A4 buying advice
Discussion
So, the OH's best mate has set her heart on an A4.
As she only does approx 10k miles pa (mainly in town) I have (hopefully) talked her out of a TDI & into a petrol, don't think she's fussed about saloon/avant.
What are the multitronic boxes like? She has only been looking at manuals but she is not the worlds best driver, an auto might not be a bad idea!
Anything I need to know, anything to look out for? Her budget is £10k, not looking at buying privately (maybe from a PHer).
As she only does approx 10k miles pa (mainly in town) I have (hopefully) talked her out of a TDI & into a petrol, don't think she's fussed about saloon/avant.
What are the multitronic boxes like? She has only been looking at manuals but she is not the worlds best driver, an auto might not be a bad idea!
Anything I need to know, anything to look out for? Her budget is £10k, not looking at buying privately (maybe from a PHer).
If they want quattro then they'll be torque converter autos, rather than multitronic. Newer multitronic models are allegedly more reliable than old ones, but that's not difficult to be an improvement! I don't like the drive of them, but I know others love them.
None of them are worry free reliability wise - the non-turbo FSI engines are pretty horrid and the turbo models can varnish the inlet manifolds with unburnt fuel. If it was my money and it had to be an A4 then a 2.0T quattro would be my preference but check that the cambelt has been done and the water pump and ideally annually serviced.
None of them are worry free reliability wise - the non-turbo FSI engines are pretty horrid and the turbo models can varnish the inlet manifolds with unburnt fuel. If it was my money and it had to be an A4 then a 2.0T quattro would be my preference but check that the cambelt has been done and the water pump and ideally annually serviced.
Dr G said:
B8 1.8T multi is actually a nice thing to drive, smooth, quiet, reasonable talk and half decent fuel economy. They're particularly well suited to town driving.
I really rate them as a model.
The late multitronic boxes are fine but ensure oil has been/is changed at 40k intervals.
When you say late model, what year from? I have little or no knowledge of Audis.I really rate them as a model.
The late multitronic boxes are fine but ensure oil has been/is changed at 40k intervals.
Don't forget about the cabriolets (not that I'm bias). They are still reasonably practical and the road/wind noise is no louder than my passat. You should be able to pick up a late B7 for 10k. I live in Cyprus so my hood is down most of the year but I'd still have one if I lived in the UK.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Quick update, she's not keen on a cabriolet so we went to view a 2009 saloon yesterday.
1.8T manual, few small dents & scrapes but it's done c55k mls so not an issue. Has 5 main dealer stamps & requires a service in 1000mls which the selling garage (not a MD) has offered to do.
Both front & rear discs are worn, are they an expensive job? Looks like the last owner had new pads fitted about 6k mls ago, maybe they were keeping costs down as they knew they were changing it soon.
The car had been washed shortly before we arrived & the NS headlight was steamed up inside, is this an issue?
Last question, anybody know if/when the cambelt needs changing on these?
1.8T manual, few small dents & scrapes but it's done c55k mls so not an issue. Has 5 main dealer stamps & requires a service in 1000mls which the selling garage (not a MD) has offered to do.
Both front & rear discs are worn, are they an expensive job? Looks like the last owner had new pads fitted about 6k mls ago, maybe they were keeping costs down as they knew they were changing it soon.
The car had been washed shortly before we arrived & the NS headlight was steamed up inside, is this an issue?
Last question, anybody know if/when the cambelt needs changing on these?
LordHaveMurci said:
Quick update, she's not keen on a cabriolet so we went to view a 2009 saloon yesterday.
1.8T manual, few small dents & scrapes but it's done c55k mls so not an issue. Has 5 main dealer stamps & requires a service in 1000mls which the selling garage (not a MD) has offered to do.
Both front & rear discs are worn, are they an expensive job? Looks like the last owner had new pads fitted about 6k mls ago, maybe they were keeping costs down as they knew they were changing it soon.
The car had been washed shortly before we arrived & the NS headlight was steamed up inside, is this an issue?
Last question, anybody know if/when the cambelt needs changing on these?
75k for the timing belt. 1.8T manual, few small dents & scrapes but it's done c55k mls so not an issue. Has 5 main dealer stamps & requires a service in 1000mls which the selling garage (not a MD) has offered to do.
Both front & rear discs are worn, are they an expensive job? Looks like the last owner had new pads fitted about 6k mls ago, maybe they were keeping costs down as they knew they were changing it soon.
The car had been washed shortly before we arrived & the NS headlight was steamed up inside, is this an issue?
Last question, anybody know if/when the cambelt needs changing on these?
Discs are minimum 30 for cheap pattern ones.
The headlight is a PITA, as they are sealed units. I had it on my A4 and took the bulk holder out and heated them up with a hair dryer to dry them out a bit.
gwm said:
75k for the timing belt.
Discs are minimum 30 for cheap pattern ones.
The headlight is a PITA, as they are sealed units. I had it on my A4 and took the bulk holder out and heated them up with a hair dryer to dry them out a bit.
Cheers for the reply, she has now done a deal & is waiting for her private plate to be transferred before she can collect, I'm now off the hook Discs are minimum 30 for cheap pattern ones.
The headlight is a PITA, as they are sealed units. I had it on my A4 and took the bulk holder out and heated them up with a hair dryer to dry them out a bit.
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