PDA

View Full Version : A4 Cab



domg
08-03-2009, 11:23 PM
hi im looking to get an a4 cab as said above

what do i need to look out foe are there any bad bits to look out for and when are the cam belts due also heard the watre pumps should be done as well at the same time

any help would be cool

randall977
09-03-2009, 10:45 AM
Hi, I've recently bought a cab and I'm very pleased with it. I got a 2005 1.8T quattro sport with 57K and a lot of extras for £8.5K. I was originally looking to get the 3.0 but this one came up and was good... The cam belts are normally 5 years or around 80K but this depends on the engine. I wouldn't worry too much about the cam belt as worst case at somewhere like Stafford Audi it is only £300. On the 1.8T check for any boost problems - this will be obvious when accelerating - but I sorted mine out pretty cheaply. If you are concerened about mpg - the 3.0 returns around 25mpg and the 1.8 32mpg - though I got 42 on Friday night! The 2.4 is the cheapest model, best avoided if rersale is a concern (same goes for the gold colour). The 2.5 tdi is good but do you want to hear a diesel with the roof down? Try and get a roof which isn't green (with algae) - they can be cleaned though. Otherwise normal rules apply - personally the previous owner is the no.1 thing I look at.

domg
09-03-2009, 02:08 PM
thanks for the advise really helpfull

what are the boost problems


also what is the car tax like for them and is it one of the cars that is going to go silly money in 2010 £410 or something with it been quattro

your help is really appreciated

(sorry my spelling is so rubbish ha ha)

randall977
09-03-2009, 05:39 PM
The 1.8T suffers with faulty ignition coil packs (£20 each - push in part). They normally go within 60K but are very easy to replace - a DIY job. The replacemants are reliable so they shouldn't fail again. One of mine failed and caused the car to lurch under boost conditions. So not a big problem really. On the tax side of things - I was very concerned but I believe that unless you buy a car new you won't pay £450. Also if your car was made before 2006 it is cheaper. Bottom line is that a pre 2006 Audi is a maximum of £210 per year - which is a lot but do-able. Check out this link, note the date on band G; http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_10012524 or http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/road-tax/

domg
09-03-2009, 07:50 PM
had a look and looks like anything after 2001 can go up to £410 for like the 3.0 v6

but could be wrong

thanks for your help think i will go for the 1.8 or 2.5

what is the power like on your 1.8 is it the 180 bhp

randall977
09-03-2009, 07:59 PM
No, only cars made after 2006 and more than 225g/km will be £400+. If your car is made before 2006 it will be £215 this year and £245 next - fact. The 1.8T is good but only 163bhp, but pleanty of scope for tuning. I'd go for the quattro as it was the only car we had which would go through the snow!

domg
09-03-2009, 08:22 PM
cool as i liked to look of the 3.0 as ment to be ok on power

but the 1.8 is the same engine as the tt and i had the 225 one and that sent ok

domg
09-03-2009, 08:29 PM
whare are the emisons

for the 2.4 and 3.0

as looked on the trader and there
233 for the 2.4 and 235 for the 3.0 is that right

randall977
10-03-2009, 12:28 AM
Not sure about the 2.4 but I really wouldn't bother - I think it's pants and so clearly does everyone else as they are cheap as chips. The 3.0 is 235g/km and pretty fast a good choice! My 1.8T is 228g/km! I think they used a variety of turbo sizes on the 1.8T hence there is 150, 163, 180 and 225 bhp - you can easily and cheaply get the 1.8T 163bhp upto around 200bhp. I havn't bothered as it don't find it too bad...

domg
10-03-2009, 02:13 PM
thank you for your reply i have seen a 1.8t sport in red black roof with cloth interior with electronic from seats for rear entry electric seats and head rest concert sound system with 56k on the clock and wants £8000 for it

what do you think i am not sure about the power or if its 4 wheel drive have asked just waiting for responce

it has full audi service histury untill last 2 years he has been to specialist for it

by the sounds of it it will need cam belt next service and water pump

do you know if thats it on service and do you think the price is some where near right


thanks for your help

Dom

coolio
10-03-2009, 02:55 PM
I have the 3.0 and I am so glad I went for that over the 1.8T. It can really roar and yet mine returns great mpg (32mpg combined and I have gotten over 40mpg before). Yes tax will go up next year, but this year was just about £200. It's a less common car. And get a wind deflector.

There are 2 service schedules so make sure FSH. One is long life and one would be annual. There are different tick boxes in the service book. Long life is just when the car tells you depending on your driving. Mine is coming off long life. Also, if you see the V5, you can check online whether it received any advisory on its MOTs

domg
10-03-2009, 10:39 PM
thanks for the help what do i need of the v5 to check

thanks

randall977
11-03-2009, 12:43 AM
I would really avoid a cloth interior as it will stain. Price seems okay but shame the Audi servicing stopped two years ago - suggests to me that the previous owner has skimped on the car... It's a buyers market so there's no rush. £8000 is okay but I'm sure you can do better for the money - lower milage better model etc etc

coolio
11-03-2009, 10:00 AM
Get the reference code off the very front page, that and the reg http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/

I believe the 3.0 comes with leather as standard and leccy seats. Remember this was before the credit crunch took hold but last summer I got

04 3.0 Sport, 1 female owner, 25k miles, manual, FASH, mint (apart from 2 stone chips and 2 scuffed alloys, apart from that totally mint), full black leather, black pearlescent exterior, electric seats, rear parking sensors, in dash 6 cd changer from a VW indie with warranty/MOT £13500. It was the exact spec I was after and I had waited months and I don't regret it for a second as the colour I wanted, that spec is still hard to get for under 12k. The 3.0 seems to be holding their value a lot more than the 1.8T.

