My old 1993 BMW station wagon (525iT) has 145,000 miles on her ..... she's had issues but she's still running .....

Getting ready to look for another car .....I would get another Beamer in a heartbeat if I could afford it! :)

Jan

The other issue I had with Audi was this. My Audi spent weeks at a time at the dealership. They would give me loner to drive, sure. It would be some horrific tiny car like a Ford or Chevy (tiny ones). I'd be making payments on an expensive car while driving around town in a tin can. That got old fast.

BMW gives us a BMW to drive when/if they perform warranty work. Now this may differ dealership to dealership but I'd certainly ask about that.

My father has had Audis for the last 20 years and would give a favorable review. He never had any bad/big issues and not too many small issues. His last Audi, an A6, is 9 years old and was given to my niece this past year. It still looks new! Her only complaint was filling it up when gas prices were high last year.

I believe he didn't buy another Audi because they have an SUV type car and my mother wanted something a bit smaller than an A6, but a bit higher off the ground. They went with the new Infinity crossover as their second car.

I have an Audi A4, I'm up to about 70k miles and nothing major has gone wrong, but last year I had an issue with my coil packs, and it's flaring up again now (google it and you'll see the trouble people have). Now if you know what you're doing you can change the coil packs easily on your own, but I don't & can't. This time around, after I get misfires the car clears itself as I continue to drive, the engine light turns off & clears the computer, and my mechanic therefore can't read the codes to diagnose. He's honest (really) and doesn't want to charge for work not needed. My understanding is that the engines on these are solid but they are notorious for misfiring/coilpack issues-not a big deal really, just more of an inconvenience. I would never, ever buy a used Audi.

Saw you mention this on the introduce yourself thread and thought, "Get the BMW!"

Jason....I'm just surprised to see on the other thread that you don't drive a GM since you often talk about supporting their efforts. (Not saying I blame you, or anything, just surprised.) Goldie: my DH is a big Audi fan. Never had any repair issues.

"Jason....I'm just surprised to see on the other thread that you don't drive a GM since you often talk about supporting their efforts."

What other thread?

An Audi A4 is a VW Jetta; same frame and engine/just different body configuration. VWs and Audi's assembled in Germany seem to get very favorable reviews; those made in Mexico and Brazil; lemons.

I currently have a VW Jetta TDI (DIESEL). It has a Porsche transmission and VW diesel engine that's been in use for 20 years. It seems that the gas Jettas (all of which for the U.S. Market), are assembled in Mexico recieve very, very low ratings, while it's hard to find a word against the TDI-version. They must come off different assembly lines. I'd have to rate it as probably the best car I've ever owned. Worst would be the Honda we had.

Jason,

Then it's an Audi for you. I give up. Sounds like you know what you are doing. My BIL and you would make a great team. They do have cute butts.:+)

Actually, I saw a Porsche Boxster today that I liked quite a bit; MSRP is under 60, too.....

Now a Boxster would be fun... I saw a nice Bentley the other day. Parked next to it. I know nothing about them but it was pretty. I'm going to have to stay away from you, Jason. I can get bit by the new car bug very easily. My X5 has stuck around longer than any car I've had, even our 1992 Landcruiser (slug).

Gold; the one thing I do know is to never, ever, ever, ever go to the dealer. Ever.

That's an expensive, and losing proposition, particularly since it's a federal law that certified mechanics can do ALL warranty work (on the cars they're trained on). Have a light come on the dashboard of the VW and go the VW dealer, and it's $800; go to my independent dealer and they fix the glow plug (a $35 part and $35 of labor), and you're out the door.

Doesn't matter the car; it's the job of dealers to make money; not fix cars.

You are a clone of my BIL. Now I know for sure. LOL! We bought a certified BMW and added on the $2,000. extended warranty, which brought our car's warranty up to 86,000 miles. We don't pay one red cent for *anything* except tires. Windshield wipers, brakes, *everything* else is paid for, including any problems with computers, drivetrain. Bumper to bumper that includes service and tune ups. (Belts, etc.)

In a bad economy, it's really been a benefit. The dealers get hungry and do all kinds of extra stuff on our car. It's unbelievable. They go though our car with a fine tooth comb every time we go in.

Yes, we are dealer people *because* we buy extended warranties from BMW. I don't care how much they make off their own parent company. LOL! They have yet to receive a dime over $2,000. from us. Worth every penny.

86000?

Heck; why would you need it at that point? With that few miles, it's just getting broke in.

For a VW, that is. :-)

You are such a clone to my favorite brother in law AND my father.

I was raised in VWs. Old school. My dad was an obsessed mechanic who had a love of German made vehicles. He adjusted the valves on our VWs (there were two, a 62 beetle and a 64 bus) constantly. I assert that he may have been the only early VW owner who never sucked a valve. He seriously understood the early motors.

My Dad insulated the crap out of our VWs (foam rubber insulation inside, coated with *something* not flammable). He installed more and needed gauges that spoke to him, whatever they said. Protection that gave way with the noise reduction. He demanded both.

I spent many a night in that 1964 VW bus that was burgundy and white.
Daddy had a traveling gene and a love of road maps that avoided regular routes. We almost pushed the Bus up Pike's Peak and always slept in it, (he made a homemade bed in the back of a removed seat, out of wood and foam padding. Kids slept on the two remaining seats, smallest kid straddled the front gear shift.)We often slept on the side of the road. (Hated it when we ended up near railroad tracks.)

In my family, God help you if you had to turn over at night. Daddy liked his sleep and was easily disturbed. No making the car shake by turning positions and he always knew.

Little biting bugs in Kansas came right through the vents. Uh ugh. We started to notice the bites almost immediately. Then there was no relief at all.

I was raised with German motors. My dad and now my BIL. Been there and done that.