Audi A4 1.8T

Kingkong

Hey lads,

I've been trolling the motor sections of boards for a while trying to pick out tips buying my next car, be gentle!

BACKGROUND

I'm 28 and have set myself a budget of 9 -10.5K

The type of cars I have been looking at included VW Passat, Golf, Audi A3& A4 and randomly a new Focus.

AUDI A4

This evening I saw this car

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A4/A.8T-163/201212207439705/advert?channel=CARS

Good:

Nice seller who is moving to the uk. Currently the car is only used by his wife during the week for short runs and him during the weekend explaining the low mileage.

On test drive the car seemed to have no mechanical issues. Turbo sounds ok and is a fun drive.


Bad:
Car was messy i.e. not valeted suggesting it wasn't well looked after
Car needs a service and the timing belt has not been changed
Seller appeared to know very little about cars, not sure if this was him playing a bit dumb.
A few little scraps around the car including dents on front alloys.

Conclusion

A good service and new timing belt would probably need to be done. In saying that if the price was adjusted to take this into account it does seem a god buy.

I do want a fun car something I will enjoy. Its my second car so don't have that much experience.

Originally I was dead set against a petrol due to fuel costs but I wont be doing that much mileage.

Any taught/alternative suggestions?

Tks

ballooba

A car being messy inside would not personally put me off. It can take quite a while to sell a used car privately and your heart would be broken valeting it each time someone calls.

The timing belt is due to be done, so budget EUR450 for that, being conservative.

I don't think the seller's knowledge of cars is a major issue. But it would warrant extra close attention to the service history.

On a car that age I think a few scrapes are to be expected. You could get them fixed if you wanted, but the expense might make you put up with them.

I've had my B7 1.8T for 3 years now and love it. I would be tempted to move on to an A5, but until I win the lotto I'm very happy with it.

This car seems to have a decent spec with the S-Line body kit and accessories. It looks like it may be a UK car (especially seeing as it comes from a smaller indy dealer), so as always history check might be worthwhile. The UK spec would be a plus for me, although this car could be just and Irish car with an S-Line spec.

Anan1

I actually have pretty much the opposite outlook on that car myself. I see a standard petrol engine with very Spartan spec. The only thing that stands out is the AWD, and the car doesn't have the power to take advantage of that on anything but snow & ice. If you live up a mountain and need to stay mobile in all weathers then fair enough, but if you want fun then buy a Golf GTI. Or if you do want a cruiser then at least buy one with a few toys. Just my 2c.

ballooba

I actually missed that it was Quattro, the seller missed out by not highlighting this. I wouldn't consider the 1.8T to be standard, it's better than a 1.6, a 2.0 or a 1.9/2.0TDI. Personally I wouldn't go near a 3 litre for motor tax reasons, although I'd probably consider a 2 litre turbo. In saying that I find that the 1.8T has plenty of poke for my needs.

As for the spec, this is an S-Line, which is a far superior spec to most Irish cars. It depends what you're after, but this car is certainly not as ordinary as you're making out.

pippip

ballooba wrote: »

I actually missed that it was Quattro, the seller missed out by not highlighting this.

Yeh the seller really should have put it in the title of the ad and in the description....wait a minute :D

ballooba

pippip wrote: »

Yeh the seller really should have put it in the title of the ad and in the description....wait a minute :D

Haha... yes, I am a plonker. Looked twice and still missed that.:D

bazz26

Seems very expensive for what it is.

If you need 4wd then how about a Subaru Legacy? A year newer and better equipped, just not as posh:


http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=15513403836424670

Kingkong

Hey Lads,

I should have told you it was a Quattro.

It is a nice drive, I am wondering how the fuel efficience is and whether the 1.9TDI such as this one is a better buy

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A4/2.0-TDI-/201216207798817/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A4/1.9-TDI-/201216207799263/advert?channel=CARS

On Value for money, say i get it for between 9-10K is that reasonable?

Tks

ballooba

That 2.0 TDI looks to have been imported in September 11 or thereabouts judging by the reg number and the tax expiry date. Why is it being moved on so soon?

The 1.9 would seem to have originated from Laharts in Kilkenny.

Kingkong

Just spoke to owner of the 2.0

It was imported from the uk 2 years ago by herself. It was main dealer serviced up until then and serviced by a local mechanic in Naas.

The timing belt has not been done. Does anyone know if it is 120K or 120M is are due for changing at.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A4/2.0-TDI-/201216207798817/advert?channel=CARS

ballooba

Timing belt is 60,000 miles or 5 years on the 1.8T I think. Don't know about the TDIs.

pred racer

bazz26 wrote: »

Seems very expensive for what it is.

If you need 4wd then how about a Subaru Legacy? A year newer and better equipped, just not as posh

And not every dog and its mother has one!

All plus points for me.

pred racer

Or this

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3571681

Owned by a poster on here. (Metzgermeister)
Beautiful car in the flesh.

