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Hi Jack,

We are considering purchasing a 2005 Audi A4 3ltr TDi Deisel manual S/W. Done 160km. It is an English import and is for towing a 5mtr boat & family motoring.

Do you feel this could be a good choice of vehicle? Any major things to look out for? We would get it AA checked before purchase. Other than this vehicle what other make & model would you think a good choice at around the $25,000 mark. We have always had diesel but are open to advice please.

There are reasons to say no and reasons to say maybe.

The fact the car is a manual is a huge plus for me. Automatic repairs on any European car (especially Audi) can be very-very expensive.

The mileage is a slight negative although a proven past service history would provide added peace of mind. If the engine runs a cambelt which is due for replacement, then costs will be high so make sure some sort of allowance is made in your buying price.

You may also need to ensure the spec level of the car is similar to NZ new and parts are readily available.

Generally European cars can cost a lot more to maintain than the mainstream Japanese brands due to their higher spec levels. We also get to hear about a lot of problems with air-conditioning with Euro’s, more so the used imports.

Diesel is certainly beneficial when towing. Downsides can be you pay separate Road User Charges plus higher registration and maintanence costs. The higher the distances travelled the more Diesel comes into its own.

As an alternative, the Toyota Prado diesel has long been a very popular choice for towing.