Vote on New Audis' Styling

OK, I'm ready to open up a very touchy subject, but is it just me or did Audi really blow it with their new styling, especially the single-grill front-end? Up until this style change-over Audis were absolute perfection in terms of understated, perfectly harmonious, smooth lines that said elegance, class, and timeless beauty. I think that the 2004/2005 A8 had reached the peak of automobile perfection -- what an incredibly gorgeous car. THEN CAME THE HORSE-COLLAR GRILL!!!

We went to the Audi dealer looking to trade up from our 2001 Pearl White A4 beauty to an A6. We looked at the latest offering and just couldn't stomach the styling, so we bought a Certified 2004 A6 2.7T S-line and we love it's performance as well as its looks. The styling is just so right and so Audi.

What brings the subject to the fore today is that when I was doing a 40-mile ride on my mountain bike through some of the wealthy Western suburbs of Chicago (Chicago is Audi Country), I saw a number of Audis with the new style and they simply did nothing for me, they were so Ho-Hum, and I also saw a number of ones in the two-grill style, and they were so much more distinctive and appealing.

By the way, As far as the other German cars, I think the new VWs look too Toyota Corolla-ish, the new BMWs look too Japanese paper-folded, and, aside from the really ugly Maybachs, only Mercedes Benz has retained it's classic good looks in its new models, but that's for other forums and other rants. Sorry to go on so long but I have loved Audis and when it comes time to trade again, I just can't see myself buying a newer one unless Audi comes back to their senses.

Now do you want to know how I really feel??? (joke) Come on, out with it, how do YOU feel about all this?

Reply to
TonyKiz
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Give it time, it WILL grow on you. I didn't think much of it when I first saw it but it's definitely grown on me. It does give the cars a much more menacing look, in particular the A3.

I wouldn't consider another older model now (even though I have one) because the new styling is just so perfect.

Reply to
Graham

the new Merc E320 curved window line looks just fantastic...........

Reply to
StsAlive

Actually I like it now. Especially a silver A6 Avants front looks rather broad and low, a strong impression. Very nice.

Wolfgang

Reply to
Wolfgang Pawlinetz

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Have to agree with you. I own a 2001 A4 and like it better (inside and outside) then the new A4. I've tried, but still don't like the wide grill (maybe it reminds me of Chrysler) and the plastic license plate frame mounting that goes across it. Also, the rear lights look very plain. PS - Anyone know if the 2007 will include outside style changes?

Reply to
Barry

I don't like it, but I'm still buying an A3. I plan to minimize the fishmouth by painting the chrome "frame" and the cross bar body color (black) =20 You can see an animated example here:

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=46ortunately, my state doesn't require a front plate. =20

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Reply to
Doug Warner

And, when I first saw it on the S4, it looked like this to me:

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Reply to
Doug Warner

Nice picture ... it does look a lot better without the chrome emphasis.

Reply to
Barry

*I* personally, ever since the day I first laid eyes on the new Audi nose, have been ready to buy and drive and do other delectable things with these new models (unfortunately, I can't afford them right now, so I'm still driving my 98.5 A4Q 2.8). I think a lot of my reaction is due to the fact that I grew up with those old 1960s era Mercedes cars, which had similar kinds of single grills, and they all just turn me on.

I love this new look from Audi. It is beautiful, and it distinguishes the badge. Maybe next they'll do the matching colored hubcaps! Be still, my heart....

Reply to
KLS

I didn't like it at first. Reminded me of Edsel. I'm getting used to them now and think it looks more agressive than the old style. Most makers seem to be going for a more agressive look and I guess Audi is on that bandwagon. I especially like the crisper rear top of the trunk lid. I have a 2002 A6 and I love the understated styling (always liked that trait with Audi's) but the rear always looked a little too "soft" for my taste.

"Hubcaps." Hmmm, haven't seen hubcaps (wheel covers) on an Audi since the late 70's.

