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hutster

Thinking of buying a used car.. An Audi A4 2002.
Previously owned a WRX 98.
Have been told Euro's are expensive to service/repair in comparison..
Is there some truth to this , obviously parts maybe and mechanics specialised training but if a vehicle is well maintained and looked after..
In the long run?? is there really a lot of difference if you look after it well with regular services etc..

ABayliss

As a wide sweeping generalisation, European cars tend to cost more to maintain and parts are more expensive in New Zealand - some more than others.
Regarding the Audi, there are some potential concerns, depending on the exact model you are considering - no different to some Japanese brands. Audis with the Multitronic (CVT) transmission were known to give trouble and could be expensive to repair in the event of a failure.
Regardless of where a car was made, good service history and proper maintenance is preferable and is likely to reduce the risk.
Having previously run a WRX, I'd imagine your maintenance expectations are not unrealistic though, as this is a model which can also be expensive to service and maintain.
But to clarify, yes, European cars tend to cost more to maintain, especially as they get older.