Buying a used Audi A4 Turbo (2001-2008)

Audi made its name via the success of turbocharged, all-wheel drive rally rockets and drew on quattro AWD technology to build a presence in the savagely competitive European sports sedan market.

In Australia though the story was very different and it would take decades before Audi came close to commanding the recognition it took for granted in other parts of the world.

Success of the A4 was pivotal to sales growth and Audi’s acceptance as a genuine force in the local prestige market. From the outset it offered quality construction, plenty of features and the bonus of all-wheel drive versatility.

Between 2001 and 2008, B6 and B7 versions were principally responsible for the growth in local Audi sales from 2800 to almost 6000 units.

HISTORY
The A4 Turbo appeared here in 1996 and changed minimally until 2001, when the B6 version appeared. First came a new 1.8T quattro, followed by the front-wheel drive version.
 
Emission controls meant the 132kW T4 engine was missing from the new range, leaving only a less satisfying 110kW version of the 1.8-litre engine.

In B6 guise the A4’s appearance was modernised without losing its links to the admired earlier model. A new, deeper grille and larger headlights flowed into a more pronounced wedge shape that continued through to a raised tail and larger rear light clusters.

Under the skin were structural changes that incorporated lighter materials and design techniques aimed at delivering a stronger structure while minimising weight. Alloy-block engines and suspension components contributed as well to weight-control.

Also new was Audi’s constantly-variable Multitronic automatic transmission which provided seven ‘ratios’ and improvements to response and smoothness. As time would tell though, the clever CVT suffered durability issues that had some owners wishing they had held onto their clunky four-speed autos.

At launch, a 1.8T sedan with part-leather trim, a CD stacker, climate-control and airbags sold for less than $60,000. Enjoying the A4 experience without a roof became possible from 2003 when a 120kW Cabriolet was introduced.

In 2005 a substantially upgraded B7 series arrived with distinctive new styling and a 147kW TFSI 2.0-litre engine supplementing the 1.8T. The expanded range comprised sedan, Cabriolet and Avant wagon body styles, in basic or S-Line trim.

The standard wheel size increased to 16 inches – 17-inch on TFSI versions – with features including brake assist, a multi-function wheel and six-stack CD player.

Pricing for quattro models began with the $56,400 six-speed sedan and during 2006 climbed to more than $83,000 for the Cabriolet.

B4 versions made the going significantly more comfortable, even for those in the back seat, but bodyroll was more pronounced and bumps would send tremors through the body as springs and shock absorbers found their limits.

Mixing turbo power with front-wheel drive has the potential to generate wheel-spin at inconvenient moments and torque-steer that makes the wheel jiggle and wrists ache. In the FWD 1.8T you experience minimal bad behaviour – probably because it doesn’t really have enough power to cause problems – and none at all in the quattro.

The driving position should suit almost anyone, with lots of adjustment available. The seats are firm and might feel a little unfriendly at first encounter but they are designed to combat fatigue during long spells at the wheel.

The Audi dash is regarded among the most logical and attractive in the market, with gauges that are easy to read and all of the important stuff within easy reach.

Those in the back – unless young or very short – need to tuck their knees under their arms and ignore the numbness creeping from thigh to lower back. In contrast, the luggage enjoys a luxurious ride in the deep and spacious boot that still finds enough room for a proper spare wheel.

A leather-clad steering wheel with 2.7 turns lock-to-lock links the driver very directly to the road, however, some test-drivers of early cars complained about lack of feel. That could be due to relatively narrow tyres which work well on loose surfaces but might feel a little squirmy on smooth bitumen. No one had many complaints about A4 brakes, however.

Performance figures run by a 120kW Multitronic car posted 0-100km/h times of around nine seconds and decent mid-range response. The 140kW six-speed should do a second better at least than the CVT version.

Turbocharged engines can deliver pleasant or petrifying surprises when parked at the petrol pump. Providing you pretend there’s a brick under the pedal, consumption can be kept below 10L/100km but letting rip on a challenging piece of road will send it into the 18- 20L/100km range.

PULP 95 is mandatory, 98 Octane preferred and on the highway the 66-litre tank can last seven hours between refills.

Of all the A4 quattros, an S-Line Avant with six-speed manual gearbox is probably the pick. Audis in this specification are hard to find but worth the search for their combination of purposeful appearance, plentiful load space, healthy performance and pleasing chassis dynamics.

Top speed from the 140kW version is an academic 235km/h but they will hover along the highway in sixth at an economical 2500-2700rpm and can be slipped into the three-four gear plane when the road becomes twisty and interesting.

The 17-inch wheels with wider, lower-profile rubber than the standard models complement the quattro’s balance and tenacious grip. Load space is narrow but the wheel-arches don’t intrude and even with the back seat in place there’s plenty of room for family luggage.

>> Turbo servicing must be by the book and use only approved grades of lubricant. A4 engines suffer badly from sludging that can block oil-ways and rapidly wear components, especially camshafts that become noisy.

>> Driveline clunks in manual cars can indicate wear to a variety of components. Accelerate and lift off quickly a few times in succession when test driving to note untoward noises. Rest a finger on the gear-lever to check vibration coming through the transmission.

>> Turbo heat can ‘cook’ rubber and plastic components and the tightly packed engine bay makes leaks or damage difficult to detect. If an engine smells strange or any wafts of smoke or steam appear after switching off when hot there are problems.

>> Specialists recommend replacing the cam-drive belt and water pump at 80,000km and absolutely before 100,000km. A broken belt can cause major damage to valves and pistons.

>> At low speed in an empty carpark or on a deserted road twirl the wheel from left to right lock and back again a couple of times in succession, feeling for any binding or inconsistencies in steering assistance.

>> Inspect the inner edges of all the tyres for accelerated wear. This can be due to poor alignment but is more serious if a wheel has been ‘kerbed’ and something in the complex suspension is bent.

>> Test electric windows for shuddering or switches that aren’t working at all.

ALSO CONSIDER: BMW 320i, Mercedes C200K, Jaguar X-Type