Hey guys, I'm brand new to the forum and to Audi's. I'm looking to purchase an A4 in the near future and just trying to get some ideas on things to look out for when purchasing a used B6. I've done some research but I think the best way to learn is to ask some questions to B6 owners or get some feedback. Feel free to add anything helpful. Thanks.

 

Avoid the CVT transmission at all costs.

 

Thanks, that's one of the main things I keep hearing. Am I safe if I get a quattro?

 

The quattro has a different transmission, it is a 5 speed auto or a six speed stick. They are both good. It isn't that the CVT is bad, but you can't add any power to it and after 60 to 70 thousand miles they seem to fail expensively. I have been researching this since I bought my 03 with a CVT.

 

Just for the record, the manual trans also comes in a 5-speed (my '02 quattro is a 5-speed). In fact, I think the 6-speed wasn't available until '04. The 6-speed would definitely be nicer though; at 70 MPH cruising in 5th, I'm turning > 3000 RPM. The taller top gear on the 6-speed would almost certainly improve my fuel economy. That's not to say it's bad, but better never hurts, right?

One other thing to look into, depending on the mileage of the cars you're looking at, is whether or not the timing belt & water pump have been changed out yet. That can be needed anywhere between 65,000 and 100,000 miles - it seems most people recommend doing it every 70-75,000. I've heard people quote prices for this service ranging from $700 up to $2000. My understanding is that it's about 6 hours of labor, and the parts are about $250, so you might want to negotiate with that in mind.

 

Good stuff guys, appreciate the feedback. I'll definitely ask questions about the timing belt/water pump replacement. The other concern I've been having is the price for parts/labor/general maintenance for Audi's. Is it generally higher across the board for everything? I've always had Honda's and the nice thing about them was most repairs/maintenance costs were pretty low.

 

If you get your service done at an Audi dealer, it will be considerably more expensive, yes. I imagine it's higher in general than Honda, but if you find a good independent mechanic, you can save quite a bit vs the dealership. Obviously, if you DIY, you can save more.

I've only had my A4 since November, but so far, at least, it hasn't broken on me in any expensive ways. All I've had so far was a broken vacuum hose, which was cheap to fix, and I'm pretty sure it came to me with that. It's probably not going to be as bulletproof reliable as a Honda, but I think that most people who have lots of reliability issues with their Audis are probably not maintaining them correctly/on schedule.

 

if you're buying a used audi, i'd recommend getting one from the dealer. they offer CPO (certified pre-owned) which helps to ensure you don't get a lemon and it's an extended warranty.

great cars! i'd recommend a quattro.

 

cool, some great advice guys and it's definitely given me some things to consider.