under $20k - Accord Euro vs Audi A4

[gzusfreak]

I know this forum will be slightly biased, but would like to know which i should choose.

I have roughly 20k to spend.

My requirements are:

- 4 doors
- smooth ride
- comfortable
- sunroof
- leather

I don't do a lot of driving but when i drive, i would like it to be comfortable =-)

Any comments welcome =) Thanks everyone!!

[max9907.0422]

i was in the same situation, at the end i saw a super hot euro n paid 26k for it, now i think about it i would be close to getting a IS250 for that money, anyway save up a bit more for IS250 IMO, or buy an EVO7 for around 20k, u will have more fun

[Type R Positive]

yeah, IS250 prices are cheap! I was suprised when I seen one up here in darwin for 3/5's of fark all.

[gzusfreak]

yeahhh i was thinking of the IS250 as well, but it's definitely way out of my budget!!

EVO7? well, the problem is i'm after a comfortable ride, not a zuped up rice car =p hahaha but i won't discount checking it out =)

[EKVTIR-T]

Neither of the 2 listed.

Audi has questionable reliability

I'd suggest the latest Lexus IS200/250 LS400/GS300,Toyota Chaser,Nissan 350gt Sedan


Yes the Evo7 Gt-A is an option but not exactly luxury :)

[gzusfreak]

hmmmm, latest lexus ........aint exactly under 20k =(
toyota chaser...... seems a bit old
nissan 350gt ..... not bad.... might put that on my possible list =)

[EKVTIR-T]

lol sorry didnt word that right

Meaning the latest year model you can get for your budget

[slknv]

I have both, 06 euro lux auto for my fiance, and 04 A4 avant turbo quattro s-line for my daily.

The euro is a brilliant daily driver, my fiance doesn't care about cars but won't let me take the euro away from her! Very comfortable and very reliable.

I bought the A4 middle of June, and for the first 6 weeks it was passed around 3 workshops :( Turned out to be a simple, common problem, easily fixed, but needs specialist care. I bought this one for the quattro (easier to drive up for the snow season), avant (wagon) as we're moving house soon, plus for the dog, mountain bikes etc (though it's not actually all that big in the back). This model only came in 6MT so it's not quite a good daily driver as the auto euro.

Anyway, if I had to pick only one as my daily, I'd probably pick the euro just because it's auto... i'm getting a bit old & lazy now! Though the audi has a nicer interior (just), internally a bit smaller (narrower shoulder room) than the euro. Audi has potentially more power available to it, though if you really want a fast car, you wouldn't buy the 1.8t to start with (had a GTR before the audi)

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IljG2ZDwYGc/TBcmZ4DGd4I/AAAAAAAACDQ/STT4EvMsOKU/s800/IMG_9646.jpg

[EKVTIR-T]

When did you sell your Supra?

[gzusfreak]

ooooo i was actually thinking about the audi a4 wagon.........hmmmmmmmmm, so ever since last year june, has the audi caused more problems?

Do you take your cars to the manufacturer for servicing or your own mech?

how much average for service for each?

[gzusfreak]

oops, i thought u menat last year june, now that i read it.... it's this year june hmmmm


slknv, i was looking at :

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=8586671&ref=Item&__Ns=pCar_PriceSort_Decimal%7c0%7c%7cpCar_RankSort _Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpCar_Mod el_String%7c0&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294965468% 204294965408&__Nne=15

[slknv]

yeah, only bought mine june this year -luckily I have an old civic as a spare car, so I drove that for 6 weeks while the mechanics tried to find out what was wrong. Anyway I'll be taking it to an independent audi specialist for servicing, there's no way i'd take my car to an audi stealer for servicing when it's out of warranty anyway! german cars will cost you (slightly) more to maintain than a japanese car as a generalisation, but the specialist I'll be using is very good and well priced, minor service is only about $150 inc oil filter.

As for the wagon in your link, the B6 A4 CVT was well known to have problems, eg see this link: http://www.ozaudi.com/forums/showthread.php/20021-Appalling-CVT-on-B6-A4. If you must have an auto, it shouldn't really be the B6 A4 CVT if you can help it - I think the 2.4 and 3.0 B6 came with a standard 4 or 5 speed auto, but best to check that yourself (or buy the manual transmission). Other common problems is a blocked oil pickup in the 1.8t - which is the problem that affected my car. First 2 mechanics couldn't figure it out, the audi specialist knew what it was straight away, fixed it fast & relatively cheap. You can get B6 A4 sedans as low as $12k, but I'd be checking it real thoroughly! Avants are always a little more.

