i came across an audi. the guy is getting rid of it because it apparently needs extensive work done.
im not necessarily concerned with the labor. however i dont know much about audi. all he told me
is that is a 99 a4 quattro awd turbo. wondering if anyone can fill me in on some specs of what this
specific audi could be.
ie.
is this year a good year?
any consistant problems with this year?
what options to look for in this model?
its value???
he's letting it go for 3500.00 which is just enough to pay off his loan for it.
the car is mint but he took it in and they told him it was going to be like 3000 to fix it. im not really
beleiving that. i have a feeling for that much i could swap the engine and have it running smooth.
any input is appreciated. thanks

 

And so...... How many miles? [:@]

 

Did he mention what the work was, or did he say who quoted him that much? If it was a dealership (which it sounds like from what you said), you could probably save a ton just by taking it to a private mechanic or by doing the work yourself (if you're able).

 

i would probably do the work myself.
i dont know how many miles. not too concerned with mileage.
i believe he took the car to a private mechanic. in hawaii everything
is very expensive and im sure this guy is trying to rip him off. the
mechanic told him that somebody put tranny fluid in his radiator.
however...is 3500 a good price for this car, even with not knowing
the possible problems. i believe it is. how much could a whole new
powerplant cost you know.

 

here u can search for some engines here
www.car-parts.com

 

i would stay away if he did that

 

im gonna have to agree with jeff on this one. stay far away.

 

Tranny fluid in the radiator isn't much of a problem.

However, what makes the mechanic say that there it tranny fluid in the radiator? Did he look at the overflow and see nice pink fluid in there, and as tranny fluid is red, think that is the issue?

More ominous would be oil in the radiator. That could be a blown head gasket.

Before I would buy any used car, I'd suggest that you take it to an Audi/VW independent mechanic to check it out.

 

yeah i think taking it to an actual audi/VW dealer would be best.

the way im thinking is if i buy it for 3500 and invest another 3000
into it, will i be able to get my money out of it when i want to sell it.

i dont know how the mechanic "knows" that there was tranny fluid
in the radiator. i can see oil sheen, but tranny fluid. i dont know how
he figures its tranny fluid.
im thinking pull the engine and have it rebuilt and possibly replace the
coolant system.

oh and supposedly the exhaust is rotted. i gotta see it for myself. i will
be going to check it out tomorrow so i will be able to fill people in more.
sorry for under-informing you all.

 

so i got the car anyways.
the machanic shop that i picked it up from had a list of work that they wanted to do.
most of it just regular overpriced maintenance. their total price came out to over 3700.
hahahahaa i couldnt believe it. so i told them throw some tires on it and ill take it from
there. (oh yeah the car starts and drives by the way)

they told me it had a rotted out exhaust system. so when they had it up in the air and i asked them to
show me where the rust and rot was.......there was a little surface rust, THATS IT. and
maybe an exhaust leak up near the downpipe. but they wanted to replace the whole exhaust.

they wanted to replace the complete brake system. while it may need brake pads i dont
think it needed everything replaced. brakes were a little squashy but i can take care of
that.

the only real problem is apparently there is oil in coolant. i didnt see any myself. but thats
what the mechanic said. he said possible a head gasket. i didnt see or smell any coolant
in the oil.......not that you have to though. i guess theres a coolant leak from some gasket
rotting out in the back of the block. i will check and replace that also. so on to my first
audi project. im pretty excited and i got the car for only 3200.
cars in great shape other than all that stuff.