[///MonsterNtheMaking]

I've been trolling some Audi forums as a good deal (i feel anyway) on a 2003 a4 1.8TQ came up locally; not sure about it as far as reliability/common issues they have. I'm leery about the audi forums because all they seem to do is complain about repairs and costs and nothing other than 1 sticky has been helpful. Just wanted to know if anyone here has thoughts/experience on them--i'm a little more trusting on this forum than others bc of being on here longer/seeing responses of intelligence. Any input is helpful and I appreciate it. Thanks

[SAM135iAM]

Hello,
I previously owned a 2001.5 Audi S4. I was the third owner. I bought it in 2008 with 81K miles. The first two months I had a new clutch put in, hydraulic hood prop rod replaced (the thing that keeps the hood up), and a new alternator. The alternator and hood prop were done by DFW Audi out of good faith (where I purchased the car) the clutch was on my own. After 110K I had the tensioner arm pulley replaced and upper and lower control arm bushing replace along with a CV axel. The clutch cost $1100 out the door at a local trans shop, the tensioner arm pulley was $400 out the door, and the suspension and CV axle were $700 out the door from a local shop. I drove the car until this past November and had put 148K miles on it. I absolutely loved the Audi. I miss it and still don't feel the soul in my 2011 BMW 135 like I did my Audi. Everything about that car worked wonderfully and my experience with the dealer was great! Audi's are just like any other German car, you always take a risk with maintenance and cost, but they just seem to always leave you with smile...at least my Audi did. About the B6 1.8 A4 though, I have had no experience with or heard much on them. I can tell you that Audi interiors are wonderful and durable. Some of the best on the market IMO. Good luck with it, I hope I shined a little light on the matter for you.

[nygiants007]

Hey man - I had a 2001 A4 1.8TQ for a year before I traded it in for my first e90 (second best decision I made in my life so far, first best decision I made was recently trading in my e90 for a newer e92! )

Anyway - back to the Audi...within my 1 year of ownership (I was the second owner), it was in the shop 3 times. First 2 experiences related to the auto steptronic tranny - would not shift up or down, quoted me a couple grand to fix. 3rd time, I had an oil leak in the driveway, so I took it in to get checked out. Turned out I had a huge crack in my oil tank, and there was oil everywhere. Turbo began sounding a little odd around this time too. Traded it in shortly-thereafter.

My stomach is starting to turn just thinking about my ownership with that car. I couldn't wait to get rid of it. And I've had nothing but great experiences with my e90 and e92.

My only recommendation is to get the car fully inspected before buying (something I failed to do), and buy at your own risk. Used cars are always a gamble, especially if you aren't looking at any newer, certified pre owned audis.

[Crypty]

Sorry, haven't been around the audi forums or anything. I did just buy an 05 A4 though and can offer you this advice: Make sure its an A4Q because I accidentally bought a FWD A4. Go ahead, laugh it up!

[SAM135iAM]

Originally Posted by Crypty

Sorry, haven't been around the audi forums or anything. I did just buy an 05 A4 though and can offer you this advice: Make sure its an A4Q because I accidentally bought a FWD A4. Go ahead, laugh it up!

Did you think the entire time you were test driving and looking at the car that it was quattro? Did you not look under the hood to see the placement of the engine? I guess you can't take it back can you... buying a FWD Audi is just like buying a regular VW. That really sucks man. I am laughing a little bit, not at you, just about the situation. How did that happen!?

[vwong]

Originally Posted by s4sammy

Did you think the entire time you were test driving and looking at the car that it was quattro? Did you not look under the hood to see the placement of the engine? I guess you can't take it back can you... buying a FWD Audi is just like buying a regular VW. That really sucks man. I am laughing a little bit, not at you, just about the situation. How did that happen!?

I guess you aren't familiar with Audis. Their FWD version still has the engine mounted longitudinally. Other than the badges, the only thing to look is at the rear under the car...to see if there's a rear differential and the drive shafts.

