Audi A4 questions

[Tyson Varosyan]

Depending on where you live, I think the car price may be a bit too high.
Then again, if you LOVE the car (colors, etc) it may be worth a few $k to
get what you want. Use www.nadaguides.com to check the value for your area.
I found them to be very fair and accurate as they use tax records to base
their prices. KBB IS NOT A CAR VALUE BOOK! ITS AN INSURANCE VALUE, which is
different.

Far as the car, we have an '05 A4 1.8TQ. In Sport mode the shifts should be
felt. You SHOULD NOT hear any CLUCK sounds at it shifts at any time. Check
tranny fluid level and if it is low, assume it has a leak. Fill the fluid
(worth of few $ to spend before you buy) and try the car again. Make your
own decisions based on what you feel.

Far as the timing belt, I have never heard of a belt failing on this car
that was not due to failure of the water pump or another roller in the
system. The belt itself can last 60-90k without a problem, so if the pump
had been replaced recently, don't sweat it. The pump is a major concern on
these cars! DO NOT leave a water pump in your car for more than 50-60k at a
time. The center shaft on the pump is PLASTIC and if/when it breaks, not
only does the engine overheats very quickly, but it also causes it's pulley
to get jammed and as a result tare/melt the timing belt which in result will
destroy your valves and damage your pistons (read: new engine). It makes
since that when you change the water pump, you also get the all the pulleys
and the timing belt too at the same time, but it sounds like you will be set
for a while.

Oil is also a major concern on this car. Sounds like previous owners only
did the factory recommended changes. They have been proven to me as being
insufficient due to the high oil temps that this car sees. I would suggest
to go on a 3-5k cycle (change closer to 3 than 5) and to switch to a fully
synthetic oil. Mobil1 works well and has been tested, but if you want the
ultimate protection for only $1/qt more, get RedLine. RedLine may be harder
to find, depending on where you live - in my area B&B Auto carries them.
Their lubricants are CRAZY and outperform EVERYTHING on the market by leaps
and bounds. They are more sensitive to being not changed in time though - so
if you are not good at remembering to change oil, use something else.

Other than that, you need to make up your own mind.

Tyson Varosyan
Technical Manager, Uptime Technical Solutions LLC.
tyson at up-times.com
www.up-times.com
206-715-TECH (8324)

UpTime/OnTime/AnyTime

-----Original Message-----
From: quattro-bounces at audifans.com
[mailto:quattro-bounces at audifans.com]On Behalf Of attila pallos
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 10:37 PM
To: quattro at audifans.com
Subject: Audi A4 questions


  Hello guys,I am turning to you again because you havehelped me and have
only given me good advise and usefull answers in the past.The reason I am
writing is that I would like to purchase a 99 A4 1.8T quatro.I found one
with 58k miles one owner well maintained for $12950.It belongs to an older
cuple and I think the lady was driving it.I have driven it and it runs
great.But you can feel pretty well when it shifts(automatic transm) driving
it uphill.It has an oil leak at the valve gasket but they said they are
willing to deduct the amount of the repair from the price.(the dealer
estimated the repair at $665.0).I have been to an audi service and the guy
told me that these cars need the timing belt replaced at every 50k mi which
he said it will be an additional $800 if it needs the waterpump replaced as
well.I looked the car up by the vin no.(as did the guy from the audi shop)
and it didn't come up as having any problems(waterpump replaced 3 times-but
I heard it's a common probl
 em with
 these Audis-or is it not?).(and it shows the oil was changed every 5k mi).I
think I could get it for $12k or 11.5.What is your opinion about this car
and deal(is the price good?) and in general about ' 99 A4 with 1.8T
engine.Should I be aware of anything in particular can you think of any
essential questions I could ask the owner?Or if you have an A4 how does it
drive.I am paying the car with a loan so that's with all the concern and I
could probably get a cheaper car same year but other make but as we all know
an Audi is an Audi.I have an 100E,I know. So thank you for any advice you
can give me.


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