i would say definately go for the audi a4, i have the 1.8t and couldn't be happier, and with about 800 bucsk into for chip and diverter valve, and some other misc, should be running pretty good, the lexus is over rated, and they suck *** for leg room can't say much more for that audi a4 rear seats, but i liek mine and my buddy has the 2.8 v6 and he likes his a ton to, i am a high shcool student with a part time job and worked on hondas alot, and i can do most things on an audi, im gonna tackle the timing belt and water pump next week, but i got mine for $5250, idk i was a big japanese car fan and then when i drove the audi i loved it and still do, i would say buy one definatley and cost wise isn't bad if you do repairs yourself, haynes has a manual that helped me out a bit

 

<------ His buddy with the V6.

And yeah, I have experience with the timing belt on the 2.8. It isn't terribly difficult, just a little time consuming. Took a friend and I 4 hours (he's an Audi Tech though) to replace that and the water pump with idler pullies, etc). All you'd really have to invest in is the cam bar, most of the other tools needed, I had.

I love my 2.8, and although there are few major additional Mods, I still couldn't be happier. It definately puts my old integra to shame, and Quattro is awesome, I have definately been impressed with some of the stuff this car will go through.

 

After clunking around in a Jeep Grand Wagoneer and a Honda Civic, I will concur that there is no comparison between the A4 and a rice-burner. I had a 2002 Civic and my girlfriend has a 1999. Now when I drive her car, it feels like the thing is going to fall apart. And it has fewer miles on it than my A4! Get the A4. Even when you need to sink some $$$ into it, you won't regret buying it. Just remember to take care of your baby, and it will take care of you.

 

lol, my parents brought it home for me today while I was at work. What a surprise!

Yea, when me and my dad were test driving it, I couldnt beleive how incredibly smooth
it drove --- I think I'm a convert. My NEXT car may as well by the b7 (one look of the caractere kit
and I was convinced). But that'll be in a few years.

Either way, thanks, I agree, and had the idea that most audi-whiners are perhaps the typical
upscale consumer who take their cars ot the dealer for any trouble.

I kinda wanted the 1.8T, but hell, for 56k miles and the price i got it for it was a freakin' steal.
I'll just supercharge it when the time comes.

Thanks guys. I may not be positng very much but I'm glad ot see that I have such a well-hearted
community to come back to.

 

Speaking of Audi-Whiners, my buddy works for Audi as a tech, and he said people bring their cars in if they hear a squeak, one time, and it never comes back again. His favorite though is the "When I put it in reverse the Driver's side mirror doesn't automatically angle down".... He finally got so sick of explaining to customers that only the passenger side does, and them still insisting he looks at it, that he just started saying "OK" and charging them an hour of Diagnostics because they were too stupid to listen to him at the counter.

 

I have owned an SC300 and i currently own a MKIV Toyota Supra TT (but its singled now....) I plan on buying my friends 01 A4 1.8T in the next few weeks.

As for the SC300, it is an awesome car. I had mine in highschool (was my first car) and I bought it w/ 75k miles. I never had a single problem with it. AAs for a daily driver/slight modding, this is a great car. Slap some nice rims on it and you've got a GREAT looking car that will get you a lot of attention. As for mods, someone earlierr mentioned that to get anything out of the car, you would have to swap engines? This is completely UNTRUE. While it is obviously not as quick as the GTE engine foudn in the TT Supras, just about any mod you can do to a supra, you can do to an SC. Turbo the SC, and your just as quick as the supra, plus you have the reliabilty of a bulletproof inline-6 engine. I'm not trying to push the SC and say its a ton better than the Audi, I'm just telling you what I know as being a previous owner and Toyota/Lexus enthusiast.
If your thinking about the SC400, then its the exact same, except harder to mod, but MUCH faster w/out mods.

As for the Audi, (and I am only going off my buddy's which is a 5spd. 1.8t), they are good cars too. He bought his w/ 60k and he's at 80k now and hasn't had any major problems with it. It isn't that fast (he is all stock motor..only performance is the b&m short shifter) but it is a 4 cyc. engine, mind you. The major benefit of the Audi is quattro, which is why im buying it. If you live where it snows in the winter, you WILL NOT want the SC. ANY rwd car sucks in the snow, esp. one with any power (hence my need for quattro). The A4 can seat 4 people more comfortably than the SC.

Breakdown of both cars:
Lexus SC: More reliable (yes, I will challenge anyone on this subject), easy to mod, more reliable (if i didn't stress that enough), easy to do self-maintenace (this is just b/c I am familiar with these cars. I'm sure when I get the Audi, I will think the same of that given time)

Audi A4: QUATTRO (best AWD system on the market), sedan (seats 4...convenient)

If you want to know more about the SC, email me (anthracitettarga@gmail.com) or go to clublexus.com. also, if your looking about 5spd. SC, they are pretty common to find on cclublexus, as people are looking for GS's and Supras now.

-derek

btw: i hope i haven't offended anyone, etc. like i've said, im buying my buddies b5 a4, so i must have a good liking for them

 

So your trying to sell a Lexus to us, skimmed through that and thats what I got... still confused and to cool to read it again

 

i wasn't trying to. i just knwo more about that car, and since i figured most people here know more about the audi, i was giving a diff. look. i said, if he needs quattro and 4 doors, the audi is the way to go. if he doesn't, well then they are still both good, but i would find the SC easier to mod. and any toyota/lexus will beat any vw/audi in reliability, hands down (and since he's looking for a daily driver that wont cost him much...)

 

So your buying an Audi A4 99.5 from your friend, and your here to tell us its less reliable than your lexus/supra?... Im still very confused at the point of this thread.

 

Doesnt really matter. I (the threadstarter) wanted a Lexus SC300 previously. I know the 2jz is a near bulletproof engine -- it can support 1000hp on the stock block (www.to4r.com for proof). I meant to say that I'd rather swap the motor since the sc300 that would have been in my budget would have had high miles, as I would prefer to work on a motor with low miles (such as my newly acquired a4). Trust me anthracitetarga, as a toyota kid at heart, I know the potential of the 2jzge! i got the a4 already so this thread can be closed now if a mod chooses so.