I hope to join the ranks of Audi ownership soon, and I'm facing the long process of deciding which one.

I'm looking at a 2000 A4 Avant 2.8Q, 95k miles, for $8000 but it needs the timing belt service, or
a 1998 A4 Avant 2.8Q with 92k, for $8000 with all service records, the 90k and 100k (timing belt) work recently done, and the control arms have already been replaced once. (don't know about 2000 control arms, and Audi dealer won't give me and records on it).

Would there be an advantage to getting the 2000 and having the spend the extra $1,000 to get the timing belt work done.

Please don't mention the 1.8T option, I'm not interested.

on the flip side, there is a '97 A6 Avant 2.8Q with 101k for $6000 and the timing belt was done. And of course they don't have control arm
problems.

Thanks.

 

Hi, welcome! I would go w/ the 2000, i like the one peice headlights. Which one is in the best shape? If you went w/ the 2000, an independant shop will charge about $6-800 ish to do that.

 

Id go with the 00 as well, the headlights are better as well as the tail lights look better i mean its 2 years newer for the same price then you have to do the tbelt but thats not really that big of a deal and that way your the one that did it so you know for sure it was done right and all.

 

yeah i would choose the 00 too, lil face lift, IMO looks better

 

better get those that you do the timing belts urself..... moreover, its newer~ 2000 to go !

 

Hey welcome to the forums. My vote is for a 2000. You'll probably endure less problems and maintenance.

 

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not really concerned with the headlights. Yes the one piece look a little better but I think all the model years look good.
I am puzzled by one thing though - I've seen '98s without the center display console (the red dot matrix screen with car information), and
I've also seen them with. Was there a 98.5 model upgrade with that addition?

I'll admit the 2000 is very tempting, but the cheapest I can find is $1000 for the timing belt work at a small VW/Audi guy. Where as the 1998 has been dealer
serviced with all records and is completely up to date on everything. This means that it will qualify for the lower control arm replacement
under the recall as well, which I hear is being denying unless proof of appropriate service is provided.
Then again, the countless hours I've done researching this has given the impression the 2000 year seems to be a good one for the A4 in
terms of reliabilty which is my main concern (only for 2.8 though - 1.8T models not as well reviewed).

One more note, how well do car seats fit in the back. We have one in a booster seat that I don't think should be the problem, and the other
will shortly move to forward facing. I believe that rear facing is awful because the front seat needs to move up, but that also occurs in many
cars much bigger. I'm not looking for a family trip hauler, we have minivan for that, but it still needs to be good for trips around town and
some day outtings.

 

A car seat will fit just fine in the back. We have a 3 yr old, and it works just great. we had the "Latch" seat install system installed for free at the dealer, and works swell. We have put 2 car seats in the back, daughter and a friend, and no problem.
What are colors of the car, that's the most important feature you know