Should I Buy a Used 1999 Audi A4 Quattro?

QUESTION

Just purchased a 1999 Audi A4 Quatro TI 1.8 manual station wagon 116,000km with regular service and timing belts have been replaced. I would appreciate your opinion. Regards, John.

ANSWER

I remember these. They were great cars. Totally under-rated at the time. This was back when Audi was viewed as a poor man's premium German car, which is to say popularly under-rated compared with BMW and Benz. However, I went on several Wheels magazine road tests in which it was frequently enough found that the Audi was right up there. This one was a real thinking man's WRX, in my opinion. $65k brand new, too.

Obviously time takes its toll. Fair price for vehicles in average condition with 150,000-280,000km is $4300-$6100 for a private sale, according to Redbook. Full specifications here. Remember to click on the 'related reviews' tab for some interesting reading from reviewers back then. 

Yours has very low kays for its age, which means there's plenty of life left in the old Audi today..

132kW and 235Nm is still respectable today, and there's never been anything wrong with Audi's quattro AWD system.

Bottom line: These were great cars, and if yours is a good example, then it's still a great car at a real bargain. In the 15 years since it was new, various owners have bled the $60k worth of depreciation all over the floor. There's a pleasant thought.

Best of luck with it.

JC