a4/a6 avant - things to look for/buying guide?

[the_r_sole]

Hi there, just new on here... looking at getting an estate on the go - basically this car is going to be abused!
It's going to be doing short trips most days with the occasional decent run (maybe once every two weeks!)

I know this is bad for any car, at the moment my R53 mini is doing this job - and it's not enjoying it, so looking to get rid of that, no reason to have a supercharged performance car running 4 miles a day!

Looking at an estate because we have a dog (and kids not too far away) and could do with a decent sized car anyway... Looking at the 1.9 pd engine as it's one I've known before and seems pretty reliable/economical - I service the cars every year no matter how many miles have been done just as a matter of course so hopefully that will minimise the effects of the terrible trips it's doing.

Budget is basically as low as I can find! say 4k tops...

Just wondering what the main points I should be checking for are? And any big (expensive) problems that could be hiding?

any help/advice would be great

[mikeybutch]

Lots of variations to choose from and tips on here if you research.I would look for a Quattro version and A4 if the dogs not huge

[ajrayner]

If you're only going to be doing 4 miles a day then get a petrol! You'll get mid 30s mpg at BEST on such a short journey...nowhere near long enough for the PD engine to do it's thing! There are petrol Avants available but can't give you any particulars as I'm a diesel man. Be warned that the Avant hasn't got the biggest boot on the market, too (A6 is obviously bigger than the A4 but incurs greater running costs).

If you are set on the 1.9 TDi then here's my checklist for an A4 (bought my 1.9 Tdi Avant Sport 2WD six months ago and have been very happy with it).

Exterior

Look for signs of rust or paint repair on the on all wings, particularly the fronts. Both my front wings have deteriorated very quickly this winter (looked perfect on purchase) and a close inspection has revealed all four wings have been resprayed so no warranty claims for me. I believe the A6s have better anti-corrosion protection than the A4s.
Rust is also quite common along the roof rails and behind the rear number plate (could indicate a leaking rear wiper wash also).
Check that the correct size brake discs are fitted. Sounds daft but turns out mine had smaller ones for a lower powered engine fitted!

Engine

Be wary if the engine has been steam cleaned as I've read a few posts about it damaging belt tensioners, pulleys, etc. There will be some strange noises coming from the front if this is the case.
It's a longitudinal engine so the timing belt can easily be inspected. Just pop the two clips off the cover at the front of the engine.
Don't be overly concerned about a bit of oil around the egr valve. It's normal for these engines to "breath" a bit of oil.
Pop the oil filler cap off and shine a torch in to inspect what you can see of the cam lobes for signs of wear. If wear is apparent...do not buy.
If the engine doesn't appear to be getting up to temperature on a test drive then it's likely you'll need a new thermostat and/or coolant temp sensor...approx £40 for the pair.
Be wary of any judder/vibration at idle, when changing gear or planting the accelerator. The dual mass flywheel is a bit of an Achilles and are expensive to replace. A high biting point and/or notchy gear selection is a sign the clutch is past it's best. For DMF, clutch and labour budget at least £700

Interior

Check both front footwells for signs of damp. Water ingress from the engine plenum chamber can play havoc with the Comfort Control Module (controls windows, locks, etc)
The glovebox hinge is probably broken. It's simple fix and plenty of guides knocking about on the internet.
Worn buttons on the Air Con Unit can be easily patched up. Try looking on ebay for sticker sets.

Not an exhaustive list by any means, just some model specific issues. The usual car buying checks still apply, too. Get on all the forums and start reading...you'll soon get a feel for the cars pros and cons. Also, be wary of Auto Trader spec lists. The site auto-populates all possible extras via the reg number and lazy dealers don't edit the listings, so check before traveling.

Hope this is of some help and happy hunting!

[Boy]

One addition to the list above:-
Check that the windscreen wipers are moving at a proper speed.
If there is any sign of sluggishness, you will have to clean out the off-side
spindle and re-grease it. It has a tendency to get sticky and if ignored will seize.

[the_r_sole]

thanks guys - I know the terrible journeys are not going to be great for a diesel, but they're not going to be good for anything!
would prefer that engine just because I know it's fairly hardy if serviced and when I do go a decent run it will be good!
I've been doing a wee bit of reading up, but mental with other stuff at the moment too - the other one I'm looking at is a volvo v70 d5 (only because a mate has one and it's cracking)