Audi A4 (B7) 3.2 Quattro Tiptronic - any thoughts?
Discussion
4 years ago I sold my 2002 A4 3.0 Quattro Sport (6 speed manual) to buy a D2 S8 as a bigger car was needed. S8 was sold at the end of last year to buy my wife a Range Rover. We also have a 2007 Jetta 2.0 TFSI Sport with DSG as my wife prefers autos – and it is her car. I mainly use the RR if i need a car but I can easily cycle or walk to work.
I loved that A4 and got a chance to drive it again recently as I sold it to the owner of the garage where we have our cars serviced. It's as tight as a drum, 80K miles, needs for nothing and has had only a few owners; husband bought when new, who then reregistered it to his wife, then me then the current owner. It's not the fastest or newest or most practical but to me, it's perfect. Just enough of everything and not too much of what you don't need. And the Bose stereo is fantastic too.
The garage owner is selling it soon as he and his wife rarely use it and I said I'd buy it back. My wife said she'd sell her Jetta but as the Audi is manual she's rather hang on to it. As much as I'd love the A4 I'd rather not have 3 cars filling the drive, so I started looking for newer tiptronic A4s in the same vein.
There are a few B7 3.2s for sale at around 2006 / 2007 age. Does the tiptronic make a huge difference to the enjoyment of the car? Anything else to know about these models? I don't want to buy the older A4 back without at least considering something we can both drive.
Thanks.
I loved that A4 and got a chance to drive it again recently as I sold it to the owner of the garage where we have our cars serviced. It's as tight as a drum, 80K miles, needs for nothing and has had only a few owners; husband bought when new, who then reregistered it to his wife, then me then the current owner. It's not the fastest or newest or most practical but to me, it's perfect. Just enough of everything and not too much of what you don't need. And the Bose stereo is fantastic too.
The garage owner is selling it soon as he and his wife rarely use it and I said I'd buy it back. My wife said she'd sell her Jetta but as the Audi is manual she's rather hang on to it. As much as I'd love the A4 I'd rather not have 3 cars filling the drive, so I started looking for newer tiptronic A4s in the same vein.
There are a few B7 3.2s for sale at around 2006 / 2007 age. Does the tiptronic make a huge difference to the enjoyment of the car? Anything else to know about these models? I don't want to buy the older A4 back without at least considering something we can both drive.
Thanks.
An S4 might be a bit overkill for her commute to work and general pottering as she'll be the one using the car 80% of the time at 30% of it's potential. Interesting what you say about economy; the 3.0 V6 was practically the same as the 4.2 V8 S8 that replaced it.
I was reading the opinions of Honest John and while he said thought the 3.2 was great, the 2.0 TFSI quattro was the better car. We already have a 2.0 TFSI car so we be spending money to swap a fast saloon for an equally fast and similarly aged saloon, but with quattro (which I do like). I'm wondering if it's worth it now.
The Jetta is a cherished car with only 60k on and 2 previous owners - first owner was BP and the second owner was the guy who used it at BP then bought it from them when he left. All the Audis out there have a lot more mileage on for starters.
Out of interest what are the weaknesses you mentioned?
I was reading the opinions of Honest John and while he said thought the 3.2 was great, the 2.0 TFSI quattro was the better car. We already have a 2.0 TFSI car so we be spending money to swap a fast saloon for an equally fast and similarly aged saloon, but with quattro (which I do like). I'm wondering if it's worth it now.
The Jetta is a cherished car with only 60k on and 2 previous owners - first owner was BP and the second owner was the guy who used it at BP then bought it from them when he left. All the Audis out there have a lot more mileage on for starters.
Out of interest what are the weaknesses you mentioned?
That's exactly it; get an S4 over a 3.2 and you're getting more power, more saleability and more fun for free.
If the 3.2 is there, available and you like it it is in isolation a good car but if you're looking for a car I think not including the big 4.2 in your search would be foolish.
If the 3.2 is there, available and you like it it is in isolation a good car but if you're looking for a car I think not including the big 4.2 in your search would be foolish.
As the car will be mainly used by my wife to potter 15 miles to work and back every day I think an S4 would be overkill for how she'd use and drive it and not really her style. I'd probably think it was fantastic but then I would only drive it infrequently and the car needs to appeal to her more than me.
In my first post I said that the old 3.0 was just enough which is what made it so good; fast enough for me, mild enough for her and not too brash. This is why I'm interested in the 3.2.
If I have something as rapid as the S8 again I would end up with points sooner than later.
In my first post I said that the old 3.0 was just enough which is what made it so good; fast enough for me, mild enough for her and not too brash. This is why I'm interested in the 3.2.
If I have something as rapid as the S8 again I would end up with points sooner than later.
Tip S4 is just as easy to drive; a complete pussycat around town and fuel economy really is much the same as the 3.2.
Both can suffer timing chain issues.
I didn't say you shouldn't buy a 3.2; I'd simply have both in your search as it will broaden your options and give you a better chance of finding something really nice.
Both can suffer timing chain issues.
I didn't say you shouldn't buy a 3.2; I'd simply have both in your search as it will broaden your options and give you a better chance of finding something really nice.
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