tires and brakes are standard wear items on any/every car. my 84 (V)Audi Coupe GT has had its voltage regulator replaced instead of the entire alternator. starter motor was rebuilt. water pump and radiator were replaced. a few exhaust repairs over the course of 10 years. parts listed cost about the same as Vanagon parts. or Jetta, Golf, Rabbit, Scirrocco. I was very lucky to buy a car that had been very well taken care of from the start to last 30 years to rack up 190,000 miles.  cars are theworst thing to do to money so, it's always a crap shoot      ; D           mike
       From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
 To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
 Sent: Friday, April 17, 2015 5:21 PM
 Subject: Re: Fryday NVC - Audi opinions?
   
Audi's are good cars, but parts are not cheap.  135k is the time where stuff starts to fail--alternator, starter, exhaust, water pump, tires, battery, brakes, etc., often for the second time.  If the price is right and some of these things have been replaced recently, it could last you a long time with no major problems.

Before you buy it, do an oil analysis:  www.blackstone-labs.com. It will tell you a lot about the engine.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Gene P
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2015 12:03 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Fryday NVC - Audi opinions?

Thinking of getting a German cousin for the ol grey wolfsburg to give him a break, let him stay in some in the winter, etc.  Vehicle is a 98 Audi A4 Avant (little wagonlike hatchback) with 135K miles.  Upside is one owner and I know the owner, so confidence in how it's been driven and maintained.  Downside is unknown, am I jumping into a money pit with a needy vehicle I won't be able to maintain?  If any of y'all have experience or opinions with these things, I'd like to hear.

Thanks,
gp