Might be joining the A4 family

[billybob]

Hi folks,

I've been a 1.8T Passat owner for the last 8 years but sadly my trusty servant now needs way more money spending on it for the MOT than it's actually worth, which is a shame as I'm just a few K short of my quarter million mile target for it

Anyway, I need to find a new car and I'm hoping to go and look at a 2003 A4 1.8T quattro next week. Is there anything I should be looking out for in particular when test driving / viewing the car? Any essential questions I should ask? Better still is there a buying guide on the forum?

Many thanks
Billybob

[fourringsrus]

Well Billybob, you are already familiar with the obvious issues relating to the various 1.8turbo units, the only other things to consider when looking at the b6 A4 would be the usual things for any car but also the front suspension joints etc can be known as a bit of a cow to work on, where the pinch bolts sieze (ally to steel corrosion ).
I'm sure that others will have stuff to add but I have owned three b6 A4 ( 1x 3.0q, 1x 1.8t 1x2.4cabby ) and never had a serious issue with any of them.
The cooling issues on the 1.8t were solved eventually when the correct temp sensors were fitted, but on the whole, cracking cars.

[billybob]

Nice one, thanks.

Anything to look out for re the 4WD? That's new to me

[billybob]

Car gone already

Thanks anyway

[fourringsrus]

Note to ya'self, must be quicker.
For your next attempt, re quattro, listen and feel for any clonks bangs etc that dont seem how it would have felt from the showroom, look at tyres for uneven wear etc.
If you are looking at autos , pre late 2005ish and have read the fear stories ref multitronics, the multitronic is the auto front drive whereas the auto quattro is tiptronic, tiptronic is far safer as the multis are the bugers.
Some cars with quattro will exhibit a bumping/jumping on full lock at low speeds, ie carparking etc, this is known as quattro shunt and is generally only present when tyre tread is getting low or uneven across the car.
Good luck hunting

Stuart

[billybob]

Yes will try and be quicker next time a good match appears at the right price

Thanks for all the quattro info - much appreciated. Only considering manuals for now