Across all products, Jenny's brand loyalty was highest for Invisalign and Audi. When we played with the idea of getting a new car for her, she would only consider makes from the manufacturer of her 2009 A4 Quattro. Audi's reputation back in 2008 was of having an adequate engine, but outstanding appointments, fit and finish. Such a combination would have suited Jenny well, since her commute was only about six miles and she enjoyed a luxurious ride. However, as time would tell, the car would offer quite the opposite: Amazing performance, especially on the highway, but shoddy interior quality.
The A4 has a 2.3L turbo engine, yet I found the lag from a standing start almost unnoticeable and, in any case, much better than the turbo-lag of my Saab 9-5. Where the 2009 A4 really stands out, however, is on steep inclines and passing acceleration. On the rolling hills of the I-280, I find myself gliding effortlessly past other cars. Moreover, the A4 goes from 50 to 70 in the blink of an eye, giving me confidence to pass those in front of me holding up traffic. And, in general, when I do change lanes, I can target gaps well ahead of me. And, the car is as quiet at 80 mph as it is at 50.
OK, now for the bad part. Despite its amazing engine, our 2009 A4 is falling apart. One door won't open from the outside, and, the key fob won't lock another. The combined cost for the fix for both doors is close to two grand. The clips holding the visor on both the driver- and passenger-side have fallen off. Despite being stored in a garage during non-work hours, the leather upholstery on the driver's seat is peeling. And, buttons are falling off.
The fact that the 2009 A4 burns oil is as annoying as it is well-known. We've been consistently burning through a quart of oil every, say, 5000 miles or so. The problem was so ubiquitous among models of this year that I was easily able to convince Audi to give me two quarts of oil per year while the car was under warranty.
I love the A4, though, just as Jenny did. (Or, perhaps I love the A4 precisely because Jenny did.) I tolerate the interior slowly crumbling to pieces because this car offers a buttery-smooth, yet rip-roaring, performance that I haven't found elsewhere. By the way, mileage has been a consistent 23.5 mpg based on roughly 60-40 highway-city driving.
Based on my experience, just like Jenny, I definitely want my next car to be an Audi.
Thanks for writing the article. I miss her so much!