Preview: 2009 Audi A4

By Gus #1, Posted: 7/17/2007

What is it with front-wheel drive?
Real sports cars use rear wheel drive or all wheel drive, simply due to the physics of tire loads, cornering and power application.
I wish Audi would just realize this and go the way of BMW and Mercedes, offering only RWD or AWD.

By andrew #2, Posted: 7/17/2007

they do it because of all the platform sharing with the passat
if they were to switch they should switch the entire platform too
which they should anyway

By Bill #3, Posted: 7/17/2007

The car looks great except for that Audi grille which still hasn't grown on me. I'll take one in the 450hp+ version please. If I start robbing banks now I *should* be able to afford it by 2009 ;).

By Ronny B. #4, Posted: 7/17/2007

Gus, since when is the A4 a sports car? Performance versions like the S and RS are all AWD.

Did you realize that FWD can offer better fuel, economy, lower production costs, lower drivetrain losses, better interior packaging and in some cases better handling becuase of the weight of the engine on the front axle.

If i wanted to buy an economical sedan like the 1.8 versions, FWD would be ideal for me. Audi is smart to offer both FWD and AWD options.

Not everybody views their cars as sports cars.

By p__ #5, Posted: 7/17/2007

its the stupid, annoying grill that still bothers me. its really loud and obnoxious and i will never purchase the A4........."look at me, i have a big nose".....

By Monster #6, Posted: 7/17/2007

Well, Audi has so more than A4 model to choose from, just choose a sport car. R8 maybe. Or if you want a sedan then go for the RS4. Or maybe RS5. Or, if not enough cash, take the S4/S5 still very sporty, but also a very decent daily car.
If you wanna go for an A4 with front wheel drive you probably want the car to just drive around. You know, my mother doesn't race very often, but she enjoys a nice car, she could care less if it's fwd or rwd. But if I tell her than in the wet/snow she could u-turn the car every time she turns and touches the gas a little, then maybe she'll refuse the RWD.

Rear driver sucks on a regular car, it may be great for a track day, for a race on a dry day, but anything besides that RWD is detrimental compared to the Quattro/AWD or even FWD. Even when wet, I just love the way a Quattro jumps forward from a stop, not like a RWD who will need to barely touch the gas, to pay attention to not move it's ass in the cars around him. Even on the dry, if the street is declined a little to one side, the car's rear will swerve toward that. I saw a guy driving a Honda S2000 decap (RWD) almost hitting a bus when (first at the intersection) he tried to impress his girlfriend. Not every body is a racer, regular people have no good with the RWD system, the others are much better for an average buyer.

By Gus #7, Posted: 7/17/2007

Here in Southern California, rain and low traction are not an issue, so maybe that's why I don't really care for FWD. In those conditions, I agree, FWD is better than RWD.
But as such, I still maintain (and I'm sure most enthusiasts would agree) that as a "sporting" car, RWD is far superior to FWD when powering up the occasional twisty road. I see FWD as primarily a cost cutting measure. AWD is excellent (esp from Audi), but expensive...

By James #8, Posted: 7/20/2007

"Monster" I completely agree with you man...

I spoke with an Audi sales man the other day. Apparently the new A4/S4 will be built on the A5/S5 frame giving it more interior room and a wider stance. As far as the comments regarding FWD, RWD, or AWD... firstly... you don't buy an A4 for speed. It is a small family sedan. If you want speed and performance you get an S4 or RS4 which is AWD. Anyone claiming to be a car "enthusiast" would not even consider an "A" series Audi anyway. That is what the "S" and "RS" series are for. An "enthusiast" would not buy a Subaru Legacy... he/she would buy a Subaru STi or WRX. These classifications are not about cost cutting, they are about being able to provide your product to the widest range of customers. I notice that many of you keep using the word "enthusiast" to describe your stance with cars... if that were true then you would only consider cars with these criteria...

1. AWD... (RWD at the very least)
2. Mid Engine... (Rear engine at the very least)
3. 2 door... (3 at the most)
4. 400bhp minimum
5. 0-60 in 5.5 sec or less (6 at the most)
6. Manual Trans
7. Can not be made in the US (I'm not anti-american... I just accept that our cars suck)

I know that this might sound snobbish, but this is what real sport cars are all about. SPEED!!! and pure ADRENALINE!!!!

I own a VW Jetta GLI myself. But would love to get an RS4. It is more of a desire thing than an "enthusiast" thing. Although than new S5 is pretty hot too.

By BartMack #9, Posted: 7/26/2007

@Ronny B..... I totally agree, except when oh when has an Audi ever been affordable in any guise?? Every time I spec one it seems like 'In for a penny, in for $40k!'- (or $50k, as I always want a nice one.....) Thing is, when I'm willing to go $40k, BMW seems to offer more G(ermany) for the G($$$)s. I really dig Audi a lot, but I always end up at the Bimmer dealer in the end......

