Stuck between the two;

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...aptcha=success

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...pare=280384359


First had minor body damage to it, judging by the pics about how much to fix? Kinda want to go with the rs4 body kit later down the road would it cover it up and not require a trip to the shop?

The second is a little outta reach for me at the moment as i will be trading in or selling my truck wich is worth on a good day about 6500 so thinking maybe even trade with the dealer on the first one. Also both cars are located in VA how does there inspection compare to MDs so i won't get screwed with not getting plates.

As well i know the 1.8 is better for mods but i would be content with suspension brakes exhuaust intake chip and plugs on the 3.0 with a short throw shifter as that is all i am likely to do/ afford with the 1.8 anyway due to school


I know lots of info thrown out there. one last thing what is cheaper to maintain and is 130k on the 1.8 too many miles vs the 102k on the 3.0


Thanks a lot

Zach

 

130K on the 1.8 is coming up on the mileage where it either should have had its timing belt replaced twice or will soon need it for the second time. (Should be done every 65-80K miles or so.) Find out when that was last done, and look at the service history in general. If the car has been well taken care of, 130K is *probably* ok, but if there is not a reasonably complete history available, run away. If it needs a t-belt, be aware that that's one of the most costly pieces of maintenance on these cars.

T-belt advice applies to the 3.0 as well - at 102K, it should have been done already - if it hasn't, they need to either do it before the sale or give a significant discount on the car in order to allow for the fact that you'll want to do it right away.

Regarding the body damage, maybe I'm blind, but the only thing I see is that there appears to be a plastic piece missing near the passenger side fog light. If that's all there is, it shouldn't be too expensive. That said, Carfax it and get it inspected if you like it enough to seriously consider buying it. If there's damage you can't easily see, it could get expensive in a hurry.

 

look at the pasanger side view by the fron head light

 

Oh, didn't see that there were more photos before. Yeah, that metal is pretty gnarly.

KBB says an "excellent" condition car at that mileage is worth $8875 at retail. "Excellent" by their definition basically means "needs nothing, just about perfect." If it needs a T-belt, figure on the service being in the $1000 range, and while I can't estimate body work costs, I doubt it's cheap. I'd want to get a quote on what the body damage would cost to fix from a third party before making an offer on the car, and I'd probably be trying to talk them down quite a ways from their asking price, because that car is definitely not "excellent," and realistically, most cars with that many miles probably aren't.

Basically, do your best to make sure you're not buying more problems than you care to pay to fix.

 

5995 looks like a good deal. RS4 Kit? you cant just swap stuff on for that, it has flared fenders and quarter panels so it would require extensive body work. find out why the air bag light is on. they conveniently cut that out of the straight on gauges shot.

 

Ok i'm not even gonna bother with the first one then. I think maybe the 3.0 is more what i'm looking for anyway as i won't have money to really be modding it so the power allready there will be nice. Now i've read that 105k is when the 3.0 needs the t-belt is this true? If so what would be resonable to ask off of the car I heard the service is somewhere in the 3-4k range

 

So i looked a little more and found this guy,

http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/dd...=&cardist=5500

I emailed the dealer to see if they had the maintnacne history on it. If not i belive i will be asking for something in the 6-6.5k range becasue the timming belt is 1k?? I got my numbers based on this thinking it wasn't to out of the ball park then to be asking for,

http://www.kbb.com/used-cars/audi/a4...&mileage=87000


Thanks for the help

 

That seems like a better way to go - that's my car with better wheels (it's got 17", mine are 16") and IMO a nicer interior color (mine's beige), and only a few more miles on it (I'm just about to hit 80K). I paid quite a bit more for mine, but I bought it with 62K miles on it, plus quattro models command a pretty good premium up here in the frozen north, especially if you buy in November like I did. :P

 

I like the 02 3.0 for 7900. Appears to be a clean car from the pics. I'd offer like 7000 though and see what the seller says. I mean, I got my 02 a4 1.8t about 8 months ago for 6800 with 107k on it. if that helps at all...

 

Well between the two I think I would really go for the 3.0. You have lower mileage, already comes with 220hp and more torque than the 1.8T. You should see if you can get the price down a little or save a bit more. Either way, good luck!