View Full Version : need some advice on purchasing a b7 a4
uaintsokool
05-30-2010, 01:49 PM
hey guys. im new to the boards! ive been looking around here and couldnt really find the answer i was looking for. maybe i wasnt looking hard enough, sorry for that. but to get to my point. i am looking to pick up an 07 a4 sline that I found near DFW. my question is
what are the major drawbacks to owning an audi? alot of people (audi owners) have told me that its the little issues that really add up in the end. as i am a fresh college graduate getting into his first job i do not want a car that is going to be costing me too much money to get fixed. any info you can provide me will be greatly appreciated!
caligts
05-30-2010, 02:03 PM
Hey, First off welcome. I'm a new B7 owner myself and couldnt be more happier considering my other options were a 09' Impala SS and a G35 coupe. Aside from an oil change and gas, in the past 3-4 months it hasnt cost me a dime. Now, I was told the same thing about these cars nickel and diming me to death and I can say i see the truth behind it. There are a few minor things broke in my car such as the rear view visor clip is broken on the passenger side, the passenger speaker cover is cracked due to entry and exit on the car.
Overall, I understand the cost involved but its all worth it and again I'm pumped to be an Audi owner. Be sure no high miles and dont be affraid to make an offer on the car even if its a car lot. In todays economy you may be able to get a better deal. I bargined with my lot and they threw in a new set of tires! Check local Audi dealership websites for oil change coupons as normally they run about $89 plus tax. Good luck!
uaintsokool
05-30-2010, 02:08 PM
thanks caligts! right now my options are a 350z, g35 coupe or audi a4. and honestly im not worried about small things such as interior parts breaking but more worried about minor engine problems that would have my car at a shop or dealer ship every other month.
SEXICÄN
05-30-2010, 07:20 PM
Well i for one haven't paid a dime for repairs since i bought the car 4 years ago!
As for the 350z and g35, i wouldn't buy that cheap japanese "performance" cars. I love it how my stage II A4 has the best of both worlds with luxury and performance!
uaintsokool
05-30-2010, 09:55 PM
I love it how my stage II A4 has the best of both worlds with luxury and performance!
thats the MAIN reason im strongly considering an audi!
mingamells
05-31-2010, 09:19 AM
If you want power out of the box, then don't buy a 2.0T A4. Sexican's car is undoubtedly very powerful, but that required a fair bit of cash. If you do want some decent power without having to do anything, get the 3.2. But either way, it's a great car. Fun to drive with (for me) the perfect interior.
The 350Z and G35 are both faster than any stock A4. But the Quattro rules. You can pretty much stomp on it and keep it mashed without worry of losing it. You've got to correct for understeer, but you don't really need to slow down on a rainy day. RWD cars will use traction control in the rain, which just serves to slow you down. The Quattro distributes the power over twice as many wheels, so there's much less need to slow down. I rarely see my traction control light come on. An A4 Quattro really stands out on a rainy day. You can drive circles around just about anybody.
illegitimus
05-31-2010, 09:43 AM
New member FAQ and A4 B7 Wiki sticky pages are a good place to start getting familiar with the car...
nramsey
05-31-2010, 09:54 AM
I've had 2 A4s now (2001 sedan for 3 years and now 2008 Avant for a year and a half). I also owned a new 2007 350Z for a year and a half in between the Audis. I liked the Z, but it was impractical, cramped, flashy, didn't work in the snow, and kind of loud. It also didn't feel particularly refined. Maybe I'm getting old, but I don't want to be Ricky Road Racer 24/7, which is what I felt like in the Z. Granted I had suspension, exhaust, wheels etc, so I didn't help matters in that regard.
In the end, I came back to Audi because I love the balance of luxury, class, performance, tunability, and practicality that they have. Sure, the Z was more fun, and maybe more reliable (debatable, since transmissions are known weak points).
Both of my Audis have been certified pre-owned, which I highly recommend. It adds 2 years of warranty onto the end of the original warranty, up to 100k miles. I bought my '08 A4 this way, and basically ended up with a 5 year/100k mile warranty, which is more than the original owner would have had!
So far, I've had no issues on the '08 that I consider significant. I've replaced the cam follower myself, just because, even though it was in decent shape. There's also a rattle in the tailgate area that the stereo drowns out so I haven't worried about that.
My '01 A4 had a few more issues, with things needing to be replaced like the HVAC blower motor, driver's side seat heater, gauge cluster (DIS lines went out), and a rear diff seal. But it was all covered under the CPO warranty, so out of pocket was very minimal.
