A6 4.2 Quattro. Good buy? Reliability?

**johnny--2k** · 07-21-2008 04:51 PM

Well, I'm looking at this car, 2001 A6 4.2Q, 98,000 miles, black, light interior, light wood, no nav, but most other options, including nicer wheels. It would be $10,000 +TTL.

What are reliability concerns with these cars? Maintenance? Anything I should look for? I drive fairly hard, but this will be a second vehicle/daily driver.

What kind of MPG can I expect for mostly city? Upper teens? Low 20's?

Thanks guys!

John

**lodit** · 07-22-2008 11:20 AM

Not a bad price, but a lot of things to check out.

Have an independent Audi mechanic do a once over on the car you want to buy.
It's worth it to give him say $100 or so to ensure a thorough check, including VAG-Com for any fault codes.

Get an extended warranty if available.

This will become your daily driver, it is just that nice.

As long as it's deemed in good shape, only real maintenance is good gas, full synthetic oil changes, and possibly Timing Belt, Water Pump, Steering Pump, Tie Rods and Control Arms, O2 and temp sensors, proper fluids (OEM stuff is different color than typical American or Japanese cars)....

MPG ranges...but don't expect city MPG to exceed 20...that's wishful thinking.
More like mid teens for city driving, especially with the a/c on.

And be sure there's little or no rust/corrosion..you're gonna want to have the exterior cleaned up and smooth for when you wash and wax it to let it shine...

Guaranteed it will turn heads if it's clean and running smooth...look at all the examples of fellow AZ'ers rides...

**johnny--2k** · 07-22-2008 03:57 PM

Oh, no worries about keeping it clean. I'm an anal retentive bastard when it comes to having a dirty car. Hell, i'll spend $900 on brakes just to get better ones that wont dust as much!

As for that car, I found a nicer one actually. 01, 84K miles, fat-fives, well under the $10,000 mark at auction!!!

**04A6SLine** · 07-23-2008 10:24 AM

GOOO FOR IT... i would of went for a 4.2 over the 2.7T.. but they didn't have my color.. and you could also put the RS6 body kit on.. which making your buy an EXTRA thumbs up..

**oc-drop** · 07-23-2008 10:48 AM

I'm not very tuned in @ the life span of a 4.2 but I've seen lots of posts about transmission failure around 80k -/+

**Grota4.2** · 07-26-2008 10:41 AM

I have an 01' 4.2 with 103k on it. only thing that ive had a prob with is my cats are gone. But I knew they were on their way when i got it at 96k

21mpg avg still tho././.

**johnny--2k** · 07-26-2008 01:08 PM

Thats awesome! I am still looking. Drove one with 111,000 miles, asking 12,995. What a freaking joke! Car was beat to shit, front bumper cracked, brakes were shot, and directional tires were on backwards. This was at a dealership too, though not an audi dealership. Said he would sell it for 11,500 as is, I just turned around a walked out.

Still looking though, keeping my eye on the auctions for a steal!

**ritzblitz** · 07-26-2008 07:27 PM

Do all 4.2s have wider fenders than the other A6s?

**Breezo** · 07-26-2008 08:02 PM

I picked my fourth audi up and its a 4.2. Love the car. However, living in vegas with the air on full time, it gets terrible gas mileage, like 14- 15mpg. However, if you get it on the highway it gets really good mileage for its size. It doesnt matter if you baby it or beat on it, if youre concerned about gas mileage this isnt your car.

The 4.2 has a longer front end by a few inches to accommodate the bigger motor and running gear for the V8. Also it has wider fenders because these cars are wider than a regular A6 2.7, or 3.0. I heard that it was built on a A8 platform, and the wider/longer front end fenders are used to fill that chassis, but not so sure about how true that is.

I havent had a problem with mine. Bought it with 44k and now have 52k in the first year full year of owning it. Love the car.

**audiquattrodou** · 07-26-2008 08:46 PM

I have a 2000 4.2 and it has been good. I have had problems with the O2 sensors and now it seems my cat on the passenger side is going. I have just over 75k miles. Other than that it is just regular maintenance it the car could go for a while.
Good luck in your hunt for the 4.2

**Stampy** · 07-28-2008 08:54 PM

4.2 is the most reliable motor audi ever built. Especially by the time it was in the C5. The tranny though....that can be a time bomb just waiting to go. I love mine and have no regrets about it. I get about 20 now in the chicago summer with half city/highway. If you are near Chicago, I know a guy in Milwaukee that does awesome work. I was blown away when he did my timing belt. Better than any shop I have dealt with here, and cheaper.