2004 A4 1.8T Sport Avant 107K miles - safe buy ?

[simbat]

I bought it . Thanks

Now the fun begins :-)

[jaustin]

I think the price is high.

[gcoy]

I'm thinking 6k

[simbat]

Price too high ? How come ?

I went to Carmax yesterday and there was a 06 WRX wagon with 112 K miles and poor condition (dirty and smells inside) for $15 500 and as a previous Subaru wagon owner I know as a fact It will be sold for close to that, because I sold mine for even more without much of a hassle :
https://www.carmax.com/cars/subaru/i.../2006/12944481


Why such a beautiful Audi Avant with 1.8TQ 6 Speed and Sport package would cost 3 times less ? I drove the car yesterday and it drives beautiful and very clean inside with no smell. I love the 6 speed . All original and clean carpet floor mats were very clean and also all weather floor mats were in the truck. Timing belt and water pump changed two months ago with papers and new all season tires .

I did some online search and I don't find many 04-05 Avants with 6 speed and sport package. There was one for sale last year in Boston for $15 000. http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/200...nt-ultrasport/

[moonshiner]

I think the price is high.

This.

But make sure you have a reputable shop perform a pre-purchase inspection. Lots of stuff to check over for a car this old living in a harsh climate. AC condenser leaking, sunroof drain plugs clogging and causing liner problems, glove box hinge broken just off the top of my head. I'd pay that kind of money for a USP, but not for that trim and in the exterior condition its in.

[simbat]

From what I researched the difference between the Ultrasport and Sport is the wheel and the bumpers. Also the Ultarsport has auluminum trim, which this car has too. Mechanically they are the same. For a car that old I guess the condition of the particular example is most important. I'm just very surprise how cheap enthusiast oriented manual wagons are in the Audi community. Might buy an Ultrasport for the body kit and parts car in future. Both the Sport and Ultrasport have the same suspension like the S4 , but I like the 1.8TQ better , than the B6 and B7 S4 because of the better weight distribution . The S4 would be nose heavy and not much power upgrades are possible ...and the timing chain tensioner ... Everything points , that I should get that 1.8TQ Avant :-)

[simbat]

I just searched in cars.com and apparently there are only 3 2004-2005 A4 manual Avants in the USA currently for sale and only 2 are 1.8TQ (which I vastly prefer) . And they both don't have the options mine has. I like the Bose sound and the OEM xenon lights. We also checked the paint and it appears all original paint - the car does not have any painted body parts which is rare for a car that age. Cosmetics I can fix and have fun with a little project :-) Most importantly I drove the car and I had a blast. No rattles , no noises . Engine ran smooth. I was not disappointed even comparing to my 15' S4 6MT, that I drove for an hour prior to test drive the A4 Avant on Sunday.



I contacted Audi of America to find out what packages the car came with and I'm pretty happy with the standard and optional equipment

[jaustin]

You will always pay top dollar at a dealership. I think you are set on buying it, so just buy it. I still think its over priced as most cars on the market today.

[rollerton]

An 04' --6 speed with unpainted lowers? Hm. Must be an early vin 04', or the lower trim parts would be the painted like the body.
Also, price seems steep like everyone says. Here in the PNW that's even just a little above what most lots will ask for one, and our prices for AWD wagons are usually a bit high.
I got an 05' Arctic White USP Avant with 97k on it for $6500 last spring and it was an immaculate 1 owner car. I'd start LOW and be prepared to wait them out~ maybe $5300 or something. Market for these cars isn't great to the average person these days; there are a million of almost every variant for sale.

[simbat]

Rollerton may I ask how did you find a white Ultrasport Avant for that price ? This is the rarest of all colors and here we are not talking about price and negotiation because there are virtually no ultrasport avants on the market . 0 . If that was a rare BMW the owner can get all kind of money he wants . Just have to polish it and post it on bringatrailer dot com. I feel very strange that everybody here tells me 7K is too high and at the same time there are 2 manual 1.8T Avants in the whole country and they cost way more. I wonder what I'm missing here ? WHERE DO I GET cheaper 1.8TQ Avant Sport 6MT ? Even when i search in the German car sale websites like www.mobile.de and www.autoscaut24.de there are not many 1.8T A4 Avants with 6MT... And what is the alternative ? - a nose heavy B6/B7 S4 Avant that costs at least twice and when the chain tensioner fails the repair costs more than my whole car ...

If you bought an auto this would be a different story - yes there are plenty to choose from. 6MT not so. And I bet It will get ever harder to get them resulting in higher price.

[rollerton]

I just found it on Craigslist San Francisco- but, to be honest it was an auto...yeah..I know. BUT! shortly after that there were several 6 speed USP Avants for sale here on the west coast for $6k to $10k with a variety of upgrades and mods.
Not a manual, but $4k isn;t a bad asking price: https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/5814873498.html

That's two USP avants just looking for 3 or 4 minutes...if I had some more time here at work I think I could find a manual or two.

[rollerton]

I just found it on Craigslist San Francisco- but, to be honest it was an auto...yeah..I know. BUT! shortly after that there were several 6 speed USP Avants for sale here on the west coast for $6k to $10k with a variety of upgrades and mods.
Not a manual, but $4k isn;t a bad asking price: https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/5814873498.html
And another auto, but not a bad price to start at-- https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5845959588.html

That's two pretty affordable USP Avants just looking for 3 or 4 minutes...if I had some more time here at work I think I could find a manual or two...they're out there, it just take a bit of searching.


A manual here-- https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/5790644171.html

[simbat]

Thats encouraging . I will jump on it if I find a clean low miles 1.8TQ Ultrasport Avant 6 MT for $4K . Preferably white or red exterior with black interior , xenon package and Bose sound. Instead of new a set of quality winter rims and tires I can have an entire new winter car .That's awesome .