Day-cee

Hi Guys! I want to change my car and I'm looking for an entry level of luxury sedan. Therefore, my choices would be between BMW 328, IS 250, Audi A4 or Acura TL. Ok I know, I'm in an Audi forum, so you will push for Audi but this is not the point. Audi is already ahead of all others in my mind, I love the look inside and outside, I love the drive although its not as thrilling as BMW, and I love the Brand!

However, I'm scared a little bit about all these comments on the high expensive fees for repairs and maintenance. I understand that the maintenance cost will be higher than my Toyota Matrix LOL, however, I'm not willing to budget 3-4K per year for repairs and maintenance.

I would buy a 2009-2010 between 25-30K with extended 2 years guarantee since it would be certified pre-owned.

What do you think? Anything to share with me?

Thanks,

britney

how about 2012 Audi A3 Premium Plus $29,270

Matgab

I just got my a4 s line 3 weeks ago. Brand new.
For the money you are willing to spend , why buy used? You can get yourself a new accord or camry or jetta and they are excellent cars.
Anyways. 250 the design is old. C class too common. 328 very nice and excellent ride...
Buy new.... Otherwise you can't really afford it..

PhinX404

All those are nice cars except cant speak for the Acura as never drove one before. I've had 2 a4 and now an s4. Great cars. Good luck on whatever you get.

Beaven X5

I don't believe you need to budget $3-4K of maintenance a year with an A4. They are pretty good car if well maintained. No need to give the maintenance to a dealer.

The 2.0T is a solid engine that has win many prizes. Plus it is pretty good on gas despite the need for Premium gas.
Just a little fact: my TT 2.0T has a lower fuel consuption than my 2011 Mazda 3. We have been taking my daughter's Mazda 3 to commute to work all winter and I just compared the same driving by the same driver and the Audi takes about 0.5 l/100km less (but add 7% cost for the premium gas)


In my experience, BMW and Mercedes are more expensive to maintain than Audi. Not that they break more often but just that maintenance is more expensive.

I have owned a 2006 S4 V8 for almost 4 years and must have spent on average $1,500 a year in maintenance (tires, breaks, coils, spark plugs, cover gasket, oil changes, window switch, light switch). Nothing serious. I had it from 80,000KM up to 155,000km.
Don't consider a forum as a statistically correct base for car problems. People come here for help. You don't always hear about it when everything is going well with the car....
I have a neibourgh with a 4 year old IS350: no problems with the car and she loves it.
And a friend with a 5-6 years old TL: same thing.

Just my 2 cents...

Day-cee

I would definitely be fine with 1,500$ per year for my car! The problem with Lexus is the equipment and the boring drving feeling. My problem with Acura TL is that I'm not sure of the look and I do not like Mercedes.

Therefore, I more or less down with two choices, Audi and Beemer! I do prefer the look of the Audi as well as the brand since I had Two golf GTI previously in my life.

If you buy certified pre-owned, does it really guarantee you that the car was well maintained? What can we do to avoid buying a lemon? And what can we do to reduce the maintenance cost by after?

Day-cee

Not a bad idea, but I prefer the A4 :S

Beaven X5

When I buy a used car, I always ask for the dealer's maintenance record. Any audi dealer can pull this out even if the service was not done at their dealership (unless the maintenance was not done at an audo dealer). It will tell you if the oil change were done at the right intervals as well as give you a pretty good idea if the car has been a lemon.

Note that I bought my TT in December from a private seller in the US (Nebraska) the audi dealer there would not give me directly the service record because of confidentiality (like if it was a medical record ). The owner had to request it himself and fax it to me...

audimontreal

Here's my take from a fellow Montrealer and audi nuts

It all depends what you are looking for:
IS even the 2014 model is very comfortable and reliable however the 250 is a joke with the same 10 years old small and weak 6 cyl
Acura is NOT considered a luxury brand but rather near luxury a step up from Honda. Extremely reliable though

I do not really like 328 especially the interior cannot be compared to the Audi. The new 2.0 engine is incredible but lack refinement and is a few thousand more expensive than the audi. Besides leather would be an option unless you do not mind their "leatherette" aka. FAKE leather lol

You can consider leasing a new A4 and no worry or better yet purchase a CPO from dealership with complete history and to save on maintenance you can do them at a local independent audi specialist saving big time on labor vs. stealer ship

My wife still has an old 2003 protege and it consumes more gas than my audi
Sure my car has some unaccounted surprises like replacing the alarm module in the trunk ($400), lights burning, seat control module ($350), coil packs...etc lol
however the key is preventive maintenance and you will enjoy it for years to come.
Maintenance is not like a Honda civic, however to me even a top end Japanese car can never match that German feel and vice versa a German car will never be as reliable as a top end Japanese car.

German cars have come a LONG way since 10 years ago so no worries from this perspective

farrous13

Hello,

Here is what I think: I have a pre-owned Audi 2008 A4 Special Edition and I love it. But if I would go back in time, I would have leased. I was lucky but I don't like the thought that someone has abused the car before me by not maintaining it properly. Have you ever seen people driving? Ridiculous! Top that with the tough winters we get here and the potholes that dominate 90% of our streets (Quebec).

So my advice is either buy new, lease or better yet takeover a lease (avoid down payment).

My two cents...