The Audi A4 B7 (Type 8E for the sedan/Avant wagon, 8H for the convertible) is not an entirely new generation, but a significant facelift of the B6 (PL46 platform). It introduced the Singleframe grille, recalibrated steering, revised suspensions, and new engines (introduction of FSI/TFSI blocks for petrol and evolution of TDIs). Although its interior finish quality remains an absolute benchmark of its time, this generation is marked by a complex technological transition, particularly concerning the 2.0 TDI diesel engines with unit injectors, which severely tarnished the brand's reliability reputation. The overall reliability score is highly polarized: excellent for older engines (1.9 TDI, 1.8T), very risky for newer ones (2.0 TDI, V6 FSI), and catastrophic with the Multitronic continuously
The Audi A4 B7 is a car with two faces. If you're looking for an economical and indestructible diesel, the 1.9 TDI 115 hp with a manual gearbox is a golden choice. Conversely, the very common 2.0 TDI (140 and 170 hp) are true nests of trouble (oil pump, cylinder head, injectors) and should be avoided unless you have a service history as thick as a phone book proving that all chronic defects have been corrected. The V6 TDIs offer royal driving pleasure but require a premium maintenance budget (beware of the chains). In petrol, the 1.8T remains the safest compromise. Absolute golden rule for this generation: flee the Multitronic automatic gearbox, prefer the manual gearbox or the Tiptronic (only associated with Quattro).