Opinions pleas on an allroad purchase

[gbjoshe]

So these are hard to come by where i live and ive seen two posted up in the last couple days.
Both look super clean!!
Both are 2.7t

1st one is a 2001 with 160k $4900 color is black
2nd 2003 with 100k $7990 color is like a burgundy red

I here that all allroads are widebody but why are the grills the same as the pre facelift? Im going to test drive at least one if not both soon and i know to make sure the bags are good and working properly but anyone have anything else that might be problematic with these

I already have a 2.7 so i know what to look out for engine wise but any other info would be great. I just have a perfecty working a6 right now and i dont want to end up fucking myself over if i leave it for a problematic allroad ya know

Thanks for any opinions

[Scotty@Advanced]

So these are hard to come by where i live and ive seen two posted up in the last couple days.
Both look super clean!!
Both are 2.7t

1st one is a 2001 with 160k $4900 color is black
2nd 2003 with 100k $7990 color is like a burgundy red

I here that all allroads are widebody but why are the grills the same as the pre facelift? Im going to test drive at least one if not both soon and i know to make sure the bags are good and working properly but anyone have anything else that might be problematic with these

I already have a 2.7 so i know what to look out for engine wise but any other info would be great. I just have a perfecty working a6 right now and i dont want to end up fucking myself over if i leave it for a problematic allroad ya know

Thanks for any opinions

There's some debate as to if the Allroads are considered "Widebody". They do not have the same wheel spacing as the V8 cars, so by that definition they are not widebody, however they do have fender flares, so in that respect they can be considered widebody...

I'd suspect that the higher mileage car will have issues associated with higher mileage vehicles, such as fuel pump, rubber suspension parts, airbags, transmissions etc. However the 3 grand price difference is not something to ignore. the earlier cars also have interiors that hold up better, the plastic is not painted like the later cars, and yes all allroads use pre face lift front ends.

[gbjoshe]

Thanks.
Im assuming the high mileage one has already has suspension work and trans work done. But ill see what I can find out from the dealer. But I know they know nothing most likely. I emailed him asking to chexk the bags and all the levels to see if its working as it should but Im gunna guess he will have no idea what I'm referring too

[Scotty@Advanced]

Assumptions usually just end up costing alot of money. I'd assume worst case and offer accordingly.

[mithril]

There's some debate as to if the Allroads are considered "Widebody". They do not have the same wheel spacing as the V8 cars, so by that definition they are not widebody, however they do have fender flares, so in that respect they can be considered widebody...

Unless I'm mistaken, the AllRoad's track is the same as the V8 cars and the wheel spacing is actually wider at et25 vs the et35 used on the 4.2's. I wouldn't really call the AllRoad a widebody simply because it's really it's own cross-over vehicle that just happens to share a platform with the C5 V6, S6 and RS6 Avants instead of being a specialized submodel of the normal production line. That's all really semantics though.

[Hambone101]

What trans do they have in them? Sounds like you have a decent understanding of what to look out for. If they are the same engine/trans, I personally would go for the burgandy one, don't see a lot of those around, and lower mileage.

[kid-jensen]

When you drive it, check the shocks. They're Allroad specific and cost a fortune...

The suspension compressor should be relatively quiet and should raise between levels in less than a minute with the compressor running (often, the pressure comes from the strorage tank, so make sure it's the compressor that's doing the work).

Unsurprisingly, the compressor costs loads too...

[gbjoshe]

I think both are tip. It's so hard to find a decent allroad so I'm gunna have to settle for a tip trans most likely. I think the burgandy one would be pretty nice tinted out but I dont want it looking like a girl car. I've been wanting an allroad for so long can't wait to test drive both of these. I'll update with a link to each when I get to a computer after lunch.

[Zachariah]

Got an extra $5-10k in the bank? Get one - its the most FUN you'll ever have!!!

[8520]

I'm fairly positive the maroon allroads never came in manual.

[gbjoshe]

alright i heard back from one of the dealers and he did say that the airbag suspension isn't working! BUTTT he said it drives good and smooth. hahahaha

So how much does it cost to make them work properly / get new ones? im assuming 3-4k ?

Heading out today to go look at it and im going to try and lowball the shit out of them if it drives good

[julex]

Assume nothing. 100k 10y old tip allroads almost always have tranny problems and owners are advised to sell "before it fails completely". Resetting codes on tranny and selling is very common practice. Tips don't fail catastrophically, they just start throwing codes occasionally until such a day when you get permanent one and your gears stop shifting.

The only way to tell is to check readiness codes with vag-com software.

There are also other issues usually in advanced stage like failing suspension. Such an old car really needs all new bags and shocks which costs LOADS of money just in hardware. Aftermarket source Arnott would run you probably $1500 for hardware, OEM/dealership 2x as much. And then add the labor and there you have it.

You have to be on a lookout for more issues too. Failing cats requiring replacement of downpipes are common too. Leaky engines requiring seals work. Lingering timing belt change. Brakes. Control arms, etc. All almost 100% of allroads out there foir sale will have some of these issues and seller will never tell you about it. Some have all.

Your best bet would be to find such vehicle, pay $1500 for it and what's needed.

[gbjoshe]

holy shit so pretty much stay away from it haha!

Yea in a little im heading out to drive it so ill drive the shit out of it and see if i can smell anything funny from the engine area and check out what else i can..

one thing im confused about is the fact that he said it still drives smooth even with bad bags... how can this be, wouldnt it be clunking over every little bump ?

[dcampana]

if its the bags, you can get the Arnott Gen 2 full set (front and rear) for about $1500, or opt to go to coilovers for about 1200. your choice.

if its the compressor, that is about $400....

[G0to60]

If it's going to be your only car then I would stay away unless you can get to work another way. I bought my allroad six months ago knowing most of what the people above said. A couple months ago the fuel pump went. Right now I have a bum PS axle that I'm replacing this weekend. After that I have all the front control arms to deal with. And the last two items of the summer will be the compressor (sometimes cuts out) and a timing belt service.

I got a good deal on the car and I have my Corrado to drive if I need to so I'm able to pick at the problems. I'm also able to do all the work myself so that will save a bunch of money. In the end it's an awesome rig that I will probably keep for a good long time and when these maintenance issues are fixed up it should last a while.

You just need to be honest with yourself. Do you have the funds to bring it to a shop if it breaks or can you fix it yourself? Do you have another form of transportation?

My Corrado fits in the exact same ball park as the allroad only with cheaper parts. It's finicky and tends to break down but when it's running right it's so much fun.

[mithril]

My Corrado fits in the exact same ball park as the allroad only with cheaper parts. It's finicky and tends to break down but when it's running right it's so much fun.

I was going to say, as a former G60 owner I find it ironic that you look at it as your "reliable" commuter vehicle

[G0to60]

I was going to say, as a former G60 owner I find it ironic that you look at it as your "reliable" commuter vehicle

It's only because it's nearly stock and I keep up on maintenance. Been daily driving it for over 10 years.

Same holds true for the allroad. Keep up on maintenance and worn out parts before they cause bigger problems.

[wheelsblank27]

Not true about the burgundy 6 spd. Almost bought one instead of silver

[8520]

Not true about the burgundy 6 spd. Almost bought one instead of silver

Interesting. I've never seen one for sale in manual.

Silver is fastest anyways. Ha ha