So I'm considering a 1997 A4 1.8T Quattro...

[Manaz]

But I'm in Sydney, and the car is in Adelaide:

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private-results.aspx?Ntk=CarRego&Ntt=5817710&rego=5817710&D=5817710

Now, 250,000kms concerns me a little - if the car has been looked after, should it?

Is there anyone in Adelaide I could trust to have a look at the car and give me their opinion?

[BL33SU]

this guy bought my old k03 turbo..

it was neva boosted

[Manaz]

So you'd avoid it then?

[h100vw]

You are looking at a secondhand cars, things fail on new cars, so it wouldn't worry me that it has done a few Ks. In the UK/Europe plenty of these do 250000miles without incident.

He doesn't mention having the timing belt changed, so I'd want to know about that. Otherwise it looks pretty reasonable.

The exhaust isn't to my taste and the rear passenger door looks like it has been painted in the side photo.

It's in the next burb to where I live but I can't promise I'll be able to look at it. Ask where he had the work done and if it's had a timing belt. If you are still interested I try and get over there.

Gavin

[brad]

Weren't you buying an R32? Or was that another OCAU person?

[Bora Sport]

Quote

'Parts fitted or replaced recently include: Front suspension components, timing belt, clutch, turbo, new
tyres, bypass valve, belt tensioner & air conditioner pipes and filter"!!!!.

[h100vw]

Quote

'Parts fitted or replaced recently include: Front suspension components, timing belt, clutch, turbo, new
tyres, bypass valve, belt tensioner & air conditioner pipes and filter"!!!!.

New glasses required, thanks geezer.

Gavin

[SoVeReIgN]

lol @ buying ray's old turbo.

[Manaz]

Weren't you buying an R32? Or was that another OCAU person?

I was, but the job that it went through fell through. Until another such opportunity presents itself, I need to find an alternative car.

All that said, there are plenty of other A4 1.8T Quattro's around, so I'll likely give this one a miss.

[brad]

I was, but the job that it went through fell through. Until another such opportunity presents itself, I need to find an alternative car.

All that said, there are plenty of other A4 1.8T Quattro's around, so I'll likely give this one a miss.

If you are just after an interim car then have a think about a basic A3 FWD. Cheap as chips once you get through to the owners that they are "dreamin'". For the same $$$ as an A4 1.8T you'll get a much newer A3 with less maintenance issues.

[Manaz]

If you are just after an interim car then have a think about a basic A3 FWD. Cheap as chips once you get through to the owners that they are "dreamin'". For the same $$$ as an A4 1.8T you'll get a much newer A3 with less maintenance issues.

Unfortunately the car needs to be a 4 door for a variety of reasons.

How do the 2.6L V6s compare to the 1.8Ts?

[brad]

Unfortunately the car needs to be a 4 door for a variety of reasons.

How do the 2.6L V6s compare to the 1.8Ts?

There are 4 door A3s...... but the other option might be a Passat or a Bora.

I know almost nothing about the V6s. I've never had a high regard for European V6 or automatic because over in Europe the majority of sales are 4cyl & manual, so my theory is that that's where all the development money goes. It's a simpletons view of the world

What car have you got these days? Still the '02 RX Lib? I went from my '98 Lib RX (the silver one with the worklog by bratley at OCAU) and my wife gave me her '98 Mk3.5 Golf Cabrio and the Golf kacked all over the Lib for performance & fun. Cabrio has now been traded in on a Skoda 1.8T which is less fun but way more refined (and powerful). I'm really happy I shifted away from Subaru.

[Manaz]

Yeah, I've seen a few 4-door A3s now I've had a look, I'll see what's around.

We traded the MY02 Liberty in for an MY05 Outback (in auto so my wife could drive it). I've been driving a '97 Astra to and from the station, but with a change of jobs, I need a new car now.

Boras are something else I'm looking at, 4Motions in particular.

[BL33SU]

take a look at this A4..

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/AUDI/A4/details.aspx?Cr=5&State=New%20South%20Wales&R=6002082&state_id=80&PriceMin=7500&__N=4294967194+80+834+285+257+463+408+4294967178&silo=1003&distance=25&__Ns=pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_Int32|1||pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1||pCar_LastModifiedDate_DateTime|1&trecs=23&__Nne=20&seot=0&PriceMax=10000&__sid=118DC0525A40&Model=A4&Make=AUDI

mint condition

[Manaz]

Thanks 1DUB2C, but I'd be after an AWD model if I got one...