Within the next couple months I'm planning on picking up an 09 SS/TC.

I've been reading the various posts here to educate myself as to if there's any common problems or known issues that I should be aware of, and I figured I'd ask for people's suggestions in picking the one. For instance, are there any problems that I can detect during the test drive or physically spot?

 

Yeah.......WHIPLASH! LOL

 

no not really just the beware of grooves in ur rear rotors lol


isnt there a fix for that yet?

 

Small % have htat problem...I have no brake issues...though I did a brake bed in process the night I purchased the car.

 

I'd suggest just make sure it looks assembled properly. Listen for too many odd noises and check little places. I found so many things not assembled properly on mine, misaligned door, inner wheel well liner...little things like that. Some things that are not assembled properly will make noises too, that's what I mean listen for them.

 

About 2 weeks ago, 5th gear decided to explode on me, and the pressure from the falure punctured two holes through the transmission housing, the dealership got the car a day later on 4-6-09, car is still there not fixed :-(

 

beware of everything, quality is very low. If I could go back a year, I would have bought a used audi for the same price and much better quality.

 

intercooler end tanks are plastic only car i have seen that lol dont bottom out at all or hit slopy drive ways can break and dealer wont even fix it cheap quality, e brake recall just stops working, and warping rotors that have to be replaced turning them wont do the trick warping will come back. boost tubing might blow up on you very cheap and loose try to tighten it before, mainly after a tune. hope it helps

 

What I was able to decypher from that certainly doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Can anyone confirm (or at least parse) some of that?

 

The stock tubing is plastic and over time with a tune some have had issues. I have ran about 3000 miles on a 22 PSI tune from Trifecta on stock boost tubing and have not had a single issue. Not saying that I won't but as it stands none. The ebrake thing is probably just a possibility of happening to any car. I owned an SS/SC before the SS/TC and neither had this issue. The FMIC does have plastic endcaps on them but just as long as your careful and not scraping around everywhere you will not hurt them. Its a stock FMIC what can ya expect? All these problems have solutions that if you are planning on modding the car will be changed anyways. The car is simply amazing for the money. Best performance sport compact on the market right now IMO well in the price range.

 

For what it's worth, I've had the car just a little over 5000km's now. It's been through it's first oil change. Only thing it's been to the dealer for is to alleviate a few noises in the interior, mostly to no avail. I fixed a lot of them myself. The car has not had one single mechanical issue yet. It did sputter once when I bagged on it but recovered 30 seconds later. I'm not afraid to open the throttle or use the brakes if necessary, and I've done my fair share of NLS. I have no complaints on the mechanical end of things on my car. I wish it didn't have so many noises over bumps and **** (interior mostly, suspension in cold weather), but other than that, it really is a great car for the money.

For what it's worth, I've test driven a LOT of cars over the last year, not many are much better in terms of quality. They're all ****, equally.

 

i was going to do the same thing........
same price gets me a 4 year old a4 turbo and the upkeep is retarted expensive

 

Well in the 15 years I've been driving...My A4 Turbo (purchased w/ 5k miles in 2001) made more trips to the shop then all my previous cars combined (including company owned cars that I drive for 100k then trade-in)

I would never touch another VW product.

 

i was thinking a6 3.2 non turbo AWD.....


u went from A4 to VW boosted.... explain.

if u want crappy quality, get a cobalt. lol

 

they make too much power on little mods...

 

VW owns Audi...so an Audi is a VW product

Lets see I replaced each ignition coil under warranty @ least 4 times! And each time the dealer would only replace 1 at a time.....2 weeks later dead car! Then its another coil! The sunroof leaked every winter ruining the interior (had to have the rear panel replaced twice because of salt stains..lived in Chicago when I owned this car). It had stupid rattles (you dont expect that from "high quallity German cars right?).....Well remember the A4 is a cheap German car, nothing more! I wanted it for AWD and I was not a fan of the WRX's at that time.

To put it bluntly...The car had so many problems (not just mine but overall...you notice VW isnt high in customer satisfaction nor intiital quality right?...those titles are owned by Japanese and AMERICAN companies) Audi USA extended the warranty on the car, but I was already lemon lawing it but instead got a great trade in for a 00 S4 that was on the dealers lot. That car was better because I would deal w/ the issues because...well it was bi-turbo and fun to drive! But it was extremely picky car. Sold it when I moved to CA after I didnt need a personal car anymore due to travel schedule and free car. I only owned the A4 for 15months.....

 

So then here's an odd question. What relatively simple (and hopefully inexpensive) mods are there for the purpose of improving reliability?

I'm not looking for a Cobalt SS/TC to race, mod, or tweak. I just want a reliable car that will give a satisfying kick when traffic light turn green.

 

i had my problems above but still in love with the car i dont mind the dealer not paying for it cause im getting a monstar hahn intercooler. car is amazing fastest car under 25k out of factory if you get it build it!!!!!!!!!!