audi a4 2004 100k on it, mint condition

[rob187jj]

silver audi 2004 1.8t quattro. mint all around, 100k on it, comes with a set of extra rims/tires with 90% tread.
has warranty for another 25k from dealer. all audi serviced.
thoughts, opinions on price? its my brothers close friend selling the car.

**UPDATE:** thanks for the help RFD, bought the car!

[BAM]

Seems like a competitive price to me. I haven't checked Autotrader though. If I recall the residual for a 4 year 25k per year lease was like 15k

[dshiu]

seems pretty good to me

even a civic with that mileage and year would cost abt 8-10k

[redbulldrinker]

Why in every thread in this group does someone always mention civics or corollas?

Like there are more than those 2 extremely dull but reliable cars on the market? What does the price of a civic have to do with an A4?

Really makes this group almost pointless, maybe RFD could start a specific thread for those cars. It looks like there would be plenty of support

[rob187jj]

i peeked around autotrader and there were afew around the same price but with more km/not as clean/no extra tires.

[VivienM]

Why in every thread in this group does someone always mention civics or corollas?

It's the RFD Way: stick with civic and corolla. Doesn't matter what your needs are, what your income/budget are, etc. Civic and Corolla are always the answer. :)

[VivienM]

silver audi 2004 1.8t quattro. mint all around, 100k on it, comes with a set of extra rims/tires with 90% tread. i can get it for $13,000 or $12,500.
has warranty for another 25k from dealer. all audi serviced.
thoughts, opinions on price?

When does it need its timing belt changed? Soonish, no?

[rob187jj]

the timing belt im not really sure about. anyone have any insight on maintenance for audis? im not too familiar with them and google seems to send me in a few different directions.

thanks

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

That generation of the VW/Audi 1.8T is the best engine ever.

- VW/Audi either misprinted the timing belt change interval in the service manual, or used defective timing belts that didn't last nearly as long as they were supposed to. The result is catastrophic destruction of the engine. Class action lawsuit here:

http://www.timingbeltsettlement.com/

If you were to buy the car, you would want to change the timing belt and water pump right away. The water pump impellers are also a big fail point on them, like a lot of other German cars of this era.

- VW apparently used defective coilpacks on the earlier engines resulting in multiple failures and expensive repairs. There was eventually a recall on this at some point after a class action lawsuit was launched:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/vw_coils.html

I think they've fixed this by the time the B6 rolled around, so you're probably OK.

- VW Audi either didn't design the engine correctly, or specified incorrect oil weights in their service manual, and the 1.8T engine suffers from an oil sludging issue which results in catastrophic destruction of the engine. Class action lawsuit here:

http://www.shulaw.com/unfair/vw-audi.asp

You must be very wary that oil changes on this vehicle have been done correctly and ONLY with VW/Audi specified synthetic oil.

You didn't say if it was manual or auto. If it's an auto you're looking at a transmission fluid change soon. At the beginning Audi told people the transmission fluid didn't need to be changed, even though BMW and Porsche, who used the exact same ZF transmissions, did have a change interval. Like the timing belt thing, they eventually changed it after everyone's transmissions blew up. That was for the B5 though, by the time the B6 and the new 6 sp auto rolled around they should have it all sorted out now.

So yeah, I'd say go ahead and buy it. :lol:

[zivan56]

2004 seems to be a pretty good year for the A4 in terms of reliability....2003 and earlier were time bombs. You can probably expect random things to break, after all most European cars seem to suffer from these problems. However, 2004 and later don't have any major issues from what I have seen.

[rob187jj]

thanks for the great info. yea its an automatic. so timing belt/water pump need to be replaced right away? and all service/oil changes were done at an audi dealership.

[Emancipated]

Timing belt change for a Trubo 1.8 or 2.0 is around 100km/h so you're about due for one so consider that. Still a good deal if you had planned on buying a $20k econobox car. I think Audis require premium gas as well.

[rob187jj]

i know about the premium gas part, but going from a 3.8L v6 supercharged to 1.8 turbo sounds amazing to me. im already putting in premium gas and i feel like im committing a sin every time i fill up

knock on wood though, my car at 230km is still running pretty strong considering how much abuse its been put through.

this audi is definitely a step down in torque but also a great savings in gas. i felt like i had to pounce at every single traffic light in my car, i want to relax a bit..lol

[notanexpert]

Timing belt change for a Trubo 1.8 or 2.0 is around 100km/h ...

