with a 2.7 liter turbo V6 with a manual transmission, and all engines in the A4 are available with manuals. M-B should learn a lesson from BMW and Audi, as well as most of the Japanese companies, and offer manual transmissions with the optional engines up through the E-class. Anyway, I think the new Audis are great cars.

I owned a 1984 Audi GT coupe. One of the best cars I have owned (next to my 300TE). No problems and looked great. Only drawback was the color, guards red, seemed to draw police from miles around (well, it could have been my driving also!). Traded it in on a Jeep Cheroke, what a lemon! I wish I still had the Audi.

Ed C.
88 300TE
95 900S

The build quality seems to be improved on the newer Audis and they are attracive cars ( they copied a lot from the Mercedes Benz styling). You must look at the maintenance requirements and tools that need to be purchased. For example look at BMWs, you have got to invest a lost of cash in tools to do just basic maint. Not true for Mercedes-Benz.

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1990 190E 2.6
1996 Grand Voyager 3.3
1985 Mustang GT 5.0 5 SPD
1982 Suzuki GS 750T

My brother has a 98' A4 with a 1.8T and a 5spd tranny. This car has been an excellent car! I have driven it a few times and it is a dream to drive! Very smooooth! He has 69k miles on it from freeway driving and it still runs like new. It has held up extremely well and when it is cleaned up it looks new! He even got 65K out of the standard Goodyear LS tires. His only gripes are the service costs. $100 for an oil change at the dealer!! He has a slip for $583 for oil change and new brakes! I drove the car from Atlanta to Biloxi and had it up to 110mph in the rain and it never missed a beat. We got 25mpg round trip at 80mph and above! Awesome car! I would consider one.

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Current stable......
17' Rogue SV 70k
11’ Saab 9-5 NG 94k
10’ e550 4matic 185k

sold
02' e320 210k
00' e430 167k
01' e320 171k (regret sale)
91' 300d 2.5t 300k (sold to ecoofidaho)
79' 240d 177k (old yellow my avatar)
87' 300d 169k (junk but fast)
85' 300tdt 261k (RBM parts delivery)
85' 300dt 68k (one owner cream puff)
82' 240d 250k
84' 300dt 198k (sold to diesel don)
91' 190e 2.3 61k
88' 260e 140k

If its not a benz, its junk!!!

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1996 E320
2000 C230 Kompressor
1988 190e 2.3 - 225K miles, owned for 7 years. I cannot say enough good things about this car. Very well built, even at 225 it ran like new.

I think the build quality of current Audi models is superior to that of current MBs. Check out the interior of an A6 or the new A4 and compare with the new C, the present E, the SLK, the CLK, even the S.

As has been stated elsewhere, the interior of the TT (do you get that in the US??) is about the best of any car available today, especially when fitted with the baseball glove leather and stitching.

The detailing for my money is superior, too. Look at the alloy wheels, the rubbing strips along the side, the use of aluminium trim rather than chrome.

Of course, all this could be said of VW, too. How about the new Passat W8? 4 litre 8 cylinder engine arranged in a W format.

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JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190

I just saw the results of a direct one-on-one physical comparison between an Audi and a Suburban. My vote goes to the Suburban, there was much more left.

My 2 cents...

My Dad had an '81 Audi 5000 Turbo -- piece of crap. Fun to drive tho'!

Jump ahead 19 yrs... A buddy of mine purchased one of the first TTs in the state, nice car. Interior at the time was kind of "neat", little too trendy (silly) and I thought some pieces looked cheap. The A8 on the other hand! I don't like the exterior styling of the Audi's much -- remind me of kitchen appliance design.