Faults:

Radiator - 152K miles

Motor mounts - 145K

Control arms - 100K

Wheel bearings - all 4 from 90K to 140K

Cam tensioner seal oil leak - 80K

Turbo waste gate rod - 50K.

General Comments:

After 156K miles the car is still very solid, and none can believe it's 12 years old - no rust after living in MI all these years. It's very comfortable to drive, and the visibility is great. I like the turbo power, and it's been chipped with APR stage 2 for the last 100K miles.

Watch out of sunroofs, they have plastic parts that break- mine broke last year. I do my own work on the car, and haven't taken it to a mechanic in years.

For the past 3 years I replaced a wheel bearing every fall, and also last fall I did the radiator. We have no hesitation taking this car on long trips.

The only thing that bothers me is the 2nd gear syncro is getting weak. Once I've driven a few miles it's OK.

I have no want for a new car other than higher safety. The car is still fun to drive. I do wish it was quieter on the highway, but the Borla exhaust is mostly to blame for that.

Faults:

Leaking water into the car through the air conditioning system.

Unreliable wipers.

Air conditioning display blanks out.

General Comments:

I bought this car on August of 2008. After having it for around three weeks, I noticed the carpet at the rear of the car was soaking wet with water, wet enough to spark and splash by tapping my hand onto the carpet. Dampness also started to affect the central locking, air conditioning, and was causing the windscreen wipers to stop working intermittently, which is obviously extremely dangerous in any kind of rain.

Less dangerous but equally undesirable affects of dampness is the damp smell inside the car, which the magic trees do not cover up. After weeks of heartbreak (as this was a car I instantly feel in love with) and costing me money, I was only too happy to go back to the Vauxhall Corsa I had been using previously, and luckily hadn't advertised for sale up to that point.

The A4 1.8T would make me think twice before buying another Audi. Although beautiful to look at, and admittedly very nice to drive, I would defanitely think twice before buying an Audi again.

Faults:

When I bought my A4 it was time for a large service; cam belt, brakes and so on - totally SEK 7500, about $800.

At 260 000 km a rubber bellow in the steering - SEK 1200; $120.

At 270 000 km a solenoid for the ABS and a service point - SEK 1800; $180.

My total cost for maintenance is SEK 10500 = $ or € 1050 for 30 000 km. Acceptable, to my opinion.

General Comments:

The A4T chipped in @ 210 hp (normally 150) is a nasty piece of a car... It's quick, really quick. Although you don't feel the acceleration, it takes you way beyond speed limits in mere seconds. The real kick is Autobahn, where it handles like it's on rails... That's at a speed of around 140 to 180 km/h.

Driving at speed limits it consumes about 7 litres @ 100 km, fast driving 11 litres @ 100 km.

The front seats are comfortable and the AC works like a dream.

However, the rear seat is small. That's about the only negative bit about the car.