By kin #10, Posted: 7/26/2007

all american cars are made in canada
and some japanese cars are made in america

american made cars dont suck

canadian made cars suck

no offense to canadians, but its true

By canuck #11, Posted: 7/27/2007

i drive the Acura MDX, built in Alliston, Ontario, Canada, and it has been one of the most reliable cars I've ever driven. So, kin, please...

By thrx #12, Posted: 7/27/2007

James wrote:

"Anyone claiming to be a car “enthusiast” would not even consider an “A” series Audi anyway. That is what the “S” and “RS” series are for."

Funny, my puny little A4 with a displacement of less than a two liter bottle of coke, and about 8K in mods (everything installed by my self) can wipe the floor with the RS4, for tons less $$$... But according to you, despite the fact that rebuilt the motor my self, I can’t call my self a car enthusiast? What exactly is your definition of one? A bigger wallet?

By kenny 88 #13, Posted: 8/13/2007

HEY ..EVERYONE..IT LOOK LIKE NICE FOR ME...BUT BIT WORRY IT TOO CLOSE TO C -CLASS!!

By suffer_grndprx #14, Posted: 8/13/2007

Andrew: No more platform sharing with the VW Passat. That stopped with the current Passat that is on the A5 (gulf) chassis.

AWD on a front engine car can generally be done at a minumum, with FWD (at the very least, in regards to weight).
-and as mentioned by Ronny B: There are multipule other factors on why Audi contunues to use a F/FWD platform (on their high volume cars)
... but the door is also open for more "R" series cars (a la R8) that will be more for the all-out performance cars (where the buyers are willing, and able, to make compromises).

Gus: For those who care about driven wheels (I too, am in Southern Cali) .. a quattro car is amazing in the caynons. "Respecting" the speed limit is possible, when you have a car with low torque and amazing grip.
-I personally like to keep it on my side of the yellow.

thrx: I'm with you.. not only is there plenty of [if not more] potential in a "A" quattro car -- being hundreds of pounds lighter (exactly where Audi's need to lose it) makes for an very "sporty" sedan. (especially on downhill runs).

My 4cyl quattro has been the perfect all-around car for me:
-Don't have to worry/think about chains (on mountain get-aways) / and can have fun when I am up there
-25-30mpg for my daily driver
-Beach trips (through the canyons) with my boost bumped up, and all fours screaming

By anon #15, Posted: 8/13/2007

As a current A4 owner, I woundn't state that the A-series cars are incompatible with enthusiasts. For relatively little investment at APR and Hotchkis, you can take a $35k A4 2.0T quattro and surprise many snobby BMW drivers who spent $45k + on their car and $0 on driver's training.

Only argumentative adolescent twits go on and on about what the latest magazine says a car can do on their test track. Most mature drivers respect street safety laws and realize that ANY modern car is more than capable of getting the job done in the real world. It's good to have choices.

So despite the limitations of Audi's front-heavy chassis (and Subaru's, for that matter!), AWD does amazing things when the tarmac is not ideal. Hey, if you live in southern CA, definitely go for the RWD. But me, i like my Audi; the performance of the Audi is perfectly matched to my daily driving needs and the quality and features of the vehicle set it apart from the pack.

As for those who think FWD superior to RWD on slippery conditions -- the answer is "maybe". Tire selection is 85% of it, but that's a different subject. Modern traction control saves lead-footed RWD drivers today, so many are convinced that RWD is superior in all conditions. And it would be true if 55% of the mass were on the rear tires, but that is not the case in any front-engined car. If you drive to ski slopes, just opt for the Audi with Quattro or a Carrera 4. For the track, opt for a Cayman S or an R8. Then invite me over for a test ride!

By David #16, Posted: 8/16/2007

Audi and VW do not share any platform other than the A3 which has the same platform as the Golf.

By Spinnetti #17, Posted: 8/31/2007

I dunno... I've had 3 Audi's and 2 A4's. Not sure the new A4 is enough to get a new one, and the motor selection just won't do in the USA at this price point anymore. The base engine here should be the 2.0T or better with at least 220hp. My 1.8T is very sporting, and has a solid 350hp.. I'm sure not going to downgrade! - I had hoped for a bigger step in styling like some of the images floating round the net prior to this (mostly by Huckfeld who should be hired by VAG!)

By punkyduddle@hotmail.com #18, Posted: 4/5/2008

>> canadian made cars suck

Kin, you are an idiot. Two of the most reliable cars, the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, are made in Canada. The Acura MDX and the Lexus RX are both made in Canada. In fact, the RX is the the only Lexus made outside Japan, because Canadian quality is exceptional. The GM plants in Canada consistently win number 1 spots for global quality.

BTW, there are way more cars made through the US than in all of Canada.

By punkyduddle #19, Posted: 4/5/2008

Drove it in EU with the 2.0... awesome handling and styling.