Scotty! I'm not sure if you'll see this but I'd really appreciate some advice! I want to get a winter car that is reliable for me to go to school with and I can keep for a long time until I start a family. I was originally looking at Grand marquis and Lexus Ls' but then I came across a 2001 Audi A8 4.2 Quattro automatic with 280000km on it. Considering I live in Ontario the winters get really bad some years so awd would be nice but im not sure about the reliability! I can work on some easy to moderate stuff in my garage ( I replaced turbos on my mks) but anything more than that i wouldn't want it because I can't afford a shops rate. Thank you for any advice and have a great day!
What’s your budget?
280,000 km is about 174,000 miles and you are talking about a vehicle that is 20+ years old with overengineered German tech. Short answer is No, do not buy that (endless) money pit.
If you're a student who can't afford to pay a mechanic, then you won't be able to afford to maintain 20yo, high-mileage, V8 moneypit Audi.
One computer module will fail and you'll be putting that thing right back up on Craigslist or whatever.
I would avoid. It’s a 20 year old Audi and they’re endless money pits, meaning that you have to put more money into the car to keep it running when it breaks.
Find a grand marquis if you like big cars. The Lexus LS gets expensive when you put miles on it.
The 01 A8 was an awesome car and much better built than the later ones. That said, it’s 20 years old and things are going to break. When they do, parts and labor are going to be extreme. If you really want a luxury cruiser with German style, and you don’t mind paying up for repairs (and if it passes inspection), the Audi could work.
But if you just want a roomy 2001 wintermobile, get a suburban, excursion, or the Grand Marquee. They will break just as much but be cheap to fix.
Your requirements point towards a Camry/Accord..
