I have been considering to purchase an Audi A4 1.8T , second hand ofcourse from the years ranging from 1998 to 2000. Ofcourse I want the 1.8t for the mod potentials. (TURBO). but anyway I did a search on yahoo and checked out the prices and noticed that they run about 8,000 to the 12,000 dollar range.
I am just wondering what you guys think of them. as for reliability and craftsmanship and so forth.. I am not really even sure if I would go to far with mods .. may just up the boost a bit and add some rims and leave it at that .

 

Audi's are nice cars. I have heard of some reliability problems though. Here's a few forums to look at...

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zeroforum?id=26
and
http://www.audiworld.com

 

I was looking at the A4 as well. Ignition coil reliability is a known issue. Make sure that the one you buy is taken to the dealership to replace all of the coils under the recall, or has already been repaired. But for only $2000 (GIAC Chip, Diverter Valve, Cat Back Exhaust, and Electric Fan kit), you can have an additonal 80hp and 110 lb-ft of torque with that engine (Don't we Pro owners wish...)

 

I like audi's I think they're beautiful cars. I've also heard rumors about reliablity, and tranny issues mostly on modded cars. Guess it wouldn't matter too much if you weren't going to mod the hell out of it though.

 

Bruce, they are nice cars, and pretty reliable, but they are very hard to work on. They are quite cramped, not so on the 1.8T model, but in general. German engineering IS quite exclussive. They do things their way!

 

Does that engine lean over 15 degrees off vertical like the old ones? Man, I hated dealing with that. They are reliable and durable, though. My family had 3 5000s when I was growing up, and we put a bazillion miles on all of them. At least they went to an even number of cylinders. Just try walking into a parts store and asking for FIVE spark plugs. They think you're crazy!