I am buying a new A4-the one with the best price is an early 99, with headlights exactly like my '96. The 99.5 version is several thousand(Canadian) more-is it worth it?

...that I would care about. It's all the other improvements to the car. Yes I really think they are real improvements in the way the car feels from the inside. I like the new look much much better, and if it's the 2.8 then stuff like power passenger seat is great (how often did I have people ask how to adjust the angle...)

The headlights are a tad better but not worth the sweat, you still will be able to buy Xenons later on if you are such a nut as myself.

"Several thousands less" -- for an otherwise identical car? Strange.

- Stan

whats the price u got for the 99??
just got my 99.5 with sport package, trip comp and ski sack for 36500. CAD.
btw, its silver with tiptronic and quattro.

I opted to by a 99 over a 99.5 (1.8TQMS) to save a bit of money 3 months ago. It was not a "several thousand" dollar difference.

As far as I know, there are few differences between the 99 and 99.5. The 99.5 has the new lower foglights, the door handles are a bit different, there is now a mount (screw holes) for the CD-changer in the trunk, and I believe the taillights are slightly different cosmetically.

There are probably other minor changes, but as far as I know, there are no significant differences.

It seems strange to me they would have a price difference of "several thousand". All else being equal, I'd save the money and get the 1999 (of course, if there is this big price difference, I suspect there is something else...). If you tell us how much they're asking for each, the options on them both we would be able to give you a better idea.

3 months ago, I paid $40,000 Cdn. on the road (taxes in) for my 1999 1.8TQMS with trip computer.

The headlights on my 99.5 are much different than they were on my 96. 96 through 99 were the same. 99.5 has projector beams, lower fog lights, much better lighting. 99.5 also has new door handles, different badge position, new tailights, etc. Also Tiptronic has shift buttons on the steering wheel.

There are over 20 changes to the 99.5 and I think all are value adds. I pulled this from one of Andy's posts in the archives.

Andy writes:

Info pulled from the archives on the 99.5 changes. My additions/comments are in square brackets "[...]":

1. New headlights [projector beam low-beam]
2. Foglights moved [to lower bumper]
3. New tailights [look pretty similar to old lights]
4. C5 outer door handles
5. New rear deck lid (Avant)
6. Washer jets removed from hood
7. Revised outside mirror shape [didn't see any difference]
8. B-pillar hi-gloss
9. New CD changer installation as on C5 ["C5" is the A6 platform]
10. White side indicators
11. Aluminum door sill trim
12. Power passenger seat + power lumbar for both (2.8 only) [I've seen a picture of power-lumbar on a new 99.5 1.8T with cloth Sport seats]
13. Dampened grab handles
14. Ambient lighting in headliner for dash and center console
15. Iluminated air vent controls
16. Steering wheel in dashboard color
17. Revised grille
18. Revised cupholders [including one that pops out of the dash]
19. Revised tool kit
20. Interior/upholstery trim changes
21. Larger C5 sunroof [exterior appears to be the same side, some think the inside is "larger"]
22. [New climate control system]


Andy Hedin
'97 A4 1.8Tqms, Wett 1.0 Bar, ABT Filter, Euro Headlights...

You'll have to decide for yourself since you know the dollar amounts their talking about between the cars you are considering. I'm very happy with all the changes and am glad I have them. I didn't have the problem of a large price difference here, there wasn't any.

Gary
99.5 A4 Avant 2.8QM

nt