Is it risky to own an old Audi A4 ?

[Lancashirelad]

I've had 2 Audis in the UK a 2000 A6 2.4 petrol V6 saloon auto and more recently, a 1998 A4 Avant (estate) 2.5TDi V6 auto.

I miss the diesel A4, it was a lovely car but did cost a fortune in auto gearbox (tiptronic) repairs.

I understand the later steptronic is even more prone to trouble.

Well built, quality, safe cars (lots of air bags). I'd say go for it, but then immediately take it to an auto gearbox specialist and have the box fully serviced. New ATF, filters changed, etc.

[WarpSpeed]

My Audi almost 12 years old. I've only replaced some heat stressed rubber bushes and uprated the dampers with a set of Bilsteins.

No other issues. Drives beautifully. Recently remapped to around 260 BHP and only 18,000km (documented with full service history) from new. No problem with servicing or parts availability. Much more fun than a hatch back box. Maybe more risky ? Dunno but I think it is worth it every time I get inside.

Nice. I like your 2002 even more.

Yeah actually I was going to mention that last night but was too tired.

[EvilDrSomkid]

I've had 2 Audis in the UK a 2000 A6 2.4 petrol V6 saloon auto and more recently, a 1998 A4 Avant (estate) 2.5TDi V6 auto.

I miss the diesel A4, it was a lovely car but did cost a fortune in auto gearbox (tiptronic) repairs.

I understand the later steptronic is even more prone to trouble.

Well built, quality, safe cars (lots of air bags). I'd say go for it, but then immediately take it to an auto gearbox specialist and have the box fully serviced. New ATF, filters changed, etc.

This is not a criticism of you, but:

The 2.5 TDI V6 is probably the worst engine Audi has ever made. It is famous for eating its cams, being too heavy for its power output, difficulty to work on and sooting up the EGR. On the other hand, the 1.9TDI was one of their best TDIs. Are you sure it was not a Multitronic? Those gearboxes are terrible. They are really a type of CVT box.

[technologybytes]

I found this thread whilst looking for info on the price (value) of an older Audi in Thailand, I appreciate that this thread is quite old now.

Buying any older used car is always a bit risky, in that it's rare to find any older used car that does not immediately need money spending on it to make it run 100% as it should, However, if you are careful you can get a really good deal in Thailand precisely because the Thai's do not like to buy older European cars.

A good and knowledgeable mechanic is a must if you are to run an older car. I live in Chiang Mai and I'm lucky that I know two mechanics that are excellent at dealing with older European cars. If I was not confident of being able to use mechanics here then I'd be better running a new Japanese car, which I did for many years here, changing every 2 years.

If you get a good older Audi, BMW, Volvo or Mercedes then they can be cheap to buy and run and are much more satisfying to drive than a City, Vios, Jazz or whatever you would get on a budget if looking at new cars.

However, and this is important, it comes down to the individual car and not the brand/model. If you buy a bad car then it can be a nightmare.

When looking for a used car you are looking for signs that it's been maintained well throughout its life and treated properly. Simple things like tyres tell a lot about a car, if it has good quality tires that are in good shape then thats a good start, if it has overly worn or cheap tires then you can be fairly sure that it has not been maintained properly, likewise with brakes and other obvious things.

Choose well and even a 10 year old european car can give many more years of reliable and economic motoring, especially if it has a quality LPG system fitted.. however many buyers like to look for unmodified and original spec cars which means that LPG can actually reduce the value of a used car.

For the record, I have owned BMW, Volvo and Mercedes cars myself in Thailand and I'm looking at a Audi as a additional car. My main daily car is a Volvo which is great, though I'll admit Audi and BMW are more of a "drivers car".

[macinc]

Well you are right it is cheap which raises the question why? One option would be to have it inspected.

It does seem that it is the perception in Thailand that Audi are expensive to maintain. True or not.......I don't know?

I few weeks ago I was looking for an old S4 or S6 circa late 90's and was given the same information that an Audi is expensive to maintain (not just an old one) . This came from someone in Bangkok who is in the motor trade. I was told much better to look for a BMW 5 series. This is the exact opposite to Europe where Audi maintenance costs are lower than BMW or Benz although not significantly. I can only suppose that this is something peculiar to Thailand?

[Wong!]

Well you are right it is cheap which raises the question why? One option would be to have it inspected.

It does seem that it is the perception in Thailand that Audi are expensive to maintain. True or not.......I don't know?

