Hi everyone,

Very quick intro here, I'm Jonas, I'm a college student from Vermont, and I'm looking for a car. This car should be able to get me around VT and down to Connecticut and back, while also hopefully having some element of joy involved. I've been generally looking at the more bland, practical, and classic cheap teenager cars like Civics and Subaru Legacys or Outbacks, but just came across this '98 2.8 A4 Quattro which set my little heart all aflutter. Priced at $780, the car needs a new clutch, but according to the seller, that's all it needs.

And so, here is the (predictable) call from an inexperienced novice to an experienced group of, well, people with experience: is this car worth going for or should I stick with the Hondas or Subbies? While I do have some auto-mechanical experience, I think realistically, in terms of time and money, I can't afford to make this a project car, and I have a voice in the back of my head telling me that that's what all cars priced under a thousand bucks will turn into, especially German ones that, once upon a time, cost more thousands of dollars than I have fingers and toes for. Still, I'm very tempted.

What are your thoughts? Any and all help is deeply appreciated. Thank you all.

~Jonas

 

That's a great price if all it needs is a clutch. But is that REALLY all it needs is the question.

 

Thanks for the quick response. I wrote to him and after a couple messages, he gave me a more detailed explanation of it's condition and replacements:

I'm the second owner, bought it in 2001, and that's it, when I hit the deer at 60k miles the insurance man didnt realize the block was cracked (apparently if you hit a deer just right it will push a waterpump bolt through the block)... so he said "fix it", since the car was only a few years old at that point there werent a lot of crate motors so they got on straight from audi. While they were gouging the insurance company they replaced the plenum, starter, etc.. repair cost was $25k.. needless to say, I was happy with having essentially a new car and didn't get into mods or anything. I have replaced all the front suspension arms but that's just for tighter handling.


Are these cars notorious for any gremlins or parts that are particularly prone to tapping out early? Anything I should look for when I go to look at it? I've heard some stuff about the brakes not being great, but anything else?

Thanks again. I really appreciate the help.