Audi A4 for first car

Hello AF, audi owners

I was wondering if you guys thought the A4 would be a good first car.

I have around 10K saved up for a car, and I have searched many options. But since I dont physically own this car, i was wondering if I could get some questions answered.

Insurance: how is it? it isnt really considered a sports car is it? its 4 doors :D.

Reliablility: if regular maintenance was done on the vehicle (timing belt, water pump etc) every X amount of miles, are there anything/parts on the car i should be worried about? anything that gives out easily? how are the part costs on the car if they need changing?

Gas efficiency: how is it on these cars? i was thinking of 3000gt vr4/300zx but with the arising gas prices, i want something thats a little easier on the gas

Modablility: suspension, induction, sound system etc? easy to mod? fun to drive? i know this car isnt supposed to be fast, but could it be moded to have it keep up with something along the lines of a prelude?

the a4 is turbo charged correct? can i just drop in a BOV?

Power: instead of modding are there any other audis with maybe a bigger engine but around the same price range that puts out a bit more power?

anything else you guys think i should know about the a4 will be appreciated...

thanks

SB

cmon, audi owners!!! i need a reply.

OK,
I have a '98 A4 quattro 1.8T with 96,500 miles on it. I have had the car for a year and a half and to start, I will list the things I have fixed with the dealer part price and the price I got it for.

Front wheel bearings: $80 each side from the dealer + labor; $40 a side after looking around + labor.

Oil pump: $250 from the dealer + $550 labor; $200 after looking around + $350 labor from a European only shop

New DV (which I would have fitted anyway): $35

New AC belt tensioner pulley: $125 from the dealer; $40 after some looking

Valve cover gasket: $25 from the dealer; looked and couldn't find it any cheaper (did the job myself)

New Brake Pads: Mintek red box for about $120 for all four wheels

Other than that, the only other thing to check is to make sure that the Cam belt has been changed at around 60,000 miles. That's a biggie.
I get pretty good gas mileage, I drive about 100 miles/day mostly freeway and I get right around 25 on the freeway and closer to 18-20ish around town. The car is very 'modable' with tons of options from chips to Diverter Valves to suspension, anything you want.

There is a huge discussion on BOV's or DV's for audi's, personally I wouldn't trust a BOV on an audi, cause the system wasn't designed to run with one. It is a closed loop turbo system. A DV works much better without the annoying noise too. A DV works the same way, it just diverts the pressurized air back to the air box instead of to the atmosphere.

It's a great car to drive, and definately has a lot of perks over many other cars. It is considered a luxury car. Along the lines of other engines, there's the 2.8, but it isn't turbo and not as easily modded. It does give a little more oomph stock though. Good luck with it and let us know what you decide!

yay, finally a reply...

it is very much appreciated...

i guess the stuff that really costs alot is the labor... could you have done the oil-pump by yourself?

also, wat do you pay for insurance if you dont mind me asking?

audi a4 is a great car man its only been to the shop 3 times for actual parts prolly only 500 dollars of couse u have to get the tune up and all that stuff but since ive owned form the parents no problems and there is 170,000 miles(dads in real estate)

i would highly doubt that an A4 is considered a sports cars...besides that i would say look up the insurance on like progressive or some other insurance company im sure you could figure it out with your own info

a friend has 98 2.8 4wd and runs great but matnence is really expensive. so if u dont have alot of extra money iwould get something that has cheaper parts

i would highly doubt that an A4 is considered a sports cars...besides that i would say look up the insurance on like progressive or some other insurance company im sure you could figure it out with your own info

It is considered a "sports sedan" and My first car was an A4.

sports car or sports sedan...what difference does that make...the fact is that it is a 3000lb plus car that produces hp from 150 to 190 depending on the engine in the first body style...ive got a 96 and i love driving it...its quick...but it isnt a sports cars...i get a lot of looks from people my age when im crusing around town...its a great car...but i hope nobody buys one and expects it to be doing burnouts and be the big winner in a drag race...so if its a sports car or a sports sedan it doesnt matter its a well built, beautifully designed, luxury car...not a rice rocket or a muscle car by any stretch of the imagination...so buy the car for what it is...to get back to the orginal post...its a great car