E36/ B5 A4 Reliability

vinuneuro · #1 12-10-2005, 03:57 PM

Guys, I'm contemplating selling my 92 Prelude and getting something a tad nicer, with four doors. How would you compare the reliability of those two vehicles. I'm looking at E36 325i and 328i and B5 A4. Chances are I'll be paying for the car, so it'll be under $10k.

SANguru · #2 12-10-2005, 04:02 PM

depends on how you define reliable.. Both those cars are getting up there in age and the B5's are notoriously expensive to maintain. More so than the E36's due to AWD layout. Lot of little things break even when they are new. The B6 made significant improvements in how it well it was put together.
I really suggest staying away from European cars if 10K is all you gotta spend.

BTW. the early model 325i were crap too.. stay away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

Guys, I'm contemplating selling my 92 Prelude and getting something a tad nicer, with four doors. How would you compare the reliability of those two vehicles. I'm looking at E36 325i and 328i and B5 A4. Chances are I'll be paying for the car, so it'll be under $10k.

alpac · #3 12-10-2005, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SANguru

depends on how you define reliable.. Both those cars are getting up there in age and the B5's are notoriously expensive to maintain. More so than the E36's due to AWD layout. Lot of little things break even when they are new. The B6 made significant improvements in how it well it was put together.
I really suggest staying away from European cars if 10K is all you gotta spend.

BTW. the early model 325i were crap too.. stay away.

I agree. For a reliable car no more than 10k do not buy European nor American. I guess your only choice is a Japanese like Honda Accord, Toyota Camry or Nissan Maxiam 1999-2000,