Hi all,

I am in search of an Audi A4, I found one for dirt cheap $2800, but it has almost 200k mile on it. I went to test drive it out yesturday and everything was nice and smooth, except for 5th gear. It rocks back when I'm off the gas and rocks forward when I'm on the gas. I know that the synchros are about to go, would anyone buy this car? I can prob talk the guy down to 2200 or even 2000. I really only need the car for about a year or so, until I save up enough fora newer A4. Would anyone buy this car?How much would the tranny repairs cost? Other than the 5th gear prob everything else is good.

Thanks,

 

I would look for a different car, high miles don't do it for me.

 

If you're only thinking of waiting a year before you buy a newer one, save your money. If this is kind of a "want it" purchase (ie, you have another car already to drive), then skip it and hold onto your cash. That's money you can use to put toward a newer car in a year (either to lower the amount, if any, that you plan to finance, or to add to your financing to get a potentially newer/nicer car). If you need a car, but only for a year, get a reliable, inexpensive-to-maintain car that you can drive and keep once you buy your Audi next year. Cars that come to mind immediately are mid-90s Maxima, any Honda Accord 91+, a Civic, etc. Get a car that you can keep as a backup in case a) your Audi breaks down or has to be in the shop for some reason, or b) you decide to do some mods to the Audi and don't want to have to have it back together at the end of each day you work on it, so you can drive it the next day.

Any of the cars I listed will be inexpensive to buy, easy and cheap to maintain, will run a LONG time, and are comfortable and perfectly viable second cars. Don't buy a 200k mile A4 with bad synchros, planning to get rid of it next year. If you can get it for $2k, you might sell it for only $1800, and you're likely (by your own admission) gonna have to sink money into it in the meantime. Not a great plan.

Get a cheap, easy car to drive for the time being, save the rest of your money, and get the Audi you want next year. An A4 isn't the best choice for a "stopgap" car to tide you over for another A4 in a year's time.

 

Welcome to the forums and good luck finding a car