Audi questions

**AutomagicSN98** · 07-16-2012, 10:56 PM

Im getting out of mustangs for a little while. and i need a dd that is still fun, but also all season practical. Im looking for awd.

Ive been looking alot into the audi s4. any insight on these cars? What to look for, what not to look for? what theyre worth? Im very fond of the b5 s4 with the 4.2. Like this car, http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/3111311126.html would it be worth it? or is the price way off? What other kind of cars should i be looking at besides wrx's?

Any info is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Shawn

**Mark Aubele** · 07-16-2012, 11:16 PM

I would run, not walk away as quickly as possible. My wife has a VW (only "cool" car in our price range available with an automated manual, she can't drive a stick, yet), but I wouldn't think about owning an Audi/VW out of warranty unless it comes with a trunkful of cash. Ask any mechanic.

**mustang50lx** · 07-16-2012, 11:20 PM

We work on Audi's and VW's almost every day. They are are not cheap to repair. They are also a PITA to work on.

**AutomagicSN98** · 07-16-2012, 11:21 PM

How about a subaru? I dont know much about these foreign jobs.

**Stangman701** · 07-16-2012, 11:32 PM

Wow, seems like a good deal to me? My buddy has the same car in grey. It's a fun car. We put a magnaflow exhaust on his. Sounds pretty good, but it actually sounded waaay better with no mufflers. Just get someone to weld in some muffler deletes for you and call it a day. I'd say if you plan on putting less than 10k miles on a year that would be a decent buy.

**AutomagicSN98** · 07-16-2012, 11:37 PM

Im swayed by opinions. If i go with the s4 id like a v8, but if i were to go with a subie id like a lightly modded wrx. I guess ill stay on the look out for a few weeks.

**Mark Aubele** · 07-16-2012, 11:39 PM

I like the cars too, but they are dirt cheap for a reason. I am a fan of the B5s as well, they just scare me, mostly because I do my own work and they are horrible to work on compared to the BMWs I have had.

**mustang50lx** · 07-16-2012, 11:55 PM

Originally Posted by AutomagicSN98

How about a subaru? I dont know much about these foreign jobs.

Make sure to get it on a rack and looked at good before you buy it. We have had several with severely rotted front and rear subframes and front frame bolt in extensions. One of the people I work with had an STI. He loves it. In my opnion Subaru's are okay, but not perfect. No matter what you buy get it on a rack and get it looked at. We have saved many customers from making big mistakes because they got the car looked at before they bought it. Get a Carfax too.

**AutomagicSN98** · 07-16-2012, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by mustang50lx

Make sure to get it on a rack and looked at good before you buy it. We have had several with severely rotted front and rear subframes and front frame bolt in extensions. One of the people I work with had an STI. He loves it. In my opnion Subaru's are okay, but not perfect. No matter what you buy get it on a rack and get it looked at. We have saved many customers from making big mistakes because they got the car looked at before they bought it. Get a Carfax too.

These are all things i plan on doing. If i spend 10k on a car, im looking at it first. And i work at a stealership now so i can have the cars looked at no problem.

EDIT: http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/3111311126.html If i were to go look at this car, aside from cosmetics, should i be worried about the miles? It seems high, but i dont know enough about these to know whats high for these cars.

**Viper_ed** · 07-17-2012, 12:11 AM

Pick up a used Caddy STS4.

**mustang50lx** · 07-17-2012, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by AutomagicSN98

These are all things i plan on doing. If i spend 10k on a car, im looking at it first. And i work at a stealership now so i can have the cars looked at no problem.

EDIT: http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/3111311126.html If i were to go look at this car, aside from cosmetics, should i be worried about the miles? It seems high, but i dont know enough about these to know whats high for these cars.

Alot of people spend that kind of money and never get the car checked. If the Audi never had a timing belt you are looking at over $1000.00 to get the job done right. At 161K anything could go wrong on any car. The Audi just costs more to fix.

**Terminated** · 07-17-2012, 12:58 AM

Yep I would steer clear if any VW/Audi with anything over 100k unless you wanna fix it more than drive it. What about an 04-09 or whatever Evo? Good AWD daily there.

