Faults:

I bought the car in Feb 2008 in great condition. The previous owner had all receipts from when he bought it new in 99. He had the brakes done, timing belt and cats replaced, and so on. NOW since I've owned the car, this has happened.

1. Timing belt went out after 2 months of casual driving. Shop wanted 5000.00 to fix, bought a used engine for 1300.00 with 90 day warranty, shop charged 2675.00 labor to r and r engine and replace timing belt and pulleys, since pulley problem caused the problem. The shop had the car 1 month.

2. ABS light is on and brake light now blinks.

3. Air bag light is on.

4. Check engine light is on again, code is problem with cats, original owner replaced them before I got it from an Audi dealer and now bad again?

5. Need to replace driver's side front axle.

I bought the car for a casual driver and it turns out to be more of a problem than what it's worth. I should have looked at the receipts better before I bought it. All work was done at an Audi dealer and nothing held up. I will never buy another one of these cars, for the money I'll buy something different.

General Comments:

The car handles great, good all around driver, just too many motor and brake problems

Faults:

1- When I first purchased the car, after about 1 week the belt tensioner went, and as a result 2 of my lifters got bent. I went back to the place where I bought the car, and they agreed to pay half for the repairs, as this was under a recall, but the previous owner didn't take it to get it fixed and I got burned, so I had to pay $800, which was my half.

I don't regret paying that $800, because it got me the following, which were due anyways soon, and I would have to spend double the money to get all that done:

$800 got me:

- New water pump

- New belts all around

- New tensioner

- 2 new lifters that were damaged got replaced

- Inside engine wash

- New gaskets/seals

- Oil change

- 8 months full parts and job warranty

- And some other minor parts got replaced

So I went from disappointed to glad it happened, since I got more for the money.

General Comments:

** Other than that problem when I bought the car, there was nothing else wrong with it to date. The car runs great, smooth and responsive. I just changed brakes all around and my shocks are soon due for a change, I will put the sport shocks that come on the S4 Audi because the stock regular shocks are not stiff enough for me, since I previously owned a GTI VR6 Golf that was lowered with a sport suspension, so it's a bit soft for me.

Overall, my '99 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro is an EXCELLENT purchase, and I'm planning to get another A4, but a 2008-2009 model.

** FOR THE RECORD **

All those who bash Audi for the high maintenance costs etc. All I have to say is that it's not the cars fault, it's your fault for not doing better research on what vehicle you can afford to maintain. You pay for what you buy, so unless you are aware of the related costs, you shouldn't be buying something that is way out of your league to maintain.

Audi is a great car and has been for ages, it's not like a FORD or a HONDA.. German cars require regular maintenance to perform at their peak, and most people can't afford to follow regular maintenance schedule because it is costly, so they by-pass it, and when things break, it costs them an arm and a leg, and they then complain and blame the car or the car manufacturer for the problems that arise. Well the only person to blame is yourself failing to follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule.

I was born in Europe, growing up with these cars Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, Porsche so I know what it takes to own one. Once again... if you decide to own any German made vehicle, you make sure you follow regular maintenance schedule. And if you buy used, and it breaks well it's not the cars fault, it's the previous owners fault for abusing it, and not taking it for regular maintenance.

Enough said... BUY GERMAN! LASTS FOREVER!