K. Daver

Robert,

Excellent! I had heard (and someone else posted here) that there would
be pinging and knocking. I figured that wouldn't be a good thing! I
do know a few people that love their Audi's and use the regular gas. Of
course, one of the owners has a lease so he's not too concerned as when
he trades it in, he'll be done with it.

I appreciate your help!

Marty

+ Rob + wrote:
> "K. Daver" <duckie74NOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:l9hYd.3139$ZB6.1703@newssvr19.news.prodigy.co m...
>
>>Bob,
>>
>>Appreciate the help. What types of problems have you had? For me,
>>it'll be the most expensive car I've owned. Never been in a position to
>>have a new(er) car before, so obviously I want to do my homework before
>>I plunk down the money for it. Repairs, can be costly, so obviously I'm
>>very interested in their upkeep.
>>
>>The dealer told me that I must put premium gas in it. Several people at
>>work drive them (and love them) but use regular gas. One person has a
>>99 and says he's put nothing but regular gas and it's never been an
>>issue. Can there be heavy repairs associated with non-premium gas?
>>
>>I'm in the states and around here premium just spiked to about $2.20 vs
>>$1.95 for non-premium. No Audi Hybrids yet, right?
>
>
> You don't have to use premium. It's just recommended for optimal
> performance. All of today's computer controlled engines will essentially
> de-tune themselves in order to harmlessly utilize regular gasoline. However,
> the engine will not be quite as responsive under those circumstances and gas
> mileage will suffer a bit too. So, despite the front-end savings on fuel,
> the overall cost may not be any less.
>
> Rob
> 2002 A4 3.0Q (black)
> 2005 TT 3.2 DSG (ocean blue)
>
>

Ian S

"K. Daver" <duckie74NOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:MjCYd.8832$DW.4924@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com ...
> Hi Ian!
>
> Wow.. I'm sorry to hear that you had such problems with them. I
> probably forgot to mention it earlier, but I was looking into the A4 3.0
> quattro model, not the non-quattro.

Quattro is the only way to go with an A4.
>
> Were any of your repairs under warranty? As I'd be looking at a
> certified model, it should be warranteed for up to 100k miles.

The clutch throw-out bearing and heater fan motor were warranty items. Also,
front pads and rotors at around 35,000 miles. I did the rears - both pads
and rotors - myself at around 55,000 miles. I was able to get quite
reasonably priced rotors and pads via an aftermarket supplier and the job is
quite easy as long as you have your own piston tool or borrow one from
Autozone. You want to look very closely at whatever warranty you get because
the Audi new owner plan spoils you badly since even maintenance items are
covered. In a used car warranty, brake pads and rotors are unlikely to be
covered and I'm not sure about the TB - certainly you don't want it to fail
and then not have the damage covered under the warranty. The radiator
replacement due to a serious leak at the six year point may have been my
fault since I let the antifreeze go for longer than the recommended 2 year
interval.
>
> Some non-Audi dealerships offer an aftermarket warranty, which I will
> probably go for. From what I understand (and what you mention), I'd
> rather have it warranteed for as long as possible. I'm not sure how
> reliable the aftermarket warrantees are though. I think some places use
> Pinnacle which apparently is accepted at any Audi Dealership (with a
> $100 deductible).
>
> Thanks again!
>
> Marty

I only mentioned the major problems - there were minor problems repaired
under warranty such as an electrical switch and burned out heated mirrors.
The latter were a design flaw that may have been rectified in newer models.
I'm reasonably certain mine have burned out again but living in Phoenix,
it's not a big deal to me. I also had a problem with the rotary switch that
operates the sunroof - this common problem manifests itself in the sunroof
seeming to develop a mind of its own and opening or closing part way with no
driver input. That was post warranty but I fixed it myself. You might want
to visit Audiworld.com and search their forum archives for info on
troublespots and many useful how-to's. One issue you may want to look into
is related to control arm deterioration. This was a problem on models at
least through 2000 I believe and maybe beyond. I would expect it to be
covered under any warranty you're contemplating but you may wish to check
for sure. My car BTW, has about 75,000 miles to date.

Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed my Audis and I still think the 1998 A4
with sports package is still one of the best looking sedans on the road (the
sports package wheels especially complement the car's "muscular" look). It
also has nicely balanced performance and comfort. But Consumer Reports IMHO
accurately pegs it as less than a pinnacle of reliability.

