Hello all,

I'm really interested in buying an audi a4 1.8t quattro. I would like a 2000 or 2001

I have been searching for some on autotrader etc...

And I usually run into 1 of 2 situations.

1) its about 7.5k and it is in good condition about 88k miles good looking cosmetically.

2) its about 5000 ish and its pretty good cosmetically but it has about 110-150k miles on it.

So basically which out of the 2 would be more cost efficient and better?

My question is can 3500 dollars worth of damage happen to the car because it is about 30-60k more miles?

Also to give me an idea how much can break on an audi? how much will it cost me?

Thanks in advance!

 

The thing you really have to keep in mind when buying an Audi is not just the cosmetic appeal (of which the Audi brand is never in want of), but the mechanical integrity. I suppose this holds true with any car purchase, but an 01 A4 in particualr needs some thorough research.

Some things to consider...

1. Does the owner have maintenance records? Are they complete? Did he/she use sythetic and an OEM oil filter? This is extremely important. The 2001 A4 1.8T is notorious for sludging problems. Corporate even recognized this fact, and extended the warranty as a result. This means that if the car has significant sludging problems, and the owner has complete maintenance records (i.e. oil changes) from Audi dealers or authorized dealers, they will cover repairs. I can't remember if this is still in effect, but you should check the forums... I know this has been talked about quite a lot. At the very least, you might be able to get a free oil change out of it. I remember when I bought mine, the previous owner had complete records but for some period of time had decided to get his oil done somewhere less repuatble. After a week there were noises from the engine, thought the chain tensioner might have been going up or who knows what else... turns out the oil and filter that were on the car were of inferior quality. Free of charge, my dealer changed both the oil and the filter and the ticking stopped.

2. When looking at a vehicle, always assume the previous owner is not knowledgable about cars. This will help you to avoid problems down the road. Never take their word for it. Ask for documentation, and where possible check problem areas yourself... joints, brakes, belts, etc. These cars can last a long time, but only when they are maintained well. They are not Toyotas that can be beaten to hell and barely maintained and still last forever. Audi's are precision engineered machines, and when properly maintained they will most likely exceed your expectations.

3. Sometimes cosmetic flaws, if there are any, can lead to big savings. I bought my A4 last summer with 95k miles for $6,900. This was after some intense haggling with the owner, who orignially wanted $7,500. He had managed to hit a deer at some point, crippling the driver's side fender... it was dented, painted with Crylon, and looked like ****. Fortunately, this scared away anyone else who was interested in the vehicle. I had a brand new fender shipped to my hosue with OEM paint for a little under $250 and installed it myself over the weekend.

4. The timing belt should be replaced around 100k miles. Since you don't really know the kind of driving habits of the owner, it would be advisable to consider getting all the belts replaced if he/she has not already done so. I am guessing that since the car is for sale with 88k, this is unlikely.

Keep in mind that parts are expensive for Audis; it is the nature of ownership. Labor is usually $110/hr at a dealer. You should at the very least be mechanically inclined and willing to do some of the work yourself... otherwise you will be paying a lot more.

Given the two options, I would go with fewer miles. This will work to your advantage in the long run. Just check to make sure there are records for all the work done on the car, so the owner can back up claims of maintenance. Remember: there is always room to haggle, especially if the owner doesnt know much about cars or the REAL cost of repair (like with my fender). Look for any defects, note them, and check back on the forums and across the net to see what it might really cost to get these items reparied if you can do them yourself. Then, call the dealer to find out they would charge, and subtract this (likely huge) number from the "Excellent" Kelly Blue Book value (or whatever they are offering) and use this as your starting point.

Good luck...

 

having service record (like if/when timing belt has been changed) is key for these audis.

However. one thing you gotta keep in mind with these cars and all used cars in general (especially in this economy) is that those are ASKING prices.
I really doubt anybody is SELLING cars for that much.. I hope not anyway. Maybe I'm just cheap... but I definately wouldnt be paying that much for a b5.
make sure you negotiate on the price no matter how clean the car might be.

Back to choosing the car.. you really just have to look each of them individually as far as maintenence, records, overall cleanliness and the like... There is no way to tell anything by looking at an advertisement, you have to go and look and drive to be able to properly judge