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+--- Thread: Have any info on Audi A4's ? (/showthread.php?tid=1254)
- WRXtranceformed - 10-31-2004
It turns out this A4 is the 1.8T. So he might be getting some b00st in his blood.
- BLAIR - 10-31-2004
i want it for 4500 :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: PLEASEEEE
- .RJ - 06-27-2005
Back from the dead...... a thread on corner-carvers had me thinking a bit about an '01 A4. Looks like you can get one in pretty good shape, around 80k miles, 1.8t/Quattro for about $11k - the '01's apparently had some updates to the timing belt system and control arms and a bump in power to 170hp. Seems like a lot of car for the money
One example: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/car/79004369.html">http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/car/79004369.html</a><!-- m -->
Is the bump in power just a moot point? (i.e. you'll end up in the same place with a chip on an older or newer car?). Is the timing belt 'issues' of the older cars really something to worry about? I'm looking for a daily driver, so it doesnt need huge power. If I bought something like this I dont think it would get more than a chip, shocks and swaybars really.
- CaptainHenreh - 06-27-2005
I don't know much about the timing belt issues, save that I've heard of quite a few owners having their engines replaced by Audi (or not as is more often the case) due to timing belt 0wnage.
That's all I know. All anecdotal.
- .RJ - 06-27-2005
Well, from what I gather the 60k interval recommendation is not to be taken lightly. At 80k this should have already been done and I can ignore it - i'd surely not keep a car for long enough to worry about it changing it again
- ScottyB - 06-27-2005
.RJ Wrote:Well, from what I gather the 60k interval recommendation is not to be taken lightly.
this is very true. initially VAG had instituted timing belt changes at 110k miles! in fact, i have a VAG newsletter sitting on my desk that has information on a class action lawsuit regarding people who had catastrophic engine failure due to them waiting to change the t-belt until factory recommendation.
moral of the story - you're safe changing it between 60 and 80k. find a good euro shop, and have them inspect it, that will go a long ways towards helping you save some money. mine was inspected at 60k and i was told it looked flawless. for me, that means i can drive on it until i have the cash to change it, most likely at 70k.
in addition to the t-belt, make sure the water pump is changed out if it can be identified as having a plastic impeller. some of the plastic ones fail, while others last forever. either way, for peace of mind change it out to a metal one, they came into production later in the A4's life.
control arms are the only other big maintainance cost next to the t-belt/pump. they usually go anywhere from 80-100k. ECS tuning sells an upgraded control arm kit made by Mayhle with beefier arms. 200 bucks for each side i think, minus labor.
the difference between the 96-99.5's and the 00-02's is in the engine programming, throttle actuation, and head. early A4's had 150hp/155lb. ft., while newer versions had 170hp/166lb. ft. the power differences are simply marketing ploys...by starting the engine at a lower power level VAG could just pop in a new chip every couple years and stay competitive. they also didnt want to bite into V6 sales. older versions use drive by cable, not drive by wire like the newer ones. older ones also, for some odd reason, have larger ports in the heads that flow better, but its no big deal if you arent pushing the engine to over 300 horsepower. overall, like you stated, its a moot point regarding the horsepower differences in stock form since a chip will push every model of the 1.8T to the same power level, which is held back only by the size of the tiny stock jobbie. for the money, its hard to find more bang for the buck from an engine so choked from the factory.
if you do want to check one out, look out for the control arms and t-belt, of course. later models had more frequent coil pack failure as well. also take a gander at where the cat bolts up to the turbo....rarely the flange will develop a stress crack and snap off.
lemme know if you have any more questions. check out audiworld.com, audizine.com, and many replacement parts are available through ECStuning.com. thank you come again.
- .RJ - 06-27-2005
So what you're saying is I should look for a 98-99 and brace my wallet for new control arms and a timing belt and just plan on chipping the bitch?
- ScottyB - 06-27-2005
.RJ Wrote:So what you're saying is I should look for a 98-99 and brace my wallet for new control arms and a timing belt and just plan on chipping the bitch?
ah.....pretty much. but then again, thats the scenario for people who actually intend to own a car for more than 8 months at a time :lol:
- Mike - 06-27-2005
ryan prefers to dump money in to things in order to make them up-to-date, and then sell them.
- .RJ - 06-27-2005
Mike tells it like it is.
Fortunately (for my wallet and sanity), i'm getting really tired of it.
- Dragon - 06-27-2005
.RJ Wrote:Fortunately (for my wallet and sanity), i'm getting really tired of it.I call BS.
- ViPER1313 - 06-27-2005
I call BS as well.
- .RJ - 06-27-2005
Dont take this as me being done with cars, its just time to keep them for a little longer. Or dont put a bunch of work into them if i'm not going to keep them very long.
- ScottyB - 06-27-2005
![[Image: wOTgyNTYwNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]](http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wOTgyNTYwNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg)
- Dragon - 06-27-2005
.RJ Wrote:Dont take this as me being done with cars, its just time to keep them for a little longer. Or dont put a bunch of work into them if i'm not going to keep them very long.Gimme a call when one of them actually reaches a year birthday in your posession and I'll buy you a beer. Until then, I call BS.
- .RJ - 06-27-2005
I hate all of you