Hey Audi fans, would live your view on this...

[Bluejmc2005]

Hi all

I need a reliable auto estate to drive to the top of Scotland and back in this summer, and then to be the our second car. Found this on eBay, and would love your impressions

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141348921953?_trksid=p20...

Thanks all,

Jason

[cptsideways]

It's cheap & just passed an MOT but worth checking for worn suspension parts, check the drivebelt tensioner is not rattling & that the engine gets to temp (thermostat)


There are loads to choose from, personally I'd try & find a one owner car with history for that sort of money. We bought one earlier this year with BOSE & AC for £900.

[Bluejmc2005]

Thanks for the reply mate, will check those bits out. The fact it's done high mileage doesn't worry me, the fact there is no history does a bit...

[djdestiny]

If you're taking passengers in the back seats be aware that the rear leg room is very poor!
I'm 6' and couldn't even get in the back of my B5 S4 or RS4, our kids (9 and 11) struggled to be comfortable too, they hated the cars for that reason alone

[Bluejmc2005]

djdestiny said:

If you're taking passengers in the back seats be aware that the rear leg room is very poor!
I'm 6' and couldn't even get in the back of my B5 S4 or RS4, our kids (9 and 11) struggled to be comfortable too, they hated the cars for that reason alone

That is useful info - thank you- mine are 9 and 6. Perhaps I should look for an a6 instead then..

Jason

[Riley Blue]

Or a Passat.

[B.J.W]

My friend is a senior service technician for Audi and they all love the late 90's A4 Avants. He picked up an identical car on a trade in with high miles. Bought it himself, and moved it on for a tidy profit on a private sale. He did all the work needed (which was very little) himself. The only reason he sold it was the lack of rear space in the back.

He bought a 2001 All-Road (off me, as it happens) - he reckons this A6 variant is the best mainstream car Audi has produced.

[Bluejmc2005]

Thanks for the replies. When we say lack of rear space, how would the a4 compare with a mark one focus? As kids are very happy in that...

[J4CKO]

Bluejmc2005 said:

Thanks for the reply mate, will check those bits out. The fact it's done high mileage doesn't worry me, the fact there is no history does a bit...

For 700 or so quid, if its got an MOT, doesnt clonk, starts and drives and doesnt smell too bad then I dont need to know its life story !

[B.J.W]

Good point.

I've just been hit with a £1500 service and parts bill for my 57 plate T5 camper. The aircon has gone on my truck which will be a few hundred quid to sort.

My old V plate forester was bought without any service history for £900 and just chugged on with minimum maintenance. When I dented it on a gate post I just shrugged and carried on. There's a lot to be said for cheap cars that you can bin if something big goes wrong. Can't believe it's never been covered on PH before

[Bluejmc2005]

Thanks all

[Bradley1500]

Which TDI engine is it? I'm guessing a 1.9 PD lump, if so they're damn near bullet proof!

Automatic gearboxes on the PD engines aren't great, but apart from that I can't see any big repair bills looming.

Also consider other VAG estates from the same vintage Passat, A6 etc.

[dooosuk]

Isn't the airbag light on now an MOT failure (since April 2013)? It so, I'd be wondering how it's got it's fresh MOT.

[30v]

Decent motor for the money, though it might be worth holding out for a post 1995.5 facelift model: Audi binned the troublesome multi link suspension for a more conventional and reliable setup after this date.

[can't remember]

J4CKO said:

doesnt smell too bad

Looking at the stains on the seats I'd take some disinfectant wet wipes and a seat cover. Tell the owner you don't want to get his car dirty.

Newish MOT but will be worth messaging to ask about advisories.

[djdestiny]

Bluejmc2005 said:

Thanks for the replies. When we say lack of rear space, how would the a4 compare with a mark one focus? As kids are very happy in that...

This is my old S4, with the seats in the position they would normally be in when I was driving. The leg room looks a lot more than it actually is in that shot!

[Bluejmc2005]

Thanks man - really appreciate the effort.

vendor was supposed to reply to me with MOT cert' number to check MOT history - but has not thus far..

[Vince70]

It's got a bomb proof engine and you will never have to worry about paying out for welding so I would go for it if that was me and it may even run on a bit of Veg..

I've got an old 94/5 A4 which I bought for a stop gap 4 years ago it's the most reliable car I've ever owned, I bought a new car last week and have already decided to sell it again as I prefer my old (£281) A4..

The problem with them is everything is so robust that things like seat bolsters and pedal rubbers which normally give the game away on a clocked car just don't wear out, so the interior can still look like new on a 200k example, but if it starts stops and doesn't rattle I don't think you can really complain at that end of the used car market.

As for the airbag light it usually comes on if the battery go's flat on mine if it's been sitting around for 4 months at a time and I use a £5 vagcom lead and the free lite software to put mine out, it usually takes less than a minute.

Edited by Vince70 on Monday 21st July 23:15

[Bluejmc2005]

Got the MOT history, failed on loads of stuff last year all suspension and brakes but was retested a week later and passed with no advisories. Passed this year in may too with no advisories

[TonyRPH]

Riley Blue said:

Or a Passat.

Or a Skoda Octavia.

All much of a muchness really.