A4 tdi cheap family car?

[markquinton]

Hi All

Me and my partner are expecting our first child in october and i'm looking for buy a family car for about 2k, The next car must be cheap to run, reasonable insurance and reliable (important)

I am considering an A4 Tdi (110) due to the excellent mpg but my main concern is how reliable they are and expensive to fix.


I understand they have expensive suspension problems but i have noticed you can buy the set fron ebay for £130.

Is the a4 the car for me? Are they cheap to run?

Regards

Mark

[ini]

The A4 TDI 110 is the cheapest car to run & maintain that i have ever owned.

[jimotoole]

Make sure you get one with a good service history that's had the belts changed at the correct intervals and you should be fine. I regularly get 700 miles out of a tank from my '96 tdi 110 doing 75 on the motorways, it's the most frugal car I've ever owned. Only thing I've had to replace in 20,000 miles is a cracked wing mirror (£10) and rear discs/pads (£100). I'd advise holding out for an SE model - you'll never want to drive a car without aircon again!

[markquinton]

Thanks guys!

So realistically can i expect the same sort of running costs as for a golf/passat etc?

Insurance isn't a problem for me, i've already had quotes.

Regards

Mark

[jimotoole]

I guess it depends where you take it to be serviced. Obviously a main Audi dealer is going to cost more than your local mechanic down the road. Buying a 10 year old car is always going to be a bit of a gamble but if you get a good one and keep it well maintained it should last you as long as you want it to. I was inspired to get mine by a german friend who had done 300,000km in his audi 80 tdi with nothing but a few sets of brakes and tyres and the usual maintenance. But I'd say definitely buy the best one you can afford. Don't worry too much about the age or mileage, but check the history's up to date so you know what's been done where and when. Spending a few hundred quid more at this stage to get one that's been looked after will hopefully avoid the hassle and expense of extra repairs later.

[markquinton]

Thanks again for your quick reply.

I always use the same friendly garage who are very reasonably priced.

The excellent fuel economy is what is really attracting me to the car, aswell as them looking quite tasty when cleaned up and looked after.

Thanks for your help.

Mark

[rob1380]

Mark... Ive just bought my A4 tdi for exactly the same reasons........ Its a 97 110 TDI SE and cost me £1200 to buy, its done 175k miles (not that you would know) and i have to say its brilliant. Once cleaned up it looks like new, no rust anywhere and drives like a car half its age.

I do a mix of driving and get 600 miles to a tank although i'm sure on longer motorway runs you would see 650-700 to a tank.

Since buying it ive done all the servicing myself using parts from german and swedish and euro car parts and to be honest is no more expensive to run than any vauxhall or ford ive owned previously.

Good luck finding one

Rob

[Dozz]

My 99 a4 110 only fault was the air mass meter apart from that it only had a few niggles nothing major be warned thou if you must make sure it's had a cambelt if that lets go it will be mucho money it's best to get the water pump replaced at the same time as it's driven from the cambelt local garage to me only charged for the pump when they did mine at 30 quid it was worth paying the extra. The front suspension is not to much to put right mind you mine never went but it is quite a big job from what I understand. I always got 50 mpg plus from mine and have now had a 130 passat as well I'd say the costs are about the same. Just find one with good service history

[GRAHAM.C]

Mark,if you get the chance of a well looked after A4 t.d.i. even if the miles are high snap it up.I bought mine about 12 months ago,after keeping a few Golfs
and to be honest it is the best car that I have ever owned.Plenty of power,a lovely drive and cheap to run.As it has been said make sure that it has been
well maintained and I dont think you will get a better wagon anywhere.

Best of luck, GRAHAM.C

[mardecconor]

Hi

Just bought a 96 1.8se with 120k miles mostly service history, I want to get the cambelt changed as I have had this snap on previous cars. Can you tell me roughly how much this will cost.

Thanks
Alan