Excellent car - and looks the part! (Audi A4 1.9 TDI Avant 110 / 115 HP)

Member Name: HelenHancox

Product:	Audi A4 1.9 TDI Avant 110 / 115 HP
Date:	20/06/02 (1027 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quality, Economy, Looks/design

Disadvantages: Minor niggles

I regularly change my car - get bored, need different features etc - but am always hamstrung by the fact that I need to drive an automatic due to a semi-disabled arm. For some reason I find that the good, high-spec cars of the small to medium size never have an auto transmission. And as for a diesel engine (for fuel economy reasons) - no chance.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Audi make a diesel auto estate - fantastic! For me, reliability is very important; I have been driving Japanese cars for many years for precisely that reason (and because they tend to do more automatic versions). However, the option of a diesel automatic was too good to pass up. Having struggled with 23-26mpg on most of my cars (I do like larger engines!) it was getting ridiculously expensive.

A second hand car was my only option as I had a budget of £10,000. I eventually found an S plate (3 years old) 1.9TDI 110 SE with 120,000 miles. The mileage didn't worry me - these cars can go on forever - but meant that the price was a fantastic £9,500, from a £24,000 list price 3 years before.

And the car has been great. I had to have 2 wheel bearings done fairly soon (they have a design life of 120,000 miles so that was fair enough) and the driver's door lock needed some oiling, but the car has been wonderful. I've done 7,000 miles in it in six months and it has been great. I'm getting between 45-50mpg which is fine for an automatic diesel - I think the manual gets 50-55mpg. On long motorway journeys I can get 60mpg. The car is a joy to drive, fast enough for me (the red i is very important, I think!) and it reasonably comfortable.

The downsides? No lumbar adjustment on the driver's seat - sometimes I find it difficult to get comfortable. It's also got a rather small boot for an estate - I have two large dogs (they don't normally go in it in case they make it smelly, but they will be for the summer holiday week, and
I expect they'll feel rather cramped. And not sure where our suitcases are going!!!). A friend has said that it can make you feel a bit queasy in the back on a long journey, but another passenger was fine. Who knows!

But all in all I would say it is an excellent car - reliable, interior is as good as new on a 125,000 mile car, and it was brilliant value for money. I would buy another one like a shot!

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