Gauging interest: 1995 Ur S6 Avant

95 UR S6 Avant with a manual. Black. Of course. Never heard of them until just now.

My only knock on Audi is the insane packaging on some models. Like cramming a 2.7 twin turbo V6 into an A4 to make an S4, twin turbo V8 into an A6 to make an RS6, etc. The more pedestrian models are not at all bad to work on, access on the 1.8T or 2.0T A4 is probably easier than a WRX (which is tight). They are a little plastic heavy on the basic models, but still better than a BMW. Interiors are class leading. Fun factor isn't BMW levels, but they're damn nice driving cars. I would happily drive an A4 Avant Quattro with a stick, especially for a winter beater.

I got me a CPO 2010 S4 a couple years back. The car is bat**** crazy and I love it - which I did not expect to (that much). I honestly think it pulls faster from 0-40 than most cars on the roads (911s included) just on account of 4WD. The DSG version "farts" on shifts like a rally car. I might be a child but I love it, makes me feel like Walter Rohrl in the quattro! Remember those crazy starts by Audi drivers at most races where they were allowed ? And the fit and finish inside is very nice.

That being said, I am not keeping it a minute over warranty expiration. I've already racked up $6000 in warranty bills in the last 2 years (DSG control unit, rear camera, LED tailight). What I'll probably do is trade it in for another used CPO S4 when the time comes... You don't own an Audi out of warranty if you can help it. If you must, pick a stickshift, preferably non sunroof, minimum electronic doodads... The car itself is sound, except for the suspension bushings which are crap, it's all the gizmos that'll kill ya... Last point: Get a quattro, please (the default is FWD!!!). If you are gonna buy an Audi that is not quattro, why bother ? You are essentially getting an expensive passat... Get the VW in that case, cheaper. So quattro, stick, minimum toys and you should be OK. They are nice cars...The 2.0T is used all across the Volkswagen group in gazillion of cars, it's very tuneable as well !

This is a fairly known issue and one possible way around it is regular Italian tuneups. I intend of doing that once I'm out of the break-in period :D

I'm looking at 2006-2009 A6 wagons. From what I've read, the NA 3.1L is pretty reliable. Not an easy car to find though. Most on the market seem to have 80-100K miles with prices around $15-18K. Cars with 60K are being advertised for >$20K. Keep hoping to trip across a low mileage car in the mid teens. Just not that many of them on the market and most of them live in the northeast, way far away from AZ.

I'd never buy a fwd Audi, their Quattro system is one of the biggest selling points to me. It's not easy to find them with MT, though. Might have to be automatic.

Hmmm....Maybe I'm one of the few people who have owned non-POS Audi's. (I'm also a Targa owner, which probably also explains a lot.)

My '76 Audi Fox had 400k+ miles on it when I gave it to a gentleman who was looking to restore one. I owned that car almost 20 years. It was the last Fox that I've seen running.

My current daily driver is a '92 Audi 100 with 235k+ miles; I bought that used in '98 and it's been a great car. We also have a '01 A6 Avant (wagon) that is a joy to drive - quattro, well balanced in the snow, wife hasn't been able to spin it like she did to our long-gone, always-broken Subaru...

That's great but almost no one disputes that older Audis were a lot better cars and that newer Subies are a lot better cars. :)

Have to watch out for those subies and head gaskets.
Kids over here only like them because of the turbo and the ability to throw a big BOV on them. Say woooosh?

I bought a 2000 A6 2.8L and then a 2008 A4 2.0T for my wife. We live in the foothills west of Denver and the Quattro is the big discriminator for me. There are times when we can't get home without all wheel drive (or up our driveway). This way I don't need to be concerned about her making it home when I'm traveling.

She really likes the interior comfort, and the Quattro has been flawless. We bought both as 36 month lease returns, the A4 had 15k miles when we bought it. There are some annoying things that need to be periodically addressed, but on balance I have no issues with the Audi's we've owned.

had a 2002 A4 quattro. loved driving it, great in bad weather, however before 100k miles it needed cat converters, burned oil, last straw was rear seal leaking.

I would rather have a sister in a whore house, than a brother driving an Audi.
More or less.

We have a 2012 A4 2.0T that's an awesome car, and call me crazy but I just bought an '07 S4. Yes, the V8 sucks gas, but damn, it's worth it!

For what you appear to be looking for, why look for anything beyond a mid-90s Ur S6 Avant :confused: It has the cool factor and the fun factor in spades. Most are owned by enthusiasts, so they are well-sorted and maintained. And it's a real Audi (i.e., 5-cylinders), not a German-Buick like all others after it. Most (all?) are MT. They are well into the upslope of the depreciation curve. They still look contemporary. Fairly friendly DIY repairs. Hell, the sound alone would be worth the price of admission. One of the very few cars of any brand/type/price I still have a desire to own.

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What does the "ur" refer to with Audis?

Oh no! My 1st of many (stock image but had an identical '73 100 LS). Later went thru a number of 5 banger turbo's including an ur-Q ala wanna gruppe B poser. If one doesn't mind the never ending tinkering, have at it. Today, I sort of wouldn't mind finding a stock 1991 20V 2.2L 5cyl 220hp Avant Quattro (only avail. in manual trans.) and massage it to 300hp. Nothing more.

http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/wp-...2012/09/15.jpg

http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/...t_0_resize.jpg

http://daddytypes.com/archive/audi_200_quattro_cl.jpg

ur = original

i saw the top half of the pic and said holy S#!^ then scrolled and saw the bottom half of the pic and said HOLY S#!^. !!!!!
looks like something from transformers

I had nothing but success with my '01 TTC 225 6 speed manual quattro...well until I entered a road without looking properly and got nailed.

