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Audi A4 Avant
If you want to buy a small-to-medium estate car you’ll find a wide choice. For
a combination of great value, good looks and peerless longevity I reckon
that the Audi A4 Avant takes some beating.
Launched in March 1996, a year after the saloon, the Avant was unique in
offering drivers the choice of front-wheel drive or the quattro four-wheel
drive. Despite a hefty premium of £2,000 for the quattro system many buyers
chose it, and on the road the four-wheel drive creates a feeling of
sure-footed stability, particularly in the wet.
On the downside, the quattro system’s extra weight and friction dent
performance a little and can reduce fuel economy by up to 5mpg.
If you want to get the best fuel economy choose the combination of front-wheel
drive and a diesel engine. You’ll be spoilt for choice with a range of
engines from 1.9 litres and 90bhp, up to 2.5 litres and 150bhp. All units
are turbo-charged, Audi managing to produce 90, 110 and 115bhp from the same
1.9 litre unit through the use of different engine fuelling maps. But for
real grunt the 2.5 V6 is unbeatable — it even sounds good and is one of the
best diesel engines available in any car.
The entry level 1.6 litre petrol engine works hard to move the 1200kg kerb
weight with its meagre 101bhp, and if you add a family and luggage to the
equation it’s fair to say that it’s not up to the job. Buyers are better off
spending an extra £800 and finding a used 1.8 with 125bhp.
Audi also offers this engine with a turbocharger in the 1.8T. It’s no rocket
but the turbo adds plenty of low-down torque and gives owners the potential
for further power from after-market tuning companies. Topping the range are
a couple of V6 engines of 2.6 and 2.8 litre capacity, the larger one being
superb for towing.
Despite compact dimensions (it’s shorter than a Ford Mondeo hatchback) the
Avant offers reasonable luggage space, with a split folding rear seat on all
models. The factory-fitted roof bars also accept a range of luggage-carrying
systems, including bike racks and top boxes.
Under the skin the A4 Avant is superbly built, the galvanised body should keep
its looks and the dashboard and seats take high miles and hard work with
ease.
The five-speed manual gearbox is precise and the clutch is nicely weighted. If
your preference is for an automatic the optional tiptronic transmission will
not disappoint. Leave it in auto mode and you can drive all day
effortlessly, or slip it into tiptronic and you can instead enjoy fast
clutchless changes controlled by a nudge of the gearlever.
The most popular used buys are the quattro and SE models, both of which come
with climate control and alloy wheels. In September 1997 Audi added
passenger and side airbags to the entire range and the SE models gained a
useful on-board computer.
A general softening of used A4 Avant values in the past six months now makes
these cars great value, and with further depreciation and running costs
likely to be reasonable, now is a great time to buy one.
On the forecourt
VITAL STATISTICS
Model: Audi A4 Avant 2.5TDI
Engine: V6, 2496cc
Power: 150bhp
Transmission: five-speed tiptronic auto
Fuel: 41.5mpg (combined)
Acceleration: 0 to 60mph: 9.2sec
Top speed: 135mph
Roof rails: These come as standard on all cars
Split fold rear seat: A standard fitting on all cars
Quattro: Permanent 4x4 quattro versions are incredibly sure-footed and
worth about £500 more
Catalytic converter: If it rattles it needs replacing; some models have
two, which cost £600 each
Colours: Avoid cars in bright colours unless priced particularly
competitively
Airbags: Twin front and side airbags are standard since September 1997
Engine: 1.8T is a favourite with engine tuners who can squeeze 250bhp
from it. Avoid under-powered 1.6 litre petrol
Climate control: Simple to use with digital read-out, standard on SE
and quattro models
Front suspension wishbones: If they groan they need replacing at an
approximate cost of £600 apiece
Alloy wheels: Standard on SE and quattro models
THE ONE TO BUY
Audi A4 Avant 2.5TDI SE tiptronic 2000 W-reg with 40,000 miles and full Audi
service history. Pay £13,750 at a dealer or £12,750 privately.
OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY...
2001 51-reg Saab 3.0 V6 TiD estate
2001 51-reg Volvo V40 1.9D Sport Lux
2001 51-reg Rover 75 2.0 CDT estate
1999 V-reg BMW 320d SE Touring
1999 T-reg Mercedes-Benz C250 TD
VALUES: Audi A4 Avant 2.5TDI SE tiptronic
Cars with manual gearbox worth £400-600 less than automatics. Source:
estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. 'Trade' is what a
dealer would pay to buy your car; 'retail' is what you would pay a dealer