Save the abuse - I read through 8 pages of B7 posts. I am also not a OOOO rookie, currently owning the A6 below with 188k and a 2003 A4 3.0 MT6 with 85k. I have a fair amount of car knowledge, no desire to wrench, and access to a great indie shop.

My oldest daughter in Atlanta is somewhat interested in a newer A4 so I am trying to qualify some cars. Must have is an MT6. Prefer the 2.0T but I'd like feedback on the 3.2 also. Most A4s come pretty loaded so I don't see a lot of value in the S-line which is generally an appearance package, but educate me. An S-line at the right price is acceptable. I am partial to quattro but it is tough to make that a hard requirement in Atlanta so FWD may suffice, but opinions are welcome.

So, we're looking at 2007-08s in the 30-50k mile range. Obviously CPO is a plus, but not a requirement. Personally, I no longer believe in warranties if I can find a vehicle that was well maintained and follow through on regular maintenance. That said, what are the danger areas in the 2.0T, 3.2, and for the B7 in general?

 

05.5-07 S-Line also includes sport suspension. '08 it's just appearance.

Obviously there's a big difference in power and MPG between the stock 2.0T and 3.2. A chip can eliminate the power difference, if desired.

The biggest issue with the 2.0T seems to be the cam follower. I don't know about the 3.2.

 

Read my stickey up top for lots of info. That said you can get a FWD car very cheap. Manuals are harder to find. The A3 is an awesome ride and good for cargo if you want to widen your choices. I am fond of turbo engines so as long as you do the maintanence in my stickey and check the oil frequently you will like the 2.0t.

 

I havent had a CPO yet hope to get one next time!

 

My sister and brother in law live in Atlanta, and had an FWD A6 for a while. They both said that there was no need for the quattro there. They now have a Q7. I live in west Michigan, and, a quattro is a must here. I drove a FWD A4 loaner once while my A4 quattro was being serviced. It happened to be during a bad snow storm, and the quattro makes a night and day difference here. The cam follower was more of an issue on cars built before 2007 and a half. Make sure what ever A4 you buy, you check to see if the coils have been replaced under the recall. Mine has the 2.0t and manual tranny, and it's much more fun to drive than the CVT auto in the FWD car. As for the CPO, get it. My last used German car, a Jetta, was a nightmare, and had expensive repairs frequently. You also get 24 hour road service for 2 years and a loaner if needed with a CPO.

 

I live in Atlanta, have had my car about a year, and have already felt like the quattro was well worth it. We get ice, snow, crazy gully-washing rainstorms, and not to mention the quattro just handles better overall.

In the used market, I didn't see a whole lot of price difference between FWD and AWD on comparably equipped cars. My quattro was actually cheaper than several FWDs of the same approximate mileage (they were slightly newer). Personally, I'd look for the quattro.

Also, my dealership gives you a loaner whether the work is warranty, CPO, or on your own dime. If the service will take longer than a couple of hours, they put you in a relatively new loaner. Makes sense--it really makes you wish you could buy it sometimes! The 2011 6-speed I had last time I had some work done was awesome.