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But you should have seen the other car...;)

I bought the TT CPO with 30K miles and added another 100K. No issues other than the dash pod (I had it rebuilt for cheap - came back like new). Otherwise routine stuff and the normal timing belt and water pump at 60-70K miles. It was a great little car that pulled hard, got 30 mpg on highway trips, and pretty much rattle free right up until the end.

Wow. That car is well-kept. Coilovers, new bushings...everything. But 15000$ is too much.

JB, I love the TT coupe, just need more room or I'd buy one.

I second at least looking for a urS4 or S6. They can be had pretty easily for under $10k. I've driven several and loved them, really responsive motor that makes great noises, comfy Recaro seats, and lots of old school German charm.

Audi is German for 'Dont own off warrantee'...

I'm just wondering at what price point it would be worth rolling the dice on a 85k mile 2006 2.0 turbo A4 Quattro? I can probably get one for many thousands under book, thanks to their wonderful rep on the Internet.

What's the worst that could go wrong? Does it have records? If you know some things have been done then you may be out of the woods on some aspects.

It's a personal decision. If you're not comfortable with it, buy a WRX. But, please, for the love of God, don't come on the internet and talk about your brother's uncle's cousin's A4 that had electrical problems.

In any used car, the most important factor is the previous owner. You have strong odds of finding an A4 owner who didn't beat up the car trying to race it. However, you also have odds of finding an owner that thought Jiffy Lube oil changes were the only thing to maintain.

That sounds like the owners of Nissan Altima's drivers here in the US...driven like they are on crack-cocaine/meth looking for that next fix.

I know they're rare, but what about an A4 with the 3.1L?

Records are always nice but a lot of the real smoking deals are on dealer/auction cars on ebay, etc. You can always look at the auto check or carfax for basic history of how many owners, what state it resided in, if it was leased, reported accidents, etc.

I'm following one that has all books and does not raise any immediate red flags from pictures but it's definitely a "pay less for the buying format" deal. A LOT less. I trust my own ability to look at the heap in person and drive it but just wondering what type of repairs I might be making on it. It's the age old equation that every used car buyer wrestles with.

I'd love to buy a wrx but I'll only consider completely unmodified, adult owned cars with reasonably low miles and holy mother of god, are they expensive. It's like buying a used Toyota Tacoma truck, you just scratch your freaking head and head to the dealer for a new one. The problem is that my budget does not allow for a new one and they don't even make a wrx hatch/wagon this year if I did want one.

A stock wrx is an awesome car, IMO. One thing I'll give the Audi is that they are almost always dead stock and owned previously by regular old yuppies, or whatever we're calling them these days. :cool:

V-6? Wouldn't want one.

And FWiW, the apples/apples price difference between a 2006/07 A4 Quattro w/ 100k miles and the same age/miles wrx is about 2:1. :cool:

Really the only huge record with an A4 is the timing belt. Worst case if you don't have a receipt, just do it for $250 in parts and a few hours of labor. Everything else is small potatoes for a DIY mechanic.

Had a few Audi's. Currently own a V8 S4 as dd. 118k, body hardware is solid, interior is 9.9. Mechanically,it enjoys a little attention now and then, but nothing outrageous. In all, it's still a great car. 8 year old WRX is is going to be a real pos. Not sure how you can cross shop the two, other than they both have all wheel drive. If that's the primary criteria, get a Tahoe.

Too bad. The Audi 6 cyl is a great motor. We had an 02 A4 3l Quattro. It was a wonderful car until it wasn't. 7 years & it cost next to nothing in repairs. The last year it turned into a money pit.

Ian

Seems like when they go, they go.

I've owned plenty of trucks, I want a small AWD wagon as a winter/ski car that's also sporty enough to be fun on pavement.

You may know a little about Audis, (or at least have some ownership experience), but you definitely don't know anything about Subarus. If anything, the Subie is a lot stronger car. I'm finding WRX wagons 12 years old with 200k miles that look and drive like 2 year old cars but they're overpriced. Audis are dirt cheap because of their POS reputation. That makes them tempting.

The reason I wouldn't want a V-6 in an A4 is mostly the maintainance nightmares ad reduced fuel mileage. The turbo 2.0 4-cyl is a quick car and a lot easier and cheaper to service. I've seen the old 1.8 version top 200k with horrible maintainance as well, so there is that.

What is the A3 TDI like? My neighbor has one he bought new in Dallas... It has had all sorts of work done but. I don't have specifics...

Uses the 2.0 common rail diesel as with all the 4 cyl. diesel VW's from 09 and up. Very reliable engine, but bad with the HPFP. Never driven the audi's with the engine but my mk6 with the 2.0 CR and I love that little engine. Takes a couple seconds to build boost but nice smooth power that pulls.

They have nicer interior's then the Veedubs, but you're buying luxury at that point....

Why don't you go with one of the AWD 996's? It's obvious the audi's are POS, hence the low market value. "Bold statement I know"
Why beat yourself up over making one bullet proof, and suffer the recoup of resale value down the road.

Food for thought. In Japan the wrx's are dirt cheap. ;)

How fast do you want to get there? I'll throw in the vintage rack and longboards at no extra cost :D
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