Audi A4 Convertible - Talk to me

[tbc]

this time of the year and i've had an excellent couple of months on the financial front

weather has been perfect so i started browsing A4 convertibles

budget is £5-6k, preferably after a 1.8 or 1.9TDI, something that would still return 40mpg

going to look at a few over the next few days in black

anything apart from the norm I should be looking out for?

[fozzymandeus]

Thoughts:

Good quality interior. Nice feel and fit and finish. Lovely roof and mechanism. Don't buy one that has scratches in the paintwork (overly so). Ruins the look.

S-Line is worth having as regards looks. Not a driver's car, but that's no shame.

The 1.8 petrol won't return anything like 40mpg. Heavy car. Also very slow indeed. They carry forward more of the characteristics of the old Audi Cabriolet than Audi would like you to think - great cruiser but probably even less sporty than a similar aged CLK convertible.

Not a lot to go wrong with them. I'd say the value is mainly in the perceived quality and the looks. Do not buy one that has either of these things tarnished as it loses its USP.

If you can stretch to one, the 2.0T is the one to have, (2007ish on) as it has a vastly better engine than the 1.8T (The old 20V Turbo unit which I, personally, don't rate and I may be wrong here but is in 150bhp form in the A4 cabrio).

Early V6 units are pleasant, cheap but juicy. Might be viable for lower mileage use.

If you can afford the diesel, do consider the 2.0T petrol too.

[fatboy b]

Generally bullet proof. Not sure they did a 1.9 tdi though.

Roof rattles can be annoying. So vaseline all the rubbers and get the clasps adjusted correctly - normally sorts it all. Both of mine suffered from a rattle under the dash behind the glovebox as well. My 2.5tdi had a few probs with the engine - EGR valve and an unsolved problem with a "gringing bearing" sound at front. The 3.0tdi was faultless apart from the rattles. Lovely cars. Go for it.

[Jimmyarm]

Having just driven a customers '03 plate v6 one home I would say don't.

It's alright as cars go but really nothing spectacular, plenty of scuttle shake and the windows creak all over the shop with the roof down.

A three series covertable is a better drive IMO.

[Jimmyarm]

Forgot to add to check the radio reception is good, the wiring breaks in the boot hinge and is both expensive and a pita to fix properly

[tbc]

many thanks, I'd like a V6 but the running costs would be terrible, low 20s

[fatboy b]

tbc said:

many thanks, I'd like a V6 but the running costs would be terrible, low 20s

3.0 V6 tdi is high 30 's, low 40's.

[Jimmyarm]

tbc said:

many thanks, I'd like a V6 but the running costs would be terrible, low 20s

14 miles home saw 25 ish at 60 on the motorway/nsl road with about 3 miles of urban.

Pretty poor given the performance although it was with the auto box.

If you really want an a4 there seems to be no point in the v6 petrol.

[sday12]

Oh dear!

[Bitzer]

Avoid the multitronic auto. If you want an auto, get a Quattro as it has the reliable tiptronic conventional torque converter. The extra weight/auto will hit economy though.

There's a massive thread in the VAG section if you do a search for it