I am negotiating to buy a 1997 Audi A4 1.8T. It has the 1.8T engine, it is automatic, sunroof, remote locking, trip computer, 31,000 miles and is in good shape - still a little warranty on it too. The seller (an individual) is asking $20,000. Is that too much? Help, please.

Johnny

You didn't state if it was a quattro or not....???

Assuming it "isn't" a quattro...I would suggest you pass on this car. Why? because
it has the old automatic transmission, not the tiptronic. It would be the slowest A4 on
the planet, especially if it had the extra weight of the quattro. Is it chipped? Are you
considering chipping your car? I am also assuming it doesn't have the Bose upgrade,
CD changer, or all weather package. As described it is almost a stripped model
that probably cost about $24.5K new...maybe $25K. Yes, I think $20K is too much.

Yes, it has low mileage...my late 97 2.8 has 48K miles (and I got it in July 97)

I would look for a 97 1.8T Quattro 5-speed and pay about $21K if it had the sports
package (5 spoke wheels, sport seats - jacquard satin finish, sport steering wheel)
if it was in great shape. The quattro adds about $1K on the price on a used car, IMHO.
It should have the moonroof (remote locking is standard when it has the moonroof).

The trip computer you can live without....and maybe the bose upgrade. The CD
changer can be added later from Clair Parts Express or Blaufernugen for about
$430 - $495 (or thereabouts)

Anyway, thats my 2 cents worth..

Steve S.
an old timer

I sell cars, not Audi's, but I looked up the value of the car.
Assuming it is a quattro I think that it's a good deal assuming you want an auto and can live w/out the sport pkg.
If it's not a quattro you may as well buy a new Jetta
(hehe)
:)

if your only other choice is a american or jappaneese car BUY the jetta i bought my 96 a4 with sunroof and convinece package and all weather package mine isn't quatto and i paid 17.5k for mine and it had 50kmiles on it

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=179926480

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=175696802

http://auctions.yahoo.com/auction/9816584

Great input guys thanks. Steve, what would you pay for this car, then? It does not have Quattro, and while it may be a little more "stripped down" I don't think I can afford much more. what about if I talked him down to $18,500. Is that a good deal?

Johnny

you are done with it...non Quattro A4 residuals SUCK...sorry. :(