Hello everyone, I just picked up my first Audi last week, so I thought I should register here to get some ideas and input from you all if/when I need it, as well as to learn as much as I can about my car before I start tearing into it and ordering parts. . .

I'm sure you don't want to hear all about me, you probably want to hear about the car, so I'll tell you a little about it.

The car is a pearl white '98 A4 1.8T (non-quattro) 5 speed, fully loaded with all the goodies (6 disc CD changer in the trunk, sunroof, power everything, tan leather interior, etc.), right at 182k miles right now, and although it has a few minor issues, it runs great, gets good gas mileage, and looks decent.

Plans for the car are pretty simple, I want to install a flip-out touchscreen navigation stereo, probably a Pioneer or Kenwood, get some new wheels for the car, have it chipped, new DV, etc., have the exhaust taken care of (has a leak and previous owner removed the rear muffler), clean it up a bit, maybe a few minor touches here and there, and use it as a daily driver.

I'm coming from a Grand Prix GTP with a supercharged 3.8 V6, and by comparison, the A4 feels SLOW. It's going to take some getting used to, but I like driving the A4 more, it handles better, is actually quite roomy inside, has more trunk space, and is overall in better physical condition. . .

Anyway, I like what I've seen of the site so far, and I hope to prove useful to some of you during my stay here!

 

Wilkommen to the forums

be sure to spend some time checking out the A4 section. you should be able to find answers to a lot of your questions there.

the 1.8t is definitely going to give you a very different feel than your Grand Prix, however, if you have the patience, cash, and wrench turning abilities you can mod it into an absolute beast. but with 182K on the clock you may just want to get it running smooth and enjoy it while it lasts.

anywho, have fun

 

Thanks, I think you may be right, but honestly, mileage has never really scared me much. . . If the motor goes, I'll be looking for another Audi, or I may even just get a lower mileage engine from a wrecked A4 or something. A friend of mine swapped the motor in his GTP with a junkyard motor he picked up for around $600, he had less than $1200 total into the car and got another 30k miles out of it before he sold it.

I'm mechanically inclined, I've always done all my own work on my cars, and this one is just another challenge, like all the others. When it breaks, I fix it. If it can't be fixed, I move on. lol

 

So, I checked the air filter today. . . COMPLETELY blocked off, I mean this thing was almost completely black with dirt. Replaced that, drained the oil (synthetic oil, but it was almost black, and there was a bit of sludge in it), replaced the oil and filter, put in a quart of Lucas oil stabilizer, started it up, and after about 10-15 seconds, the top end "ticking" noise that I thought was a MAJOR issue just waiting to happen, completely disappeared. Well, not completely, VW engines almost all make a light ticking noise (they run a little on the loud side, I've noticed), but it's much more tolerable.

The car is running great, the ride is smooth as glass, the trans shifts smoothly, engine is responsive enough, and honestly, I've noticed that the car is a lot less anemic when the A/C is off.

I have an appointment for tomorrow afternoon to have a new muffler installed (previous owner cut the stock muffler off because he "wanted to make the car louder"), I found out a stock replacement muffler is $240, the muffler shop is going to put a generic replacement on for $60, so I said why not. So far, I'm out $115 for taxes and registration fees, $50 in gas since I brought it home, $65 for the oil, Lucas, and filters, and another $60 tomorrow, and I'm really hoping the car lasts me a while.

Next on the "to do" list is the windshield (has a crack on the passenger side, not a major concern yet), the front left CV axle (starting to tick when turned to full lock), and some body work. I really like this car.