I've done a couple of tming belt changes on my cars, but I can't for the life of me imagine doing one at 100km/h !:cheesygri

[VivienM]

i know about the premium gas part, but going from a 3.8L v6 supercharged to 1.8 turbo sounds amazing to me. im already putting in premium gas and i feel like im committing a sin every time i fill up

knock on wood though, my car at 230km is still running pretty strong considering how much abuse its been put through.

this audi is definitely a step down in torque but also a great savings in gas. i felt like i had to pounce at every single traffic light in my car, i want to relax a bit..lol

Great savings in gas? In the city, maybe, but you should look up the actual data... especially since this would be an older Audi without direct injection and with a 4/5 speed transmission.

I assume your 3.8L supercharged is some form of GM W body?

[rob187jj]

i have a 2000 grand prix GTP supercharged

i get 13.3L/100km on average

from what ive read about the 1.8t, i should expect anywhere from 9-11L/100km depending on my driving habits.

the gp is pretty fuel efficient on the hwy considering its size/weight

[ES_Revenge]

It's the RFD Way: stick with civic and corolla. Doesn't matter what your needs are, what your income/budget are, etc. Civic and Corolla are always the answer. :)

:lol: LMAO

First rule of RFD MVA subforum:
"Stick with a Civic, Corolla" :lol:

There should be a sticky for this!

[CaptSmethwick]

The blackbook on this car is about $11.4k. I realize that's a wholesale price but if there are no options above base and/or the water pump/timing belt hasn't yet been changed, this price is a fair deal but not the steal o' the century.

Now, if it has the premium package or if the timing belt has already been changed, it'd be a price worth pouncing on...

[ES_Revenge]

i have a 2000 grand prix GTP supercharged

i get 13.3L/100km on average

from what ive read about the 1.8t, i should expect anywhere from 9-11L/100km depending on my driving habits.

the gp is pretty fuel efficient on the hwy considering its size/weight
Ha I thought it was obvious you had a GTP from your av ;)

While you may get better economy on the 1.8T I'm sure you will miss some of the power from the L67 motor. Especialy if you had any mods on that engine, like a [supercharger] smaller pulley...

It would be good if the 1.8T in question were chipped, anyway. Being an auto kinda sucks but you're not really going to notice a big difference from the GTPs slushbox.

As for the car being "mint", I would have to say that's impossible given it's 4-6 years old (depending on the in-service date) and has 100,000km. I really hate the term mint when it comes to used cars. It's a term used by used car salespeople, which is often grossly misleading. Technically no used car is really mint in any actuality, nevermind one that's as old and been driven as far as this one. To say it's in very good or excellent condition is fine but "mint"? Leave that one to Shady Guy Used Car Sales, where every car is "mint" and "loaded" and "accident free" :lol:

As for the price I dunno. You want to get a good deal as it's a friend that's selling you the car but at the same time you don't want to give the guy way less than it's worth (unless he doesn't mind selling it like that). As noted with the timing belt by others, the thing about a car with about 100,000km on it is that it's typically a magic number for various services. If these have not been performed prior to the purchase, then be prepared to spend money on those items as well.

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

Well, if you're looking for used cars you don't really want one that's chipped, since it means the previous owner probably drove the crap out of it. The K03 turbos on them are not the strongest and don't last long under higher-than-OEM boost levels.

Honestly OP if there's nothing wrong with your current car you should just stay with it. Supercharged W-bodies are great reliable cars that are undervalued on the market. You don't really want to trade it for a German heap that's overvalued on the market because VAG attracts stupid people. Give it another year or so and some much nicer GM/Ford cars should be coming into your price range.

[weedb0y]

Well, if you're looking for used cars you don't really want one that's chipped, since it means the previous owner probably drove the crap out of it. The K03 turbos on them are not the strongest and don't last long under higher-than-OEM boost levels.

Honestly OP if there's nothing wrong with your current car you should just stay with it. Supercharged W-bodies are great reliable cars that are undervalued on the market. You don't really want to trade it for a German heap that's overvalued on the market because VAG attracts stupid people. Give it another year or so and some much nicer GM/Ford cars should be coming into your price range.

Curious to learn more about your recommended GM/Ford cars that should be coming in this price range?

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

Just off the top of my head, Cobalt SS/TC, Calibre SRT-4, one of the V8 W-bodies (Impala SS/GP GXP/Buick Super), maybe even a V6 G8 or Camaro if you're willing to stretch a bit. On the Ford side I do like the newer Mustangs and the Fusion and Taurus are both pretty much the best cars in their segment.

I mean the Dodge Caliber isn't my favorite car in the world or anything but I would take it (and a lot of other cars) over a 1.8T Audi. :lol:

[ES_Revenge]

Well, if you're looking for used cars you don't really want one that's chipped, since it means the previous owner probably drove the crap out of it. The K03 turbos on them are not the strongest and don't last long under higher-than-OEM boost levels.
I never heard of this phenomenon. Other problems with the 1.8T sure--coilpacks, oil sludging, etc. sure, but problems with the turbo upon chipping? That's news to me, and probably to the thousands of other people chipping not only their 1.8T but their 2.0Ts (which also use K03s) as well, all with no turbo-specific issues.

