Buying a convertible

netr

netr

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Hello to everyone!
I am currently a driver of an A3 8P, 1.9 TDI sport. I will most likely buy a B6 convertible with 2.5TDI (I was also looking at 1.8T but with current gas prices in Slovenia this option would currently be out of reach). I would also like to have quattro, but these are quite rare or overpriced here.

Anyhow, what are the problems that these cars have? What should I test before buying? How reliable is the automatic transmission?

Thanks in advance
 
i would go for the 1.8t sport myself, (i have to say that.. iv got 1)
but any is good, the 2.5 are verry nice to drive as there fast enough to have fun in, and do good mpg,
but the 1.8t is sooooo tuneable its a proper good engine, and there not to bad on the old fule side of things, i get over 30 mpg out of mine on a regular basis, and its tuned up

as for things going wrong, keep an eye out on here, that your best bet..
plenum chanbers.....get them looked at though, dont whant wet feet &&and or electrics.

good luck and happy hunting mate
 
Thanks mate.... I will deffinately have a good look at the plenum chambers.

Any other problems with these cars? I have never owned a convertible, are there any things you have to especially look after? Any roof treatments?
 
audi upgrades
plenum chamber issue is for all B6's and B7's...

2.5TDI is a big heavy engine and although the torque is nice, it has with relatively low power (160bhp) compared to the quattro V6 TDI... you'd be better off with a 1.8T or a 1.8T quattro, if you can find one...

How much mileage you doing and how important is performance? A 3.0 V6 isn't that tunable, but it's a nice, smooth, powerful engine and you won't pay the artificially high premium most TDI's seem to attract these days...
 
I haven't moved 1.8T out of the picture yet. The insurance here is simmilar for 1.8T and 2.5TDI. For 3.0 V6 the insurance is almost 500€ more expensive, so 3.0 is out of question.

I am doing around 20000 km, so around 12500 miles per year. The performance is not that important. I am usually a steady (not slow) driver, but sometimes I put the pedal to the floor :)
 
2.5TDI might be okay for you: especially if diesel is cheap - we pay 20% MORE for diesel than unleaded.... so it's not always a great option.

Remember that the 2.5TDI in the cabrio is a much lower power FWD version: NOT the same as the one that comes in quattro for saloon/avant only... your tuning options will be a little limited as that is a LOT of torque to put through the front wheels only.

Just make SURE that if you get the auto (multitronic) that it's had the full 7 plate clutch conversion as they were the highest torque engines to have the old generation multitronics... Audi shoudl ahve recalled and replaced them all though, but no guarantees...
 
Thanks for the heads up about the power, but I think it will be enough (161 bhp). Currently i have 1.9TDI with 104 bhp. I am also not thinking of tuning, because on our roads everything over 150 bhp is enough.

I was looking also at multitronics, but a lot of people say that it is better to stay away from them. Or have a pile of money ready if something goes in the transmission.

What about the comparison of 1.8T againt 2.5TDI? What are the main differences between the two? As I said I am not thinking of tuning potentials. Does 1.8T have less problems?
 
Mrs B has the chipped 2.0 tdi. Runs very well and has good grunt.
Problems with cable snap in the drivers door is a common issue but apart from everyone trying to back into it in car parks there's no other problems
 
yeah but 2.0tdis are b7's :)
The car parks are obviously nightmares for Audi owners :)
 
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4 adults in is fine, I'm over 6 foot tall so I mov my seat forward a little to drive but it's fine.
 
plenty of room for 4.

As for buying a cab and what to check etc

Make sure it has the manual roof key, inside the fuse box dash board. See if i has been used much gives you an indication as to the roofs mechanical history

As about a wind deflector, these hold strong money on ebay and dont even bother with dealer prices. Most convertible owners will have one Im sure, but they may hold on to it to sell it on for £££.

Other than those two things, its pretty much like buying any car.

P.S Oh and obviously, ask to see the roof in operation.
 
Thank you! Good suggestions :)
What about boot space? It seems that space is quite low, due to the roof?
Do you guys drive your convertibles in winter?
 
I got my wind deflector for 50 quid on eBay but I got lucky. Boot space is fine, make sure the lever to raise the roof box works properly as they are prone to failure. I use my cab every day....roof down and heated seats woooo !
 
if you do go for a multitronic, make SURE it has have the 7 plate clutch conversion... about £1500 - if you go 2.5TDI, then it should have been a mandatory recal... 1.9TDI's and 1.8T's were replaced at a discount, depending when they failed.
 
Thanks guys!
Are these recalls written anywhere? Because I do not belive, that many cars here in Slovenia have been on such recalls. And also, is there any problems on these recalls if the car has not been serviced by Audi?
 
i had my coil pack done by audi, and the car has not got a full service history (only coz audi lost it) so i dont think theres a problem there
 
Thanks.... I will probably go look at this car: www.Avto.net (hope that links are not restricted to IPs - the page is in slovenian)
Anyway, xenons, rear park sensors, full leather, full DIS, aluminum interior trims, cruise control, 2.5TDI, multitronic... what do you think about it?

The only thing I don't like is the four-spoke steering wheel...
 
looks nice, like the wheels, there r8 reps, i have got those on mine, though mine are gun meatal and polished.

if it drives ok and everything works , then i would be happy to have it, go and have a play with it , see what you think
 
Of course that is my issue too... If I buy it, I will fit original concert 2 and then 6-cd changer or the parrot mki9200.
 
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