The early ’90s were a tough time for Audi in America. The brand was still reeling from a mid-’80s scandal, […]
The early ’90s were a tough time for Audi in America. The brand was still reeling from a mid-’80s scandal, and its footprint in the luxury segment seemed to shrink year over year. But that changed seemingly overnight with the introduction of the A4. With a beautiful contemporary design, inventive engineering (the company’s first Tiptronic transmission), and fantastic driving manners, the A4 marked Audi’s biggest hit in years. But over the past decade, a high-maintenance drivetrain and finicky electrical systems have spelled doom for many first-generation A4s. A search on Craigslist will still turn up plenty of beaters for dirt cheap, but unless one has been immaculately maintained, even the good-looking ones are just about used up.