Audi A4 - 2002 - What do I need to ask/know?

Audi A4 - 2002 - What do I need to ask/know?

Author
Discussion

radiodanno

Original Poster:

1,055 posts

131 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for all this.

Going to be a bloody tough call. At the moment I've got a 1999 Avensis which isn't exactly the last word on...well...anything really. Other than bullet proof unborkable reliability. I've done 15k in 5 months and it's only asked for petrol and replacement oil in that time. It goes as well as the one I had 10 years ago. Brilliant.

But - this has the chance to save me £1000 in a year on fuel.

I know you shouldn't spend pounds to save pennies, but I can probably get £800 for my car - so If I can get the A4 around £1700 that's £900 for a more modern car, a safer car and a DERV.

Tough one.

TwistingMyMelon

6,385 posts

206 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
I had similar issue, I wish I went a dull Jap petrol, the fuel is more but less to go wrong and when they do they are simple to fix


Having said that I miss the stereo of the A4, which made it more pleasant place to spend the time

ZesPak

24,439 posts

197 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
Agree, the Audi will probably be -marginally- the more pleasant car to be in. Although I do find that VAG interiors in particular have a greater decline over the years, rather than the Toyota ones (which weren't very pleasant to start with).

Like you said, what you're doing is man maths and we've all done it at one point or another. Hoping to save back some of your loss on fuel over a year might end badly, think of it more like "I like this car better" and go for it. Whatever you save out of it is welcome, but keep in mind that it can cost you as well.

I've had all kinds of crap, and a particularly ropey Micra, but the thing is, it'll never give you a reason to swap it. It's pretty crap at just about everything, but meanwhile it doesn't even seem to require any sort of service to keep going for 5 years.

Thing is, if you have a car that has been with you for some time, has been maintained, and has proven itself reliable, it'll always be a risk to go for another car.

TwistingMyMelon

6,385 posts

206 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
ZesPak said:
Agree, the Audi will probably be -marginally- the more pleasant car to be in. Although I do find that VAG interiors in particular have a greater decline over the years, rather than the Toyota ones (which weren't very pleasant to start with).

Like you said, what you're doing is man maths and we've all done it at one point or another. Hoping to save back some of your loss on fuel over a year might end badly, think of it more like "I like this car better" and go for it. Whatever you save out of it is welcome, but keep in mind that it can cost you as well.

I've had all kinds of crap, and a particularly ropey Micra, but the thing is, it'll never give you a reason to swap it. It's pretty crap at just about everything, but meanwhile it doesn't even seem to require any sort of service to keep going for 5 years.

Thing is, if you have a car that has been with you for some time, has been maintained, and has proven itself reliable, it'll always be a risk to go for another car.
Good advice, better the devil you know

radiodanno

Original Poster:

1,055 posts

131 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
You're probably right, but someone's going to get a cracking buy for peanuts.

He's just added:

I have every receipt including the original bill of sale for £20,000 all the way through to my ownership. Since I've had it I've spent £600 on rebuilding the entire braking system, £300 on the cambelt and waterpump service at 100000 miles and have only ever put the best fully synthetic oil in since ive bought it every six months! Last oil and filter change i also put in New glow plugs just 3 months ago. Brand new air con pump rrp £400 new and a full aircon service and gas refill this summer. 2 new tyres last month and has never failed an mot. The car has never needed a drop of water in the 2 1/2 years I've owned it. Pulls great through all the gears and i have made sure to clear the turbo atleast once a week by giving it a good boot.. And let it cool down before switching off after long journeys just as the manual states. Genuine reason for sale as i want something a little younger and faster.

I'll send ya some pics when we can



Someone's going to be delighted I'm sure.

Matt UK

17,758 posts

201 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
Sounds like a decent seller - buy it.

vit4

3,507 posts

171 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
That sounds like a very good buy. IME these PD's are the last of the properly reliable diesels. My dad has the 100 version in his Fabia, got something like 110k mostly-town miles on it and *touch wood* has yet to have any trouble vaguely related to the drivetrain. Silly economical as well.

LeoSayer

7,317 posts

245 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
Avoid the auto box...multitronic CVT.

Maracus

4,292 posts

169 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
radiodanno said:
You're probably right, but someone's going to get a cracking buy for peanuts.

He's just added:

I have every receipt including the original bill of sale for £20,000 all the way through to my ownership. Since I've had it I've spent £600 on rebuilding the entire braking system, £300 on the cambelt and waterpump service at 100000 miles and have only ever put the best fully synthetic oil in since ive bought it every six months! Last oil and filter change i also put in New glow plugs just 3 months ago. Brand new air con pump rrp £400 new and a full aircon service and gas refill this summer. 2 new tyres last month and has never failed an mot. The car has never needed a drop of water in the 2 1/2 years I've owned it. Pulls great through all the gears and i have made sure to clear the turbo atleast once a week by giving it a good boot.. And let it cool down before switching off after long journeys just as the manual states. Genuine reason for sale as i want something a little younger and faster.

I'll send ya some pics when we can



Someone's going to be delighted I'm sure.
If you don't want it, I'll have it hehe

TTmonkey

20,911 posts

248 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
I bought mine at 120k.

Sold it with 299,750 on it last year.

I only ever gave it one new Cam belt at 180k, all other servicing was oil changes at MoT time.

Returned 50 plus mpg and you could get 750 miles out of the tank if careful.

Fox-

13,251 posts

247 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
Very pessimistic pricing in this thread, £1500 would be a bargain for a decent 2002 (Remember it's the B6 not a B5) A4 TDI. It is surely worth rather more than this as a quick glance at the market seems to demonstrate. You'd be lucky to get a good 2002 Passat for this let alone the Audi.

JimmyConwayNW

3,077 posts

126 months

Monday 25th November 2013
quotequote all
I could always do with a run around ill have it lol