Very well looked after, and he suffers from OCD (obsessive car detailing):D

Kingkong

Nice car it was PM to me by Metzgermeister earlier.

The tax and generally running costs are more than I would be comfortable with.

Tks

nicklee

Hi

I am considering letting go of my Audi S3. I don't want to sell it but with the arrival of a newborn baby means I need something bigger.
I do not have it advertised anywhere yet but it is in MINT condition.
It just flew through the NCT today. It is serviced and maintained by George Dalton and has had timing belt changed recently.

Here are some details.
1.8T Quattro with just over 100,00 miles on the clock. It is 2001 reg which means less than 10k miles per year. I am the 3rd owner and have had it for 6 years. Full service history.

Specs: Red, 6 speed manual, Recaro Black Leather Heated seats,17" Avus alloys
Full Bose Stereo Upgrade with cd changer in the boot
Electric Chrome Mirrors
Electric sunroof
On Board Computer
Front Fog Lights
Digital climate control
ESP
Xenon lights and washers & Front Fog Lights
Electric windows
Parking sensors
Armrest
Bluetooth

Front-Engined
Turbo 1.8 Litres
Inline 4 Cylinders
210 BHP
199 Nm Torque
148 MPH Top Speed
0 to 62 in 6.8 Seconds
31 MPG

If you are interested PM me and I can arrange to show it to you.

Cheers

Anan1

Kingkong wrote: »

Nice car it was PM to me by Metzgermeister earlier.

The tax and generally running costs are more than I would be comfortable with.

Tks

There's only a couple of hundred euro a year in the tax. Personally, I couldn't live with the Audi knowing every day that I could have had the Mazda for the same money. If running costs are really a priority then a Legacy is still nicer, and cheaper to own too.

pred racer

Kingkong wrote: »

Nice car it was PM to me by Metzgermeister earlier.

The tax and generally running costs are more than I would be comfortable with.

Tks

Fair enough.

Apart from the tax, i wouldn't expect the running costs to be much different tbh.
Just trying to give you options
I wouldn't drive an a4 at the moment, there's too many other ar$eholes in them (i.e the felt spec brigade) But thats just me!
Best of luck with the hunt.

Jumpaddict

nicklee wrote: »

Hi

I am considering letting go of my Audi S3. I don't want to sell it but with the arrival of a newborn baby means I need something bigger.
I do not have it advertised anywhere yet but it is in MINT condition.
It just flew through the NCT today. It is serviced and maintained by George Dalton and has had timing belt changed recently.

Here are some details.
1.8T Quattro with just over 100,00 miles on the clock. It is 2001 reg which means less than 10k miles per year. I am the 3rd owner and have had it for 6 years. Full service history.

Specs: Red, 6 speed manual, Recaro Black Leather Heated seats,17" Avus alloys
Full Bose Stereo Upgrade with cd changer in the boot
Electric Chrome Mirrors
Electric sunroof
On Board Computer
Front Fog Lights
Digital climate control
ESP
Xenon lights and washers & Front Fog Lights
Electric windows
Parking sensors
Armrest
Bluetooth

Front-Engined
Turbo 1.8 Litres
Inline 4 Cylinders
210 BHP
199 Nm Torque
148 MPH Top Speed
0 to 62 in 6.8 Seconds
31 MPG

If you are interested PM me and I can arrange to show it to you.

Cheers

3 days ago I would have snapped this up!!!!! Bought a car on Sunday but was looking for a decent s3 which were hard to find.....DOH!

tossy

Jumpaddict wrote: »

3 days ago I would have snapped this up!!!!! Bought a car on Sunday but was looking for a decent s3 which were hard to find.....DOH!

Which shape S3? I drove 3 8L's before finding mine.A decent one has just come up for sale today also.What did you buy in the end?

A 1.8T A4 would be a poor substitute for an S3 anyway,but better than a 1.9TDI (please don't say you bought one lol)

Littlehorny

That A4 the op put up originally has had 3 owners in 5 years, its no wonder the seller knows little about it, he prob only has it 2 years max and its prob given him a few problems. Plenty more A4s in the sea op!

Jumpaddict

tossy wrote: »

Which shape S3? I drove 3 8L's before finding mine.A decent one has just come up for sale today also.What did you buy in the end?

A 1.8T A4 would be a poor substitute for an S3 anyway,but better than a 1.9TDI (please don't say you bought one lol)

Had to get something cause I was stuck, turned out to be an A6 in the end:D

Will do for now....

Damokc

Sorry to dig up an oldish thread but I looking to get an A4 Avant (B6) and I'm currently trying to figure out which engine. I wouldn't mind a 1.8T as it will be a second car as we have a diesel already. This would be my car with room for the bobba and bobba equipment when needed. I wouldn't do the mileage for a diesel but wouldn't rule it out.
My question is, what are the 1.6s like? Are they like a dead duck when driving? I presume there's no way of tuning them anyway to make them livelier?

Also where the hell are all the 1.8T Avants! This country really has the horn for diesels.:P