Second-hand sense: It is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the suburban four wheel drive brigade these days and sometimes equally difficult to avoid the arguments used by their owners to justify their buying them.
I'm not about to re-open the whole debate here but one over-riding justification I have a problem with is the issue of safety. Is any car that is not six feet off the ground and powered by a conspicuously large engine not as safe as the one that is ? Not as far as a lot of SUV owners are concerned, I'm afraid.
The thought occurred to me as I watched an Audi A4 Avant (estate) nip into a rather narrow supermarket car parking space while a Mercedes ML four wheel drive negotiated its lock again and again to try to get into a similar space. Both cars have a lot in common but one is a great deal smaller and more environmentally friendly. It should be pointed out, however, that Audi has an SUV on the way that is sure to give environmentalists the horrors.
Nevertheless, the A4 Avant is a car that I would not feel nervous in (I have felt far more nervous in some four wheel drives) and its biggest attribute is its compact design. It is not a big estate. In fact, it is not a big car full stop. Seats can be folded down but load space can be quite limited and the overall interior space can make tall drivers and passengers feel slightly cramped. However, for a small family it is a good alternative to the much bigger options available if they need that bit of extra space.
The A4 drives well and has good handling and ride qualities. The estate version is not compromised in these respects either and it can be quite an impressive performer. The car is well built and has a very solid feel to it. The starter engine is a 1.6 petrol version and there are also 1.8, 1.9 turbo diesel and 2.0 litre options. The 1.6 is quite good without being in any way exciting but the 1.9 turbo diesel option is the one to look out for if you need the Avant for work or high mileage.
In its 2001 EuroNCAP crash tests the Audi A4 scored four out of a possible five stars for overall safety, with credit for the overall strength of the car and the protection it offered. Front, side and rear airbags also worked very well during the tests but the car was criticised for poor pedestrian safety.
The A4 was, surprisingly, subject to a number of recalls when significant numbers of cars were brought back for problems with fuel pump covers, premature wear of steering ball joints, possible insecurity of the brake pedal and unscheduled deployment of the airbag when the car was stationary. However, the A4 was not the only Audi model in the recall line-up and the fault was common to other models.There has also been issues with the electric windows on some.
The A4 Avant does not come cheap and there has traditionally been a premium on Audi prices in Ireland. A two year old 1.9 Tdi version with alloy wheels, leather upholstery, climate control, multiple airbags and various other items of equipment and with only 10,000 miles on the clock is on offer at €34,950 at one garage. A 2002 model with the 1.6 petrol engine and the same equipment (but without the leather upholstery) is on offer at €20,750. - DONAL BYRNE
FOR: Good solid estate.
AGAINST: Limited interior space compared to some competitors. High second-hand prices.