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.

 

Tons of electrical and other misc problems from what I've heard. No first hand exp though

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

I've got a ratty pickup, this would be the wife's daily driver.

 

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...

 

AFter all the bullshit I've been through wtih late 90's-00 VW and Audi, I would not send someone off in one if I were expected to pick them up when it breaks.

 

We had a 98 Audi A4. Electrical problems all over the place. Worse was the Airbags. Airbag light would come on every 4 months. Harnesses and bags were replaced and it still didnt fix it. Ended up trading it in.

 

I've seen one with a stick shift swapped in.

 

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.

 

I wouldn't recommend it. The early B5 cars were plagued with problems and the 2.8 is a slug to boot. Although the timing belt isn't really a problem if you actually get it changed (~$1300 at a stealership). Sometimes I miss my S4.

 

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.

 

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.

 

All VW and Audi's are full of electrical issues even the early mark I rabbit's had electrical issues on the gauges and stuff. Why not buy another saab maybe a little newer like a 99-98 9-3?

 

My wife wants a BMW. She can't have one. I won't allow it.



How about an IS300?

 

Horrible, Audis are terrible; my family has two. Both have to have excessive maintenance, both are expensive, not terribly satisfying to own, and ugly.

 

An older wrx wagon would be my pick.

 

+1 on the Is300. Mine just got stolen and now looking for another one cause It never game any problems.

 

....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