Advice on Buying New (to me) Car - a4 2.5 TDi B6

[TrippinTurbo]

Hiya ok so I am new here, but really hope to gleam some wisdom from pistonheaders on here!

I am in the market for another car, currently running a 52 plate astra SRi good mechanical order but average bodywork (scratches etc no rust)

Anyway I've seen a nice a4 2.5 TDi I think its the B6 engine, with a manual gearbox - its a 2004 model on 113k miles with full Service history and new cambelt kit at 90k, this has been a 1 owner car and the garage wants £4300 for it which I think is a bit pricey... so I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me.

1. Is that a reasonable price? I was thinking more £3500 ?
2. Is anyone aware of anything I should be looking for when I take the test drive? I am reading mixed reviews about this car and the fact it's on quite high miles is worrying me slightly as 4 grand is rather a lot of money to me. I need something that will be reliable but also a pleasure to drive.

• edit** I had a look on the search on these forums and I saw one audi tech who posted on here a lot that the 2.5 TDi Engine is pretty awful... and worse if you have multi-tronic gearbox...I'm just wondering now whether it's worth it or not... I don't want an unreliable car, maybe I should try and find a suitable 2.0? Which other diesel cars for around 4k would be achieveable anyone got any recommendations?

Any help and advice greatly appreciated.


Stoo

Edited by TrippinTurbo on Wednesday 22 October 02:00

[Cupramax]

The 2.5 isnt a particularly loved engine, the later 3.0tdi or even the smaller 2.0tdi are much much better. Also B6 is the body shape not the engine, B6 is 2002-2005 and B7 2005-2008. As for price, look at what else is out there, A4's are not rare do a search on Autotrader. I'd say its pretty pricey, wouldnt expect to pay over £3k for a car with that much mileage let alone 3.5!

[Adrian E]

It's not the most fuel efficient engine for its size either, particularly around town. Depends what you want it for and how long you expect it to last? It could easily throw you a bill for over £1k in suspension components at that mileage - some will probably have been done already, but depends how the previous owner has cared for it.

As above it needs to be properly cheap to be worth considering. The 1.9/2.0d engine is available in vast numbers with or without quattro, manual/auto (proper autos with quattro so only the front wheel drive are multitronic/best avoided) so you can afford to be picky.

[TrippinTurbo]

Hiya went to see it tonight and there were several omens for me not to buy it.

First opened bonnet and water level was well below minimum but car was on an incline so.....could have been ok on flat.
Second heard another customer having an argument with the manager owner about he'd spent 7 grand on a car and it wasn't any good.. or work they'd done on it wasn't good..
3rd and final one of their other cars for sale was being moved, and there was loads of smoke out the back of it... it's a shame... I sat in the car and started it and it felt nice, but the interior I don't think was that of a 113kmiles car that had been looked after so with a heavy heart i walked away...

Besides I reckon 4k was a bit on the steep side for that car.