Throughout your life you will undoubtedly own numerous vehicles. At some point and time you may find yourself in a position where you have to replace the engine in one. When this eventually happens you will have to decide what type of engine you want to replace the original one with. The two main choices available these days are either a second hand unit or a reconditioned unit.

If you are not planning on keeping the car after it is repaired you may elect for the slightly cheaper option of a second hand engine. Bearing in mind you have no way to tell what the actual mileage of the engine is or the driving habits of the last owner, that lends the second hand option better to a repair and sell scenario as most second hand engines come with a short term warranty if any.

If you plan to keep your vehicle you should seriously consider the benefits of replacing the faulty unit with a reconditioned one. In general a reconditioned engine is virtually brand new inside so in effect it has zero miles on it and it will have the potential of having the longest life span if looked after properly.

A standard reconditioned engine has had quite a bit of work done to them in order to be able to offer a longer warranty and is a smart choice for those who take pride in their vehicles and would like to keep them for as long as possible. At a minimum machine work will have been done to the engine block and cylinder head in order to ensure they have flat mating surfaces, cranks are machined, polished or replaced as necessary new bearing sets will have been installed in both the connecting rods and main journals to ensure optimum oil pressure can be achieved, the pistons will have been fitted with new piston rings to create a positive seal in the cylinder chamber, cylinder heads will have been pressure tested to make sure they do not have any internal cracks, New oil seals will have been fitted to make the unit oil tight after all is reassembled the engine should be fit for purpose and provide a dependable replacement for your faulty unit.

All reconditioned engines should be “broken in” gently. This means that you do not want to hop in a vehicle with a reconditioned engine in it and immediately go out and put your foot to the floor on every occasion. The break in period is very important to the longevity of the new engine. At this time all of the new metal components ( rings and bearings) will slowly wear themselves in to their adjoining parts so all surfaces will mate and work optimally in the future. If the break in period is ignored you can actually shorten the life of the replacement engine and cause conditions where the oil pressure will be too low or the piston rings will not seat properly causing the replacement engine to burn oil.

The beautiful thing about Audi – well, besides their beautiful vehicles – is that they appeal to everyone. If you want luxury, Audi has it. Whether “luxury” means a sleek little roadster or a spacious family SUV to you, you will find it behind the wheel of an Audi. From the zippy TTS Coupe to the sporty A5 Cabriolet to the roomy A4 Avant, you will get all of the performance, handling, style, and features you want in a package that is just right for you.

Compact. The little A3 is Audi’s only compact model. Starting at about $27,000, it is also the most affordable and fuel-efficient car in their lineup. It features all-season tires, Halogen headlights, leather seating, Audi premium sound system with SiriusXM, dual-zone climate control, 24 mpg combined, 200hp, and 207 lb-ft of torque. The A4 is a great little car for people on the go, commuters, and businesspeople and people interested in just getting their feet wet with Audi vehicles.

SUVs and Wagons. Families gravitate towards the larger wagons and SUVs. The A4 Avant, Q5, and Q7 offer more spacious accommodations for big and little passengers and roomy cargo areas for weekend trips to the local hardware store. Each model boosts the power a bit over the A3, so you will get plenty of Audi-quality performance in each family vehicle. The A4 and Q5 won the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Pick for Safety and are among the brand’s bestsellers.

Sedans. A sedan will also provide room for the family but has a sporty enough body style for those without kids. Audi’s sedans range in price from $32,500 (A4) to $71,000 (A8). The top-of-the-line A8 has features like a solar sunroof, adaptive air suspension, Servotronic steering, quattro all-wheel drive, and electronic stability control.

Coupes, Convertibles, and Cabriolets. Slimming down, Audi’s coupes, convertibles, and cabriolets offer a sportier ride still. These offer 2- to 4-passenger seating and are packed with Audi’s premiere luxury features, like leather seating, climate control, and more. Forget the kids – these are all for you. We suggest the R8 Spyder. With 525hp and a 5.2 liter DOHC V10 engine, you’ll have all the car you’ll ever want.