So Ive been scouring the market for a used Audi A4 lately because my old Civic is finally giving up the ghost and I want something nicer for my 30 mile commute to work every morning. I live in upstate New York so the Quattro system is basically a requirement for me with the winters we get here. Budget is strictly under 18k and Im looking to pull the trigger sometime in the next three weeks before my registration expires on the old car.
Ive done some digging online and keep seeing people scream about oil consumption issues on the older 2.0T engines like they just drink it like water. But then I read other threads where people say that was only an issue until like 2014 or 2015 and the newer B9 generation is totally fine? Its honestly pretty confusing because some guys on the forums act like every Audi is a money pit and others say theyve gone 150k miles with just basic oil changes. I also keep seeing stuff about the water pumps and thermostats leaking like crazy but is that a "it might happen" thing or a "it will definitely fail at 60k miles" thing?
Here is what Im looking for:
I found a 2017 Premium Plus with about 75k miles on it near me but the service history is a little spotty and Im worried about that DSG transmission service. Some people say if you miss that 40k mile fluid change the whole thing is toasted but is that actually true? Im just trying to figure out what are the absolute "must-check" items before I sign the papers because I really dont want to end up with a 5000 dollar repair bill two months in. Is the 2017 really that much better than the 2015 or am I just overthinking the whole engine generation thing...
> I also keep seeing stuff about the water pumps and thermostats leaking like crazy but is that a it might happen thing or a it will definitely fail at 60k miles thing? The water pump issue is basically a certainty on early B9 models. Be careful with that 2017 if you cant see a receipt for the DSG flush at 40k miles. I would suggest bringing an OBDeleven NextGen OBD2 Diagnostic Tool to check for hidden codes. Those repairs get pricey fast if the owner was lazy.