£6K budget - Audi (and VW) buying advice sought

[GregC]

Been mulling over options for a car (replacing my bike - K1300s as I no longer travel to work on it); I'd really appreciate thoughts and advice.....

Definite requirements:
Budget around value of the bike (£6k max expected).
Four wheel drive.
Quick (ideally sub 7 secs to 60 but will compromise a bit for something with style).
Estate preferrred.

The shortlist I've come up with:
A4 (3.2 or 2.0T - 4.2 seems a bit risky and expensive to run although V8 is obviously appealing).
Audi A6 3.2 (2.0T seems potentially underpowered in the A6 to me?)
Allroad 2.7T although a little unsure on reliability with that engine and the air suspension at higher miles.

Also considering the Passat 3.2 and Golf R32 but a little unsure on the VW brand vs Audi.

Reading through all the forums at present but thought I'd post in case there were any helpful people out there with direct experience/advice (or even alternatives that I'd not included).

Cheers.

[silentbrown]

Love my B8 A4 2.0T Quattro estate, but I think even the early B8's may be outside your budget. If you do find one, be aware of the dreaded oil consumption issues...

[anonymous-user]

I'd have said R32, but £6k won't get you into a MK5 version so I'd scratch that idea.

Again, Passat R36 would be nice, but I doubt you'll find an estate for sale, and if you do it will be beyond your budget.

[silentbrown]

4WD, Estate, Sub 8 seconds, and £6Kish... Entering those parameters into the PH classified search doesn't come up with much.

Except this, which isn't a VW...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

I'm sure there's something fundamentally wrong with it but (apart from an undisclosed mileage) I can't see what.

[Tame Technician]

neeee naaaa neeee naaaa neeee naaaa neee naaaa.

"Is this your vehicle sir?"

[Tame Technician]

Regarding the OP's choice.

For me the best value for money will be V8 B7 S4

But I could only find one within the budget, and its got the wrong gearbox.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...


Couldnt find much for under £6k in 2.0T form either.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[silentbrown]

Tame Technician said:

neeee naaaa neeee naaaa neeee naaaa neee naaaa.

An ex-BiB car? I guess that would explain it...

Still, I thought those got looked after pretty well despite the mega-miles. Or has that all changed in the last few decades?

[FurryExocet]

silentbrown said:

An ex-BiB car? I guess that would explain it...

Still, I thought those got looked after pretty well despite the mega-miles. Or has that all changed in the last few decades?

Regularly serviced and regularly thrashed within an inch of their life... and then some more. That looks like a traffic one, the T6 was an awesome car though

[SuperchargedVR6]

andrewparker said:

I'd have said R32, but £6k won't get you into a MK5 version so I'd scratch that idea.

Just as well because the MK4 is a lot better made. MK5s have crap quality electronics and they like to eat transfer boxes.

[va1o]

Sounds like a job for some kind of 2.0T Quattro. Probably the earlier EA113 on that budget which is actually an excellent engine provided cambelt etc has been done.

[Defcon5]

silentbrown said:

4WD, Estate, Sub 8 seconds, and £6Kish... Entering those parameters into the PH classified search doesn't come up with much.

Except this, which isn't a VW...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

I'm sure there's something fundamentally wrong with it but (apart from an undisclosed mileage) I can't see what.

That trader may be worth a google.

I believe they operate in Keighley, and are a bit of a Centre of Trade

[silentbrown]

Defcon5 said:

That trader may be worth a google.

I just have.

[anonymous-user]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

andrewparker said:

I'd have said R32, but £6k won't get you into a MK5 version so I'd scratch that idea.

Just as well because the MK4 is a lot better made. MK5s have crap quality electronics and they like to eat transfer boxes.

Yeah, but the MK4 R32 was crap. And my MK5 R32 didn't eat anything but lots of premium unleaded

Come to think of it, I didn't have any problems, let alone electrical problems with both the R32 and GTI MK5 Golfs I owned.

[loskie]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/skoda...


Octavia 4x4 petrol if you can find one.

[Basil Hume]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Just as well because the MK4 is a lot better made. MK5s have crap quality electronics and they like to eat transfer boxes.

Really? That's news to me.

OP: get on over to r32oc.com for the low-down. The Mk4 R32 is ageing gracefully and has bags of character, while the Mk5 is a more modern car with more enthusiastic contemporary reviews. As has been said, you'd only get a Mk4 for the budget anyway...

[SuperchargedVR6]

Basil Hume said:

Really? That's news to me.

OP: get on over to r32oc.com for the low-down. The Mk4 R32 is ageing gracefully and has bags of character, while the Mk5 is a more modern car with more enthusiastic contemporary reviews. As has been said, you'd only get a Mk4 for the budget anyway...

Yeah, and see how many of the R32s with problems on that site, are MK5s. As I say, they like eating transfer boxes. Not a cheap part.

I have owned both by the way, and have owned Golfs since 1990, so I do have some experience in these matters.

[tomjol]

...they don't have transfer boxes...do you mean Haldex units?

ETA: Derp they do

Edited by tomjol on Thursday 8th January 22:52

[Kell]

You didn't say it had to be petrol.

We test drove a 3.2 V6 petrol A6 and 3.0TDi A6 back to back and the Derv beat the petrol hands down.

In an A4, the 3.0TDi is a bit of an overlooked Q car.

ETA: I've no idea if you can get one in budget or not mind...

[GregC]

Thanks for all the feedback, given budget I think the search will take a while; think I will go down the 3.0 diesel or 3.2 petrol route but knowing me I may well end up a Metro! Either way test drives definitely required I think.

[vrtrooper]

Ex Tayside Police