Ian S

"K. Daver" <duckie74NOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:MjCYd.8832$DW.4924@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com ...
> Hi Ian!
>
> Wow.. I'm sorry to hear that you had such problems with them. I
> probably forgot to mention it earlier, but I was looking into the A4 3.0
> quattro model, not the non-quattro.

Quattro is the only way to go with an A4.
>
> Were any of your repairs under warranty? As I'd be looking at a
> certified model, it should be warranteed for up to 100k miles.

The clutch throw-out bearing and heater fan motor were warranty items. Also,
front pads and rotors at around 35,000 miles. I did the rears - both pads
and rotors - myself at around 55,000 miles. I was able to get quite
reasonably priced rotors and pads via an aftermarket supplier and the job is
quite easy as long as you have your own piston tool or borrow one from
Autozone. You want to look very closely at whatever warranty you get because
the Audi new owner plan spoils you badly since even maintenance items are
covered. In a used car warranty, brake pads and rotors are unlikely to be
covered and I'm not sure about the TB - certainly you don't want it to fail
and then not have the damage covered under the warranty. The radiator
replacement due to a serious leak at the six year point may have been my
fault since I let the antifreeze go for longer than the recommended 2 year
interval.
>
> Some non-Audi dealerships offer an aftermarket warranty, which I will
> probably go for. From what I understand (and what you mention), I'd
> rather have it warranteed for as long as possible. I'm not sure how
> reliable the aftermarket warrantees are though. I think some places use
> Pinnacle which apparently is accepted at any Audi Dealership (with a
> $100 deductible).
>
> Thanks again!
>
> Marty

I only mentioned the major problems - there were minor problems repaired
under warranty such as an electrical switch and burned out heated mirrors.
The latter were a design flaw that may have been rectified in newer models.
I'm reasonably certain mine have burned out again but living in Phoenix,
it's not a big deal to me. I also had a problem with the rotary switch that
operates the sunroof - this common problem manifests itself in the sunroof
seeming to develop a mind of its own and opening or closing part way with no
driver input. That was post warranty but I fixed it myself. You might want
to visit Audiworld.com and search their forum archives for info on
troublespots and many useful how-to's. One issue you may want to look into
is related to control arm deterioration. This was a problem on models at
least through 2000 I believe and maybe beyond. I would expect it to be
covered under any warranty you're contemplating but you may wish to check
for sure. My car BTW, has about 75,000 miles to date.

Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed my Audis and I still think the 1998 A4
with sports package is still one of the best looking sedans on the road (the
sports package wheels especially complement the car's "muscular" look). It
also has nicely balanced performance and comfort. But Consumer Reports IMHO
accurately pegs it as less than a pinnacle of reliability.

Ian S

"K. Daver" <duckie74NOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:MjCYd.8832$DW.4924@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com ...
> Hi Ian!
>
> Wow.. I'm sorry to hear that you had such problems with them. I
> probably forgot to mention it earlier, but I was looking into the A4 3.0
> quattro model, not the non-quattro.

Quattro is the only way to go with an A4.
>
> Were any of your repairs under warranty? As I'd be looking at a
> certified model, it should be warranteed for up to 100k miles.

The clutch throw-out bearing and heater fan motor were warranty items. Also,
front pads and rotors at around 35,000 miles. I did the rears - both pads
and rotors - myself at around 55,000 miles. I was able to get quite
reasonably priced rotors and pads via an aftermarket supplier and the job is
quite easy as long as you have your own piston tool or borrow one from
Autozone. You want to look very closely at whatever warranty you get because
the Audi new owner plan spoils you badly since even maintenance items are
covered. In a used car warranty, brake pads and rotors are unlikely to be
covered and I'm not sure about the TB - certainly you don't want it to fail
and then not have the damage covered under the warranty. The radiator
replacement due to a serious leak at the six year point may have been my
fault since I let the antifreeze go for longer than the recommended 2 year
interval.
>
> Some non-Audi dealerships offer an aftermarket warranty, which I will
> probably go for. From what I understand (and what you mention), I'd
> rather have it warranteed for as long as possible. I'm not sure how
> reliable the aftermarket warrantees are though. I think some places use
> Pinnacle which apparently is accepted at any Audi Dealership (with a
> $100 deductible).
>
> Thanks again!
>
> Marty