Honestly, my recommendation would be to buy a CPO A4 for probably more than 10k less than new, then drive it for the duration of the warranty, then trade it in on a new CPO. That's probably what I'll end up doing.
2.0T -Not much power out of the box but tunable
3.2 -Good amount of power. Really nice sounding 6
but be warned, although the the 2.0T has its problem (DV, heatsoak, etc...) the 3.2 has the chance of having the "blown motor" problem.
Der Konig
05-31-2010, 12:09 PM
I see this crashing and burning into a pissing contest between 2.0 and 3.2 haha. I haven't had any complaints besides a damaged cam from the previous owner not allowing the motor to get to operating temp before driving like a moron. But zero dollars later and some warranty work all fixed and not an issue since!
You're asking in an Audi forum :) Given your choices I wouldn't consider the G35 or 350 though. I went with Audi coming from being a BMW lover because my dad has always had Audis and while my past two bimmers were always in the shop I hardly ever saw his break down. On my second Audi now and I have to say that these things are almost as reliable as a Honda.
Of course it's a case to case basis and for any brand you might just get the occasional lemon but you know what I mean :)
mingamells
05-31-2010, 01:17 PM
... the 3.2 has the chance of having the "blown motor" problem.
I haven't heard that one, except in the case of a bad chip upgrade.
Start here
Things that annoy you about the car (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?293945-Things-that-annoy-you-about-the-car&highlight=)
Then here
Carbon Buildup (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?298455-Carbon-Buildup)
Then here
Extended warranty worth it? (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?347581-Extended-Warranty-Worth-it)
And here
Can Follower failure (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?295208-Followaar-Official-Thread-for-your-Cam-Follower%28s%29.)
And
Is it expensive to maintain (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?360440-How-expensive-are-B7-s-to-maintain)
'nuff fer now
Vince
uaintsokool
06-02-2010, 08:57 PM
thanks rvt for the info and links! VERY VERY helpful!
but i do have one more question! has anyone with an a4 had issues with carbon build up? seems like only the rs4 has had issues as far as i can see.
I'll not try to dominate the thread, but the carbon issue is directly related to all Audi engines that utilize the direct cylinder injection system. If the RS4 is found to be more predominant than others then it will simply be due to a higher valve overlap.
I can say that I need to bore scope my car as I am now down to 19mpg, with a motor that seems to purr. No hiccup or hesitation, just poor mpg, and I suspect carbon to be the problem.
Vince
RedS-line
06-02-2010, 10:10 PM
applause for rvt. he gave you more than you needed. the most important point ill make is to make sure you either have a LOT of warranty left when you buy the car, or you can AFFORD to spend ~120 bucks an hour labor every time something breaks (my local dealer rate).
rvt i would recommend the bg treatment for the carbon buildup. the dealer can perform this.
colt45
06-03-2010, 04:38 AM
yeah just make sure the Audi you buy has warranty.
Sprode
06-03-2010, 05:12 AM
Make sure you pull the dealer records from whoever you buy it from. Turns out my car had been to the dealer 27 times in the 3 years previous owner had it. ;/
Some are better than others just out the gate. I've finally got mine sorted out but it has spent somewhere between 20 and 30 percent of its life at the dealer already. And then they couldn't even figure it out, I had to do it myself. Also while under warranty...
paden501
06-03-2010, 06:05 AM
I think the question of 'is this car affordable to maintain' always comes down to how much you can do yourself. Case in point: My A4 failed state inspection last week because the inspector felt the brakes needed replaced (NTB in Bethel Park PA).... He showed me the brakes on all 4 wheels (had it on a lift w/ all 4 tires off and the back calipers disassembled) and said they all failed, even though the brake wear sensors hadn't been tripped yet. He then proceeded to tell me that he wanted $1250 for new brakes and rotors even though half the work was already done. (he said 'Parts for this car are really expensive you know...').... I told him to go hell.
So instead of spending $1250 for NTB to put whatever brakes on the car they could get cheap, I bought OEM spec pads from Autozone, had the rotors turned and did the brake job myself for a total cost of like $200... It took me about 2-3 hours total (though i do have a compressor and impact gun)... The moral of the story here is that if you aren't somebody who has to run to the dealership everytime the car needs maintenance, this car is really no more expensive to maintain than any other car on the road.
uaintsokool
06-03-2010, 04:52 PM
well i got the car fax report from the dealer that is selling the car. it says the car has only been to the dealer 4 times since 2007. and ill drop by the audi dealership to talk to them about warranty options.
audinuts13
06-03-2010, 05:15 PM
well i got the car fax report from the dealer that is selling the car. it says the car has only been to the dealer 4 times since 2007. and ill drop by the audi dealership to talk to them about warranty options.
