Subarus require TB changes, same as the Audi. Same PITA job, as well. Subarus have less complexity, therefore there is less to break and less to repair. Some repairs are simpler (alternator, for example). Most will be about the same. Subaruas are more fun, but Audis, due to European standards, are safer.

The key to this purchase is maintenance and a bit of luck. Do you feel lucky? Well, do you, ...

Bob

I've since learned the waterpump was replaced at the same time as the timing belt. Transmission fluids were changed 25k-30k miles ago. There was a leak at the drivers side valve cover gasket last winter so they replaced both the driver and passenger side valve cover gaskets.

It appears to have been well maintained but I'm still waiting for receipts/documentation, but you are correct that it really comes down to luck.

I may take it into the locally recommended Audi repair guy and see if he can give it a once over for a cheap fee before making my final decision.

Thanks!

Oh, one other thing. The check engine light IS on. The seller claims it is just the O2 sensor so not sure if I need to worry about that or not.

Worry about it. I would never trust a seller no matter how honest they seem. Take the car to Autozone and have them scan for codes for free.

O2 sensor or catalytic converter? O2 sensor is relatively cheap. Catalytic converters are not.

My story is like many but closest to whitey –

I bought a 97 Avant with 180,000 K for just under $3,000. It had a CEL and the lady that owned it said that she had recently done the timing belt and it needed O2 sensors. My VAGCom said it was the Air injection.

I did some minor things and fixed the air injection by replacing a few vacuum lines. After about 20K the water pump started leaking so I did the complete timing belt thing for about $600. From the looks of the belt her “recently” was at about 100K so the wp probably saved me. I’ve done brakes etc and am currently at around 225K and looking forward to 350K like I got on my 89 200QT.

In my opinion $5,000 is too much for a 2000 A6 with 162 K with a CEL and slightly high if it did not have the CEL. (You can easily spend $1,000 or even $1,500 if it needs cats and sensors.) I’d say $4,000 to 4,500 with out the CEL and $3,000 maybe $3,500 with it. If you really like the car tell them $5,000 if they fix the CEL and guarantee that it won’t come back with the same code for 6 months.

A lot of people are saying the same thing here, and i know you've probably already bought a car by now, but just incase you haven't let me say this, if you're wife wants the Audi get it, it's that easy, when an expensive repair comes along, look at your options, if you've only invested $5000 I bet you could get half of that back by parting it out on this web-site, then you've got $2500 to buy something cheap and boring like a '95corolla at least she'll have had an Audi. I spent $8500 on my '99 A6 three years ago, I've probably put another $3000 in maintence/repairs, so I've got $11,500 in a loaded awd 7 passanger wagon that still looks stylish, what else can you get for that price? a kia? Even though my experince with Audi has been far from perfect, I still see the occasional S6, A8 or Allroad and think my next car will be another Audi.

Greetings from a fellow Fargo person. Take it to Jaq's Garage in Moorhead and have them look it over. I haven't had to take my '01 2.8 sedan there yet, but when the time comes I will. I have heard great things about them as far as being knowledgeable about European cars. As far as the car, I can't be much help there. The price is decent for this area. There aren't a whole lot of used A6s for sale around town that are in decent shape. Most recently I saw an '01 at a dealer on main with 96k on it, asking price was about $10k. That is a sedan and I know that the Avant is a different animal when it comes to resale, but it is a basis for comparison. I had to go to Minneapolis to find a decent deal on mine.

Oh no... Sioux suck. Hail the Bison!