2008 Audi A4

Audi, that’s one nameplate many people aspire to, and for good reason. With few exceptions, the Europeans know how to style a car and the Germans now how to build them. If you are looking at an Audi A4, no doubt you want something a little different than a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. I can’t blame you one bit, as I’m the same way. I’ve owned more than one or two European cars in my day and there are a few things you can expect from Audi ownership in general, and then we’ll get down to the A4 specifics. The Audi will feel different than any American or Japanese car, and that’s a good thing. They have a solid feel to every control, they have a tight, controlled ride and a unique look.

The Audi A4 shares a number of its bits and parts with its Volkswagen cousins. That’s a good, and not so good thing here. It’s good because it kept the price down, and it’s bad because it kept the price down. I’m sure you’re wondering what the heck I’m talking about there huh? Well, the low price means it’s going to be easier to buy one now but that also means it was the entry level Audi. See, lots of folks picked up an A4 that could afford the payments and that’s about it. Dealership labor rates here in my neck of the woods is almost $120 per hour. Consider a front-only brake job will pay about 2 hours, you are at $250 or so with “shop supplies”, now add over $100 for the brake pads, tack on tax and whatnot and we are closing in on $400 for front brakes, that’s if the rotors do not need replacing. That’s the point I was driving at. The Audi was within reach of the common man, but the service will take your breath away. I’m finding that many of the original owners deferred maintenance and the subsequent owners are paying the price, and that price is sometimes very dear.

Please, don’t let me scare you off from buying a fine automobile though. Just keep in mind that regular maintenance for the Audi A4 is the key here. Ask to see receipts; don’t just take his/her word for it. Pay special attention to regular oil changes. Turbo-charged engines need, need, NEED regular oil changes. The turbo gets very hot and the oil breaks down much quicker. Use the factory recommended oil, and change it at the recommended intervals. If you are looking at a car that had nasty, dirty oil, walk away, please. Or at least bring it to my shop so I can make the money installing the new engine. Yes, you read that right. The VW sourced 4 cylinder engine has an issue with oil sludge build up. This will cause low oil pressure and the engine will wear out quickly. If this happens you will be looking at a bill in the $3,000 range. There are a few other minor issues with these cars but all in all, they are very reliable. Just be sure to get one that was maintained.