I few weeks ago I was looking for an old S4 or S6 circa late 90's and was given the same information that an Audi is expensive to maintain (not just an old one) . This came from someone in Bangkok who is in the motor trade. I was told much better to look for a BMW 5 series. This is the exact opposite to Europe where Audi maintenance costs are lower than BMW or Benz although not significantly. I can only suppose that this is something peculiar to Thailand?

More a case of Thai 'experts' knowing bugger all about anything.

[mortenaa]

Well you are right it is cheap which raises the question why? One option would be to have it inspected.

It does seem that it is the perception in Thailand that Audi are expensive to maintain. True or not.......I don't know?

I few weeks ago I was looking for an old S4 or S6 circa late 90's and was given the same information that an Audi is expensive to maintain (not just an old one) . This came from someone in Bangkok who is in the motor trade. I was told much better to look for a BMW 5 series. This is the exact opposite to Europe where Audi maintenance costs are lower than BMW or Benz although not significantly. I can only suppose that this is something peculiar to Thailand?

The reason is simple. BMW, Mercedes and Volvo has dealerships and factories here, VAG/Audi does not. I like Audis, but in Thailand I would go for BMW.

[wprime]

I bought a 1996 A6 in Thailand several years ago with 124,000km, it's got 250,000km on the clock now and it's still as fast and reliable as when I bought it.

Like any car, if you don't maintain it well things will break, the Audis just cost more to repair when they do break.

Pair this with typical Thai maintenance and it's totally understandable why your boss thinks Audis are costly to maintain, but as long as you take care of it, it should be a perfectly reliable car.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Well you are right it is cheap which raises the question why? One option would be to have it inspected.

It does seem that it is the perception in Thailand that Audi are expensive to maintain. True or not.......I don't know?

I few weeks ago I was looking for an old S4 or S6 circa late 90's and was given the same information that an Audi is expensive to maintain (not just an old one) . This came from someone in Bangkok who is in the motor trade. I was told much better to look for a BMW 5 series. This is the exact opposite to Europe where Audi maintenance costs are lower than BMW or Benz although not significantly. I can only suppose that this is something peculiar to Thailand?

When it comes to the S4 and S6 parts are more expensive because they are rare cars in general, more so in Thailand. A lot of parts can be found here for the A series, but S is something else. Most guys who have an S4/S6 know where to get the special parts. They do suck fuel. Avg. 7km/L. It is an 1800kg car, 4wd, 260hp and auto trans.

The 5 cylinder turbo engine is super reliable mechanically. Maintenance is paramount. Sensors do need to be replaced after some years, of course.

The autobox is the weak point. If it breaks, depending on what it is, it can be difficult. Torque converter is no issue, can easily be repaired. Valvebody usually just needs a clean up. However, replace the autobox oil very 60k kms and treat it well, it will be good. Don't launch the car.

The S6 was never sold with the manual trans here. I know a few guys who have converted theirs to manual. A big and expensive undertaking as most parts, like the trans have to be imported. However, if you are so inclined, an S6 manual can handle up to 600hp easily.

My wife and I love our S6. The seats are so comfy and it just moves along with confidence. Not to mention safe. Been hit by a 10 wheel truck already in our previous S6.

[watcharacters]

You would need to post more details, mileage, fuel type, history, you can email the seller and get the chassis number, pop into audi and see what history it has had i would imagine the first 3 years would have been at an audi dealership somewhere in the world, you could also offer to have it inspected at audi at your cost.

They are expensive to fix anywhere its pants down, especially in thailand where there are limited service specialists.

.

Do the dealers have a shared service network in Thailand?

[thailampang2012]

I love AUDI...but...can be expensive to repair....at least was in the US. This 98's beauty I had to sell for $1500 in 2006 because I had to rebuild the engine, replace the heater system, and the roof top motor.....Broke all at the same time...

I think is a question of love...and luck.... I still missing "him" very much....

[MadMac]

I had old Audi 80, 100, 2x Coupe, back in Germany. Where you're at the source. It's VW after all. In Asia, forget it. The asian VW is Toyota and the Audi is Honda. Or vice versa as you like it. If you like to screw on old cars, get one of these, with cheap spares. Or real classics.

But the 2002 A4 looks cool.

[funcat]

I love Audi,as well as all German cars...but here it's only good as a 'second car',not a primary transportation.That's only,because if something gets wrong,it takes more time to get it back on the road...and more costly as well.

...but if you have one,you can really enjoy the ride...not like in those Jap 'tin cans'....