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A4 will probably be higher maintenance Posted by Bill Homer [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Anyone gone from 9-3SC to Audi A4 Avant?, yoeddy, Tue, 2 Jun 2009 14:24:09 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I have a '96 A4 (wife's car which she bought new!) and a '94 SAAB 9000. While I love the way that it drives, the tightness of its body and handling, the fit and finsh, etc., the Audi is MUCH more work/expense to maintain than the SAAB. I don't see that big of a difference between a 1996 and a 2006 model in the areas that affect this, but could be wrong.
Some things that will start to need attention on an Audi soon after four years/60,000 miles (a 2006 is close to four years old):
* Timing belt, water pump, thermostat - this is a $1000 to $1500 job on an Audi V6, you need to relocate the front of the car for access.
* Suspension Control Arms - expensive "wear" items, and the lower arms wear out fairly quickly. Also note the rubber-isolated tie rod ends which were subject to a recall on VWs, not on Audis (why?).
* O2 sensors - wait till you see where the FOUR sensors are buried.
* Wheel bearings - huh? they actually need replacement on a modern car? In the first 100,000 miles I have replaced three of the four (undersized for the job?) at $300 - $450 a pop, plus realignment.
* HVAC system with one vacuum and four electric motors, all in somewhat inaccesible locations. Small motors wear out.
* Painted plastic interior bits - would it have been that much more expensive to make the parts out of tinted plastic? And replacements are only available in "assemblies". Hopefully this has changed.
Audis are wonderful cars while covered under warranty, and my wife still loves her car, particularly in the snow - so it's staying!
I can't comment on the latest 9-3SC, but I'm fairly sure that they have their own issues, i.e. sludge, peeling plastic buttons, etc. I'm also sure that you can pick one up for much less than a similar year/mileage Audi.
posted by 12.151.249...
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