[gzusfreak]

thanks for the advice!

yeah i heard that the quattro doesn't have the CVT.

I guess i'll make a decision closer to when i have the money to buy =D

Which audi mech do you goto? might as well care and share :)

[ultimatekenz]

I was in exactly the same boat two years ago, but my budget back then was 30k and i looked at lexus is200, is300, audi a4 and the euro. The is200 was nice but way to slow and underpowered, the is300 which i still have a soft spot for was awesome but hard to find one in good condition in my price range. And now the audi was really good to drive in and the interior was just a nice place to be but i questioned the reliability and general running costs of the car. And finally, the first euro i looked at and test drove i just thought i need to buy this now and i did :)

Hope this helps.

[gzusfreak]

i think i need to go test drive both =))

[djpro1]

As you know, Audis and most european cars are expensive to fix. Parts can take some time to get in, also a common problem I hear about audis is the electronics (a few friends of mine have A4's and have had lots of issues with doors not locking, windows not going down properly etc..)

They're both classy cars but it really depends what you want out of your daily driving. The euro is an excellent everyday car and very smooth too!

You can get many decent euros that have done around 50k km or even luxury models at around the 20k mark so keep looking and test drive as many as you can on the weekends because it's them test drives which will give u greater knowledge of how a decent euro should feel. Also, if you have a friend that owns either a euro or an A4, take them to look at the car and drive it for themselves.

Good luck hunting :D

[slknv]

Which audi mech do you goto? might as well care and share :)

audi spares in oakleigh, excellent service & price, and a good spare parts dept. The euro I take to eastern honda, their prices aren't that much more than independents for most things, and there's an extended warranty on the car for another year or so if I service with them. Thinking of trading in the euro for a legend or E350 next year if my fiance lets me!

If you go to look at B6 A4s, check the radio display for failing pixels, same with the DIS (in dash display). Service history would be good, but a 1.8t even with perfect servicing by stealerships can still get oil sludge problems, but it's not a massive problem if you can get it diagnosed & fixed like mine. The 2.0 is about as fast as a pet rock in terms of acceleration, you're better off parking the car and walking to where you want to go! I'm having some fuel consumption issues at the moment, about 12L/100km, but my car has an APR tune, fuel pump & big injectors that needs some tinkering with to get right.

Drove my euro to work today and loved having an auto transmission when stuck on bell street for an hour in traffic & rain, but can't wait to take the audi tomorrow :)

[gzusfreak]

ahhhhhhh all signs pointing to euro at the moment, thanks slknv and djpro1.

My main issue with the 02-05 euro is the interior trim just behind the gear stick. Beside the woodgrain interior, the other ones are always badly scratched or gets really dirty...hence i'm looking at the 2006 ones with the silver trim.

Having said that, the black euros look sexy and the tan interior gives it a touch of class, but i'm not a big fan of the woodgrain......... haha i'm so picky, i guess you can't have everything.......

i'll definitely be test driving and biding my time to see what comes up =)

[aaronng]

(a few friends of mine have A4's and have had lots of issues with doors not locking, windows not going down properly etc..)

Even the Euro has the same issues!

[gzusfreak]

Guys, s4 b6 is at least 40k.....

[antony]

I dont know if you will find any under $20000,but consider a Volkswagen Jetta if you like the Audi A4,as they are first cousins and similar in a lot of ways.
The 2.0 TSI is a real cracker.

[adhunt99]

I reckon the lower-end audis don't look very nice. You can get an 05 euro lux for $20k or less depending on Ks. That's a better car IMO.

[adhunt99]

PS I didn't like the woodgrain in my old 03 Euro Lux (or the graphite coloured one in my 05 at the moment) at all (nearly didn't buy the 05 cuz of it) - but after about a week I really didn't mind, it won't bug you after a few days :)

[j.meng87]

Go for the Accord for reliability in the long run, if your not gonna keep the car for a long time then the A4 will do. Might want to look at Maxima Ti also. It has all that you want and doesnt cost more than an Accord to maintain

[gzusfreak]

thanks for the great advice guys......

adhunt - mmmmm, but i still think the silver trim looks better than that odd looking weird pattern that they use in the 03-05
j.meng - oooo they look good indeed.... are they reliable? what are they like? anyone know anyone that has one?

[gzusfreak]

I just test drove a 2005 nissan maxima today...... it was awesome!! sigh, for the price that you pay compared to the honda accord euro, i think i'll have to give up my pursuit for the euro :(

[antony]

Do you REALLY want a Maxima though ???