hey i was looking into buying my first car and i came accross a 1996 Audi A4. The car has only a few mechanical things wrong, cruise control is broken, oxygen sensor is broken, and the steering wheel is not straight. (maybe front end needs to be realigned??) I am not a car expert by far but I did liked the car when i came accross it. The owner is asking 3300 obo and im very inclined to make a bid. The interior/exterior are both in pretty good condition with only minor issues. The only real thing im concerend about is the fact that I have read some people complaining about how much money they have to put into their A4's to keep them running. Also i noticed how expensive the parts are compared to other models. This car has 130,000 miles and i would be the thrid owner, previous owner is leaving the country and must sell. Do you guys think this would be a wise buy for a college student or no?

 

I'm going to say that it's likely not a wise buy for a first car. I'd spend a year or two wrenching underneath a Honda or Toyota before comitting to an older Audi.
The 96 is a really reliable example of an Audi, but it could still cost you a lot of money.

I'd pick up something from Honda or Toyota... don't waste money ricing it out or anything, just use it as cheap transportation and save your money. Pick up an Audi in a couple years, when you've got a better idea of how expensive car ownership can be... and bank on an Audi costing more to repair than a Japanese car.