Audi: the queen of used cars
Today, the stunning beauty Audi is the favourite of millions, because this brand is valued for its amazing variety, reliability and aesthetic qualities. The model range of the Audi brand is very extensive, because it is represented by the executive class, as well as racing cars, and supercars, and crossovers. But the advantages of the new Audi can be discussed endlessly, because there are about two million pieces that are produced every year. How does the time and the length of run influence the car of this brand? What do you need to consider when you prefer to buy not a new, but a used car? Let’s enlarge on such moments and tell you why Audi is the leader of sales among used cars today.
A little bit of brand history
The history of Audi is the story of four rings, each of which symbolizes a certain automaker – Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. And it all began with a small automobile enterprise, founded in 1899 by August Horch. His companion decided to separate, and seven years later, according to the court, took the name of the Horch company. August Horch together with his sons could not choose a new name until it was proposed the Latin version of the German “Horch”, meaning “listen”. They got “Audi”, and from that moment the ascent of the Audi team on the route of recognition of its offspring as one of the best representatives of the German automotive industry began.
The first Audi Type A car, which had a configuration with 2.6-liter four-cylinder engine with a capacity of 22 HP, entered the market in 1910. For two years of production 137 cars of the specified model were manufactured. One of the Audi Type A copies is now an exhibit of the Technical Museum in Prague. The following year, the B model appeared, and a year later – the C model. Since 1913, it was the Audi Type C that three times won the test in the Austrian Alps. The maximum speed of this model was 90 km/h. Both before the Second World War and after it the Audi Type C brand cars were bought with pleasure, because they were reliable and had an excellent driveability. Even the family of the King of Saxony Augustus III drove Audi, but the model D, designed specifically for VIPs (then premium class version, or VIP). The brand also had trucks, as well as the Audi team was one that produced the first German car with left-hand drive (the Audi K) and the world’s first car with front-wheel drive (the DKW F1).
In 1932, four German automakers – Audi, Horch, DKW and Wanderer – formed the Auto Union concern. The emblem of the new merger became the four rings that we see on all cars of the brand to this day. During about thirty subsequent years, the concern’s business was not too brilliant, until in 1965, a controlling stake of Auto Union plants was acquired by Volkswagen AG. Three years later, the legendary Audi 100 model began to be produced, which turned a new page in the brand history and, along with practicality, was famous for its high comfort and excellent dynamic characteristics. The car was offered in a two- and four-door sedan and fastback options. It became the ancestor of the whole family of cars, all representatives of which retained the front-wheel drive system and the longitudinal location of the engine.
In the last 45 years, a five-cylinder engine, a turbocharging technology, a four-wheel drive passenger car, a fully galvanized body, gasoline engines with turbocharging, diesel engines with direct injection, improved aerodynamics, an aluminum body, as well as powerful eight- and twelve-cylinder engines were introduced under the Audi brand. Today, Audi AG (the name of the concern since 1985) has factories in Germany, Hungary, Belgium, India and China, the staff of which is represented by 60 thousand employees.
Why are used Audi cars so popular?
Audi brand is considered a premium, that is originally intended for wealthy car owners. However, used cars are much cheaper than new ones, which provides an opportunity to become the owner of a luxury car of this brand, even for those who don’t have a high level of material security and is included in the so-called “middle class”. Several models are available enough, characterized by reliability, safety, comfort and efficiency. This is, in general, the usual requirements of potential car owners in the secondary car market. Along with a low price, people want to have a car with a comfortable suspension and a pleasant interior with useful options. All this is provided by used Audi cars, even if they have mechanical gearboxes. Also, the popularity of used Audi is connected with the effective work of dealer companies.
What Audi model do people wishing to buy a used car often choose?
Used Audi cars mean strong galvanized bodies, comfortable interiors and, anyway, some prestige, even in the case of older models. At the same time, all this costs relatively little money today. As a rule, cars older than five years, produced by the Audi concern, are considered as acceptable by many car owners in connection with the price. The latter favorably differs from the new models, but the other characteristics do not lose to the options that have just come off the assembly line. Therefore, among the Audi car family, there is something to choose, according to individual preferences. So, the Audi 100 C3, which began to produce back in 1983, is still in demand, even despite the fact that the transmission is mechanical. The popularity of this model is provided, firstly, by the fact that this model has quattro four-wheel drive system, fully galvanized body, TDI (turbocharged direct injection) turbo-diesel engine (if the car is produced later than 1990). Secondly, this machine of 2.5 liters has decent traction and consumes a small amount of fuel. The Audi 100 C3 is rightly considered to be very reliable. Third, the ageless classic design of the “100” still attracts many.
The Audi A4 with the B5 body is also popular. The car replaced the outdated, but at the same time legendary model Audi 80. Due to the excellent quality of the assembly, bodies of A4 are little prone to corrosion, and well-assembled interior doesn’t annoy with excess creaks. The most reliable engine – 1.8-liter gasoline 4-cylinder one with 125 HP. Among gearboxes, the least problematic is 5-speed manual transmission.
The Audi A6 with the C5 body is also in demand. This car finds the secondary market due to the combination of high level of comfort and good reliability. The best option would be a model with the 6-cylinder engine, whether gasoline or diesel. All in all, for the Audi A6, engines from 110 to 450 HP were offered. The 5- and 6-speed manual transmissions are best suited as a gearbox.
Many car owners are eyeing the Audi Q5 crossover. The car immediately fell to the liking of buyers, so is very popular on the secondary market. The best option of the power machine is a 3.2-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 270 horsepower. With this V6, the car shows excellent dynamics. You can also pay attention to the 2-liter turbodiesel. The German crossover had both automatic and mechanical gearboxes, but the manual transmission is almost not found on the market today. Amog manual transmission cars, the Tip-Tronic option, which is more reliable, is preferred.
The old Audi 80 is also popular in the secondary market. There is still the opportunity to find good ones, that aren’t much “worn out”. It is best to choose options with 1.8- and 2.0-liter gasoline engines, although diesel engines are also good, except that their power is not impressive. The 80 have a low cost of spare parts, in addition, a lot of non-original and even cheaper parts for them are offered. This is generally the cheapest model of used Audi.
We wish you pleasure when driving Audi cars. But remember that driving cars of not only this brand requires a driver’s license, ideally – an international one. We invite you to quickly and easily process an international driver’s license on our website. It will not take you a lot of time and effort, but this document will be useful in almost any corner of the world where there are cars and roads.
