2002 Audi A4 3.0. Photo: Audi. Click image to enlarge

The 2002 A4 came with either a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (170 hp), or a 3.0-litre V6 engine (220 hp). A face-lifted 2005.5 model brought with it new engines: a 2.0-litre turbo four (200 hp) and a 3.2-litre V6 (255 hp).

Thrill seekers will be interested in the sportier S4 model. The 2002 S4 was a carry-over from the slightly smaller previous generation car, powered by a 250-hp twin-turbo V6. The S4 went on hiatus for 2003 but returned to the line-up in 2004 in second-generation guise and powered by a gutsy 340-hp V8 sourced from Audi’s larger A6 and A8 model lines. Also new in 2003 was a sexy convertible version of the A4, which was available in “S” trim as well. In 2006, Audi began selling the RS4, a 420-horsepower version of the S4.

Audi geeks refer to the 2002-2005 A4 by its platform code, B6; the face-lifted 2005.5 model, sold through 2007, is also known as the B7.

2004 Audi A4 Cabriolet 3.0 Quattro. Photo: Russell Purcell. Click image to enlarge

2002 and 2003 models got one of four transmissions: there were five- and six-speed manuals, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a five-speed automatic. The five-speed manual went away in 2004, and a six-speed auto replaced the five-speed auto in 2006. The CVT could only be had in four-cylinder, front-wheel drive cars.

Given that CVTs employ relatively new technology, it might be best to avoid a used A4 equipped with one of these novel transmissions. Posts on Audi message boards vary, from those indicating that there have been some durability issues with the A4 CVT, and others have experienced no issues whatsoever.

2006 Audi A4; photos by Laurance Yap. Click image to enlarge

Regardless, while any transmission can fail, CVT repairs and replacement units (if needed) are likely to be expensive on A4s no longer covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

The A4 has generally been a reliable car, with electrical problems being the most common shortcomings. Faulty ignition coilpacks and power windows are two of the main culprits in that regard. A sunroof that refuses to close is a common issue, but this seems to be less of a defect and more of a quirk, according to owners posting in Audi forums online: the problem appears to be related to the heat of the sun affecting the sunroof’s mechanicals and causing the “pinch protection” function to engage. Thus, the roof will close partway, and then reopen. Try it a few times and it should close, though.

Certainly, the A4’s reliability isn’t as strong as its Japanese competitors. Those cars are less-expensive too, but they lack that inherent German-ness that makes the A4 such a special car to drive. While many A4 drivers feel that later versions of this generation A4 are more reliable, others suggest that any A4 that hasn’t been abused and that comes with complete maintenance records should be a safe bet. That’s a sensible suggestion and would serve you well in your search.

2006 Audi A4 2.0T Avant (top photo) and 2003 A4 1.8T Avant; photos by Brian Early and Paul Williams . Click image to enlarge

Check these threads for more clues on what to watch out for in a used A4. First, a couple related to CVT durability, one at AudiWorld.com and another at Fourtitude.com; the Tech Talk section at AudiZine.com is useful, and finally, back to AudiWorld.com for a thread about which model year A4s are the safest used car bets.

Fuel consumption is best in four-cylinder models, with NRCan figures in the 9 to 10 L/100 km and 6 to 7 L/100 km ranges for city and highway driving respectively. Naturally, six-cylinder models are thirstier, using anywhere from 12 to 13.5 L/100 km in the city and around 8 L/100 km on the highway. While the V6’s power numbers are far superior on paper, keep in mind that even the four-cylinder is a potent motor, with performance that feels stronger than its numbers suggest. The V6, however, sounds better; both engines use premium fuel.

The A4 is a safe car, though, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which gave the 2002-2007 A4 four stars for driver and passenger protection in frontal crash testing; and in side impact testing, it gave the A4 five and four stars for front and rear seat occupant protection, respectively, in side impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2002-2007 A4 its “good” rating in frontal offset crash tests, and side impact test results earned 2005 and later models a “good” rating too; 2004 and earlier models weren’t tested for side impact crashworthiness. Standard ABS, side airbags and traction control add to the A4’s safety quotient.

2003 Audi A4 1.8T Avant quattro. Photo: Paul Williams. Click image to enlarge

According to Canadian Red Book, used A4 values range from $16,350 for a 2002 front-wheel drive model to $51,700 for a 2007 A4 S-Line 3.2 Quattro. Naturally, S4 and RS4 versions command far more cash; a 2002 S4 is worth a little more than $25,000, while the nutty RS4 is worth close to $90,000 - not much of a discount compared to its 2007 MSRP. I’m a wagon geek, so I’d go for a 2004 or 2005 A4 3.0 Avant with the six-speed manual; Canadian Red Book pegs values for these cars at about $28,600 and $33,600 respectively.

The A4 represents a good value for a German-built entry-level luxury car, with lower used values than a comparably equipped 3-series, but it gives up a little in reliability to its Japanese rivals, which tend to be an even better value used than the A4. It all comes down to how much that German-car feel and the cachet of the Audi name means to you.

On-line resources:

www.fourtitude.com - A popular forum with sections for each generation of Audi model from classic to modern, including a section dedicated to the 2002-2005 Audi A4.

www.audiworld.com - Like fourtitude.com, audiworld.com features forums broken down into sections for each Audi model, including one for the 2002-2005 A4. Audiworld also has a long list of member-contributed technical articles. Also features classifieds and a useful aftermarket directory.

www.audizine.com - A comprehensive site with lots of information on all Audi models. Includes very busy forums (including one specific to 2002-2005 A4s), technical information and how-tos and Audi news.

www.audifans.com - This site deals mainly with technical information, but information is broken down based on engine, rather than body style. Much of the information centres around older Audi models, but some applies to newer cars as well.

www.topaudisites.com - Lots of links to lots of different Audi websites.

[source:canadiandriver ]

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