Anyone own an audi a4?

[GQgeek]

I'm looking at buying a used one. It's in really nice condition (looks as if it's new) but it does have a fair amount of kilometers on it. The price is really good though and it's a fully loaded 98. it's got 85k km on it right now. I'll probably put on 18-20k per year and I'd wanna keep for like 4 years before selling it.

They're supposed to have a good rep. but reviews deal with the first 2 or 3 years of use usually. I'm having trouble getting info on how often they need repairs etc. after 4 years/85k km.. I would assume that it wouldn't need them very often but then I really don't know too much about cars and I've never owned one.

I was originally looking at BMW 3 series, but the audi has a nicer interior than the BMW and I'd be getting a good price on this one.

 

[GQgeek]

NM, no way I'm buying a used audi after looking at edmunds. Some people had no problems, others had tons of major problems.

 

[Heckle]

I have a mate that owns an Audi A4 and he has bought a Lemon... Now with the BMW I think you will be better of as they are not Turbo and they will last you longer than what an Audi A4 will these days.

Heckle

 

[Joe G]

I have a mate that owns an Audi A4 and he has bought a Lemon... Now with the BMW I think you will be better of as they are not Turbo and they will last you longer than what an Audi A4 will these days.

Heckle

Then again, in college a lot (if not most) of my friends had 3-series that they bought new in 1997 or 1998, either 323's or 328's I think. One had a 5-series, 540 I think. All of them started looking ratty real fast. The two 3-series cabrio's were the worst, with parts falling off and the like.

The 3-series may be the second best-selling car in the entire world now (behind either the VW Golf/Jetta/Bora or the Toyota Corolla, don't remember which), but I've been universally unimpressed with their build or materials quality.

Peace,

JG

PS: When I move back to the US, which I will do shortly, the short-list of cars I will most likely choose between are the Audi A6, Infiniti G35, Infiniti M45, Saab 9-3, and Volvo S60.

 

[GQgeek]

heh, that they or their parents bought new?

I'm surprised to hear that your friends had a lot of trouble with BMWs. Every review I've read has been a glowing one, even the long term (40k miles) tests.

Anyway, ya the audi interior is definitely nicer than the bmw 3 series, but there's too many potential problems with audis. The timing belt (no clue what this is but it's apparently important heh) goes a lot of the time at 80-90k miles and it can apparently cause the car major damage. Then there's the problems with the transmissions and water pump that seem to be a common thing. I read 4 or 5 reviews where the transmission needed replacing prematurel. Inside the car the climate control is apparently a pain ********** also.

You should add an m3 to that list ;p Or maybe a 5 series. A guy I know has 70k miles on his 540 and he hasn't had a single problem since he bought the car.