2004 Audi A4 1.8t All Wheel Drive

Past ANDY ENRIGHT

Introduction

By the terminate of 2004, Audi's second generation A4 was offset to struggle a little in the face of mounting competition that included a new BMW 3 Series and a thoroughly revised version of Mercedes' C-class. Audi'south response in early 2005 was to thoroughly facelift the machine, meliorate its perceived quality, sharpen the treatment and add some new engines. The result was the revised MK2 A4 we look at in detail here.

It all worked pretty well too, the result beingness the creation of a car that many feel to exist the almost desirable compact executive car money tin can buy. Mercedes might charge more for its C-Class and BMW might sell more of its three Series just in terms of image, the A4 hits the nail on the head these days. Buyers haven't been slow to recognise this and Audi has trebled its sales in the last twelve years, the A4 being the prime mover and shaker in this transformation.

Models

Models Covered:

Iv door saloons, five-door Avant estates and 2 door Cabriolets (1.8T, 2.0, 2.0T, iii.2, 4.2 petrol 1.ix, 2.0, 2.five, 2.7, iii.0 TDi diesel [base, SE, South line, S line SE, DTM, S4, RS4])

History

Time does funny things to perception. I had the opportunity to sit in an early Audi A4 last week and wondered what all the fuss was about. Was this the car we really raved about in terms of motel quality? It was all simply plastic. Only then then were all of its rivals, just less expensively so. These days customers demand more than mere petrochemicals and the mail-'05 A4 models feature splashes of chrome, soft leather and all sorts of 'surprise and delight' features in their cabins. It's become an Audi trademark to offer an interior that puts its rivals to the shame and this generation A4 is no unlike.

While the interior might not deviate from the Ingolstadt script, the outside of this A4 certainly did. Before this auto debuted, A4s were wholly low central things, Audi deciding that discretion was what buyers were after. Soaring sales figures and a few Le Mans wins under their belt changed all that. Audi was no longer a company that felt the need to offer an nearly apologetically low-key image. New Audi was an outfit that wanted to brand its presence felt a footling more than forcefully and the post-'05 A4 certainly did that, wearing the family unit front finish, the so-called twin-frame grille, a more aggressive stance and more than flamboyant detailing.

The range was introduced in early 2005 largely with conduct-over engines from the pre-facelifted version A4. It wasn't long however, before new powerplants came on stream. Basically, the primary news was the replacement of the former 163bhp ii.five V6 TDI diesel unit (out-moded by a new 170bhp 2.0 TDI engine) with a 180bhp 2.vii TDI powerplant borrowed from the larger A6. So in that location was the introduction of a range-topping 414bhp V8 for the flagship RS4 variants, with the saloon arriving in early 2006 and the Avant estate version six months later. Trim levels included the S line, which replaced the old Sport trim level and which was unveiled in April 2005. There was also a sporty express edition 2.0T FSI DTM model with stiffer suspension and big alloy wheels.

With these tweaks in place, by 2006, A4 buyers chose betwixt five diesel units: the older 1.nine-litre 115bhp TDI, then ii ii.0-litre TDI powerplants developing 140 and 170bhp respectively. At the top of the range, there were two V6 TDI units, that two.7-litre 180bhp powerplant and a 233bhp 3.0-litre V6 TDI unit also borrowed from the larger A6. Petrol power started at effectually £20,000 with a 130bhp 2.0-litre unit, but most buyers thought it well worth finding an extra £1,300 and upgrading themselves to the 163bhp 1.8T variant. Or even better, scraping together around £23,000 or so to become themselves behind the bicycle of one of the world's best engines, the 200bhp 2.0T FSI. This powerplant is so good that many questioned the need to spend any more than on the 256bhp 3.ii FSI, the desirable 344bhp V8 S4 quattro or even the 414bhp RS4.

The Cabriolet models got the post-'05 twin-frame front grille and other tweaks in March 2005, with the racy RS4 cabriolet arriving in dealers in December 2006. In 2008 an all-new A4 replaced this model.

