Trying to weigh up priorities in my life...is this A4 worth the cash?

GinG

GinG

GinG

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As I am due to move in to our 1st home next month, I require a 2nd car to go to work.

I would love to have a Subaru STI, running costs not so much of a problem but obviously eats into the 'spare' money we will have left after the bills.

However thinking about it my head is saying the extra holiday a year would be nice so go out and get a much cheaper to buy & run car.

A colleague at work is selling his 96 - 01 style 2.4 Auto audi A4 @ £2200

It is in imaculate condition, full service history, about 70k on the clock. 2 owners from new (was the MD's car of the business we work for before hand so I know the history), auto climate control, cruise, full heater leather etc etc

I know this is the total polar opposite of the Subaru, however I could probabally run this for about 4 years for similar costs to what the STI would cost in a year! (including purchasing costs).

I am still weighing up the options, this is by far the most boring way to go forward, however I guess all I am asking is...would I be paying the right amount of cash for the car? Also anything to look out for on these?
 
I'm going to say no, based on fact that its the older shape (if its the 96 - 01 production run), yet its a 2001 so will be hit by the higher tax bands.
 
Firestar_3x said:
I'm going to say no, based on fact that its the older shape (if its the 96 - 01 production run), yet its a 2001 so will be hit by the higher tax bands.
Click to expand...

Not really :confused:

Besides, it's more likely to be a late X plate if its a 2001, which is taxed as PLG not CO2 based.
 
If it is as nice as you say it is, you could do a lot worse for the money I suppose. I have no idea what sort of 'issues' these sufferfrom as they age, but if it's liablew to start throwing bills at you over the next few years it may not work out as cheap as you hope.
 
I'd always put house / investment before car. Tho there was a moment when I was going to pay in the deposit for my house that I had the 'you know, I could go and get an F430 with this'
 
I have bought the house so it isn't stopping me from buying it, basically it will reflect the lifestyle.

Is the car priced right? Is it too dear or is it cheap?
 
From experience of running a 2000 a3 1.8t don't bother car has cost me the best part of 2k in 14 months in repairs/servicing just one thing after another lamda sensor maf airbag warning light abs fault these old audis can chuck bills at an alarming rate
 
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Important question, how far is work? The audi would do nicely if it was what? 20miles or half an hour max either way. Also is it mostly in traffic or are you able to do the vast majority at nsl? How u use a car can affect your choice. No point sitting in traffic jams in an STi.
 
A4s are very dull cars...

As for the price, it seems a little bit steep? Especially when you can get slightly older, smaller engined examples of the same model for around the grand mark all day long.
 
Could you not get something inbetween the two?

It's like going out with Susan Boyle because you can't get with Kierra Knightly. Why not just go for one of the sugar babes?
 
The only advice I can give regarding priorities is that you WILL underestimate the costs involved in purchasing/maintaining your own home.

Figure out your budget very carefully and add 20% or so on top of it. If that still leaves you enough to run an old, large engined automatic saloon then go for it.

I'd seriously consider something boring like a Mondeo for the first year or so until you've got a better idea of your outgoings, unless you're earning enough to make it not even worth considering.

I had a cheap to run car (diesel mondeo) for the first 18 months in my first flat and I still managed to **** it up when it came to buying a more expensive car
 
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