Hey,
I'm looking to buy a new (used) car within the next few weeks, and I'm starting to look at A4's. I LOVE how they look, and though I've never driven one, a family member has an '03 TT, which I LOVE. So, if the quality of the A4 is similar, I'm sure it would make me very happy.
At the moment, I drive a Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo, which is my toy, and a Jeep Wrangler which I drive everyday. I frequent TwinTurbo.net (300zx forum), which is where I heard about this place (a few members have Audi daily drivers as well). If I buy an A4, it will actually be my new daily driver to replace my Jeep, so it needs to be reliable and pretty good in snow (Michigan winters <img border="0" src=smileys/smiley5.gif border="0"> ). I'm looking at around a $10-$12k budget, so from what I'm seeing online and in papers, that could get me a pretty nice '99ish A4, no? Ideally, I'd like to get an AWD 1.8T (I love turbos <img border="0" src=smileys/smiley1.gif border="0"> ).
Just wondering - are these cars very reliable? What tends to go wrong with them, and how expensive is the upkeep? Any specific years/models I should avoid?
Overall, in your opinions, could $12k buy me a nice A4 and make me a nice daily driver?
Any comments are appreciated!
Thanks!

 

I would think you could find a 98-98 in decent conditiion. They are pretty solid cars. I've never driven a Turbo Z but be prepared for some decent amount of turbo lag from a stand still. You get used to it. I put in a APR chipped ECM and that certainly helps (mid to high RPM rips). </P>


My A4 is my wife's car and we are on the east coast. Don't see Michigan snow but this car dominates in the snow we get. I have two sets of rims/tires. The big Borbets with summer rubber and the original rims with Michelin Alpin snow tires. The car will go ANYWHERE on those Alpins. Bottoming out is the only concern. We had an early snow here this year and caught me with the summer tires on it and it still performed well enough.</P>


I've had some flukey things go wrong (check out the other threads) but the body, engine and driveline is solid. Audi's been using that Quattro system for years.</P>


Hope this helps,</P>


S</P>

 

Thanks Skonka,
I'm not too worried about the turbo lag - I'm used to spooling two turbos to 16psi; spooling one to 9psi will seem easy
That's good to hear about the snow. Is your Audi a quattro? I would think nearly anything with AWD and snow tires would be excellent all year round, I'm just curious how the FWD A4's handle it.
Sounds like they're pretty solid, reliable cars.
Thanks!

 

The front trak is great in the snow too I got the front trak because of weight issues with the Quattro. (the fronttrak 1.8T is 2800lbs the quattro 1.8T is 3200lbs and the v6 quattro is about 3400lbs in 97 I believe) But I lived in MA and It was fine in the snow now im in the midwest and its still a great car even with semi bald back tires and regular touring tires in front.</P>


And even when you do get sideways in the snow (usually helped a little by the E-brake) its easy to coax back in line. Of course my abs is disabled so its a little easyer for me. (ABS is actualy detrimental in the snow)</P>

 

Yes, I have a Quattro. I can be an aggressive driver and find it amazing how hard it can be to get the A4 out of sorts, whether it be rain or snow. I have a friend in VA (VA Tech area, a lot of mountain roads) who hada newer VW Jetta wagon 1.8T with front wheel drive and he said it did pretty good in the snow too. But traction was an issue with simply FWD, once that turbo starts kicking in, look out...</P>


S</P>

 

I have drivin my quattro a4 pushing snow up over the hood, and that was with all-season tires on it. Of course I grew up in Canada and love driving in the snow.

And the chip helps like Skonka said. My car hits 18psi now. The car acts a lot different when chipped.

 

my car can go for $13k cash