It not like it a sure thing that at 100k the turbo goes out, there are many cars well over 100 with the original turbo, but it is one of those things that might go out

 

I agree with the whole student thing. My car is down a lot, and if I didnt know how to fix it, I wouldnt own it. They are a PITA for college students unless you are a little rich boy, but if you want to go fast with all wheel drive, there arent many other options (w/ the quality) for the price.

 

I am a full time student as well, and I am currentyl looking at a 2001 2.8q. I got a quote for insurance and its lower then my 1995 turbo dsm. As far as maintaining the car Im sure doing preventive and scheduled maintenmance wont be as bad as maintennace and modding costs on my old dsm. Granted the dsm was a breeze to work on and was reliable, but I think it will be an even trade in costs.

The only thing Im worried about is if I keep up on the maintenance and the car has crappy reliability (motor and transmission wise). As long as the car runs and gets me where Im going safely and economical, then the electrical issues I can work out on my own. But then again thats what an aftermarket warranty is all about. From what Ive been told a a4 2.8q will be a reliable DD just higher on the preventive/scheduled maintenance side. That and being a student racing and modding are the last thing you should be doing IMHO as I have been doing that for the past 3 years of school and its been a pain in the neck. I would say get the lowest mileage possible and Good luck in your choice

 

2.8 is a cruiser not designed for sporty driving, 1.8t is more versatile on modding

 

My car has been nothing but good to me, even after rolling it. As long as you do your maintenance on time and take care of the car its not that bad, I’m a college student and i know how the whole money thing goes but I love my car and I don’t mind having to change the oil in the middle of a parking lot at my school, lol

 

Most of us (I think) do the waterpump when we do the timingbelt. As for your turbo 100K is when most would think about replacing it but it is by no means "dead' it will proly start to have shaftplay then clip the housing then the fins will alow it to no-longer make boost then it will turn into a firey ball of metal and get sucked into your intake manifold taking the top end with it!!!

The turbo will last as long as 200K+ if the driver kept the boost down and was easy on it.....My buddy drives like an old lady in his 22RET Turbo toyota pickup and at 286K the turbo's waste gate was toast = no boost

 

Arif's turbo, when we took it out for a bigger one, it had like 135k miles on it and was in great shape.. Didnt look pretty though. No one said they only last 100k miles!!!

 

How difficult is it to remove the turbo on a 1.8t? On a 2.7t do you have to pull the engine..??

 

^^I haven't done it, but you definitely don't have to pull the engine. You proably have to take off the airbox, heatshield, and miscellaneous hoses are in the way, but it should lift right out after you unbolt it.