2015ish A4 Manual for new driver?

I’m getting my oldest kid his first car and I’m thinking about a 2015 A4. Is this a good idea? What years, options, or models should I avoid? I’m looking for something nice enough and modern enough to have newer safety features like collision avoidance. It should be a 4-door sedan with a manual transmission and something fun enough to inspire a love for driving but not too fun. Ideally, it should be less than $20k, preferably under $15k. I’ve also looked at Jettas, Mazda 3s, and the 4-cylinder 3 Series models, but he has no interest in a Subaru.

For background, I drive an X5 M50i and do the maintenance and repairs myself now that it’s out of warranty. I can handle almost any mechanical work on a car. I asked him if he wants a more reliable car that won’t need as much work and maintenance (like a Japanese car) or a nicer, more fun car that we have to stay on top of (German). He chose the latter, which I’m excited about. I’d love for him to learn how to wrench, although he hasn’t shown much interest so far.

I’m leaning towards the A4 since they are cheaper and more plentiful than a comparable 3 Series. Is this a good idea? Are there any specific models or generations I should look out for? The 2016-2017 models are a new generation but are currently out of my price range.

Why not? The biggest issue with owning a European car in the US is maintenance. Since you can do most of it yourself, this could be a great bonding experience for you and your son. The A4s, while not the sportiest of Audi offerings, are still fun to drive and look modern enough. My previous A4 was driven hard, and my friends joked it drove like an S4. If you stay on top of maintenance and use quality parts, it will serve you well. For a beginner, the B8 generation is actually a better choice than the B9 due to less electronics. It’s great that you want to get him a manual too!

I’ve owned a few A4s and they are generally good cars, except for the ones around 2010 that had severe oil consumption problems. I had one that needed a full engine replacement at around 20k miles. You might also consider a GTI; it offers a great driving experience and might be in a similar price range as the A4, though insurance could be higher.