[Crypty]

Originally Posted by s4sammy

Did you think the entire time you were test driving and looking at the car that it was quattro? Did you not look under the hood to see the placement of the engine? I guess you can't take it back can you... buying a FWD Audi is just like buying a regular VW. That really sucks man. I am laughing a little bit, not at you, just about the situation. How did that happen!?

I was actually looking for a 325/330xi but they were a bit too expensive so I began looking at a4s which I know nothing about. I didn't do my homework and had no idea there was a FWD version until I had already bought it and noticed the missing quattro badge! It was a cheap beater car primarily for commute and keeping miles off the M. Besides the fact that it was a huge buzzkill when I realized the mistake, it get's the job done for me and I have a funny story to tell.

[SAM135iAM]

Originally Posted by Crypty

I was actually looking for a 325/330xi but they were a bit too expensive so I began looking at a4s which I know nothing about. I didn't do my homework and had no idea there was a FWD version until I had already bought it and noticed the missing quattro badge! It was a cheap beater car primarily for commute and keeping miles off the M. Besides the fact that it was a huge buzzkill when I realized the mistake, it get's the job done for me and I have a funny story to tell.

Lol! That is a good story! It's still and Audi though! Enjoy it!

[SAM135iAM]

Originally Posted by vwong

I guess you aren't familiar with Audis. Their FWD version still has the engine mounted longitudinally. Other than the badges, the only thing to look is at the rear under the car...to see if there's a rear differential and the drive shafts.

No, I'm not familiar with any front wheel drive Audi's. Just the B5 S4 I had before my 135. I just assumed it would be like the jetta or passat with the horizontally positioned engine. I learn something new every day!

[vwong]

Originally Posted by s4sammy

No, I'm not familiar with any front wheel drive Audi's. Just the B5 S4 I had before my 135. I just assumed it would be like the jetta or passat with the horizontally positioned engine. I learn something new every day!

Actually, the engine in the Passat (the older one) is also mounted longitudinally. It's the Jetta, Golf, A3, and TT that have the engine mounted transversely.

[3point0]

wrt Audi advice, I had a 2000 V8 powered A6 that I bought in 2008 with 96000 kms (about 58K miles) within a week, a fog-light died ($7 bulb, no big deal) then one of the HIDs died ($200 bulb, $500 ballast, then had to replace the other side bulb as they were diff colours - luckily got it all done as warranty) other than that nothing ever went wrong with it. I was relatively active on the local audi forum and met a bunch of guys who had pretty good reliability records. A friend of mine has a 2002 A6 v6 (non-turbo) and that thing is a POS, he has it in the shop at least twice a year for $3000+ repairs that don't seem to fix anything.

As a side note, the V8 in my A6 drank regular and I averaged 19mpg fuel economy over the length of my ownership. The 1.8T drinks premium and posts the same kind of numbers so will cost you more to drive with less power. That was the reason why I went with the 300Hp V8, that and the widebody, good luck in your search

[pdr1269]

Junk! Don't do it.

[querhoch]

I was relatively active on the local audi forum and met a bunch of guys who had pretty good reliability records. A friend of mine has a 2002 A6 v6 (non-turbo) and that thing is a POS, he has it in the shop at least twice a year for $3000+ repairs that don't seem to fix anything.

[///MonsterNtheMaking]

hmm...i appreciate the responses. I guess its similar results here as on the audi forums in the sense that everyone seems to chase problems throughout the car. Maybe the deal is not as lucrative as i originally thought. Thanks for the input/help everyone.

[b1aze]

My brother owns a B7 A4 2.0 and he likes it a lot. It is a little bland for me, but hes put some money into it with motor upgrades/tuning, suspension+wheels+tires, exterior mods, etc and he like it. He was however amazed at the 135 we both test drove that ultimately made my decision for me between a 335 and a 135.

Like it was said above, its still a german car. They are still expensive to maintain but are great cars.

[cindyjohn]

I've been trolling some Audi forums as a good deal