Hello,

I am interested in buying a 1999 A4, 1.8T Audi with 84,000 miles on it and was hoping for some input from other Audi owners. I love this car. I want to buy it. However, I am worried about possible mechanical problems. The car is in very good condition, but I was wondering what types of problems happen with this car at the 84,000 mi mark and approx. cost of repair. My delima is I do not have much monthly disposable income, so if something did go wrong, I might not be able to fix it. So, I guess what I am asking is will this car give me a good 40,000 miles before problems. What do you all think? Am smart to think this way, or, should I buy this car? All opinions and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much,

Craig

 

Um choose another car.

Even if it could last 40K with no problems (which I would say it couldn't) you are going to minimalistically maintain it with out a disposable income and destroy it, a 99 with 84K is ~ 14k/ year ~30 miles/day (this is in head math so double check me). Probably a daily driver in the commute. I would say you will have a lot of things to replace sooner rather than later. Does the seller have maintenance records? 1.8t is not the sturdiest engine built by Audi (sorry guys just being a realist so this guy knows what he is getting into) and realistically it is possible to have turbo problems in the next 40k, I would just about promise the water pump or power steering hoses or something (hey maybe even cv boots) there is a whole huge system that if it has not broken yet is going to go in the next 40K if you drive it as a commuter and are gonna go and you are going to die when you see that labor alone to open the hood is 85-100$.
The other half, the best way to love your Audi is maintenance, lots of it. And if you can not put some money into your car every month, chances are you are going to have it destroyed pretty quick. Most guys here suggest a synthetic oil change $$ premium fuels $$ following the dealer recommended service $$

I cannot really tell you what will happen on a 1.8t though, so I hope other people post for you. On a 2.8, I got the whole list and mine is a highway car so the stuff all went a little later in life but...
75K plugged cat converters
75k brake rotors
80k battery
94 K lift gate/ hood struts
103k P/s pump replace, headlights, dash lights
120k thermostat went out,
122k sunroof motor
122K rear speed sensor out
132K redid the entire brake system (lines, rotors, pads the whole bit)

That is in your mileage range right>?
Then I bought it, stopped using the dealer, replaced the water pump, timing at 135K and we have been spending ~ a grand a year to be good friends ever since :-P (BTW I do my own service, so that is parts) Those repairs I listed probably cost 1-2 grand a piece. I know the P/s pump and thermostat were money. Oh and the brakes money money money.

 

Run Run away. Audi's do not run for 40k miles cost free. You have to pay to play.

 

get a civic.

 

Same here, from what I have been reading, well lets say yeah....

I had a nissan that was my daily driver for a while with 530,000 miles on it, old 240sx. Was in family since 41,xxx (I might possibly hold the record for pourest family/highest milage car on the message board).

Total repairs on that car : Clutch @ 29x,xxx
two thermostsats
brake pads (4 times)
Rotors Once
and at around 250,000 the exhaust rusted out...

As of my knowledge the car is STILL running today on the same engine tranny and other primary parts. That thing was a tank, as long as we maintained it good.

Toyotas, and hondas are the same way.

Don't get a mitsu (I can say from my owning 3 DSMs and a 3000GT) and Don't get a subaru (electrical problems and expensive as **** for everything).

 

Here's what I can give to the Maintenance future for you:

97 A4 Q 2.8L

Have owned it for 5 months.

starter and ignition $800 installed
2 cat converters $1500 installed
left front uppers front and rear control arms $500

Owning an Audi= priceless; or should I say..........have a bank for it.

 

I bought my a4 1.8t less than 8 months ago


Front control arms.. 550
bilstein struts front and rear 130 x 4 = 520
window motor 400
timing belt 920
service and tune... 450
tranny flush 120
new tires 129 x 4 = 516
front and rear rotors and pads 500+

4000 grand in service and maintaining in less than a year.

 

Its not THAT expenssive if you have some knowledge and know how to do some DIY's. In comparison i believe owning an Audi w/ some technical knowledge is like owning a honda/toyota/nissan without any clue watsoever in terms of mechanical skills or knowledge. The labor is what kills us in repair and that goes for any manufacturers. This car is complicated hence why its in the luxury arena and the reason why honda is so cheap is there less stuff to go wrong because its simple. Now...the question is do u want luxury or just the basics?

 

Find out if the timing belt has been replaced..Usually to include the water pump as well. The recomended change is at about 80K miles and these have "interference engines" meaning if the timing belt breaks, your engine will suffer great damage. The serpentine belt and belt tensioner should also be replaced if you do the timing belt so you are looking at series of things that should be addressed at the 80 K mile mark,, if they were taken care of however, then you should be in ok shape..