Newish A4 Avant - Family Car

[R8VBV]

I've just bought my first Audi.

I'm expecting my second child so need something with a boot. Looked at SUV's but there are no real options with petrol engines that don't cost a fortune to run. I'm not keen on diesel as I live in London and do a lot of short trips. I would opt for an S4 or RS4 but due to an accident in my M5, insurance is ridiculously expensive.

The spec on this is not ideal, i.e. It's missing the virtual cockpit, but I love the look of it and to get one with VC I'm looking at £5k more, which doesn't seem worth it.

What do you think?

https://usedcars.audi.co.uk/usedcar/audi/a4/a4-ava...

[Bluesmurff09]

Looks like a nice spec although I would go for a quattro.

I have a 67 S4 and I love it!

[tigger1]

Looks / spec are a subjective thing (I like it) - but I disagree with the above about needing quattro. It's nice to have, but if you can't put 190bhp down in London without setting fire to the front wheels, there's something wrong with your right foot.

[Bluesmurff09]

I didn't say you needed Quattro I said I would go for Quattro. Quattro is nice to have when needed and would make the car more desirsble when you come to sell the car on.

[Skier]

As an A4 Avant (3.0TDI Quattro) owner I would say be very careful as there is very little rear leg room. I'm 6ft tall and with the driver's seat in its normal position an adult or even teenage child could not sit comfortably behind. If I regularly had rear seat passengers I would have bought the A6 for the leg room alone. That aside it's a fantastic car.

[Hub]

Does it have to be Audi? Look at an Octavia VRS! - faster, cheaper and more practical. You could probably get a new one, or save money on a used one.

[tigger1]

Apologies BlueSmurf - I see your point. I'm still not sure I agree though - the quattro is a bit thirstier and a bit more pricey to service. On a more powerful car, I'd agree,but on a 190, I'm not sure.

Hub said:

Does it have to be Audi? Look at an Octavia VRS! - faster, cheaper and more practical. You could probably get a new one, or save money on a used one.

Picking mine up next week! (albeit the diesel version)

[Murph7355]

Hub said:

Does it have to be Audi? Look at an Octavia VRS! - faster, cheaper and more practical. You could probably get a new one, or save money on a used one.

Insurance...

[Bluesmurff09]

I'm leasing so some more expensive models which you would think we're more expensive monthly payments are intact cheaper than a less expensive model. For instance the Audi Salesman from my local dealership was trying to get me into an S5 SB 2 litre quattro which was going to cost more than an S4! In the end I went with Eastbourne Audi who although a long way from me, they were offering the best deal and I wanted to lease through Audi if possible.

[Trailhead]

I’ve had my new A4 for a month now, albeit a saloon. Happy to answer any questions you may have.

It’s a 2.0 TDI S Line S Tronic (190)

[talksthetorque]

Nothing to add except that VC is barely worth the £250 option price, never mind £5k

[ED209]

Ive got a 2017 avant s line on lease, its only the 1.4 petrol but it was cheap enough. To be honest the standard screen in between the dials is nice enough.

[Bluesmurff09]

Im happy with the standard cockpit too although the virtual cockpit was nice in the test drive car I actually prefer the standard set up, the sat nav is plenty big enough on the standard cockpit.

[R8VBV]

Thanks guys for your comments.

I debated a Quattro today but as I buy my cars outright, it was an extra £5-6k which seemed a lot. A friend then reminded me that I live in London and have owned several 400+bhp rear wheel drive cars with no problem, so a 190bhp FWD car should be controllable.

Appreciate the resale value theory but looking at previous gens for sale, the Quattro's don't carry the premium they carry new, so you actually lose more money on a Quattro by current sale values.

[anonymous-user]

Hub said:

Does it have to be Audi? Look at an Octavia VRS! - faster, cheaper and more practical. You could probably get a new one, or save money on a used one.

Cheaper for a reason
Mine had far less soundproofing than VW etc equivalent. They have to make cutbacks somewhere. A shame as it wasn’t a nice place to be for the sake of a few quid..