Faults:

Small coolant leak from when I bought it, from a plastic pipe between the oil cooler and engine (could have lived with it, but got it fixed).

Front lambda sensors replaced at around 100,000 miles (but they are practically a service item at this mileage).

Water pump started squeaking at around 95,000 - replaced as a precaution (dealer should have replaced it during timing belt service).

Air con stopped blowing cold around 85,000 miles, needs re-gassing (not that unexpected).

There are some interior trim squeaks, not unexpected on a 10 year old car.

Servotronic module failed, I removed it myself, steering is a little heavier but more communicative, actually much better without servotronic module.

Squeaky auxiliary belt replaced because the noise was annoying, belt looked fine.

Brakes still squeak now and then. When parked, make sure you use the handbrake, don't let the car roll onto the front brakes as this seems to make the squeaking worse.

There are various items that need to be done as a precaution or as a service item; this applies to any car though: fuel filter replaced, power steering fluid, coolant, MAF cleaned, battery replaced after 8 years, spark plugs after 4 years.

It's better to service things in advance rather than let them fail.

General Comments:

This is a very comfortable and easy to drive car, a real pleasure even after 3 years. It is my first automatic car, and I wasn't too sure about it, but I have since got very used to how easy this auto is to drive.

Lots of power at all speeds; overtaking is easy on local roads and motorways.

Although there are niggles with some things going wrong such as lambdas, and water pump, the car appears to be very reliable and able to keep running; so much so it has not broken down yet, including surviving 4 holidays to Europe ranging between 1700 miles and 3000 miles each.

I bought this car with the knowledge that the gearbox can and most probably will fail above 120,000 miles.

Also I bought it with the knowledge that it has to be serviced by a independent specialist who knows these cars, and not the Audi dealer, who appears to be a lottery. As it turns out, the specialists are cheaper too. Also with these cars, you can do some things yourself, for example oil changes and air filter.

Faults:

Passenger electric seat wiring, which had simply worn away, causing a short. Easily fixed.

General Comments:

340 BHP V8 running through a 5 speed tiptronic Porsche derived gearbox to the legendary Quattro torsen diff equipped four wheel drive system.

All aluminium body.

Electric everything (all works), and even integrated sat nav (from a 1998 car!).

Leather Recaro interior.

Massive boot.

32 mpg can be achieved on the motorway.

It doesn't get much better for the money they now go for.

Faults:

Disks and brakes squealing.

Thermostat, £18 to replace, but to get to it, the front of engine has to come off, so I changed cambelts etc., which would have had to be replaced anyway.

General Comments:

Very quick car for size.

Comfortable, but could have been very comfortable with the standard wheel rims.

Large boot.

Very safe in bad weather. I drove it long distances in snow and ice without chains.