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Lovely S4 for sale - thinking of buying

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:53 am
by carpy
Does this S4 look like it's got 43,400 miles on the clock?

To me it seems a nice example, but I've got a feeling that something isn't right. Steering wheel & pedal / seat wear I can't really judge as I don't know these cars well but it does look more than 43,400 miles.

Any comments welcome. You can just about make out part of the registration plate from one of the pictures. Have asked for more photos and information etc. Anyboddy know this S4?

The seller is based in Scotland but car based in Lincolnshire.......... The photos all seem designed to only show part of the car etc. Please tell me I'm not just being paranoid here.........

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RE: Lovely S4 for sale - thinking of buying

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:26 pm
by loomx
Looks alright, go have a look at it, if your worried about anything just get a HPI check before you decide anything.

RE: Lovely S4 for sale - thinking of buying

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:28 pm
by Nige_RS4
It's never going to be easy to tell with just photos. Did you check the log book, service history, receipts, MOTs etc...

Also HPI it!

RE: Lovely S4 for sale - thinking of buying

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:38 pm
by b14
I'd be a little worried - seller based 250 miles away from the car?

All about the HPI check I think. Otherwise, if you have found a genuine 43,000 mile car then go for it! The lowest mileage one I have seen was a genuine 58,000 miles, and I bought it...

PS the leather on these cars tends to look quite used in pictures - not usually a good indicator of mileage.

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:42 pm
by carpy
The car is about 150 miles away from me, so I've asked the seller for some more details so I can do further checks before deciding whether to come and have a look at the car.

He says he doesn't feel comfortable giving details to people on the internet, so won't give me the registration, photos with the registration on, nor give me any details about the VIN number etc.

Here's the reply to my request for more information & photos.....I asked to meet him at his home address rather than somewhere else.

"I appreciate your concerns at meeting at a service station David, but as it states in the advert, the car is in Lincolnshire and I won't be returning home for some time.

And as you can appreciate, I'll not be giving details of the car to anyone on the internet, hence no photos of the registration number.

If you are interested, I'll gladly meet you, you can then take any details you require and I get to meet you in person. Sadly in this day and age I fully understand your concerns but I assure you, everything is legal, genuine and above board.
The car has extensive full Audi service history but I'm not sure about the old MOT's.
In the ad I didn't mention the cambelt change. This was obviously done with the water pump and tensioner.

And on a more lighter note, I have a friend who is a "Carp master" holding the British record for a river carp.

Thanks,
Martin."

The guy sounds alright but I cant do a HPI check without the reg number, and I don't fancy travelling 100 miles just to write down some details then travelling back home again to check it all out.

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:01 pm
by b14
Up to you if you want to take the risk or not really, doesn't sound like he is going to give you the reg!

Slightly unusual that the cam belt has been done at 43,000 maybe? Wouldn't expect a car of that mileage to have had it done. My 63,000 car is on the original belt and Audi reckons changing at 75,000 if I remember correctly.

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:11 pm
by carpy
b14 wrote:Up to you if you want to take the risk or not really, doesn't sound like he is going to give you the reg!

Slightly unusual that the cam belt has been done at 43,000 maybe? Wouldn't expect a car of that mileage to have had it done. My 63,000 car is on the original belt and Audi reckons changing at 75,000 if I remember correctly.
It's a 1999 car so it's 9 years old. I would hope that nobody would leave the same cambelt on a car for 9 years regardless of mileage! How old is your car?

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:16 pm
by Nige_RS4
Sounds very odd to me, but you can do the hpi check over the phone / txt when you view the car. Take some cash with you - most ppl will walk when they come across sellers like this, so I doubt he will get many takers.

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:34 pm
by loomx
As they said, you cant tell unless you go look at it, there is a number you can txt with the reg and it comes back with all the details... costs about £3 i think. I dont get peoples worry about having a photo with a registration on it... Do they drive around with it covered up as well?

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:54 pm
by frazered
ask him to do the hpi (5quid via rac) but add your email address as one of the recipents for the hpi - then phone up hpi and verify it?

what is that aerial all about as well?

you might be able to make out the vin number from the last pic...

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:48 pm
by S4
Mine had 34k last december 99/S.... but it was 1 owner.


Darren

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:27 pm
by SimonS4MTM
Looks like a nice clean car

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:35 pm
by Philws4
You can read the VIN No if you zoom in.
Pm me if you cant zoom in enough and i will tell you what i think it is.
Has the B6 wheels aswell :)

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:10 pm
by carpy
Philws4 wrote:You can read the VIN No if you zoom in.
Pm me if you cant zoom in enough and i will tell you what i think it is.
Has the B6 wheels aswell :)
I cant read one character lol

How can you see it?

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:01 pm
by Philws4
Top picture stamped into bulkhead behind Y pipe :idea: