Buying at the 'wrong' end of the market- tips?

[kmpowell]

forget the buckets, this is the car for you:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/4204962.htm
you can sell the bike rack to me!!

Funnily enough I've tried to contact the seller a few times over the past few days to clarify history, no of owners and spec. But there's never any reply to either phone or email.

On the face of it, it does look ideal, although no mention of Cruise Control, which is essential for me given the motorway driving I do.

[pDkALO]

It WILL have cruise as it was standard - you can see the control stalk in the pic anyway

[Coaster]

it may be a bit tatty as it looks as though it is parked kerbside but on the mileage v condition discussion- you can rectify any poor condition with time and money but you can't wind back the clock (legally). Whilst I don't really care about what number is on the odometer in front of me or even how many digits it has- prospective buyers do when you're selling. It even comes down to something as simple as searching > or < 100k on Autotrader.

[spikeyboy101]

KMPowell where about are you located - i see you saw one in Tonbridge Audi - im near there so if you wanted i could take you out in mine so you can see what there really like.

With regards to your list:

Must Haves:
Nav - Most will have this - if not is can be retro fitted with RNS-E 2012 version wich is better than the standard one fitted.
Cruise - standard equipment
Bluetooth - if fitted by Audi these tend to have either the cradle on the center consol or arm rest - both pants in my opinion. probably better to retro fit or fit a parrot BT system.
Auto wipers/lights - quite a rare option (also included auto dimming rear view mirror) - easy to tell if a car has it by look to the right of the light dial -if it has two small circle switches it has it, if only one (for DLR) then it doesnt
Flat bottom wheel
FSH

Nice to haves:
Sun Protection Glass
Black Optik
Buckets

[stu]

[...] Auto wipers/lights - quite a rare option (also included auto dimming rear view mirror)[...]

Rare - really? I am surprised.

(edited to add)
I really think you shouldn't limit yourself with lists of requirements. As quite a few people have pointed out, it's hard to get one that's been well looked after - that should be your priority, not the fine details.

[spikeyboy101]

I was surprised as well - but when i was looking very very few had this option - it all comes in the same option pack.

I really wanted this option as had it on my S$ and the auto dimming rear view mirror stopped my night time driving headaches instantly.

[PetrolDave]

1. 2007 MY cars did have the facelift clear indicators.

Mine is a 2007 MY car (it has a 2007 VIN - WUAZZZ89E67N------), but has the yellow indicators.

The clear indicators were a rolling change introduced as a MY2007.5 change in production from Oct/Nov 2006.

[PetrolDave]

Funnily enough I've tried to contact the seller a few times over the past few days to clarify history, no of owners and spec. But there's never any reply to either phone or email.

If he isn't keen to give information or reply, then I would walk away - there will be another car come along.

[spikeyboy101]

when were the 2007 MY car sold ?

My Vin is WUAZZZ8EX7N------ and does have the clear indicators, dont know if they were retro fitted - its an October 2006 reg.

[PetrolDave]

when were the 2007 MY car sold ?

My Vin is WUAZZZ8EX7N------ and does have the clear indicators, don't know if they were retro fitted - its an October 2006 reg.

2007 MY cars were built from June 2006 until June 2007, mine was built in late June 2006 and registered in late July 2006.

Sounds like yours could have been one of the very first to be built with the clear indicators - ETKA shows the VIN number when the change happened - which was 8E-7-903151, so if your VIN is later than that the clear indicators were factory fitted.

Updated - with VIN number from ETKA

[TimDogg]

Go for that London Avant if you can mate (it is under priced IMHO) or buy P_G's - his is an incredibly special car which I would jump on if I didn't think that Avants were for girls (or KNOW that Sprint Blue Saloons are the fastest RS4)

[kmpowell]

A couple of slightly higher [than my target] mileage cars appeared on PH today. Both very near the bottom of the price spectrum (hence the interest), so I'm going in very cautiously...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4272183.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4282116.htm

The Mugello car looks very nice, I've rung the garage and I'm seriously considering going to see it on Saturday. Before I do does anybody here know the car, or does anything stand out in the ad/pics that I should be wary of? It says it's a 2006 car, but it seems to have been de-tangod? I rang the garage and they say it's a two owner car (1 lady owner for the past year who bought it from Audi, but is apparently selling because it's too powerful for her) and the service history is full Audi apart form one stamp that is an Audi specialist. Where does that leave me with regards to a warranty from Audi?

The Avus car seems to have cloth seats, and something doesn't ring true about it. I'm no expert, but the pics suggest it's not quite as straight as the adverts leads you to believe, or is it just the funny angle they have been taken?



p.s. Still can't get through to the London Daytona seller...

[stu]

p.s. Still can't get through to the London Daytona seller...

What PetrolDave said +1

[pDkALO]

Avus car seems to have cloth seats, and something doesn't ring true about it. I'm no expert, but the pics suggest it's not quite as straight as the adverts leads you to believe, or is it just the funny angle they have been taken?

What doesn't ring true to you? - looks decent enough to me from the photos, with the possible exception of the front bumper slightly out of alignment, which isn't uncommon if the aux radiators have been replaced, and is easily adjusted back again though.

If you're worried by the part cloth / part leather seats, there's no need to be, as "race cloth" was a no cost option on both Recaros and buckets, but 99% of cars were spec'd with leather. If you're not fussed about having cloth, then it's actually a great choice, because it grips your bum better than leather, and is also virtually indestructible! I have cloth in mine, and 46,000 miles in it's still like new.

But.... having said all that, you might want to search for peoples' experience with that dealer on this forum first.....

[kmpowell]

But.... having said all that, you might want to search for peoples' experience with that dealer on this forum first.....

Thanks, it's game over for that one then! I will do like 99% of the posters say, and "avoid like the plague". Wow, what a reputation!

The Mugello car, appointment booked for tomorrow morning to view. So, any knowledge or thoughts on that car from anybody here would be welcomed.