How much of a bad decision is a 1996 Audi A4 2.8?
05-25-2010, 09:36 AM
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How much of a bad decision is a 1996 Audi A4 2.8?
I've read some of the hit-and-miss reliability reports on the 1st gen A4 -- timing belts and suspension seem to be the big issues. Anyone have any first hand experience with one? Our 1997 Saab 900 SE Turbo is getting a little tired and I'm looking to replace it.
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05-25-2010, 10:06 AM
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How much of a bad decision is a 1996 Audi A4 2.8?
Huge. Audi/VW has a terrible reputation for reliability, and even worse, that's no spring chicken you are looking at there.
Huge. Audi/VW has a terrible reputation for reliability, and even worse, that's no spring chicken you are looking at there.
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05-25-2010, 10:14 AM
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Damn. Nothing but lemons on CL locally. Also checked out a 2001 Volvo V70 2.4t wagon...then I looked it up and found there were terrible issues with both the engine and transmission.
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05-25-2010, 10:15 AM
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The electronics gremlins started around 00-01. It was a wierd Germany-wide thing too. a 96 should be OK.
My dad had an 01 A4 1.8T and loved that car (no real issues at all) untill a deer jumped out in front at 70 MPH. It hit so hard that the deers leg went through the grilland radiator and actually tweaked the ac braket. Thats a big hunk of cast-iron (typical German) and it totalled the car. Dad and his wife were OK thank god.
Personally I like the VAG cars. But the 2.8? Negative. Get a 1.8T. Fun to drive. Very good as a DD engine. Screw the 2.8. Plenty of deals on those cars if you are willing to drive aways.
To be honest though, if you need a beater, I go for a ratty pickup everytime.
My dad had an 01 A4 1.8T and loved that car (no real issues at all) untill a deer jumped out in front at 70 MPH. It hit so hard that the deers leg went through the grilland radiator and actually tweaked the ac braket. Thats a big hunk of cast-iron (typical German) and it totalled the car. Dad and his wife were OK thank god.
Personally I like the VAG cars. But the 2.8? Negative. Get a 1.8T. Fun to drive. Very good as a DD engine. Screw the 2.8. Plenty of deals on those cars if you are willing to drive aways.
To be honest though, if you need a beater, I go for a ratty pickup everytime.
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05-25-2010, 10:37 AM
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Damn...just found a local ad for an SVX for $2500. Went up for sale while I was on vacation. I could probably sell the Saab for $1500-1800. If only the SVX didn't have that terrible transmission...
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05-25-2010, 12:05 PM
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So have I...someone here had one for sale a while back. An Impreza tranny, if I recall? That'd be lovely, but since I'm shopping for my wife's daily, it's strictly a non-project car.
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05-25-2010, 05:47 PM
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Buy a Camry or Accord or even an Avalon and drive it trouble free. It's your wife's ride to work, so why are you looking at sporty? Stop looking for cool or fun and make a wise decision instead.
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05-25-2010, 05:59 PM
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Because the wife, while not an enthusiast, enjoys a nice car. Likes driving a manual, likes the turbo kick of the Saab, etc. She hated the 1995 Camry 4-cyl automatic we had for a while.
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05-25-2010, 07:04 PM
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....I run my car hard and have had many trouble free miles....wait I do have to change the oil from time to time...
Every car / brand has hit and miss issues (If someone can name one car that is 100% perfect and will never have any issues, I'll paypal you $1000 right now!). Stereotypes like this make me laugh
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