Re: Should I Buy a 1999 Audi A4 Quattro?

["Wm. Josiah Erikson" <werikson@hampshire.edu>]

Quattro maintenance doesn't seem to be that much worse than 2WD versions. I have a 1987 Quantum Syncro
(Audi 4000Q Drivetrain) that has 180K on it, and have yet to experience any difficulties with the fact
that it's AWD. I thought I was going to have a replace my driveshaft center bearing a little while ago,
but it seems fine now. And I wouldn't really be that upset if it "only" lasted 180K miles. Yes,
replacing all four tires at once would be a good idea, but I'm currently running two rear tires that are
nearly bald and two front tires that are good. But I have an open center diff, and A4's don't.
    I think the only real differences in maintenance would be that you have more CV boots and joints to
worry about. The transmissions and rear diffs (at least the manual ones) seem to be nearly bulletproof.
Why are you getting a TipTronic instead of a 5-speed? Eh, each to his own, I guess : )
    -Josiah
    '84 GTI
    '87 QSW

Neil Bomberg wrote:

> Dear List,
> I am new to the list.  I am on the verge of buying a 1999 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro with Tiptronic
> transmission.  The information I would like to obtain has probably been requested time and time
> again, so I ask your indulgence.
> Over the weekend, I road tested the A4 1.8T and 2.8 FrontTrak and Quattro versions.  I was fortunate
> to be able to drive the Audi on dry and very wet and slick road surfaces.
> I was very impressed with every aspect of the Audi, including performance and "creature comforts."
> I found almost nothing to complain about.  Even the back seat, which is short on leg room, is so
> well designed.  My son, who is much taller than I am, found the back seat very comfortable and had
> no complaints about the leg room.
> I found very little, if any difference, in pick-up and power between the two models.   I did find
> substantial differences in the handling of the Quattro and FrontTrak versions.  Based upon handling,
> I am convinced that the Quattro is the way to go.
> However, I am concerned about the overall cost of maintenance of the Quattro vehicle.  The dealer
> indicated that tires must be rotated more regularly on the Quattro version then on the FrontTrak
> version and that it is important to replace all four tires rather than two, if one tire goes bad.  I
> am also concerned about the durability of the system.
> I would really like to get the list's input on the advantages and disadvantages of the Quattro
> system, and some sense of what the costs of maintenance are after the three year warranty expires.
> Thanks very much,
> Neil Bomberg
> Washington, DC
>
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