calling all 1.8t quattro owners, opinons needed

[boost-addict]

hi guys, got my eye on a few a4 quattro's.(and its a car ive decided i defently want) but, seen a few reviews across official review sites, many saying the coil packs are pants,electrics are bad, like bulbs blowing, dash display goes, the mpg is really bad, and that the fwd is better because its lighter,quicker 0-60 and the quattro only better in the wet (and obviously the snow) compared to the fwd

so can people that own, or have owned a a4 b5 1.8t qauttro (and other engine specs) give me the low down on common problems

one im most interested in has 140k miles, but full service history etc etc.

many thanks

[boost-addict]

any one?

[Crasher]

Oil pressure, oil pressure, oil pressure.

[boost-addict]

how can this be solved? new oil pump straight away, then doing the water and timing belt at the same time as soon as i get the car?

[revol]

Take the oil cap off and see if there's black build up like burnt oil onside the rocker cover.Listen for rattles on start up from the engine.Check service history to see how often it's had an oil change and what oil was used.I change mine every 5-6k miles and use synthetic oil.The extended service intervals some cars were run on weren't a great idea of Audis.
Google "1.8t oil pressure problems" for more info.If you do decide to change the oil pump as a precautionary measure you'll need to remove the sump and lower the front subframe.

[boost-addict]

cheers. so other the the oil. which im also aware of sludge problems is the Q better over the fwd, im looking forward to the snow in a Q but i know is heavier, is it true they stick to the road round corners?

and this edl diffs, can you manually lock the rear diff for increased traction

[olds_kool]

just replaced my tdi avant with a 1.8tqs avant
with 164k first weekend i changed oil pump for peace of mind, also fitted larger oil filter

other quattro issues are broken rear springs (good excuse to lower it)
worn diff mounts, you'll feel it under hard acceleration (buy spares and fill with urethane)
rear wheel bearings, when one goes the other wont be far behind
despite 180 bhp (fwd 150) they arent that quick but even a £99 postal remap makes a big difference
the standard tqs alloys had polished lip which on most cars will be riddled with corrosion by now
you will be lucky to find one with a perfect dash computer display but it can be fixed for around £100-150
economy depends on right foot, ive driven stoke to london on quarter of a tank at steady 60mph but ive also used the same amount on a 25 mile commute to work

for the price you can pick them up for now id highly recommend one, luxury/sporty german motoring on a budget

[boost-addict]

i havent driven a audi, but ive driven a few bmws. but nothing as new as this, most cars have been 1994 or older, so this is the newest car ill own and im looking forward to it.

i want the quattro because i dont think i could stand another wrong wheel drive car, but the a4 dosnt come as a rwd, it was this or a passat, but they dont do the 1.8t in awd, and the 1.8t is what i want to put a gt28rs i have sitting in the shed (left over from a 200sx car) and of course other bits to run the big turbo setup

what they like in hard corners, fwd just carry on with foot down and rwd's do the same for a point then tail out, had a 200sx and e36 on track, and drove a mates astra turbo on track and that was awfull in to corners, and sometimes out of,

never driven a awd car and heard its just a totally diffrent driving experince, and in the wet it come in to its own

[revol]

Don't know about the quattro as I've a fwd avant but as stated the performance is adequate but not blinding.Early 1.8t were 150bhp, later ones (both quattro and fwd) were 180bhp.Early ones require a physical chip replacement for improved performance as you can't flash the ecu like the later cars.

[boost-addict]

one im looking at is a 2000 model. i know there not quick stock, but a turbo, injectors, fuel pump etc etc and remap can make a easy 300bhp. and im not going to run agressive timing as i dont want to replace the rods at the moment as 300bhp would be enough for now, then save for a gt30rs or maybe bigger

shame i didnt swap over the gt30rs from my 200sx, but then thats what sold it, the fact it had a bigger turbo running decent power, and preety much ripe for drifting.