I am thinking about purchasing a 1998 Audi A4 Quattro with the 2.8L 5sp. It has 170K miles on the odometer and @ 130K miles the Clutch, Timing Belt, Water Pump and Full Tune-Up were done. The car is MINT, no dings, dents, runs great. Its Pearl White with Charcoal Leather Interior. Asking price - $5400 OBO. Im sure i could get it for less, but is it worth the $$$? What would something like this be worth? Are there any large things / issues i should look into? How is the maintanance on these vehicles - costly or somewhat affordable (i would be doing all the work)? They have high-compression pistons / cylinder heads - is 91 octane acceptable? It will be my 1st Audi and as many of you may have read, by Brother has one and Loves it!! Your input is greatly needed and apprieciated as i am going to need to buy something ASAP. Thank you in advance for your responses.

I'd try to at least talk them down a bit, I bought my 99 with 128k for $5400, it had the timing belt, water pump and cam chain tensioner done right before i got it also. People say they're expensive to maintain but if you have a job and do most of your own work it really isn't bad at all.

I put 91 in mine cause it's the highest grade i can get in AZ and it's just fine

Just buy it, you will most likely be very happy and you'll ask yourself why you didn't get one sooner. I'd rather have my $5k audi than a $20k honda, toyota or mitsubishi or pretty much anything else, i'll have this car until it cannot possibly run any longer.

Thanks for the response....does anyone else have any input?!

Ditto what jibberific said. I paid $5000 for my 99 2.8qm 30v in fantastic shape, again with t-belt done three weeks before I bought it, plus all control arms had been replaced as well. But to be honest, at least for me, my purchase was a bit of a fluke - getting my car at that price in 2006, I got it well below the average sale price. Nowadays, it's probably more common. If you can get it for a bit less, it'd be a great deal, but honestly even paying that asking price, you aren't getting ripped off. Still, the less you spend, the better right?

Get a 1.8T

You should really at least consider going 1.8T.

I just bought a 1997 2.8L 12V quattro in dec-07. It had 127K miles, in decent condition, a few cosmetic flaws. I paid 4250. It runs great, and in maintenance and parts I foresee spending at least $1000 over the summer (timing belt, rotors, misc parts).

All in all it's a great car. So far it's been very dependable. The only thing I found lacking was the power. It definitely has some kick to it, but obvoiusly nothing substantial. I soon realized that there's just nothing you can do to get significant power out of the 2.8. Ouch! Just saying it hurts.

The 1.8T on the other hand... different story. A few hundred dollars and you'll have a quick little mouse. The only substantial power modification you can add to a 2.8 is a supercharger... and seems that has to be custom done ($$$$)... a set up like that, you'll probably spend close to or more than you did on the car. I know because I searched. And searched and searched. It hurts to say... I have my eyes set on some light weight parts anda magnaflow exhaust system to help what little it can... but that's about all I'm willing to invest in this car. In short... dead end.

The 2.8 runs just fine on 87 octane, I notice no difference in performance or mileage.

I got my 177k avant for $4200, it ended up needing a little work, I just sort of baught it on an impulse and then learned about it later. Front CV boot, tie rod end, ABS controller, MAF, and a battery all for about $450 in parts, and my own labor. If we're talking a high miles audi, (cheap) the idea of getting a high miles turbo engine is not very appealing to me. Just seems like there are a lot more liabilities involved with it.

5400 is a lot for a vehicle with that kinda mileage, I got my 96 12v for 4300 with 105k, tb/water pump/ thermostat done, control arms done. Mine, however, has some dings and imperfections (rock chips on the bumper, etc). Everyone is right saying you cant pull any power out of the 2.8 really. It has a decent amount of power versus other vehicles in the same price range adn it has much more class. I went with the 2.8 over a 1.8t because of the reliability factor. A forced induction engine with 150k+ is asking for trouble IMO.