Hi,Ive been looking at ebay for a nice motor for the weekend,(use the van during the week)that's not too dear but flashy enough,very keen on the Audi A4 1.8t,around 96/97/98. just wondering if they are any good,not to worried about mpg as I will not be doing much,but was wondering are they a good enough handling car and are the engines reliable enough,i believe they are about 150bhp,so would they be good enough for a fast run,not looking to pass out everyone but would like a bit of poke,,,any help appreciated,regards all james
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There are a lot of good things about the A4, but if handling is a priority you'd be better off spending the money elsewhere.
The 1.8T is a nice engine with plenty of torque, but an A4 of this vintage is not a sporty drive in my opinion. Solid, classy, and comfy yes, but sporty, no. Steering too vague and balance too nose heavy.
I would also look carefully at the VW Passat which is nigh on the same thing, just as well finished inside, and both cheaper and more plentiful on the used market.
Or if you must have a "premium" badge, a nice 325i upwards 3 series would probably meet your performance / entertainment criteria much better. All the bigger engined 3 series are lovely cars to drive hard.
Cheers
DP
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04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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the passat is a size up - its A6 equiv rather than A4.
I agree with the thrust of DP's argument though. A4's need suspension upgrades to be at all sporty. the quattro versions are OK though. Although a car of that age will be in need of new suspension anyway.
The bmw does handle much better, but are significantly more expensive to buy and run.
What about an alfa 156? Very cheap, classy, good looking. Watch for the short timing belt interval on the TS models but I think the diesel and V6 are still 60K.
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Looking for a 1.8T? Then have a close look at the various VAG products that used this engine in the car-by-car-breakdown. From what I recall, it doesn't enjoy a good reputation for reliability.
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Have had the 1.8T in three different cars: Golf GTIi, A4 Sport, Passat.
It's an okay engine in all of them - not loads of power but flexible due to reasonable torque. In the Golf GTI 1.8T and A4 Sport it was quite good for handling in my opinion but the ride was firm in both. The Passat 1.8T Sport on the other hand was a bit of a barge. I also had an Audi 1.8 SE for a bit and that did not handle that well.
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the passat is a size up - its A6 equiv rather than A4.
The Passat and A4 share a platform though, and are near enough identical mechanically to share a Haynes manual in the US.
tinyurl.com/34h6s4
Good call on the 156! The fours can be troublesome, but I know someone that had 100,000 literally troublefree miles from a V6 Sportwagon. Not a single thing went wrong with it.
And the noise. Dribble.....
Cheers
DP
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04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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The 1.8T's weakness is lubrication. [Nearly bankrupted VW US.] Avoid anything without a complete dealer service history.
One fill with "Halfords Special Offer" and the black clag has started it's evil work and you're on your way to a £3600 bill.
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The B5 Passat is a similar car. If you want this engine, some of the weaknesses are as follows:
Oil sludge as detailed above if fully synth oil is not changed frequently.
Cambelts will not run to stipulated mileage - check for a bodged repair if buying a "bargain".
Water pumps.
Rainwater damage to comfort control module under passenger's seat due to blocked plenum drains and poor pollen filter seal.
Front suspension control arms (there are 8 of them) and the rusting in of the pinch bolts holding them.
Track rod ends - rusting pinch bolts as above.
General electrical niggles, especially locking and windows.
All or any of these can be very expensive to put right, especially water ingress. Google Passat water ingress and you'll get the picture. On the credit side, the bodies are galvanised and the mechanics will run to starship mileages if maintained properly. VAG agents generally can't or won't achieve this - private or specialist attention will be better.
659.
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I had an A4 TDI of the vintage you are looking at.
Front suspension: any noise ££££s both sides.. Bushes/control arms everything...
Air con/// especially heat exchanger..
Lovely to cruise in. Rubbish for fast cornering but safer than a BMW 3 series in snow and ice....
If you do decide to buy, be picky. Lots of rubbish around. Timing belts etc can be a problem.. any sign of rusty particles in the area of top pulley = breaking up bearings..
Be very careful as the basic quality of body and fittings can hide expensive mechanical problems.. Disks wear and rust...especially at rear.
I has no electrical problems but exhaust/aircon and front suspension - mostly under warranty . If you get garages to do repairs it ain't cheap...
If lubricant and antifreeze are not up to snuff, big bills.
Be very careful.
madf
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If i really wanted one of these i would
buy locally and check the owner out before the car
look for signs of clocking
look for some kind of service history
i wouldnt buy on a promise from the end of a mouse
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Thanks all for the imput,,,I will take all on board,its hard to buy local though as I am in Northern Ireland and choice is limited on petrol cars of this type nearly every one is a tdi......not sure about a Bmw or an Alfa,,,,Alfas are nice but I believe the variable valve timing gizmo on the cam can fail without warning,,,,,,,and as for a Bmw,,,never really liked them,,still prefer the Audi,,,forgot about the Passat ,they nice looking car too,,,,been looking at those Saab turbos,,???? wonder if they any good,,,Thanks to all who replied,James.
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been looking at those Saab turbos ???? wonder if they any good Thanks to all who replied James.
Take a peek at www.saabscene.com/ - Saabs depreciate like wildfire, but get a good one and you'll be hooked! Although bigger than the A4, the 9-5 is a comfortable cruiser with even the base 2.0lpt has reasonable get-up-and-go. For handling, you can get suspension upgrades. You could get a high spec 1999 9-5 for around £1500. Suggest you avoid the old style 9-3 hatch, as it's not a great drive.
Ignore the long list of things that can go wrong - most people only post on Saabscene when they have problems! And it's a good self-help centre.
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