Buying an A4 - help

[Mike400]

Hi there, new to the site!
Having never owned an Audi, or a turbo car, or a V6, I thought I would ask on here for some advice:

Im planning to change my car within the next few months. I currently have a mondeo, which does what it says on the tin but, well, its a ford lol

Ive always fancied an A4, and now im a wee bit more mature (well 22) I can finally afford to buy and insure something a bit more enjoyable to own.

Basically Im looking at cars aged around 1996 - 1998 or so, and the following models:

1.8T sport

2.4V6

2.6V6

Now ive heard that the 2.4 is actually quicker than the 2.6 :s But apart from that im not sure what im looking for with these engines, what goes wrong with them and what I would need to look out for with audis in general.

The cars im looking at typically have near 100k on the clock, there is the age old "audis can do twice that" claim, but how much truth is there in this? I can and do all my own maintenance, even as far as engine out jobs, but having never worked on an audi i wonder how "mechanic friendly" the engines are.

My personal choice would be the 1.8T (sport) as they seem quick enough and would in my opinion be easier to live with than a V6, but then feel free to tell me otherwise!!!

Thanks again

Mike

[Brooksy]

Mike

I've got an A4 1.8T Sport Quattro. It's one of the early B6 models. I love it but have the following comments;

• It's an early B6 model, 2001. As it was the first of that shape it's only got a 5 speed box, it's only 150bhp and has manual windows in the back amongst a few other missings that Audi thought they could get away with whilst people were keen to have the new model. Later models came with 190bhp, 6 speed and a whole bunch of other stuff. I'd go for a later B6 or a later version of the B5 where you get 190/180bhp respectively. I find the 150bhp a little under powered if I'm honest. (It's the same engine as I had in my previous A3 1.8T afterall - that's a much smaller car!)
• I drive mine 170miles a day from deepest Kent to Heathrow and back. It's done 120k miles and is as good as the day I bought it at a year old with 10k on the clock. Only problems I've had are ignition coils which Audi fixed for free as it was a design fault and the water pump packed up at about 90k.
• Get a six speed if you can, mine's a five speed and revs too much at high speed. (Friends that have driven it are constantly thinking their in fourth gear!). This makes it a little thirsty. We get more to the gallon from my wife's 2500cc 323 BMW!
• I've not got round to getting mine chipped yet, but there's a whole host of providers out there offering upto 220bhp. I'd look into it well before doing so......I really must get round to that.
• The sound system rocks and it's not even the bose badged system!!
• Get a Quattro if you can, they stick to the road like glue! Also I took mine down to the french alps last ski-season. Absolutely brilliant in the snow, no snow chains, no snow tyres and it just kept going!

Not sure about ease of mechanical works - I give all mine to an independant mechanic. He's not an audi specialist and he seems to have no problem with it.

Generally it's my second audi and I'd buy another one. Hoping to shift the wife's BMW soon as that also has major mileage and is much older. She'll take on the A4 and I'm hoping to upgrade to an RS6 Avant......if I suddenly come into £30k!



Hope this helps!
Aran

[Mike400]

Thats a great help, thanks for the reply.
Its a B5 im after, more in my price range and Ive wanted one that shape quite badly since they came out, but considering I was around 12 in 95, I had to make do with my BMX!!! ten years ago, hard to believe!

As im still only 22 insurance is still a factor, I got a favourable qoute for a 150bhp 1.8t sport, and consequently had a look at a few local ones. Nice one near me, silver, full black leather, climate, alloys, all the toys. Its away now, but the mileage put me off - 146k.....

I would have no probs buying a high mileage car if I thought the engine could hack it.

I had a look on the parkers website, and the early non sport B5 1.8t is listed as having 125bhp, surely thats not correct as the N/A 1.8 has the same?

As ive not driven one yet, and wouldnt really want to "rake" someone elses on a test drive, do the 150bhp models FEEL quick? some cars look good on paper but to drive dont feel half as fast to drive if you know what I mean.

Thanks again

Oh and the tip on the quattro has went down well, tho as I live in NI id have to buy one on the mainland as they dont seem to come up for sale over here all that often and when they do seem overpriced.
Chipping would be a thought for the future also

[Brooksy]

Mike,

I've not heard of a 125bhp version, but the older ones could have been I suppose. I only really got into Audi's with my A3 1.8T back in 2000. As for the A4 150bhp version it feels quick enough. For instance a mate of mine has a 1800 vectra as a company car. He was following me at the week-end and complained he couldn't keep up......I wasn't even trying to lose him. They pull well at whatever speed you're doing. I'd say the front wheel drive version may be slightly quicker as it doesn't have those two extra wheels to drive. Not sure what your price range is, but when I checked the value of mine the other day with 120k on the clock it's only worth about £5500 to £6000, a bit gauling when I paid £18k for it back in 2002.

Good luck with the search.

Aran

[paolo_eh16]

The 1.8T engine is available in a range of power outputs from 15bhp-190bhp. Avoid heavily modified or chipped examples that may shorten the life of the engine.



paolo_eh16