Audi A4 estate obviously NB

[itsonlymoney]

I need to get myself a new company car and was thinking of the above in diesel. Has anyone any experience particularly on fuel economy.
Criteria is as follows, just for information and help in acsertaining its suitability.

as I will do approx 30-40k pa in it.
fuel economy very important.
service costs ditto.
comfort.
luggage space, need to carry tools, equipment and goods.

any suggestions on other makes welcome

Regards - Ian


<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[TomIsitt]

I met this bloke down the pub the other day trying to punt out an AMG E55...on an 03 plate, never raced or rallied (but frequently thrashed), one careless owner, decent nick. Only wanted £15k for it...I could put in a word for you

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jhr]

Ooooh

Kick a man when he's down!

Naughty, naughty /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[PhilF]

LOL

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jhr]

This was one of the choices I had when I replaced my car last year. I was put off by the fact that, as estates go, it didn't seem terribly roomy and, because it's perceived as a premium brand, you get less for your money than with some makes. This may or may not be an issue for you, depending on how many boxes you can afford to tick on the options list and/or how much perceived image matters to you.

Peugeot are changing models at the moment, but if the new 407 estate is half as good as the previous 406 with the 130 HDi engine, it'll be a cracker - and for the same price as the base level A4, you will probably get leather seats, SatNav and an in-car geisha girl.

Skoda Whateveritis and VW Passat are same car as A4, only cheaper, I think?

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I dont know which engine you are considering but I know somebody with the 2.5 tdi engine and he says it was'nt as economical as he was expecting plus he had engine problems at about 100k miles which Audi refused to help with as the warranty was a few weeks over. FWIW, he says he'll never buy another Audi again
We hired an A4 estate in Germany a few months ago and we found the boot space tight. Ours had the 1.9tdi engine which I found perfectly adequate. Btw did you know that A4 saloon has just been heavily revised so any A4 estate you buy now will be an old model in a few months
The Honda Accord estate (called Tourer I think) is supposed to have a stonking diesel engine and be a good drive plus its got a much bigger boot and is cheaper. Looks a bit like a hearse though

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[halcyon]

You could back Britain, Rover 75 tourer, or MG ZT-T135, costs nothing to look.

Brian

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[duncan]

I was only interested in the CC taxation and was very close to signing for an A4 1.9tdi vario with sportpack etc but switched to a C220 Cdi Estate auto when they got Euro4 and the extra hp out of the engine.
If I was actually paying for the purchase of the car as well the Audi would probably have got the sale on the basis of price and the deals on that model right now.
I haven't had the Merc a full week yet but it is exceeding expectations consistently........it's predecessor (CLK Cab....) is heading back and I will miss it when the sun shines (rain stops) and I don't need to get the OB in the boot!

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[andrewbarker]

Audi reliability but not the economy they make out. Bone jarring suspension really isn't good enough. Go for the Honda iCDTI.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jfm]

update on E55

There will be a few days delivery delay on that e55 AMG Tom. The "dealers" currently handling it have booked it in for a respray (they are 1972 vintage car thieves, apparently), and are currently assisting police with enquiries. Rumour is too that some bloke from Bradfut (with a driver's licence - how the hell did he manage that?) has turned up claiming to be the owner, cheek dammit, and also requesting the respray be cancelled cos he quite likes the original silver. So it might have dodgy title and some paperwork to sort out, but otherwise is a sound alternative to the A4

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tcm]

Re: git

anyway- i got it back!

The bloke in the pub sold it to some twat in plumstead who changed the plates and was on his way to get the car resprayed! Since nothing links the people in the car with the robbery - that's that, no prosecutions. I admit that i'm a bit let down that it wasn't stolen by some top-notch cat-burglar or expert wheelman like in "gone in 60 seconds"

Anyway, wife's handbag still missing, but the most important thing is that my skanky boat shoes are still in the back of the car. So, all alright eh?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[duncan]

Re: tracker?

did tracker contribute to it's return (as well as your blood pressure with the 'we haven't found it' call)?

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[AJW]

Not the same for image quality but I drove 500m in a Mondeo TD 130PS last week and was v impressed. Roomy & fast although 6 speed gearbox bit of a gimic imho. Estate is v roomy. Onboard computery thingy was giving 45mpg odd IIRC. Done a few miles in A4 Estate with colleague at work. Nice engine and feels well screwed together but not v. roomy at all. Can't speak for economy.

Howabout Volvo V50 as alternative? I think it looks better than the Audi and not at all pipe n slippers. New 4cyl TD engine.

HTH,
AJ

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tcm]

Re: RS6 NB

Hm, are you sure the fuekl econmy is that important? I mean, flippinek, it's not a cheap motor is it now? No. Admit it, it's an image thing. Skoda or rover wd be cheaper fuel but don't have the image.

Anyway, best thing wd be a RS6, and bugger the fuel economy. Also, regarding the fuel , you'll either be saving money (to eventually give to the kids) or saving valuable fossil fuel - which the kids will burn instead of you! What's the point in that? Buying huge powerboats and massive cars is actually a valuable service which help accelerate the development of other new sources of power, sort of.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[straight6]

Have you considered Jag X Type Diesel Estate?
More room, excellent engine, 4WD.
Should be around the same price.
Rated by all the mags, TV etc.

<hr width=100% size=1>Follow me - I'm right behind you

 

[tcm]

Re: tracker?

oh yes - no tracker and it wd be now resprayed red or white and being touted around some dreadful pub in (shudder) north london

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[duncan]

Re: tracker?

so how did it get recovered?

interestingly there would seem to be as much benefit in not advertising the fact that the vehicle has a tracker if you want goods back

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[jfm]

Re: tracker?

what happened with the tracker then? I mean why did it take so long for tracker to locate the car?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[LittleShip]

Ian,
Have a close look at the Renault Scenic 1.9 dci the privalige model has all the toys, the seats come out for carrying all the sailing stuff and 45+mpg. A bonus is that the local low life dont see it as a target???
Let us know what you chose so that some can have a go at you for your poor taste, and thats before you get it!!!!
All the best
Tom

<hr width=100% size=1>
I wish I'd been born rich instead of good looking ?

 

[britemp]

Have run a 1.9 TDi A4 as a co. car for a while. Driven hard it gave 33mpg, up to 40 if driven like a granny. Compared to the best modern diesels the Audi 1.9 (now 2.0) is a bit gruff and not overly pokey. I find the A4 like the BMW 3 a rather cramped car and the estate versions are more hatch than estate. Servicing was reasonably priced however on the Audi.

Personally I think the following cars are much better VFM and roomier:

Honda Accord Estate 2.2 CTDi - excellent engine.
MG ZT 135 diesel - BMW engine plus big cabin, great chassis and huge discounts.

New Pug 407 is OK, but not much of an estate and sadly it's a Peugeot! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
Diesel X-Type Jag is good also, but small and very Mondeo-ey.

As it's a company car but you are very concerned about fuel and maintenance, I assume they buy it and you run it?

If fuel economy is really that important how about LPG. Rover and Vauxhall do them ready converted. I pay 28p per litre for LPG - 30mpg on LPG at 28p per litre beats the hell out of 40mpg on diesel at 85p per litre!!!!!


<hr width=100% size=1><< Sig removed at request from Kim Hollamby - he thought it might scare forumites! >>