I am very very interested in becoming part of the audi world. I have wanted an A4 for a long time but instead in high school I settled for an S10 which is not really the same thing. Anyway, I am selling my truck with hopes for an A4. I am willing to spend up to 15,000 at the max and I am looking for a 1998-2002 1.8T quattro with manual transmission. THat is all I want and I will not stop till that is the model I get however I want to know about the milage. I am student in college so I won't be putting very many miles on my A4. I wanted between 30-50k miles, however if I find something with 60k miles is that still reliable? how many miles can these cars go before you need to make a repair? I know these cars are not cheap to repair so please give me all the necessary advice I need before finding the car of my dreams.

 

Hey welcome to the forum. You are correct in your assumption that Audi's are not cheap to fix. They are more prone to repairs than other vehicals. But they are much more rewarding to drive! If you are looking for something around 60k miles, then the car is probably goign to need the timing belt job done. The dealer charges 800-1200 bucks, privately around 400-600 bucks. So when looking for an A4, you may want to ask if the belt/waterpump/tentioners/idle pully has been changed. Also A4's are known to have suspension problems, involving the control arms. To check, walk around all four corners and bounce the car to listen for squeeks. As far as maintenance goes, how proficient are you in doing your own maintenance? There are tutorials for almost all common maintenance out there. Mostly on Audiworld.com.

The reliability depends on how the previous owner cared for it. That is true with just about any car though. I would say Audi's on the whole, are not as reliable as most other cars. It's always the little things going wrong with them!

 

Check Consumer Reports in your library.

 

You could probably find a 2000/01 with 50K on it for $15G's.

 

I would go with a 98-99 with around 60K then with the money you save do the timing belt and any other maintence that way youll be ahead of the game instead of buyin something with less miles for more money and having to do the TB eventualy anyways

 

Is the timing belt the biggest problem im expected to hit around 60k miles? will they go pretty long after that without major expected repairs? I mean I want to do the basic engine work and stuff..Chip, Exhaust, Turbo work (keep it looking a little stock of course) Does everyone else think it would be a better idea to get a A4 with 60k miles and save money and do the timing belt and other necessary maintainence? Just want to get a variety of opinions

 

How many mile do you put on your car in a year? I forget that not everyone drives half way across america every year... if you dont drive that many mile then it might be better to buy a newer car with less miles also my 97 went about 90,000 miles before I changed the TB...

 

I agree with slim buy older and then you will have more money to do things to it.

 

You played roulette going for 90K without a tb change, slim. My tensioner (its the tensioner that normally dies - not the belt) died at 70K on my 98.5. I was planning to do the TB again at 120K, but the car was totaled at 114K.

My 2000 1.8 avant has 43K on it. I plan to do the TB at 60K.

You know I always used to think that too - buy older and save cash to mod. Now I am starting to think, "Should have bought newer so this damn wheel bearing would not be dying, or the snub mount would not need to be changed, or the damn control arms would not be squeaking.

I guess on my first Audi I didn't mind. I don't want to have to do all the same **** to my 2nd audi.

 

Yeah sorry that was misleading my TB and tensioner was changed at 20K for some reason. I tracked the dealer who leased the car originaly in VA they didnt know why it was changed at 20K... so my TB only had 70K on it which is still pushin it...
Guess I should have included that[&:]