Greetings Audi aficionado's! I registered today because I'm seriously considering buying a used Audi, and thought this would be a great place to get some info.

I live in Colorado so a vehicle capable of dealing with winter is important. My beloved '99 Toyota Tacoma with only 82k miles was recently totaled in an accident caused by an 16 yr old. I've been shopping to replace it, and have come upon a 2001 Audi Allroad Quattro with high miles (112,000), but in outstanding condition. The vehicle has already gone through the timing belt, water pump, etc. service, and runs very strong. I really, really like it, in fact I want it. Seems like an awesome car with a little off road capability, and a ton of power which I like. My "other" car is an '04 Corvette Z06. The asking price is $11,000 which according to both NADA and Kelly seems like a good deal, but I wonder why.

My concern is something I'm sure your all familiar with - Audi's don't have the best reputation for reliability at least in the general community. But you owners know from first hand experience - should I be afraid of this car with 112,000 miles on it? I've also been told servicing Audi's is fairly expensive. What kind of problems might I be looking at on all Allroad with this many miles, and would the repairs be expensive? How expensive?

I'm also curious as to why with NADA and Kelly showing a retail value of 13-14K for this car (at that mileage) there are several for sale in the area in the 10-11k range. Why are they valuing the car more than the market is? Could it be an indication this car with this many miles is headed for a lot of problems? Or could it be the mpg? I know it won't be great, but I don't care, my commute is 3.5 miles.

I'd appreciate any and all comments. Thanks in advance!

 

well yes, Audi's are more expensive to upkeep but that is mostly because the parts on the car legitimately are still built in Germany and then shipped over here. I'm no sure about Allroad specific problems but as an idea I just got my Powersteering rack, Timing belt, water pump, timming belt tensionor, and Thermostat replaced for $1500.


Now about the millage... 112K on an Audi is absolutly nothing. we have had two Audi's in my family my A4 and my dad's old 5000 (way back in the day). My A4 currently has a few hundred mils short of 198K on it and the old 5000 had over 300K (the odometer stopped working around 250, but my dad kept impeccable records). Both these cars ran like they were/are new(since I still have my A4).

As for reliability and upkeep costs it really has to do with what engine you are getting under that hood. So knowing that would help more, but in general the 2,7t engine you can get in the allroad will be more expensive to maintain because you have two of many thigns to replace if they go bad. (ie. two turbo's, two Dv valves, two manifold, etc). And I think the other engine option is the 4.2 V8 which is a good engine. Or if the other option is the 2.8l V8 then it's probably a bit underpowered (seeing as the best of the 2.8's made 190 chp, which isn't that much when pushing the weight of the allroad).

as for price I'd think it is probably becaus of either MPG, or just where you live, because of the harsh winters in CO, (BTW a state I love and want to live in fr a few years) the cars might be more prone to salt damage than say an Arizona Allroad which probably has never seen snow in it's life.


hope this helps a bit.

 

Thanks Colin it does. It's the 2.7 twin turbo. There are plenty of 1.8/2.8 wagons around to. Less power, and less capabilities but a lot less to break and better mpg seems to be the trade off. Good point about being two of things to repair if the wrong thing breaks. I also found several threads here about problems with the air bags that control the adjustable suspension. Again, a really nice feature but another thing to break. Tough call, as someone who likes camping, mountain biking, climbing, and fast cars the allroad really speaks to me, but a 1.8 or 2.8 Avant wagon might be a safer bet.

BTW, Colorado winters are typically mild with the occasional huge storm, and we use mag chloride here to treat the roads not salt.

 

well, I mean last time I was in CO, I was sitting in 6inches of fresh Snow, so being from the midwest (Ohio if you couldn't figiure out) I was in heaven.

I'm a camper and outdoorsman too and I have to say get the allroad if you go camping, unless you have a truck or something with some ground clearance to get you places that cars shouldn't be. Example I forgot to mention this but earlier this summer (kinda my fault for not picking a good line/ the gravel road I was on fault. I cracked my oilpan (which was a $600 job after getting my car flatbedded outta the middle of nowhere Kentucky).

The one flaw I can think of with the b5 design is that the oil pan sits level or below (I forget exactly) with the suspension peices, so if like me, you don't use that cheap plastic splash gaurd, you are more likley to crack your oilpan and strand yourself in the middle of nowehre if you get the A4.

and then with the allroad you can do this

I know the guy and he was hanging with lifted Jeeps all that day and they all couldn't belive that the allroad was able to hang with them.

 

Oh way too funny! I'm gonna guess that may be the Red River Gorge area. I'm a native Kentuckian and got my undergrad degree at UK. And I'm a life long Reds fan.

Awesome pic, but I had my Taco places the allroad would run from. If you ever want a truck you can't do any better than a Tacoma IMHO.

 

random question but what is the Towing cap on a tacoma? I'm looking towards the future and I'm gonna need a truck hopefully in the next 5 years, but it needs to be able to pull at least 7000lbs if not more (I want a boat)


if I remember correctly that river crossing was actually somewhere in rural Ohio north of dayton. But I've been to RRG, I love it down there, hopefully I'll get back down there for a climbing trip before i go back to school