Hello everybody. I am VERY new to the Audi world but I am an automotive enthusiast. Now heres my dilemma:
I'm looking for a car between 10-20k (but moreso around 13-16), with RWD or AWD, decent power, comfortable interior, decent gas mileage, low maintenance (besides regularly scheduled stuff), etc. Now I have pretty much narrowed it down to an Audi A4, S4, or A6.

But with all these different choices for Audis its really hard to decide. I originally looked at the S4, but figured it would be more on insurance, more on gas, more prone to mechanical failure, etc. Then I looked at the A4s. I don't need a 'race car' as I'm gradually growing out of that young and reckless phase. But I'm probably going to be interested in modding at some point (and want better mileage), so I was looking at the 1.8T (2002 to be more specific). But being 6'4 I was interested in the A6 when I saw the prices for a 2000-2002. But I can't really afford a 3.0 (too new), don't really care much for the 2.8 from what I've seen already (but hey, I'm still a newbie), and the 2.7TT sounds about the same as the S4 as far as cons.

So what do you guys think? I'm almost 22, single (but still like the idea of a sedan for conveniance and space), and will be living in eastern Virginia if that makes any difference.

 

First off, welcome to the forums. Secondly, I'm 6'3" and there's plenty-o-room in my A4 for me. I don't even have my front seat close to being all the way back. As for reliability, I guess it's like everything else, it depends on who you ask. Some people don't have trouble and some do. The thing about Audi's is not that they're unreliable but that it can be expensive to fix them. As for performance, the 1.8t can be a pretty quick machine just with a simple ecu reprogram( search APR and GIAC).

 

Hey kextyn, welcome to the forums.

 

I think really the Audi's are a problem for short people. I am 6' and my seat is about half way forward, my girlfriend, 5 foot, cannot reach the pedals with the seat all the way forward.

I have a 2.8 A6 (30v). It is pretty much un-mod-able except basics like exhaust. I like the 2.7 actually (in the A6) and I don't really see the 1.8 T costing that much less. Anything that could go wrong with a 1.8 could go wrong with the 2.7 and for ~16K you could get a nice one with low miles. I guess the 1.8 would do better for fuel though. I thought the A4 was way too small when I was buying my Audi, but that was 3 years ago now. I think the A6 and A4 both got a little bigger. I go on trips with 4 or 5 people in her though and the A6 can hold 5 with gear and boards, bike, etc much better. I would definitely keep an eye on the # of valves though. 5 valve per cylinder is the quality audi engine. 12v v6s are rough from what I hear.

I don't know, almost everyone here has the A4 or S4 but I really like the extra space of an A6