i have been looking at getting an a4 for some time now as my commuter car. i guess what i am wondering is are these cars hard to work with and hard to find parts and fix? i am not a mechanic but i know how to do the basic work on a car like bolt ons and oil changes and what not. i ask this question because i recently worked on my girlfriends volkswagen and it was like a nightmare. i really love these audis but am afraid it is going to cost me a fortune. please and info about these cars would be much appreciated. thanks

 

it will cost a fortune if you take it to the dealer or buy parts from them (most of the time). If you are a hands on type person, you'll be fine. The B6 model (2002 - 2005.5) has so much information out there you can pretty much find guidance for any job, from the common failures to the obscure.

 

The folks on these forums will become like brethren to you when you get it. My vote is toss the V-Dub, buy an Audi, and get her a commuter car. These cars have so much potential it almost hurts me to see it wasted by grey hairs on the freeway doing 55... Then again, that grey-hair could be driving your next car, keeping it squeaky clean and maintained so it will be affordable and tuneable, atleast that's what I tell myself so I can sleep at night...

As for the V-Dub comment, its like an Audi (cost, maintenance) minus performance, depending largely on the model (you could have an R32 Golf after all =D ). I got my fiance a 94 honda accord. I HATE honda but I have only had to replace the radiator in 8 months of owning the car, and that was cheap to do. all said and done it still hasn't cost as much as the very first repair (or the 60,000mile service) on my A4. Changing the oil every 3,000 miles is something I can live with on a crappy daily driver.

Still, its a honda, and I beat on it. It won't die, much like the nissan pickup I used to own, though I consider it a curse while she considers it a blessing. But I digress.

 

i agree with the other guys, ounce you get one you will be hooked! Audis arent just another car. they are a whole lifestyle. as for driveability and reliability, they will not let you or your girl down. but on the other hand, you dont take care of your audi and they will let you know about it. quite looking and get in one and take a corner, launch off the line with a guy next to you, and leave that ricer behind!

 

HAH! yeah right. mine has left my wife stranded multiple times. also, they arent fast at all. they do handle well, but i doubt i could leave many ricers behind. i did race my friend in a volvo s40 and lost.

 

Well, as much as I hate to admit it, you are right. I love the ride quality of a honda civic so much more, definitely something I could daily drive and enjoy. It just has all the creature comforts of the most luxurious vehicles, and handles so damn well too.

Err... Right. Honda's have next to no creature comfort (wait, wait, can you get heated seats yet?). Consider yourself lucky honda's even have padding on the seats. Luxury comes at a weight premium, and 245HP/275lb-ft out of a 1.8L moves that extra pudge along quite nicely in an Audi. Is it going to kill go carts with padded seats (honda/nissan/whatever) with the same power outputs? no. Is it going to look better the whole time, feel better, be more comfortable, and shred them when it comes to the corners? I'd bet my last gallon of gas on it. Quattro Power!

I feel FWD has no place in performance driving, and I drive to feel good. People have their habits and I respect the fact that some people just want to have a method of getting to work and back home to their husband/wife/TV/cats, and if that's all you want, rather, if you are capable of living with that, I commend you.

Basically that previous paragraph should be interpreted as:
To each his/her own, I don't intend to insult anyone, down on anyone, or start a flame war, etc. I hate certain cars (honda, FWD) simply because they have no place in my life, and otherwise good engineering talent is wasted on designing those cars that could otherwise be spent breaking the 125HP+ per liter barrier more often (ex: Toyota, used to have the Corolla GT-S [RWD], MR2, and Supra as flagships, now it has the Corolla [fwd] and Prius...).

Sure I may get smoked by a mustang now and then, but when it comes down to who people want to ride home with... (okay, I'll give you the back seat leg room issue, my A4 has horrid back seat leg room...).

Again I say, to each his/her own, but if you go with an Audi, I promise you, you will develop quite possibly your new favorite addiction. It truly is a lifestyle, vorsprung durch technik...

 

Here is an equation for you:

FWD=WWD

(where WWD equals wrong wheel drive)

 

You sir just made my week, and also possibly just came up with the best bumper sticker idea ever.

Maybe AudiForums could use the Zazzle account, slap that on over four rings, or the quattro logo, in kind of a transparent background sense, and put that on in big bold letters. It'd go nicely next to my "This sticker adds 100 horsepower" AF sticker I have now...

 

just send me my royalties!

 

haha i think you guys are def selling me. i just was reading about the problems people have come across like engine sludging and what not. are these cars easy to work on? like changing belts and stuff?