the 2.8 will be nice but if it were me id hold out for the 1.8 i think you will like it more

 

the 2.8 seems def more reliable. I've had mine for +1 yr now and it has been just fine. It just doesn't seem to get most of the issues of the 1.8T. I guess it makes sense since it's a bigger engine and doesn't have turbos which are a huge source of problems.
I guess audi's are a pain but not really that bad if u're mechanically inclined. They just cost u a s**tload of money bc dealers will r@pe you all the time and even mechanics will usually try to con u since u have an audi then u have money :P not exactly true but whatever.
I noticed on the internet that most people sold their audi's bc of small things and kept taking them to the dealer. As this forum will quickly tell you, some things are just easy to fix and a constant issue in audi's. I read, for example, of some dude that traded in his audi bc he had to fix the washer pump 3 times in like 1 yr (the dealer mustn't have been that good either :P) and the dealer billed him 200$ every time... for a job that takes 25$ max if you DIY.

Bottomline, not mechanically inclined? then don't buy an audi.

P.S. 2.8 is not fast and u'll consider getting a PES supercharger soon :P

 

Turbo's arent a huge source of problems. Turbo's often last well over 150k miles. The turbo plumbing can sometimes be at fault because vac/boost lines arent replaced when needed. There are about equal problems between the 1.8t and 2.8. I hear about blown head gaskets more on the 2.8 than the 1.8t. The 1.8t engine is extremely solid and will last just as long and be as reliable as a 2.8 as long as you change the oil on time, with the correct grade, and use the larger oil filter as recomended by the dealer. Other than that, both suffer from the same notorious crap like stuck cup holders/ashtrays, control arms, tie rods, coil packs, MAF's, 02 sensors, etc. But all cars will eventually suffer from all those things anyway. Both engines are great imo. When you say "break down a lot" i dont think they do as long as they are maintained properly. A lot of pepole dont know how or dont have the desire to do the work themselves, so they go to the dealer where they get ripped off and are hoaxed into repairs that may not even be necessary, so they become bitter and those are the people that give Audi a bad name as far as "reliability" or "breaking down" goes. Buy some tools, read the forums, maintain your whip properly, and you will see how reliable an Audi can be. Audi is deffinately notorious for some issues, but you should be aware of these things before you buy and be prepared. But all in all, regardless of the known issues, owning an Audi (especially the a4) is a lot of fun and the good outweighs the bad. There are a lot of young poor folks who drive the a4 that dont know how to work on a car and when something bad happens and they need a pro to fix it, that pretty much ruins their lives and leaves them with a bitter taste in their mouths about Audi's.

In other words, an Audi is not a Honda, and they should never be compared in any way. Going from a Honda to an Audi is like moving from an appartment to a mansion. The mansion is more rewarding to own, better looking, more stylish and desireable, but be prepared for maintnence costs that you did not have in the apartment.