What do you guys think of this car. I have NEVER bought a german car before so I am really new. I have read tons of stuff already, but am still a little nervous about these cars because of all the negative reviews and such. Its a dark grey 1999 A4 1.8T Quattro with 5 speed manual. The car has 112k on it. Is that high for these cars? The car is in Minnesota and i'm in Nebraska so I want to find out as much as I can about the car before I go up there. The guy said he replaced the timing belt earlier this year and has receipts for it. He also replaced the brakes and put new tires on it. I guess, just let me have it with any info and advice you might have. Sorry for posting a noob question you probably see all the time, but I would really appreciate it. Thanks guys!!!

Edit: Oh yeah, he is asking 5500. Is that about right?

 

I just got a 2001 a4 with 130k miles on it. I LOVE driving it, but so far it has been a little expensive for me. A lot of little things have gone wrong, nothing big yet. If the guy kept it in good condition then you should be fine, but if you are like me you may end up paying for the last owners poor care. With me though there is a light at the end of the tunnel, not much more to go till it is a great running car with no foreseeable problems.

 

I would not buy a used car that you can't have checked by a mechanic before you buy.

 

Yeah, hopefully the last owners care isnt a problem. He sounds like a fellow car guy...if that means anything. Good thing is, my wife and I could buy the car outright...with no loan, so I would have just that much more money available if something does go wrong. That, and the fact that her father, and my own are both mechanics by profession. I have always done my own repairs...so that should help.

 

For me, that really isnt a problem. Like I said, I am VERY confortable around cars...I just like to get as much info about specific problems to look for before I buy a car. Also, my wifes dad will probably go along to Minnesota to look at it. Another advantage is that fact that her dads twin brother...also a mechanic, lives about 30 minutes from where the car is located. I am sure we'll have him check it out for us before we make the trip. Do these have anything specific to look for, or just your basic used car checkpoints?

 

Ok, i'm not going to lie either. I am a car guy...which means that I like to play. I want a car that I will be able to play with a little too. How slow are these things from the factory. Will it be painfully slow until I get the funds to play a little. I hear with a chip you can hit 200 pretty easy for only about 5 or 6 hundred bucks. Thats not bad since I will be paying for the car out of pocket. I still want advice though on what to look for when I check out the car...but if you have tips on playing with the car, i'll take those too.

 

If you want a car you can play with and can work on, then you will be OK with Audi.

Common things that are major are wheel bearings, front tie rods and control arms.

Engine sludge if the oil was not changed frequently (have the pressure checked). Various electrical gemlins so check that everything (power windows, locks, sunroof). Make sure the car has quattro (not just a quattro badge someone stuck on).

Also check to make sure that he did the timing belt and associated hardware (ie the tensioner because that is what goes, not the belt). Hopefully he did water pump at the same time.

The turbocharger is likely going to start smoking soon and may need replacement. Listen for a "dentist's drill" sound when you hit the gas. (Anyway it is a good excuse for an upgrade). Check the guys service records. The car is only as good as the individual who owned.

Should last a long time. I just passed 180K miles.

 

Well, both of the cars I was looking at are sold already. I missed them both. How hard is it to find a 1998 or 1999 A4 1.8T Quattro for around 6k? Should I be able to find one pretty easily? I'm from Nebraska, so we dont have as many around here it seems.

 

Where in MN is the car? is it on the web anywhere where we can take a look?

 

Nah, the car is sold. My wife has family by Rochester Minnesota, so if I could find one there it would be easy to justify a trip up there.