Audi is a company that has an ethos of always being at the forefront of new technological design concepts, whilst retaining the luxury of their cars. They are regarded by many as being something of an 'intelligent alternative' to comparable BMW or Mercedes models.

History of Audi
Audi is a German Automobile company, which started making cars in 1910. The company that is in operation today is an amalgamation of this original company with DKW, a manufacturer of fitting and apparatus, Horch, car builders since 1900, and Wanderer, an automobile company. These companies came together to create Audi Union AG. The merging of all 4 brands took place in 1932 and is symbolised by the Audi emblem, 4 interconnecting rings.

Audi cars began to take centre stage in motor sport in 1914, when August Horch, the founder of the company, won the International Austrian Alpine Run in an Audi. In September 1921 Audi broke tradition by building a left hand drive car, Audi type K. The inspiration behind this was to give the driver a better view of on coming traffic. This became standard on the continent during the 1920's. Continuing to break the mould Audi created the first mass produced car with front wheel drive, it became one of the Germany's best selling small cars during the 1930's. The merger of the 4 companies in 1932 meant that a wide range of vehicles could be produced covering the whole automobile market, including motorcycles. Audi was also one of the first car manufacturers to really consider the safety of its vehicles, carrying out crash tests as early as 1938.

As with many automobile manufacturers, WW2 saw Audi involved with the production of military vehicles, resulting in the halt in production of civilian vehicles. The end of the war had devastating effects on almost all German manufacturers. Audi was no exception, and disappeared as a commercial entity. However, this was far from the end. In 1949 Audi was re-established as Auto Union GmbH, a company that was subsequently bought out by Daimler-Benz in 1958 and then sold to VW in 1964. In fact the name Audi did not resurface until 1965 when a four stroke, four cylinder engine was used in a DKW model F 102 and marketed as an Audi.

Audi cars really began to compete in the market in 1968, when the Audi 100, an upper mid-size vehicle, was introduced, becoming a best seller in its class. A series of commercially successful vehicles were produced, including the Audi 80 and the Audi 50. As in its early years, Audi reinstated its position as an avant garde manufacturer. The Audi Quattro, launched in 1980 was the first high performance four wheel drive car. Cars were introduced with low drag coefficients and fully galvanised bodies, carrying a warranty of 10 years against rust. In the last 20 years Audi have continued to produce highly technologically advanced vehicles. The use of aluminium for the body shell made for lightweight vehicle production. The Audi A2, launched in 2000 became the first mass produced aluminium car.

Audi Models
The entire Audi range has been produced with the option of Quattro four wheel drive models. Alloy wheels and an MP3/CD sound system come as standard. As do automatic headlights and windscreen wipers.
  • Audi Q7: A seven seater, SUV with a good security rating and classy looks. However this vehicle is not as roomy as some of the competing vehicles in the high end 4x$ / SUV class.
  • Audi R8: Recently launched, this high performance V12 sports car has enjoyed exceptional reviews. Only introduced in 2007, the R8 is sold out in the UK until the end of 2008. This high demand pushes up the price of the car � both new and second-hand.
  • Audi TT: Another sleek sports car, not dissimilar in size to a Porsche Boxster. Again this car is beautifully built and has an excellent security rating. As with all Audi models a premium is paid for engineering quality and durability.
  • Audi A3: A small luxury car, well suited to both city and open road driving. Power steering along with Audi's Quattro drive train gives smooth handling. It has been awarded a best in class security rating. A number of A3 models are available with a 2.0 l TDI engine. Models available also include a sportback and an A3 Cabrio is due to be launched in 2008. Although high quality, a few minor problems can be experienced in used cars. Radiator leaks are not uncommon and black metallic paint can prove to be an issue.
  • Audi A4/Audi A5: The A4 and A5 are mechanically fairly similar cars, with the same floorpan, transmission and suspension. All models in the series are a superb drive. The A4 and A5 can be bought with a six speed gear box and both diesel and petrol models are available. The A5 is a two door coupe and, whilst not very spacious in the back, is gaining solid market share. They are easy to spot: look for the bright LED sidelights underneath the headlamps as they whiz towards you.
  • Audi A6: A stylish middle executive car with a 5 star crash test rating. The V8 model, however, whilst delivering outstanding performance, drinks fuel.
  • Audi A8: Targeted at senior executives and competing head-on with the Mercedes S Class, BMW 7 Series and the Jaguar XJ, some love the relative anonymity of the A8. For others it is potentially the only reason they don't buy this superbly engineered luxury saloon. Stand it on its own and few could deny that the clean lines make for a stunning car. Park it at the office and it may be overshadowed. There are a range of engines on offer from a 3.0 TDI Quattro, which is lightweight and has excellent handling through to a 4.2 litre, delivering excellent performance and handling.
Things to consider when buying a used Audi
Most people will only make one purchase that is more expensive than their car: their home. For this reason it is important, before going to purchase a car, to get a solid idea as to what is important in your purchase. Size, price, style of the car should be considered. This will be determined by thinking about what the car will be used for, and what your budget will stretch to. There are a lot of sources of cars on the market, most commonly, dealers, private vendors and auction sales.

Audi, in general, enjoys an excellent reputation for reliability and longevity. As with any manufacturer, certain models will have known issues: these can be readily researched on the internet. Take a mechanic with you to inspect the car, check that the paperwork is in order, have an HPI check to ensure the car hasn't been stolen, written off or is still on finance.

Always test drive the car (but make sure you are insured to do so) and keep any negotiations pleasant. Finally, don't allow your emotions to overcome your judgement and be prepared to walk away if you feel the price isn't reflective of the car's true value.
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05 February 2010
Bridgestone 245 50 18 bridgestone turanza er30 100w. part worn these are a good decent low profile tyre £55 tel. 07982240085 .
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17 January 2010
Rs4 alloys x 5 kumo tyres all in excellent condition slight kerb marks nothing serious still look really grate on your audi vw golf or passat £325 for all ring for details .
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02 January 2010
Audi 2. 6 cabriolet 1996 limited edition purple with full service history, heated ricardo leather seats, wind deflector, , electric power hood, tested, low genuine miles, 13m mot 8m tax, ,this car is in pristine condition with all relevant history, £3995 ono, phone for appo. .
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