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The four rings of Audi badge are symbolic of one of the oldest and most established car manufacturers

in Germany. Audi UK is now the most successful Audi importer on the continent with a range of prestigious new cars. There are currently 133 Audi Centres in the UK, which have been central in establishing the reputation of the Audi brand as a member of the prestige group. AUDI A4 2001 - 2004 The second generation Audi A4 made its world debut in 2001, featuring a brand new Volkswagen Group B6 (PL46) platform and revised petrol/gasoline engines. This generation Audi A4 sedan also introduced range's first Fuel Stratification Injection (FSI) Technology engine - the 2.0L petrol unit - in 2002. Both the 1.9L TDI and 2.5L V6 TDI units were now available with 'quattro' permanent all-wheel-drive system and standard Tiptronic transmission. For the remaining front-wheel-drive models, a newly-developed Multitronic continuously variable transmission was introduced as standard feature. Car's exterior design also underwent some slight changes. The second generation A4 Avant comes very close to the standards set by the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It's a well built and high quality estate that offers good carrying ability and excellent all round comfort. It's understated looks, solid interior and superb reliability make it a favourite for family buyers and it's a superb used buy. There's a also a wide range of powerful and efficient petrol and diesel engines. The A4 Avant has a wide engine line up, kicking off with a 1.6 but this engine doesn't really have the punch to match A4's sports exec image and is best avoided unless you're on a very tight budget. The 1.8T is available with 150bhp, 163bhp and 190bhp, but the 150bhp has enough power for most needs while the 2.0, 2.0 FSI and 2.4 are powerful and refined. The big V6 3.0-litre engine is very fast indeed but for real performance it's the S4 quattro models that truly deliver with a whopping 340bhp from it's 4.2-litre V8 powerplant. The diesel are very good - although the entry-level 1.9-litre TDI, available in 100bhp, 115bhp or 130bhp variants, is a little noisy. The refined V6 2.5 TDI is available with 155bhp, 163bhp or 180bhp. Audi's premium saloon is much improved over earlier cars and has been tuned to deliver a pleasing drive that is responsive yet highly composed. Even compared to other German rivals, the ride can be quite firm, but the trade-off is a more sporty drive. It's good through corners with very little body roll and precise, responsive steering. It's not quite on par with the BMW 3-Series but it's not far behind either. Thankfully, space has been improved significantly over the previous model and longer journeys are much more pleasant as a result. The A4 is a confident motorway cruiser and can happily coast for hours on end with minimal noise and fuss. The seats are excellent with good support and rear passengers get decent room too. The firm suspension, especially on Sport models, get be a little crashy in town though. The A4 Avant trades some of its practicality for good looks, but is still more than capable of being the family carry-all. The cabin is a bit short on storage space but the boot is more than reasonable and it's better than it's predecessor. Rear space is good, but taller passengers may find it a little cramped, especially for knee room.

All models are fitted with 15-inch alloy wheels, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, ABS, anti-theft alarm, colour coded door handles and mirrors, driver and front passenger front and side airbags, electric front windows, electric headlight adjustment, electrically adjustable door mirrors, electronic brake-force distribution, climate control, ESP, front and rear foglights and power steering. SE models add 16-inch alloy wheels, a drivers information system, leather four-spoke steering wheel, and electric rear windows (both six-cylinder models only), while Sport adds a sports leather steering wheel, plus sports seats and suspension, too. In 2004 the Sport model was introduced which added a styling kit and five-spoke 17-inch alloys.
A great example of clear design, simple controls and refinement, the A4 cabin has a truly upmarket feel to it. The instrument dials are easy to read and features like the clever trip computer are straightforward to operate. The driving position is spot on and all round visibility is excellent too. Thanks to a good four-star Euro NCAP crash rating and an abundance of safety equipment fitted as standard, the A4 is a reassuringly safe vehicle. All models get ESP and ABS while security is taken care of by the anti-theft alarm and VIN-etched windows. Rear side airbags are also options on top of the six fitted as standard.

Like the rest of the Audi range, the A4 looks like an excellent bet for reliability. As ever, read the service history before buying and make sure it gets serviced on time when you own it.

Car check problem points Body: No major problems reported.


The A4s desirability means it will hold its price well so don't expect too many bargains. Many will have done big miles but if serviced regularly this shouldn't be a worry and will give you some bargaining power. If you've got one eye on costs then avoid the V6 models and stick to a small petrol or 1.9 TDI. If you want towing power get a 2.5-litre V6 TDI. Thanks to its premium image the A4 is a sought after car, especially for family buyers who want something more upmarket than a Mondeo or Vectra. Priced sensibly it will be snapped up in no time, especially if it's a diesel model

Diesel 1.9 TDI (100 HP)1.9 TDI (115 HP)1.9 TDI (130 HP)2.5 TDI (155 HP)2.5 TDI (163 HP)2.5 TDI (180 HP) Petrol 1.8T (150 HP) 1.8T (190 HP) 2.4 V6 3.0 V6 1.6 1.8 T (163 HP) 2.0 2.0 FSI Cylinders:L4 Displacement:1596 cm3 Power [KW(hp)/RPM]:75(102)/5600 Torque: (148/3800 Nm/RPM) CO Emissions:185 g/km Top Speed: 118 mph (190 km/h) Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 Km/h): 12.6 s Length: 180.6 in (4587 mm) Width:69.8 in (1773 mm) Height: 56.2 in (1427 mm) Front/rear Track: 59.9/59.9 in (1521/1521 mm) Wheelbase: 104.3 in (2649 mm) Cargo Volume: 16.2 cuFT (445 L)

Unladen Weight:2866.5 lbs (1300 kg) City:21.8 mpg (10.8 L/100Km) Highway:39.2 mpg (6 L/100Km) Combined:30.5 mpg (7.7 L/100Km)

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