2008 Audi A4 S Line 1.8 TFSi petrol

Summary:

Hard to believe it is fifteen years old

Faults:

Really nothing much while I have had it, the second owner bought used at ten years old. In the last five years I have replaced the brakes and rear suspension. Kept up with servicing requirements.

Engine management light flickered briefly, but that was six months ago and has not done it since.

General Comments:

My black A4 S Line is a very nice car and still feels very, very modern for a 2008 car.

No it does not have all the "smart" features of a more modern car, I am talking about driving dynamics when I say modern. This car still out handles most modern executives I have driven.

Cabin is very quiet and smooth. Helped by the petrol engine - a great engine and less common than the diesels. You get good performance and a decent 38 - 40 mpg. TFSi petrol is well worth checking out.

S Line spec has leather and all electrics. Seats re amazingly comfortable.

As an older guy I got the car for a good price and it has been OK to run, not cheap but it has never given me any expensive bills. I gave lower ratings for running costs however - I am under no illusion this is an expensive car to fix if something does go wrong. Same for BMW and Mercedes, Audi are in that same league.

But find a looked after car and these are well worth it and should prove reliable, and you have one of the best compact execs the market has to offer even at this age.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th July, 2023

2008 Audi A4 S Line 2.0 TDi

Summary:

Undeniably a good car, but expensive to run and slightly overrated

Faults:

Not a lot while I have had it. Bought privately last year, the last owner had full history, and the car appears to have mostly consumables replaced expected of age. Turbo required attention at one point and was very expensive, glad I didn't pay.

General Comments:

Expensive to buy even when older and used, and expensive to repair and insure, the A4 is however a great car. Fantastic to look at, be in and drive. Bright red. Black leather interior.

Last year I bought this privately and paid a little too much, but really liked the car. Advertised at over £5250, I thought it was too much for a 14 year old car despite the lower mileage and full history. I haggled with him down to £4800, much better.

The drive home was great, even better to drive right away than my ageing 1998 BMW 3 series. The car handles sharp, probably due to S Line model's sharper suspension. Still had a nice ride as well, not overly firm. 2.0 TDi pulled fast enough and by my accurate calculations (not just looking at the trip computer) it is doing anything between 45 - 50 mpg.

In short, I love this car, but I have to be honest with you all about running costs. Good on fuel and insurance can be cheaper as you get older, but watch for expensive repairs and maintenance, do not buy a rough example either.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th January, 2023

2008 Audi A4 SE 2.0 TDi

Summary:

Overpriced, but still a nice car

Faults:

Not much while I have had it (I bought it used) and has only needed servicing and wear and tear items replaced, such as brake discs and pads, and had some suspension work at the last MOT. According to the detailed history however there were some very expensive repairs to the turbo and injectors quite early on in its life.

General Comments:

A great car to drive, the A4 handles very sharp and acceleration from the 2.0 TDi is good enough for most drivers. 50 + miles per gallon is also possible if you take it easy.

Interior is black cloth (not leather) but still very comfortable and well equipped, I believe the SE model is mid range. I really hate the electronic handbrake, would prefer a lever! I bought this car used at over 10 years old and still paid a little too much for it, but Audi's hold their value well. My biggest concern is that although a nicer car to drive and more refined than my old 2003 VW Passat, the A4 is very expensive for a car that is only slightly better than my old car. But I am glad the previous owner took care of the major expensive issues on this car before I bought it!

Being silver in color it hardly stands out, as 90% of the cars on the road seem to be silver, however for a 2008 car it looks very similar to the latest models and hard to tell how old it is. I'm enjoying this car for now, but any expensive problems I will get rid of it, just not worth it in my opinion. Audi dealers are extortionate, even "Cheaper" independents still want a lot for diagnostics alone, however I was aware of this when I bought the car. Overall I would recommend it, just be aware things get very expensive real quick with this. Always buy a looked after car with history, avoid used high mileage ones with no history.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd March, 2021

17th Jan 2022, 10:04

Yup, a mate of mine has a 2010 Audi A4. Nice car, and definitely better than rivals like the Vauxhall Insignia, Ford Mondeo, and at-least on par with the BMW 3 series, but the car has cost him a fortune in repairs. Not any more reliable than your average run of the mill car and it costs a lot to run in general. Nice cars, but just don't let anyone fool you think you are getting a cheaper classy car just because they are older and cheaper to buy now; you still have to factor in expensive repairs, especially to diesels. You can say the same for the Mercedes C-class from the same time period.

20th Jun 2022, 06:42

The thing to remember about all these cars now is the same thing to remember with any car that was expensive when new - you must find a cheaper independent garage that will do your repairs for cheaper than dealer prices. I'd never take any car that is more than 10 years old to a main dealer for repairs. Thankfully I have a local Audi specialist who looks after my petrol A4, and I have found the petrol versions of these cars much cheaper in the long run than the diesels.

4th Feb 2023, 09:47

They are all expensive to run these days, but I would say the A4 is worth it. Other than the 3 series BMW, the Audi is pretty much the best car in this segment.