Thinking of buying an Audi A6/S4... Have one?

[MELLO*SOS]

Thinking of trading my girl's 2000 altima in for a 2001 Audi S4 (2.7TT). We're also seriously looking at the a6's and a few a4's. Do any of you guys have any of these rides for a daily driver? I'm curious of your opinions on them in terms of quality, durability, performance, common problems, etc. Can someone suggest an Audi forum to read up on (like a german Zilvia hehe)?

Thanks

[EchoOfSilence]

I think they're ridiculously sexy cars. Audi's perform very well, nice interiors. I don't know about the rest though. just my 2 cents.

[MELLO*SOS]

Yeah I think they look clean as hell, 4dr sedan twin turbo and awd, that's pretty much all you can ask for in a daily driver ;). But then again thats a lot of shit to break and probably costly to repair.


S4 interior looks comfy..

http://www.whoowhoo.com/Images/01S42.jpg

[drifter808]

one of my friends has an A4, he races it all the time at SCCA. His car is impossible to break loose. But it is a really nice car, he has the black one with the silver pearl, i think its called black lava? its really fast to.

[trsilvias13]

It hard to maintain from my friend point of view. A lot of older s4 can be bought for cheap because maintaince will be expensive

[wootwoot]

They are beautiful, amazing to drive, extremly comfortable, and a pain in the ass to work on/ have serviced. I would stick with Japanese for reliability. Some people have good luck and others get cars that they cant seem to keep on the road

[s14xman]

i researched them for a while and kept hearing that they have coilpack issues and other random electrical problems. From what i hear they are half the time on the road and half in the service dept, if anyone tells you otherwise it's because they want to keep the value up.

[Kouki]

Check out www.vwvortex.com awesome community for Audi and VW. Do some research there.

[Destructo]

I wouldnt touch anything involed with VW. If you want to take a fat chubbie in the arse, then stay away from VW, because when it comes to fixing shit and eletrical issues your gonna get hud rapped.

[ranisron]

Audi has horrible resale value comparing to the other german car mfgr.

Audi has problems specifically electrical problems.

Audi parts are much more expensive than the Japanese counterparts, and again, the more your break, the more stuffs you replace ----> $$$$

Stay away from Audi - my .02 cents.

Get something like an Infiniti, it has class, quality and it's a blast to drive IMO.

[MrBrightSide]

I am also looking at the s4's...gander at this:
http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/137929400.html

Only wished it was black...but back on the reliablility and maintenance, from what I've found out so far, maintenance is pretty pricey & when it comes to reliability; like everyother say "VW & reliability = :down: "

But since this car has recently changed new turbos, you think it will still undergo in and out of the shop???

[S14DB]

People coked the S4 turbos all the time. There were electrical issues also.

I looked into them as a DD. Unless you got a CPO car with a long ass warranty left, I wouldn't touch them with a 10ft pole.

[MrBrightSide]

People coked the S4 turbos all the time. There were electrical issues also.

I looked into them as a DD. Unless you got a CPO car with a long ass warranty left, I wouldn't touch them with a 10ft pole.

Hhahahha this was going to be my DD as well...but i'll take your advise and stay as far away. Ugh back on the hunt for a nice DD

[skatanic28]

my mom has an A4 with the 2.8 and quattro, it will be the last vw/audi product my family ever buys. its probably been in about 5 or 6 times for major service issues. thankfully the warrenty covered most of it, because it totals somewhere in the 5-6k range at the very least. working on it yourself is also usually a pain in the ass.

just my opinion, but vw/audi's are some of the most overpriced cars on the market today. the only thing that actaully impresses me is the interior.

[ranisron]

For the price of an Audi, get a BMW. I think for those of who have 240SX and could afford BMWs, they usually go with BMW, because Bimmers have great handling + RWD.

[RiversideS13]

my classmate had an 00A4 and his light would turns on by it self while parked. he also had issue that sometimes the door locked and he cannot open from inside the car. He HATE the car.

[MELLO*SOS]

Thanks for the great response to this thread guys

VWVortex is a decent site with lots of information. Here's a thread dedicated to S4 buying tips http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2324698

Cheers

[S14DB]

3.5L Altima with Intake, Header, Y-pipe, Exhaust and a 75 shot would be hella fast.

[ISTOTOSAO]

I say you get an E46. Then again, I am partial. But damn that thing is fun in the mountains and then super smooth on the freeway. DO IT!!!

