Entry-level shedding - bag o’ sand Audi A4

[Moos3h]

Decided to dip my toe into (official) shedding and had a good look around for what I could get. In my area, it seems to be mostly smaller cars and given I’m aiming to make this the daily driver, I was hoping for something larger albeit avoiding anything requiring weapons-grade brave pills.

The hours spent on autotrader have (I think) paid off, collected this yesterday. Audi A4 1.9 PD 130 in (mostly) black. It’s been around the world (and can’t find it’s baby) at 166k but two cambelt changes and full service history indicate an owner who gave at least a vague toss about it.

Pics in a mo when I get a grip of the technology.

[nickfrog]

You've probably chosen the sweetspot of TDIs in terms of power/reliability/mpg. I had one of those and it felt pretty bomb-proof, particularly if the cambelt and waterpumps are done at the right interval or just before. Not a massive cost in the grand scheme of things. Good move!

PS I presume you're 48 from the Lisa Stanfield reference ?

[MorganP104]

nickfrog said:

You've probably chosen the sweetspot of TDIs in terms of power/reliability/mpg. I had one of those and it felt pretty bomb-proof, particularly if the cambelt and waterpumps are done at the right interval or just before. Not a massive cost in the grand scheme of things. Good move!

I'd agree with this. The old VAG 1.9 TDi lump, particularly in 130bhp spec, provides a great blend of performance and reliability. When it comes to diesel shedding, unless you've taken a whole bag of brave pills, your smart money in the £1,000-£1,500 bracket goes on something fitted with a VAG 1.9 TDi.

I practically live on a diet of brave pills, so I'd be looking at something a bit different (I once had a 2.5 V6 TDi Audi A4 Avant), but that's just me.

[Sillyhatday]

I have a mechanic in the family. I remember them telling me about a particular taxi that he had serviced for a long time. It had one of these 1.9 lumps in it and had racked up 1000000 miles. They told me it had 3 gearboxes and a top end rebuild on the engine. The bottom rotating assembly, had never been touched in all those miles. Along with many other taxis easily getting 400000 miles with these engines. Apparently the interiors looking like a tramp had been squatting in them

Solid cars OP, got thumbs up over there