Cheapest Used Audi Vehicles - A3, A4, Q7

With today’s economic times, many people are searching for a good cheap vehicle. That is a deceptive term. There are so many other factors to consider when looking at used cars don’t be blindsided by the initial cost. You need to do your research and spend some time thinking about the type of vehicle that best fits your budget and your lifestyle.

Are you looking to carry kids around town, or would a two-seater do? Are you looking to tow a trailer on the weekends or is a sedan about the right size. Does value to you mean that you make an excellent deal or that the vehicles come with all the features you were hoping to have?

These are questions you need to ask first. When looking at overall costs, don’t forget to factor in the cost of maintenance, repairs, fuel economy, and especially the price you will need to pay in insurance premiums. When looking at used cars, the various options the previous owner added in can really bump up the price. If you don’t need those features then look for one that doesn’t have them or you will end up paying more than is necessary.

Audi is not the cheapest brand on the market today, and the company doesn’t aspire to that title. Audi has always focused on luxury and quality rather than price. However, three used Audi models routinely come in at the lower end of the used luxury vehicle price range. The Audi A4, Audi A4, and the Audi Q7.

2006 – 2009 Audi A3

The Audi A3 was introduced  to the US market in 2005 as an entry-level model. This model is shorter and lighter than the A4 2.0 Avant Quattro, the front-drive Audi A3 Sportback model.

At this time, the vehicle was offered as a five-door Sportback body style only. It is considered an entry-level luxury car. The vehicle is available as two trims – the 2.0 T and the 3.2 Quattro trims. Under the hood of the 2.0T is a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine and can come with the standard six-speed manual transmission. The Audi Quattro comes with a 3.2L V6 engine, which comes with an automatic transmission.

The Audi S3, the performance version of the Audi A3 was released soon after. The S3 was the most powerful of the line. This vehicle in this generation alone won more than eight awards. Having been on the market since 2005, there is a nice supply of Audi A3 vehicles available.

There were few if any modifications in the first few years so if this model is of interest to you, you don’t need to worry about what year to buy. When the vehicle reached 2008, there were a number of changes done on the A3 and on the S3 models. The design of both the nose and the tail were modified and a new grille was added in. New daytime running lights, a new engine was switched in along with a seven-speed S tronic transmission. The new shock absorbers became an option.

2002 - 2005 Audi A4

The Audi A4 first came to market close to fifteen years ago in 1994. Several generations were developed. The ones most plentiful on the used car market are the second generation that ran from 2002-2005 with the third generation going from 2005-2008. As each generation improves on the last and adds in new standard features, it’s often a good idea to purchase the most recent generation that your budget allows. There is a fourth generation currently on the new vehicle market.

The A4 is available in many different styles including the sedan or as Audi calls it – the saloon style. There is a five-door Avant or station wagon available and a two-door cabriolet or convertible model. In terms of fuel economy, the Cabriolet tops the line. Only in 2006, did any other Acura come close to matching the Cabriolet in fuel economy and it was the Audi A3 sedan, which tied it.

Audi is neither the most expensive nor the least expensive in terms of insurance premiums, maintenance, and repair costs. Within the line, all the models are similar with the exception of the wagons. The wagons had higher repair costs in both the luxury and midpriced levels. The lesson here is that if you don’t need the space then choose a sedan or cabriolet over the Avant station wagon model.

With over fifteen years in production, there are many good Audi A4 vehicles to choose from in the used car market.

2007 – 2009 Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 is the company’s first SUV. The Q7 is classed as a full-size luxury sport utility vehicle and first came to the US market in 2006 as a 2007 model. The name places the vehicle between the Audi A6 and the Audi A8. The Q means it’s a completely new family of Audi vehicles.

This is another SUV that is designed to stay on the road instead of going off-road. It has no transfer case but does offer the Quattro all-wheel drive system. This system also has an added special suspension that allows the vehicle to ride low on the highway and yet rise up for extra ground clearance in off-road situations.

The Audi Q7 comes in three trims - the base model, the 3.6 Premium and the 4.2 Premium. The 3.6 Premium has a 3.6L engine that offers 280 horsepower. The next trim up offers a 4.2L engine that is capable of 350 horsepower. These engines are both paired to a six-speed transmission with manual shift control.

This vehicle doesn’t get the top in mileage, nor is it the cheapest to insure but it does offer loads of value for its class. As a new venture for Audi, they maintained the same adherence to quality as they do all their vehicles.

Again, this is not an economy class vehicle and as such comes in at a higher price than some other models. In the government safety crash tests, the Audi Q7 received a five star rating for both the front and the side impact tests.

The only potential problem with this vehicle is the lack of supply as it’s a relatively new to the market.