$17K Invested: 1999 Audi A4 Quattro Avant – Sold?

August 31, 2022, Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

August 3, 2022 Update – The seller just replaced their expiring Craigslist ad with a fresh listing. In it, while the pictures and description remain pretty much the same, the seller elected to lower their asking price from $15,000 to $13,500.

Is it possible to predict which everyday commuter cars might someday be worth very real money? There will certainly be enthusiasts who love to tell you they have some sort of crystal ball or decades of experience that will prove them right, but there’s truly no way to know.  Some vehicles seem to have the right ingredients to become a classic, and the B5 Audi A4 models have some of those qualities. This gorgeous 1999 Audi A4 Avant Quattro, originally listed in July 2022 on Craigslist in Boulder, Colorado, is a pristine example with the preferred manual gearbox for $13,500 (the original ask was $15,000). Comparing that price against the Classic.com model guide confirms most non-S4 models sell for well below $10,000, so this seller has a bit of a mountain to climb to get his asking price:

The B5 era of the A4 thrust the model into the mainstream, thus proving consumers will gladly pay quite a bit for a gussied-up Volkswagen if the rest of the world perceives it as a high-end luxury car. These were great years for Volkswagen, with a decidedly upmarket shift across its family of brands based on the consistent recipe of high-end cabins with soft-touch materials and traditional vault-like German construction, all enhanced by a wide range of engines with excellent standard performance, from the easily tunable 1.8-liter turbo to the powerful and household favorite narrow-angle VR6. The A4 was even more sought-after for its ferocious Quattro all-wheel-drive, which was, of course, available with a manual gearbox and in wagon format, such as our subject car.

In this vintage Men & Motors YouTube Channel review, Richard Hammond takes you through a road test of the B5 A4 when it was launched:

Now, when we think of the B5, most enthusiasts immediately gravitate towards the S4, and why wouldn’t you? That’s the ultimate enthusiast car: a factory hot rod offered in long-roof form, a segment previously only defined by whichever models Mercedes-Benz would allow to sneak out with the AMG treatment. The A4 shown here isn’t the top performance spec, but it may check every other box regarding equipment, colors, and recent maintenance. The A4 features a V6 / 5-speed manual combination, along with a rarely-seen factory color known as Cactus Green over what appears to be a black cloth interior. It also features the factory sport package and loads of recent work, including a timing belt job, water pump, valve cover gasket and cam seals, upper guide links, fresh pads and rotors, and much more. The seller claims he is $17,000 into the car but it may be a tall task to find an enthusiast like myself at this stage who sees how desirable a clean B5 like this will be in just a few short years.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Super rare car and extremely fun to drive. With shipping, suspension work, speakers, and winter wheel package (Avus rims), I’m into it for more than $17,000. I purchased this car in February while waiting for a new vehicle to be delivered. That new vehicle has arrived, and it’s time to let this one go. Serious buyers only. Proof of funds is required to test drive. Video: https://youtu.be/RCxlz1j3sc0

Fresh Timing Belt and Water Pump
New Valve Cover Gaskets and Cam Seals
New Mass Air Flow Sensor
4 Interior Door Panel Cards Redone
Fresh LCD Screen Replacement
Full Tune Up (Air Filter, Cabin Air Filter, Spark Plugs, Comprehensive Ignition Coil Pack)
Fresh Oil Change and Filter
Recently Replaced Brake Pads and Rotors
New Upper Guide Links
New Coolant/Heater Gasket and O-Rings (Passenger Side Cylinder Head Removed and Reinstalled to Correctly do this procedure)
New Wheel Bearings
New Rubber Vacuum Lines
New Clear Corner Lights
Upgraded Shift Knob
Upgraded S4 Interior Trim Kit
Cat-back performance exhaust
Four New Speakers ($1,000+_at Car Toys)
Two Sets of Wheels and Tires (Avus for Winter and S4 for Summer)
LED headlights.”

Ahead of the curve: does the seller deserve the asking price here, even if he’s a few years ahead of where the market is at?