**blizzard** · 07-17-2012, 04:00 AM

i love the vag cars and personally dont mind working on them... they do get spendy tho, one to stay away from is the 2.7 twin turbo, unless you REALLY hate money ;) the 4.2 however is an excellent engine, they can get leaky cam seals but...

**Mitternacht** · 07-17-2012, 07:08 AM

I had the biturbo S4 and I didn't have to work on it all the time like everyone says. I bought it with 179k on it and it had 199k when it was hit and totaled. Yes stuff broke and maintenance is high but you're going to have that with any german car. It's not like you're going to spend $15k on maintenance on a car that cost $8k.

However the V8 S4, I hope you find a good one. Audi had to replace many motors after only 40-70k miles because the piston skirts would expand and scar the cylinder walls. I've heard of some V8's burning a quart of oil in between oil changes, and severely as burning a quart in 300 miles. And the B7 S4 V8 motors are notorious for carbon buildup in the intake valves.

It all depends on what makes you happy. My advice? Find an older Audi S8.

**pRojekt02GT** · 07-17-2012, 12:38 PM

what about a MazdaSpeed6? AWD, 2.3T, 6spd.. Just a thought, drove one here at work the other day, was a fun little car to drive, little bit heavy but ran pretty descent.

**AutomagicSN98** · 07-17-2012, 01:17 PM

Thanks for all the insight guys.

Originally Posted by pRojekt02GT

what about a MazdaSpeed6? AWD, 2.3T, 6spd.. Just a thought, drove one here at work the other day, was a fun little car to drive, little bit heavy but ran pretty descent.

From what I've seen, speeds aren't my thing. I just can't bring my self to like the body of them. And the fact that its a 4 cyl. I'd like to go with a v8. That's why I favor the 4.2 s4.

**03 OW SVT** · 07-17-2012, 02:44 PM

I recommend an 05 to 09 Legacy GT. We had an 05 GT Limited and it was a blast to drive, very dependable and great in the snow.

Also had an 07 A4. It was a great car, we had no problems but it was a little pricey when it came to routine maintance. Very safe cars, my wife was rear-ended in ours and the guy that hit her was in an 11 Jetta, his car had to be towed from the scene and my wife drove our Audi home.

**AutomagicSN98** · 07-22-2012, 09:56 PM

Fairly well set on finding a subaru. Looking for a wrx. Newer than 2002. If anyone has any info on one that isn't on craigslist let me know.

**stieny** · 07-23-2012, 11:37 PM

I have to laugh at the consensus that people always have towards VW/Audi and other german products.

I've owned two VW's personally and have been around a bunch of them as a lot of friends and family has owned them as well. They have never given anyone that I know that has one any more problems then any of their counterparts. Actually, it's quite the opposite.

My Passat is almost at 181K and I drive it all the time and it continuously gets anywhere from 30-35 mpg on the highway and about mid to upper 20's in the city. It's completely loaded and everything works in the thing from the heated mirrors and leather seats to an ice cold A/C system that I've never touched. It rides smooth and straight and everything is still pretty tight. I've never had any trouble with it besides the normal wear and tear items. I'm almost ready for my second timing belt.

And if you know what you're talking about, a timing belt on a normal longitudinal 1.8T is anywhere from 200-300 bucks for the whole kit from ECS tuning ($229 for my car's AWM 1.8) which includes the belt, water pump, thermostat and idler. And I've been quoted from shops about 300 in labor to do it if I choose not to do it myself.

Now having said all of that, I will say the S4 is a problem prone car. The turbos where prone to fail and when they do, the entire engine is coming out of the car. I've had two friends that have owned them.

I would say look into a regular 1.8T A4. Its the same platform as my Passat but with more creature comforts. And you can usually find them with lower milage for not a whole lot of money.

I like WRX's as well as they are great awd daily cars and are pretty reliable.

I just wouldn't listen to blanket statements like "oh, stay away from german cars, they're expensive to fix" or "german cars break down all the time". I've replaced minor things on my car and nothing has been any more expensive then the fords and other foreign cars that I've owned. Funny thing is, my fords that I had with similar milage as my Passat gave me way more problems. Go figure.

Go drive some different cars. Good luck.