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In my opinion, Audi took a step backward in reliability with the 2.7L turbo motors. They also took a step backward on accessibility with the body styles starting in '98. It is necessary to remove the front bumper and pull out the front clip in order to gain access to the front of the motor.
I have cars with both the 12v 2.8 (200k miles) and the 30v 2.8 (145k miles). Both have been very reliable. No major engine work on either. Maintenance (and staying on top of it) is key to long-term ownership.
However, I would be very careful about picking up any Audi without good maintenance records and a reasonable understanding of how the previous owners treated the car. Verify that timing belt replacement also included replacement of idlers and the water pump and thermostat. (The water pump is driven by the timing belt. A worn out / seized water pump is bad news on a 30v full-interference motor...). At 200k, it will be time for full cooling system flush, hose replacement, and radiator/heater core checks. Also validate that the PO was using the appropriate coolant as non-VW/Audi coolant has a tendency to destroy head gaskets.
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