What do I need to know about the 2003 Audi A4?
What do I need to know about the 2003 Audi A4?
Joe Kindregan (Athenry)Nov 2012 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Joe,
In general this is a sound purchase, though there are a few things to look out for as ever. We'd advise readers to get as full a service history as possible, even on a relatively old car such as this. On the diesel models check for smooth running and have a look at the condition of the oil. Walk away if it's filthy or there's blue smoke in the exhaust. Black smoke under acceleration shouldn't be an issue though.
The 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol models are known to have issues with their coil packs, while many have air conditioning problems. Just make sure all switches work as you'd expect and check that the air conditioning gets cold within a few minutes. Minor electrical gremlins seem to be this car's biggest problem, but don't let that put you off - just thoroughly check the car you're considering buying.
As ever, we'd advise you to bring along a mechanic to inspect the car before you commit any money.
Let us know how you get on.
Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Adviser@Shane_O_D