chris_g said:
hello,
im thinking of buying a 2001-2003 Audi A4 1.8T quattro, and i was wondering which gearbox is best...manual or multitronic..?????????
please advise!
Only you can decide which is best for your own needs. Take it for a long test drive, for an hour if you can, and drive on a mixture of roads you usually use.
If you do decide on the Multitronic - it is a fine auto gear box, but takes a little getting used to, as the engine revs remain fairly constant, even when the speed of the car changes - a wierd sensation at first.
However, the Multitronic is extremely reliant on the correct maintenance. It
MUST have oil and filter changes
EVERY 40,000 miles - no ifs, no buts. As the '01-'03s you are looking at will be out of manufacturers warranty, should a gearbox fail (and they do if they've missed or delayed an oil change), then budget anywhere between £2,500 and £5,000 for a replacement!

Check the Service Book, looking for recorded evidence of the Multitronic oil & filter change - if there is any doubt, then walk away (unless you can knock £3k to £4k off the asking price

). If there is a grey area with the Multitronic oil change, and you have your heart set on the car, then Audi UK, or any Audi dealer is able to give you a full history of all the servicing, along with any warranty and recall works done.
HTH, rgds.