ok...i'm gonna do what everyone hates on forums. i need the cliff's notes/advice on buying one of these and i don't have much time to do my homework. it's a time sensitive deal and i am busy with work and i don't have the time right now to wade thru 5873267 posts to find those 4 or 5 good threads. and usually i will read and read and read some more...but again...time is of the essence.

i'm looking for a good winter car. and one that is relatively dependable. cause my G35 is not a snowbird and she will be hibernating in my nice warm garage.

found a 2001 A6 with the 2.7TT. has over 100k...i wanna say either 127 or 157...but i can't remember at present. there are some cosmetic flaws and some crap inside doesn't work, but those aren't a huge deal. guy wants 3150.

what concerns me is that it was said to have "oil blow by" in the turbos. and possible leaking valve covers.

i'm not looking to dump a bunch of money into this thing and i'm pretty handy working on cars, but i'm a total noob to the audi and turbos.

now i did get some homework done and found that the turbos are buried and the motor has to be pulled to work on them....uh...brilliant design there.....

i also read that the timing belt needs to be done by 75k or so. any easy way to tell if this has been done without any service records?

how is the drivetrain on these things? reliable? i know they handle like a dream in crappy weather.

again...i apologize for being a noob and being "that guy" but my hands are kinda tied. if you have some links to concise info, i wouldn't mind reading it, but again...i can't wade thru 238 pages of banter.

 

"relatively dependable" eliminates Audi. Look elsewhere.

 

Bob's right, at least at that mileage. People don't sell a solid running $50k car for $3k unless it has become a money pit and/or they don't trust it. Maybe if it had 60-80k it would be worth the risk. But you have no idea how it has been maintained and the leaky turbos are a big $3-4k risk. I have 190k on mine and my turbos have been lightly leaking for about 40k, but I have had the car since 37k and it has been impeccably maintained. I am prepared to dump the repair into it since the car is otherwise in great shape and I enjoy driving it. ANd, it is a superb winter car (MI driver).