Hi ive been looking at audi's to buy for the past few months. I cant wait but i dont know what to get. I prefer an 03 or 04 A4 1.8T quattro plus my price range is maxed at 15k,although i would like to spend no more than 11k. Any recommendations. what about a 5 speed vs 6 speed? Also, can the sport suspension and sport package be bought seperate and installed instead of having to find an A4 with both already factory installed?
Thanks for your help. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Is this like your first car ever? or just your first Audi? You can find them for around 12k form the dealerships and 9 or 10K from private sellers. I'd go for a 6 speed manual transmission and if is over 75k miles make sure that the timing belt has been done. Be ready for maintenance, bad coil packs, bad fuel pump, fuel filter, speed sensor temp sensor, window regulators... There's a lot of stuff that you need to keep an eye on during maintenance for the car to be running in great condition, hope this is not your first car if it is you're going to be working on it more than you'll be driving it.

 

Not my first car. Had a volve 940 turbo wagon 6 years. Ya im aware that maintenence is gonna be keepn me busy. Definitly lots for me to learn. Its one reason i want an audi. I like to persue learning how to maintain the car and create a new hobby for myself. Most a4's ive seen for sale have been online and at least 70-80kmi. I keep finding 6 speeds with fwd j stead of awd. Im in southern california and have been searching onlne every day. Thanks for your help.

 

I would try to stay away from FWD and Automatics altogether. Good luck and as you probably already know southern Cali is full of Euro enthusiasts, mainly bimmers but you'll see plenty of Audis as well.

 

I'd like to ask how you identify a car with a CVT trans? Is there badging or somthing else that is obvious?

Thanks-
John

 

Cvt is in all fwd cars. If it doesn't say quattro on the trunk, grille, or above the glove box its 99.9999% of the time fwd/cvt. Someone would have had to debadge all of that for it not to say.

 

I hope you have extra $$$ under your pillow because the Audi is a pricey car to own and run.

Good Luck