jhwa4cabriolet

Greetings, I am new here and looking to buy an A4 Cabriolet in the Denver area. My budget seems to fit a earlyish B8 or maybe a late B7 with low miles. I am not a hot rodder as my daily drive (Hyundai Elantra) will attest. I will drive this car 10 - 12K a year and want to keep it a long time. Several questions:
1-is there a significant reliability and maintenance difference between the 2.0 and 3.0 or 3.2 engine?
2-am I better off buying a $9K with 120K miles and planning on putting $5K in up front repairs or to pay $12-15 for a well maintained lower mileage?
3-anyone know an independent mechanic in the Denver, Boulder, Longmont area who will do a very thorough PPI?
any thing else I should be on the watch for?

Many thanks!!!

Firefighter

I have a 2009 A4 Cabriolet with 70,000 miles and it has always been well maintained.
I think I would steer clear of a 120,000 mile purchase of anything.
Get a carfax as I did and study it carefully. See if it was maintained and where.
If it was serviced at a dealer you can be pretty sure that it was well cared for. But if you see a service done by Sams Discount Car Maintenance Shop - look elsewhere.
Putting up the extra $ 5,000 is a burden but well worth it.