A4 buying advice

Author
Discussion

LordHaveMurci

Original Poster:

12,045 posts

170 months

Monday 29th September 2014
quotequote all
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).

LordHaveMurci

Original Poster:

12,045 posts

170 months

Monday 29th September 2014
quotequote all
Not looking for quattro, would be a 1.8T or 2.0T, most at that price seem to be 2009/10 1.8's on 30-40k mls.

LordHaveMurci

Original Poster:

12,045 posts

170 months

Monday 29th September 2014
quotequote all
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.

LordHaveMurci

Original Poster:

12,045 posts

170 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
quotequote all
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?

LordHaveMurci

Original Poster:

12,045 posts

170 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
quotequote all
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 smile