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Sedans Audi A4 Audi A4 2004 and earlier
6026 messages, Last post on Sep 27, 2009 at 8:02 PM
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Replying to: kelbelle37 (Jul 28, 2006 10:17 am) Aside from warranty work I advise you to find a good independent, they are more reasonable than dealers. I'd avoid the lube chains as well. I was quite successful with my '98 A4 in getting maintenance done by a good local Audi-VW specialist at reasonable cost not withstanding the excessively high cost of parts which they must buy thru the dealer network. |
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Replying to: vtlax2 (Jul 25, 2006 9:04 pm) |
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Replying to: vtlax2 (Jul 25, 2006 9:04 pm) If you are still looking for an Audi, I would like to put my two sense in. All cars have problems or will need to fixed or maintained, but Audi's are known to be expensive when it comes to genuine parts. What it really comes down to is how well the car has been treated and maintained, and they way you choose to maintain your audi. Audi's are awesome and I am definetly a fan, I love them. What is truly appealing is the way it is built, how it drives, and the quality of the product that is impressive. For your situation, the best thing to do is not trust carfax. The idea behind it is good, but in my experience it is never accurate and cannot be trusted. Having an experienced body shop check it over is better as they can see things that you would not be able to. If you are looking to purchase this car through a bank, see if they offer extended warranties. They might not on this car because of it's title status. I have owned two audi's so far, an A4 2.8 sedan and a S4 V8. The warranty's pay for themselves. For example I paid $1500 for a 7 yr/100K extended warranty and it has paid for itself 3 times over so far because all that I am responsible for the diagnosis. Find an independent shop that is audi certified and reputable. Definetly maintain it and get oil changes regularly (I suggest synthetic), and if something starts going wrong- get it checked out ASAP before it gets worse because it is not going to go away by ignoring it. Lastly, drive and enjoy it- it's a drivers car. Good Luck. |
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Replying to: jackolantern (Jun 21, 2006 10:29 am) |
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Hi folks... I haven't posted here in about 6 years, but that was over on some Ford boards. Lately my wife and I have been looking for a wagon to replace one of our 2-door coupes, mainly for baby hauling =) I searched the regional inventory for wagons under $10k (our budget limit) and under 100k miles and to my surprise a few '98 and '99 A4 Avant Quattros came up. Now I've really only owned domestic cars and the prospect of our new "family" car being a fancy German ride is pretty appealing but also scary. I've done quite a bit of research including reading most of this forum, but I've mostly found information on 2001+ models, none of which are near $10k around here. So I was hoping someone out there could take a stab at a couple questions I had. Basically, am I setting myself up for a reliability disaster if I buy a '98/'99 Avant with 80+k miles on it? What sorts of things can I identify from a test drive that foreshadow huge problems? Thanks for any help anyone can provide!!
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Replying to: engufgne (Aug 14, 2006 6:20 am) Maybe, maybe not. I'd still have my '98 Avant if my wife hadn't insisted on keeping her blasted Saab. I had a great experience with Bronzehilde for five years. Have it checked out by an Audi specialist, (it'll be the best $100 you ever spent) maintain it religiously and you'll be alright at least for 2-3 years IMO. |
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I've got an '01 A4 1.8T, and maintenance is starting to get expensive at the dealer. I'm curious - what is the best way to go about finding a mechanic to work on it? My local place where I took an old car would say yes, they work on Audi's. I think everyone will say they work on them to get the business. Any thoughts? For anyone in the Northern Virginia area with a specific shop in mind, do let me know!
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Replying to: mdx4me1 (Sep 05, 2006 10:51 am) I live near a small city of 35,000 that has such a specialist, I'm sure there are many in the DC area. It doesn't hurt to ask around either.
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Replying to: andys120 (Sep 06, 2006 10:35 am) Again, I've had a couple of the major chains out here say they do work on Audi's, but I don't think thay make's them experts in them. Thanks for the quick reply, by the way. |
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I bought a 1.8T fronttrac A4 new in 2003. I was never satisifed with the handling; even took it in a couple of times to have it checked. Eventually I just accepted how the car drove. It never occurred to me to suspect the original equipment tires (Pirellli P6). Finally, after 3 years, I wore the front ones down and replaced them with new Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Positions. The difference is so stunning I was almost depressed. The car handles like a completely different car. Now I understand why I was getting passed by SUVs on the twisties. Before, the car always felt vague and wandery when driving; it took work to keep it pointed straight on the freeway, and more effort to track properly in hard turns. Now, it handles so well I'm speechless. Easy and solid on the freeway, and practically defies the laws of physics when you push it. Now I see why people rave about the A4 so much. The new tires are also quieter and soak up rough pavement better (important here in the San Francisco bay area). No snow here, so they'll be fine all year round I think. I wish I'd replaced all four of those damn tires the first day I bought the car! That's why I said I was almost depressed, thinking about wasting the first 3 years of my car's life. If you're going to spend $25K to $35K on a car, it's well worth a few extra hundreds to get tires that let it perform like it was meant to. I'm not big on upgrading my car, pretty much keep my cars stock, but this is one upgrade that is well worth considering. Dave |
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