What You Get

The postal service-'05 facelift inverse the basic look of this automobile - always a take chances. Looking at sales figures since, however, it seems to be a gamble that has paid off richly. The A4 now outsells the Mercedes C Class and the sales projections betoken that it will simply be a couple of years before it knocks BMW off the tops pot.

Where the A4 knocks its BMW 3 Series rival into adjacent calendar week is in interior blueprint and perception of quality. Put only, the A4 moved the game on a adept few notches. Older A4 were held every bit the class all-time in terms of build integrity and ergonomics but some felt that from a design perspective, the acres of black plastics were starting to wait a trivial likewise nineties. The postal service-'05 model rectified this, taking many of the design cues from the A8, including more than imaginative use of contrasting coloured trims, metal brightwork and electronic functionality.

Though improvements in the machine'southward crash structures optimised space, room in the back of this A4 still wasn't anything like class leading simply the Avant manor versions tin carry a useful sized load. Whole life ownership costs are ane of the reasons many buyers are drawn to the A4. Couple that with cleaner and more than fuel efficient engines that brand even more sense to company automobile users and this Audi will go along to attract British buyers in big numbers on the used market. The Cabriolet model is worth looking out for equally it offers the traditional A4 virtues with a very rigid chassis.

What You Pay

Please contact us for an exact up-to-date valuation.

What to Look For

You'll do well to find anything notable here. Corrosion is simply not an issue with Audis and another reason why resale values are high. Look for a fully stamped up service history and wait for uneven tyre article of clothing on the more powerful models. The RS4 requires specialist intendance and abused examples can be costly to put right.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on a 2005 A4 1.8T) A clutch assembly kit will be around £205 and an exhaust system (without goad) will exist nigh £250. An alternator should be close to £120 and a radiator around £160. Front brake pads are around £75, rear brake pads will be £fifty.

On the Road

The post-'05 A4 is certainly a practiced few steps ahead of its pre-facelifted predecessor in terms of commuter enjoyment. If you're used to older versions of the A4, and then you'll probably detect that the gearboxes are better besides. V and six speed manuals are available, depending on engine choice, while front-cycle drive A4 models also offering the option of a continuously variable transmission. If you lot prefer the all-atmospheric condition security of quattro all-wheel bulldoze, you might find a machine fitted with the very satisfying six-speed automatic that was offered as an selection.

Some other event Audi addressed with the post-'05 model was that of ride quality. To put it bluntly, earlier A4s didn't have the handling prowess to warrant their very house ride. Those customers who selected the sports pause option coupled with low contour tyres suffered even more in this respect over typical British B-roads. The mail service-'05 model rides a good bargain more than fluently than the pre-facelift version, with less abiding pitter-patter from the road surface transmitting itself into the cabin. It still suffers from some crash-land and thump over larger irregularities and driven back to back with a BMW 3 Series, it has to be said that this A4 however doesn't quite lucifer its Bavarian rival when it comes to dialling in a ride and treatment compromise. Notwithstanding, the '05 changes represented a big improvement and were plenty for nearly drivers. The RS4 in particular showed that Audi has in recent years learned a lot about building an enjoyable sports saloon.

This A4 adopted some of the A6's suspension parts in an effort to reduce unsprung weight and bigger brakes were introduced across the board with a trick brake disc wiping arrangement that improved wet weather braking response. Servotronic speed-sensitive steering, originally only fitted to the S4 sports models, was fitted as standard in the post-'05 catamenia to the ii.0T FSI, 3.2FSI and 3.0TDI variants. Many cars came fitted with the optional xenon headlights with swivelling, adaptive cornering beams that make dark driving a whole lot easier.

Overall

Audi has yet to build a poor A4 and the trend continues here. Stronger in every department compared to its predecessor, the facelifted post-'05 model actually takes the fight to its established rivals. The all-time cars for used buyers in terms of talent and availability are undoubtedly the 2.0TDI 170 diesel and the 2.0T FSI petrol, although if you lot tin run to an RS4, yous'll not regret it for a infinitesimal.

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2004 Audi A4 1.8t All Wheel Drive

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