As for chipped = drove the crap out of, I'm not sure I can agree there. If you look on the forums, a lot of those people take excellent car of their cars. Perhaps they may be driving the engine a bit harder, particularly from the increased boost, but it's probably more likely that a non-chipped "regular owner" abused and/or neglected any given car than an enthusaist.

I do agree that sticking with the current car is a good option, though if the OP is thinking it's time for a different car, you won't really be able to talk him out of it.

Just off the top of my head, Cobalt SS/TC, Calibre SRT-4,
Oh c'mon the Caliber SRT4? I seriously doubt he would be interested in that (not many people are I'll tell you that much). Big numbers but a big letdown as well. Also both it and the awesome-performing Cobalt SS TC aren't really in the same segment. Going to a boy-racer performance sport compact is probably not on the OPs mind. It may be, but I doubt it.

Though the A4 is not as big as the GTP, it's still along similar lines and it's a [entry level] luxury sedan, not an in-your-face compact.

one of the V8 W-bodies (Impala SS/GP GXP/Buick Super)
I'm not sure that anyone really wants these cars. Overpowered, over-engined FWD cars that are underacheivers to begin with? You may argue that the GTP is FWD, etc. but I dunno it's still different. The last generation W was a crapshoot IMO. They put a V8 in there just for the sake of it being a V8. Very little forethought and very little reason to do this.

maybe even a V6 G8 or Camaro if you're willing to stretch a bit.
You'd have to stretch it a bit alright. These cars will drop in value like rocks, sure; but I doubt you will find one for $10k next year.

On the Ford side I do like the newer Mustangs and the Fusion and Taurus are both pretty much the best cars in their segment.
Mustang is always a winner since 05+, I would second that recommend. Fusion and Taurus I wouldn't call best in their segment but the Fusion is alright I guess.

I mean the Dodge Caliber isn't my favorite car in the world or anything but I would take it (and a lot of other cars) over a 1.8T Audi. :lol:
Oh come on now you don't mean that :lol:

If anything I would probably recommend a step up to a B7 A4 2.0T, but I think that is clearly outside the price range too. Even an 05.5 with high kms would probably still be at least $15k?

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

I never heard of this phenomenon. Other problems with the 1.8T sure--coilpacks, oil sludging, etc. sure, but problems with the turbo upon chipping? That's news to me, and probably to the thousands of other people chipping not only their 1.8T but their 2.0Ts (which also use K03s) as well, all with no turbo-specific issues.


It's not that they are badly built or anything but they are just small, for a reason, and every clown who has one automatically wants to cram at much boost as they possibly can through them. The K04 is a popular upgrade because so many people destroy their K03s through improper modification.

Oh come on now you don't mean that


Yeah. Now that I think about it, I take it back. The Caliber SRT-4 is in fact my favorite car in the world. Look at this SRT-4 door panel.

http://preview.shareapic.net/preview5/016167619.jpg (http://www.shareapic.net/content.php?id=16167619&owner=standardpaperclips)

The door lock nub thing just protrudes through a hole in the panel that someone just made with a hand drill - There isn't even any TRIM around the hole!

As someone who doesn't care about interior materials, this is the kind of value conscious 15-year-old-J-Body engineering I can get behind. You really can't beat a brand new 286hp car for $16kUSD. (http://jalopnik.com/5118339/carmax-285-hp-dodge-caliber-srt4-for-16769-10k-off-msrp)

[ES_Revenge]

Yeah. Now that I think about it, I take it back. The Caliber SRT-4 is in fact my favorite car in the world. Look at this SRT-4 door panel.

The door lock nub thing just protrudes through a hole in the panel that someone just made with a hand drill - There isn't even any TRIM around the hole!
ROFL!

As someone who doesn't care about interior materials, this is the kind of value conscious 15-year-old-J-Body engineering I can get behind.
Yeah but the J-bodies were never that bad, well at least not before maybe 2001 or so when the interiors started going downhill big time...

You really can't beat a brand new 286hp car for $16kUSD. (http://jalopnik.com/5118339/carmax-285-hp-dodge-caliber-srt4-for-16769-10k-off-msrp)
Yeah but try to find that price in Canada... And low 6s and mid 14s for 285hp? Not overly impressive either. (Which is why I said big numbers and big letdown...)

The Cobalt SS TC, now that car I have no objections to buying (other than in this thread it doesn't seem to be what the OP is looking for), but the Caliber? Man that's a huge mistake that car.

[rob187jj]

thanks to everyone for the feedback, opinions and thoughts!