I drive part-time for an upscale (aren't they all?) car detailing service. Every day I drive new Lexus, Audi's, Porsches, Mercedes, Jags, BMW's, name any, I drive them all. Lexus are wonderful cars, but the styling does nothing for me. Whenever I have time at the Porsche/Audi dealership I always gravitate to the Audi's and admire what a damn fine car they all are. I've owned three Audi's, and a few Porsche's, among other cars. I like driving Porsche's that belong to other people, but when the time comes to buy a new car Audi will certainly get first look. I would never consider a BMW, just don't like most of them to drive, and I'm not thrilled with the styling that appears as if four or five teams worked seperately on different parts of the cars right up till the time to begin assembling them. Some of the upper end Mercedes are really nice too, but way too expensive. The cheaper Mercedes show, in a negative way, the influence of Chrysler.

Alan

Reply to
wtrplnet

Like most of you, the new styling has grown on me. When I first saw the new grille in photos it didn't do much for me, but in person it's a different deal. The 2006 A4 loaner I had last week looked great in my driveway.... I'm not crazy about the A4 and A6 rear end styling - the A4 looks like previous-generation Honda Civic and the A6 looks like a Saturn L-Series. They need to be a little more aggresive with the back of the car. But the single-frame grill has grown on me for sure. I think Audi foresaw that a lot of lesser cars are now going with their old 2-grill look - see the Chevy Impala front end for a dead ringer!

Dan D '04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6 Central NJ USA

Reply to
Dano58

I personally find the new style pretty ugly, and a bunch of my buds think it is too. One of my bosses is looking for an S4, but it has to be the older design. It is growing on me a bit, but only that I don't hate it as much as I used to. I have an '04 S4 so maybe I'm a bit biased to the "pre-horse-collar" era. It just looks like the new ones are sticking their tongues out. The new-style BMWs are altogether hideous. I mean what the hell were they thinking?

Reply to
Pete Stolz

THAT is pretty cool. It really does make a huge difference, and get rid of the "sticking-its-tongue-out" look. Very nice. Pete

I don't like it, but I'm still buying an A3. I plan to minimize the fishmouth by painting the chrome "frame" and the cross bar body color (black) You can see an animated example here:

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Fortunately, my state doesn't require a front plate.

-- Email reply: please remove one letter from each side of "@" Spammers are Scammers. Exterminate them.

Reply to
Pete Stolz

I don't know about you, but when I drive a car, I tend to sit on the

*inside*, not the outside, which means you don't really get to see much of the exterior. So who cares what it looks like?

-- Mike Smith

Reply to
Mike Smith

How can anyone not think that this is an amazing-looking car??

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Dan D '04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6 Central NJ USA

Reply to
Dano58

I can, for one. I have no problem with the rest of the styling on the new models, it's just that ugly horse collar front end.

The new grill looks alot better on the new TT because it's a lot less tall since the car is more low-slung. On the other models, it looks too tall (that's why the split grill looked so good because it made the front end look more wide rather than tall. The new front grill gives the car a locomotive look -- not exactly what I would call stylish, more like garish.

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Reply to
TonyKiz

I do, for one. Everytime I walk into the garage or up to my car in a parking lot, I get an "what a beautiful car" feeling. I don't want to walk up to my car and have a "argh, but at least it's nice inside" feeling -- it's called balance, something that Audi had up until now....

And as far as styl> > Come on, out with it,

Reply to
TonyKiz

Arrogant much?

-- Mike Smith

Reply to
Mike Smith

TonyKiz wrote: > And as far as styling growing on you, I think that's a case of denial.

Absolute rubbish. I much prefer the new styling over the old, if you don't then fine, but don't force your objections on others as if there is something wrong with them for having that opinion.

The new style IS what I want, so much so that I'll be selling my "old style" car for the new one. Hardly in denial.

Reply to
Graham

It's obvious that there are some strong opinions on the subject. My intention was just to get them out in the open rather than tippy-toeing around the subject.

Thanks for all the voting.

Audi rema> > And as far as styling growing on you, I think that's a case of denial. >

Reply to
TonyKiz

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