Why buy new? Bag a B9 Audi A4 for less than £20,000
“My car was registered in 2017, and it’s a 2.0 TDI Ultra SE so very economical. It’s had a couple of problems: most recently, the ABS light came on and has stayed on. The brakes work fine, though, and it passed its MOT!
“I can’t afford to get the system reset, so I’ll put up with it for now. The other problem occurred around five years ago, and again involved the brakes. It was a faulty brake pressure sensor that cost £200 to fix.” Dan Barnes
BUYER BEWARE…
Engine: At around 70,000 miles the 2.0 TFSI can start using more oil. All engine types are known to suffer coolant leaks. With diesels, check invoices for records of DPF work.
Gearbox: Make sure the S Tronic ‘box shifts smoothly (some drivers report theirs lurching). If it’s a Quattro, check the rear diff casting is dry.
Suspension, brakes and tyres: Test the electronic parking brake, making sure it deploys and releases without fuss. Try a few emergency stops to test the ABS – there have been issues with the control unit. Feel for steering wheel tremble, suggesting alignment or balancing issues. Listen for noisy suspension on speed humps. Where fitted, cycle through the adaptive suspension settings. Be sure you can tolerate the stiff ride on larger wheels.
Body: Lots of A4s are ex-lease cars and while superficially tidy may show evidence of repairs – some good, some bad. Check panel gaps and for overspray. Feel for damp carpets in the boot and cabin. Be sure the headlights work, because LED units are expensive.
Interior: A4s wear their mileage well. A shiny steering wheel and worn pedal rubbers may indicate a higher mileage than displayed. Cross-check MOT mileages online. Be sure the air blower, infotainment and cameras work and your phone connects. Listen for noisy trim and suspension.
Recalls: The A4 is the subject of no fewer than eight recalls, ranging from a suspect front backrest (recall released 2017) to, where fitted, a hinged towing bracket with a faulty hinge-locking module (2021).
Also worth knowing: Official Audi servicing isn’t the cheapest, but pay-monthly plans ease the pain. To find the right one for your A4, go to the service area on Audi’s website and enter its registration number and mileage.
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