[kouki_s14]

3.5L Altima with Intake, Header, Y-pipe, Exhaust and a 75 shot would be hella fast.

dont even need any of that and the 3.5L is already dam quick, plenty of torque and a lot of fun. also the interior is VERY roomy
eats gas like a mofo tho, but if gas mileage isnt a concern it's a great DD
i've always wanted a BMW or Lexus for my DD tho

[OptionZero]

Acura TL

Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT

[ranisron]

Perhaps we could ask the tread starter to give us his budget, then we could help him out better and provide him with a list of vehicles to choose from.

1. NOT AUDI
2. Infiniti G35 Sedan
3. Lexus IS300
4. More to come I am sure

[MELLO*SOS]

Thanks for the input on the Audi models, as that was I was really after.

Perhaps we could ask the tread starter to give us..

We're looking to spend around $15 to $20k (most) on a used (20k-50k mi) 2000+ 4dr sedan (AWD/6cyl pref) that's comfortable for DD duties and road trips to LA (400mi) and other places. This car will replace the 2000 Altima we have now, and I'm open to hear just about any vehicle suggestion because I don't really know what I want yet...

[skatanic28]

G35 sedan seems to fit your needs, not sure about budget though...

i had a tsx as a loaner for a day, its not awd or a 6 cyl but it was a nice drive.

[ESone3]

Let me give you some advice about the A4. I had one, and I can honestly say I will never own one again. If something ever breaks, expect to pay ALOT for parts. Their is very little aftermarket support (not performance parts, replacement) for the Audi's and if they are, its not much less then OEM. If you are stuck on buying an Audi, be sure to get the following information.

-check to see if the control arms have been replaced. If they have, or they say they have, get them checked again! 95% of all the A4 and i think A8's have or need to have the control arms replaced due to poor joints. Do a search on them. Their is acutally a service recall on anything 96-2001 iirc.

-check for sludge. Due to the poor oil delivery, the 1.8t engines can produced oil sludge. The remedy amoung A4 owners is a bigger oil filter. But if you have sludge, its already too late and can lead to engine failure. Warrenty will not cover this.

-The intrument panal usually goes out. When I was test driving them, 75% of the cars panals no longer worked.


those are the main things to look out for. I have friends that have them and at first they are great, but when things start to get bad, it get real expensive. And i'm not talking hundreds, thousands!

If you are still stuck on getting one, i recommed you get whatever extended warrenty they offer, no matter what the cost is. Trust me, you WILL save in the long run. But ask yourself now if it is worth it to have a car thats going to need to serviced... alot.

[HyperTek]

if i sell my car for a gang load.. i was actually checking out some 00-01 year S4s, they are not that expensive.

[wootwoot]

BMW's have problems as well but an e36 m3 would suit the bill close to perfect. Yes, they did make them in 4 door.

[ESone3]

oh, and my A4 caught itself on fire.

cheers!

[MrBrightSide]

ever thought of any 98-03 GS's? or the new RL...though the new ones are a bit pricey

http://i.tnpv.us/pv/2004/08/31/HON2004083145699_pv.jpg

[psidriven]

Look for 2.8 quattro A6. Heard it's the best deal of the Audis. ESone3 is right, control arms, cam seals on 2.8L, tie rods, etc.. Just remember the old saying "if you can't afford it new, you can't afford to keep it used". Cause expensive cars are also expensive to maintain. Just get a Suburu if you can't afford German.

[RiversideS13]

what about GS400? more affordable and reliable

[ryangreg]

S4 looks roomy but it really isnt...you going to have people riding in the back alot? My friend has one and its hella fast, but hes selling it cause he wants one with lower miles, but were trying to talk him out of it!

Japanese car all the way.....GS series or even better an IS300.

[ranisron]

Please remember the thread starter wants something AWD... so the options are somewhat limited...

keep digging, just no Audi I guess :)

[S14DB]

Edmund's had a good article on the 330i vs the A4.

[dannyboi]

AWD? Sedan? Get a 2005 Legacy GT.

If you didn't care about AWD...

v6 Camry (if you don't mind automatics).
http://www.autolists.com/images/thumb/2005-toyota-camry-xlev6.jpg
v6 Accord
http://www.autobytel.com/images/carPics/TestDrv/Lyons/Accord/2003_Accord_front1_500.jpg
v6 Altima
http://img156.echo.cx/img156/641/05alti2mc.png

All fun, all reliable.

[wootwoot]

if you want AWD I see absolutely no reason at all to not get a Subaru Legacy GT

[ryangreg]

used lancer evo or an STI?

[wootwoot]

EVO/STI are not luxury.
I did think of a BETTER car though then the Subaru! Mazda 6 Speed!