If the previous owner was following the Audi's recommended service intervals, skip!! I wouldn't wait to change my oil until I hit 10k or whatever Audi suggests.
Also, purchase a CPO'ed A4 if you do end up buying one.
A lesson about CarFax I learned the hard way...
Any "incident" that has happen to the car in the prior 6 month may not be listed yet... I purchased a "Clean" car (not my Audi), only to find two years later at trade in time that a wrecked report was added to the CarFax that happened months before I bought it![o_o] Car fax offers insurance, but you need to buy it within 30 day of the report.
Just a heads up that a CarFax can be a pure joke....
BOL
Vince
mingamells
06-04-2010, 10:38 AM
A lesson about CarFax I learned the hard way...
Any "incident" that has happen to the car in the prior 6 month may not be listed yet... I purchased a "Clean" car (not my Audi), only to find two years later at trade in time that a wrecked report was added to the CarFax that happened months before I bought it![o_o] Car fax offers insurance, but you need to buy it within 30 day of the report.
Just a heads up that a CarFax can be a pure joke....
BOL
Vince
I suspect that's what happened to my car. I bought it at a used lot at an unbelievable price with a clean carfax. Later I found some evidence of repaired damage to the front bumper (paint overspray on the black filler pieces around the fog lights). I've been wondering if the engine was going to fall out or something, just because the price was so good. But I think in my case it was very minor damage. I've been tempted to re-order the carfax report to see what it says now that more than a year has passed.
But if you think about where carfax' market is, it's the dealers, not the consumers. The dealers will pay big money to be able to show potential buyers that their cars are in good shape. I bet the market opportunity at the dealers is way bigger than at the consumer level. So carfax went for the money. The bad news for them is that they will only serve to dilute their credibility to the point where they shrink their market and ultimately make far less money. They should follow Consumer Reports' example. They've stuck to their principles and have solid credibility. But CR is a non-profit, while carfax is profit-seeking. Maybe a for-profit consumer protection system can't work, I dunno.
yycools
06-04-2010, 11:08 AM
Drivers are perceived differently by the cars they drive. To me, Audi (specifically B7 A4) signifies maturity, class, but with a wild side, the driver of the Audi is someone whose responsible, down to earth, has nothing to prove but can walk the walk when it comes to it. Compare to BMW and their drivers, who, most sees as snobby and has a sliver spoon stuck somewhere (of course, not everyone), and Nissan/Infiniti drivers, who always tries to prove something... the B7 is a good choice.
Drivers are perceived differently by the cars they drive. To me, Audi (specifically B7 A4) signifies maturity, class, but with a wild side, the driver of the Audi is someone whose responsible, down to earth, has nothing to prove but can walk the walk when it comes to it. Compare to BMW and their drivers, who, most sees as snobby and has a sliver spoon stuck somewhere (of course, not everyone), and Nissan/Infiniti drivers, who always tries to prove something... the B7 is a good choice.
No one that drives an a4 has a "wild side" image until they see you screaming when you're in the dealer every other week til the advisors all know your name.
SEXICÄN
06-04-2010, 11:50 AM
i drive slow!
elwigglero
06-04-2010, 11:54 AM
Drivers are perceived differently by the cars they drive. To me, Audi (specifically B7 A4) signifies maturity, class, but with a wild side, the driver of the Audi is someone whose responsible, down to earth, has nothing to prove but can walk the walk when it comes to it. Compare to BMW and their drivers, who, most sees as snobby and has a sliver spoon stuck somewhere (of course, not everyone), and Nissan/Infiniti drivers, who always tries to prove something... the B7 is a good choice.
Or you could buy a car based on research and not how people may perceive you.
OP, this car isn't in any way reliable when compared to other popular sedans. Both the 2.0t and the 3.2 have common problems. The secret is to do your due diligence and replace the parts that are prone to failure before they become a headache. These problems are well documented in the FAQ section. Once you do this, you can spend money on mods and enjoy your car. I love mine, but it's definitely not something I'd call "reliable". Make sure you have money set aside for repairs as well as upgrades...especially if you're looking at cars that are out of warranty or close to it.
Tusin
06-04-2010, 12:21 PM
Just because CarFax doesn't list service records, doesn't mean proper services wasn't being provided. When I bought mine, CarFax showed nothing for service records, so I went to the local Audi dealer and they did full service and then some.
There is also Autocheck which is like CarFax. It can grab items that Carfax misses and vice-versa. If you are serious about a car, buy them both. Also take it to a shop (indie or dealer is they do them) for a pre-buyer inspection. Small investment can save a huge head-ache down the road.