USER

I have found an 1998 A4 1.8T FWD, manual, leatherette, sport package and sunroof. No accident, 35000 miles and he is asking 23400$CDN, which is around 16000$US. I am tempted. I would love to chip it and get a manual car again.

I had in the past a 5000CD Quattro. Had it three years. I liked the car except the Quattro. Also, it was quite troublesome. Enough that the next car was a Accord. Which was a great overall car, but not much style. It was replaced by an Accord 1999 EX. Again, I can't speak much again the car which proved to be very fine.

Now the fears. Lack of reliability again. Even at 23400$, the car will depreciate and I really would hate to add to this the repair costs. What about suspension creaks and things like that? And the turbo... at 0.8 bars. Anybody is at more than 80000 miles? And finally the rear space... I have two small children... anybody really MISSES rear space?

Still wondering...

USER

I forgot to say that I also own a Scirocco 16v 1987. If I go with the A4, I'd probably get rid of it, too.

MWZafar

I don't have any kids, so I don't mind missing
the rear space the accord has. I still have
the accord, and believe me I never drive it now.
But, I'd say the only real regret I have is
getting an automatic. The second regret, which
I sometimes don't really regret is getting a
used car. Sometimes the thought of an expensive
repair is distressing, although the car hasn't
given me reason to worry so far (knock on wood).
I guess I just think too much, but the piece of
mind that comes with a new A4 makes me think
it might have been better to have leased/financed
new instead. Although,the price on the 98' you're
looking at is very good, especially if it has
all the available factory options.

MWZafar

I take it back. The price sucks for a non-quattro.