Remember, while you are getting a quality motor, it carries the repair costs of a 30k+ car. Servicing is more for the 3.0, think at normal dealerships bout £120 more. I just wanted a reliable run around as I only use it on the weekend

Mr_Meeks
11-03-2009, 10:25 AM
had a look and looks like anything after 2001 can go up to £410 for like the 3.0 v6

but could be wrong

thanks for your help think i will go for the 1.8 or 2.5

what is the power like on your 1.8 is it the 180 bhp

you can get a 1.8T with 190bhp quite rare but worth looking for majority of them on 2004 models

domg
11-03-2009, 01:49 PM
thank you all for your help been really good

its one of those things that are hard as the first car you see you want lol

randall977
11-03-2009, 03:08 PM
I know what you mean. I looked at ads for a few weeks...then I bought the first car I looked at - which turned out okay actually! So in summary I would say you should go for either a 1.8T or 3.0 quattro sport or 2wd sport with all the extras (manual of course) as low milage as possible and good history for around £8500. Let us know if you get one!

domg
11-03-2009, 03:12 PM
thanks people i will keep looking and let you know what happens

coolio
11-03-2009, 03:21 PM
Quattro while sounds cool, doesn't add all that much and could potentially create more bills in the long run. The MPG are worse, no quicker, etc. So don't go for what you think will be cool.

may be worth paying a bit more and getting from a dealership as you will get warranty there.

randall977
12-03-2009, 12:07 AM
The quattro is slower, thirstier, eats tyres quicker...but it has three very lovely badges - one on the front grill one below the passenger airbag and one on the bootlid.

domg
23-03-2009, 02:25 PM
hello

well i finally got one took a bit of a gamble with it though got it really really cheap as the person that had it told me the gear box has gone (its the dreaded auto box)

it had just started juddering a few days before i went to look at it. So he called me about 2 days before i went to have a look at it and said there was no point going to look as he had been to audi and was going to cost 5k+ to fix so i did a bit of looking around and called indi-tech think thats there name and they said they will fix for £750 so called the man with the car back and asked what he wanted for the car as it is. he then said he would drop 3.5k said i would come and have a look the car had a small dent in the door from car park ding and the rest is mint and i mean mint its silver with blue hood and blue seats it has the 18'' sline wheels on and sline badges he said he put them on as liked the look of them the man was about 40 and did not seem the tipe to trash it he has had it from new fash it needs a service now but just had mot and 4 new tyres. the roof could do with a clean and resealing as a bit dull also engine has a light ticking noise my mate that came to look at it with me said its nothing majer and prob timing belt my be (or a cam chain noise)

so really pleased with it the only thing is i feel a bit bad for taking it off him that cheap as he thought it was going to cost loads to fix but turns out not to be.:confused:

randall977
23-03-2009, 03:36 PM
So how much did you get it for? What model, how many miles and what age? Photos...

wmccann
23-03-2009, 05:47 PM
Re not having full AUDI history,

I would disagree, my experience with Audi dealers is BAD, untrained mechanics who know little about cars. Are given a fault finding manual and told to look up the error.

Smaller mechanics imho give better service and get to know you and your car and what you expect.

The other day I need some of the clips to hold in the scuff panels inside the door - after 30 minutes I had to take control of his pc (EKTA) and found the pieces in a few minutes - I even had an example with me but he had no idea and he was an Audi mechanic - thought he would be breaking these all over the shop!!!

anyway rant over,

Walter.

domg
23-03-2009, 09:56 PM
its an 03 paid £3750 for it its a 2.5 tdi auto

randall977
25-03-2009, 09:25 AM
£3750...

That's increadible! Wow - he almost gave it to you. I assume it's done around the 100K mark, but who cares that's hardly worn in.

Well done.

wmccann
25-03-2009, 10:59 AM
Wow, I'll take 2,

Walter.

randall977
25-03-2009, 12:59 PM
Wmccann - I do agree about main dealers but if the car has a full Audi service history it shows that somebody has spent money on the car ie you can hopefully assume they haven't neglected the car.

domg
25-03-2009, 01:42 PM
yes it has done a few miles got 80k on it the car looks like it has had money spent on it and looked after the rear seat belts still had the protective film on them from when it was new ha ha and the boot looks like it has never been used he said he was the only person to drive it and be in it

randall977
25-03-2009, 02:32 PM
You must be very pleased! All's left to do now is post some photos...I mean fix the auto. ;)

wmccann
25-03-2009, 05:55 PM
If they are only worth £3750 these days then in my mind it is money badly spent, are you really going to get your money back if you always go to an audi main dealer (have heard of £100+ quotes to change a light bulb!!)

You can tell a lot about a car by it's appearance inside and out.

Anyway I have sold a few cars over the years and people seem only interested that it has been serviced, not where it was serviced.

Just my tupence worth,

W.

domg
25-03-2009, 07:18 PM
ha ha getting the auto box sorted friday will get some photos up soon as i get camera working

domg
27-03-2009, 08:49 PM
got the gear box done today and is running sweet really pleased with the car just need to clean the roof and reseal it again and then done and will get some photos up

randall977
27-03-2009, 11:11 PM
That was quick! Photos!!!

domg
29-03-2009, 07:21 PM
it only took 5 hurs to do will get photos on soon as i clean the hood will be doing this week i think if its nice