Considering changing my petrol A4 and a local dealer has a very nice A4 Avant 2.5 Tdi Quattro. It's 3 years old with 90k miles and has a fully stamped up Audi Service History. Anyone got any experience with this model especially regarding the reliability of the quattro set-up?? Any help much appreciated..
Jimmy
|
Not actually owned a quattro myself but covered many miles as a passenger in various conditions in a friend's T-reg A4 Avant 2.5 quattro (wonder if the car you're looking at is his old one?! - silver). Most memorable trip was a serious blast over the North Yorks moors leading (and leaving) a 911 - honestly.
Marvellous car - comfy and quick. As far as I remember, he had no probs with the transmission and he did use the car to full capacity in terms of type of driving and indeed loads. Tyre wear was minimal due to distinct lack of wheelspin.
You hardly hear the engine from inside the car apart from usual initial diesel clatter start-up from cold, and from outside, that 6-cylinder rumble is so right!
Although 2 cylinders and 2-wheel-drive less, my impressions of that car helped convince me to go for my current Toledo TDi.
|
|
My son had a 2.8 A4 petrol quattro from new, which held the road extremely well, but at the expense of tyres, - where he was lucky to get 10 to 12k out of a set. The engine burnt oil at 1 litre per 1000 miles, and by 32k miles was knocking so badly, he sold it to avoid major problems.Needless to say he will not be buying another VAG product, and has moved on to his 3rd BMW, none of which has burnt any oil between services and been totally reliable
|
|
|
I have never owned one either, but my brother used to have one, a T plate too. I agree with RB, it is a fantastic car in my opinion. It has a sound engine, with torque that will pull a house down, yet still return a good MPG.
There was a few problems with the ECU, but this was the only problem that he had, and was fixed under warranty.
I think the only problem with buying one of these is the high price you will have to pay for one. But I suppose it is all relative because when (if) you come to sell it a few years on, you will not lose a great deal. A very nice looking car (avant looks better than the saloon, in my opinion) a good solid interior with no squeaks and rattles and an excellent engine.
You will enjoy it if you do buy it!
Good Luck.
|
There is a known problem with cyslinder heads on early 2.5TDI engines.. up to '98 I think. Failure at 90-100k miles.. I recall. Can't remember details , however, sorry.
madf
|
|
|
|
|
This model can be prone to cambelt failure.
See recent thread on this site;
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=i&t=83...3
|
|
|
jim
I have the A4 Avant 1.8T Quattro, it's the best car i've ever had and at 3 years old it's still like new, I was worried during the first 10k of ownership because i had to top up the oil, something i never did with the last 3 jap cars i've had,but after the first service the oil level has never dropped.(VAG use a special factory oil for bedding in the engine).
Also when moving to a German car i had a concern about the reliability, but in 3years only a headlight bulb and window switch have needed to be replaced, at no cost to me.
Regarding moving to the Quattro drive you will never regret it, tyre wear is not a problem but you will lose 3mpg with the extra weight and transmission losses, wheel spin? never had it and my model has no traction control, you will get transmission shunt if you lift the clutch too quick, but reading a top gear roadtest on a M3 surprisingly that has it too, perhaps its the reardrive aspect.
The old 2.5 diesel Quattro i drove back to back with the 1.8T its pick up was slow compared to the petrol version but the old 2.5 was only around 150bhp, the latest version is 180bhp but the car is heavier, diesel consumption on a run can reach 40 around town 30 approx
|
Thanks for the feedback guys. Re: the cambelt issue I'm going to budget to replace as a precaution and I've been advised to check that the vehicle was recalled for remedial action regarding cylinder head issues.
Now to sweet talk the bank manager (and wife)....
Cheers,
Jimmy
|
|
|
|