I only mentioned the major problems - there were minor problems repaired
under warranty such as an electrical switch and burned out heated mirrors.
The latter were a design flaw that may have been rectified in newer models.
I'm reasonably certain mine have burned out again but living in Phoenix,
it's not a big deal to me. I also had a problem with the rotary switch that
operates the sunroof - this common problem manifests itself in the sunroof
seeming to develop a mind of its own and opening or closing part way with no
driver input. That was post warranty but I fixed it myself. You might want
to visit Audiworld.com and search their forum archives for info on
troublespots and many useful how-to's. One issue you may want to look into
is related to control arm deterioration. This was a problem on models at
least through 2000 I believe and maybe beyond. I would expect it to be
covered under any warranty you're contemplating but you may wish to check
for sure. My car BTW, has about 75,000 miles to date.

Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed my Audis and I still think the 1998 A4
with sports package is still one of the best looking sedans on the road (the
sports package wheels especially complement the car's "muscular" look). It
also has nicely balanced performance and comfort. But Consumer Reports IMHO
accurately pegs it as less than a pinnacle of reliability.

Glenn Richards

K. Daver wrote:

> I sure wish I were in NJ -- gas here is just at about 2.00 for the
> regular now. I remember the days when I thought 1.30 was CRAZY for
> PREMIUM gas.

If only it was that cheap here... 95 unleaded is somewhere just above
80p/litre, according to the current exchange rate that's somewhere
around US$1.50 per litre. Note that's per metric litre, not per gallon!

And on a 2.0 A4 you can expect to get around 30mpg...

No wonder the diesel models are so popular here. Diesel is slightly more
per litre (around 85p at present) but you'll get 50-55mpg out of the 1.9
130bhp engine.

Not only that but the pulling power on a diesel has to be felt to be
believed. My A4 has the 1.9 130 engine, and unlike a petrol engine which
only has the rated power when the revs are high, the diesel has flat
torque. Trust me, with the traction control turned off you end up
smoking the tyres only too easily!

The next car will be diesel, definitely.

--
Glenn Richards Tel: (01453) 845735
Squirrel Solutions http://www.squirrelsolutions.co.uk/

IT consultancy, hardware and software support, broadband installation

Glenn Richards

K. Daver wrote:

> I sure wish I were in NJ -- gas here is just at about 2.00 for the
> regular now. I remember the days when I thought 1.30 was CRAZY for
> PREMIUM gas.

If only it was that cheap here... 95 unleaded is somewhere just above
80p/litre, according to the current exchange rate that's somewhere
around US$1.50 per litre. Note that's per metric litre, not per gallon!

And on a 2.0 A4 you can expect to get around 30mpg...

No wonder the diesel models are so popular here. Diesel is slightly more
per litre (around 85p at present) but you'll get 50-55mpg out of the 1.9
130bhp engine.

Not only that but the pulling power on a diesel has to be felt to be
believed. My A4 has the 1.9 130 engine, and unlike a petrol engine which
only has the rated power when the revs are high, the diesel has flat
torque. Trust me, with the traction control turned off you end up
smoking the tyres only too easily!

The next car will be diesel, definitely.

--
Glenn Richards Tel: (01453) 845735
Squirrel Solutions http://www.squirrelsolutions.co.uk/

IT consultancy, hardware and software support, broadband installation

Glenn Richards

K. Daver wrote:

> I sure wish I were in NJ -- gas here is just at about 2.00 for the
> regular now. I remember the days when I thought 1.30 was CRAZY for
> PREMIUM gas.

If only it was that cheap here... 95 unleaded is somewhere just above
80p/litre, according to the current exchange rate that's somewhere
around US$1.50 per litre. Note that's per metric litre, not per gallon!

And on a 2.0 A4 you can expect to get around 30mpg...

No wonder the diesel models are so popular here. Diesel is slightly more
per litre (around 85p at present) but you'll get 50-55mpg out of the 1.9
130bhp engine.

Not only that but the pulling power on a diesel has to be felt to be
believed. My A4 has the 1.9 130 engine, and unlike a petrol engine which
only has the rated power when the revs are high, the diesel has flat
torque. Trust me, with the traction control turned off you end up
smoking the tyres only too easily!

The next car will be diesel, definitely.

--
Glenn Richards Tel: (01453) 845735
Squirrel Solutions http://www.squirrelsolutions.co.uk/

IT consultancy, hardware and software support, broadband installation