A6 Diesels - how reliable?

[clonmult]

I've seen a few A6 Avant Diesels around, and they're looking incredibly tempting.

However one has got me in a quandry. Its an '02 model 1.9 TDi 130, but its got 189k of (allegedly) motorway miles on the clock. If its been serviced, is this an issue?

Also, would there be much of a performance difference between a standard 2.5TDi and a mildly tuned 1.9TDi? Both would give roughly similar power.

[clonmult]

Thats the sort of journey we've got in mind - an 1100+ mile round trip to visit family in Scotland, and a relatively economical diesel barge with all the kit perfectly fits the bill.

Doubt I'll find a 2.0 in my price bracket - probably up to around £4k at the moment.

[clonmult]

matt uk said:

clonmult said:

I've seen a few A6 Avant Diesels around, and they're looking incredibly tempting.

However one has got me in a quandry. Its an '02 model 1.9 TDi 130, but its got 189k of (allegedly) motorway miles on the clock. If its been serviced, is this an issue?

Also, would there be much of a performance difference between a standard 2.5TDi and a mildly tuned 1.9TDi? Both would give roughly similar power.

I ran a 130 tdi for 70,000 miles - not problem. If the price reflected the milage and the receipts show it has been well serviced and had it's cambelt changes on time, I'd take a punt on a high miler. It's a very common engine. There's a Passat mini cab round here running that engine with over 270k on it and it still felt like a nice engine.

I found the 2.5 to be a bit smoother but also heavier, not much faster and a lot more thirsty. I couldn't reccommend it really.

That echoes what I've read on some other VAG forums - mentions of the engines having seen 3/400k without any issues.

The price is £3.5k - will have to call the seller to check on service history.

[clonmult]

Seller claims its got a service history at main dealers up to 160k, with indies after that. No details as to cambelt changes though.

But after another browse, I've found a slightly better option.

Would you go for :
52 plate, 189k on the clock at £3,500 or ...
51 plate 88k on the clock at £4,300 with a small dink behind one of the wheels ...

I think one with 100 thousand less miles on it will be a better bet.

[clonmult]

jas xjr said:

clonmult said:

Seller claims its got a service history at main dealers up to 160k, with indies after that. No details as to cambelt changes though.

But after another browse, I've found a slightly better option.

Would you go for :
52 plate, 189k on the clock at £3,500 or ...
51 plate 88k on the clock at £4,300 with a small dink behind one of the wheels ...

I think one with 100 thousand less miles on it will be a better bet.

if it has history to back up the mileage.sounds like a car that can hide its mileage well

From the pics it looks absolutely perfect - nothing to obviously indicate the mileage.

Will just have to check them over.