Looking to buy - advice please

[stocksie]

Dear All

I am new to this forum as i have decided to move across from Porsche to Audi. I am actively looking for an Avant and stumbled across one for sale at a dealer near me. Link below. I am hoping to see this in the next day or two so your thoughts/comments would be most appreciated.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... ty/1062688

Thanks

Stocksie

[Tile Diver]

Looks nice, possibly a bit on the steep side price wise, no buckets either. Buckets are a must in my opinion

[TimDogg]

Privately I'd look at £23k maybe £24k so this price doesn't surprise me - it's a reasonable spec missing auto lights and wipers but this shouldn't be a show stopper (you have extras such as garage door opener and cool box). Unusual to have aluminium trim inserts with Daytona - mostly Sprint Blues have aluminium and every other colour has the carbon inserts - piano black is rare as is the fine grain myrtle (nutmeg).

Looks nice for 41k miles but I'd knock a grand off. It has the Recaro Sports and not the buckets - some prefer these, they are more practical and has the FBSW as opposed to the round steering wheel (multi-function) which is a plus.

You get their 'Premium' warranty which you can guarantee is worth absolutely b*****ks so don't buy into that but all in all it looks like a reasonable buy depending on number of owners and a DRC inspection.

There is something about this car that I don't like, however, and I can't pinpoint it - I've looked at these cars for many years now and it just doesn't 'feel ' right. Maybe it's the dealer? or the first service at 23k miles but I don't know - maybe someone will come along soon and help me out, it doesn't feel 100%, weird!

[RIV]

Deposit now taken, is what it says on dealers web site ??

[stocksie]

I found it on pistonheads but bizarrely enough the dealer is an old friend of mine. Maybe he has taken a deposit but said I could come and look!?

[RIV]

TBH it's a shame there is not a forum car for sale that would interest you, one with a more detailed service history, ever since mine was de-coked at 40 k I've changed the oil every 5k, the trouble is if you get the wrong car it's going to potentially cost lots to put right

[RIV]

If you do look at the car make sure you check the discs, also check the exhaust valves open and close when pressing the sport button, and when driving the car you get a kick at 5500 rpm

[stocksie]

Are 'bucket' seats a deal breaker? I would prefer to have them but never considerd it necessary? Will this affect saleability later on?

[RIV]

Are 'bucket' seats a deal breaker? I would prefer to have them but never considerd it necessary? Will this affect saleability later on?

Bucket seats are more popular, therefore a car with flat bottom wheel and buckets will be more desirable, however some people prefer the sports seats as you get a little more rear leg room

[TimDogg]

Not really mate, some guys love the Recaros and the buckets can wear pretty bad on the drivers bolster so no, not really.

[pDkALO]

Are 'bucket' seats a deal breaker? I would prefer to have them but never considerd it necessary? Will this affect saleability later on?

To date there have been just over 10,000 topics posted on the B7 forum, and I think 5,000 end up discussing Recaros vs buckets at some point! just follow your bum as it were, and go with what you prefer to sit in.

The simple answer is no, it won't affect future saleability, because those that want buckets wont be interested in a car with Recaros, and those that want Recaros won't want a car with buckets. Simples. Certainly, the majority of cars out there have buckets, but there are lots of fans of Recaros, and there always will be.

[RIV]

Not really mate, some guys love the Recaros and the buckets can wear pretty bad on the drivers bolster so no, not really.

Simple fact is most b7 have buckets, why because??? Tell me

[Graeme4130]

It's a bit steep price wise. I'd guess worth more like 23ish
The points I'd consider are ;
Has done 10'000 in last 6 months - how many owners (has last one had it six months, done mega miles and realised it needs some big tickets items fixed)
Is at the age mileage where things start to need replacing - check clutch, discs
I'd want newish tyres at that price
Non bucket seats, although comfortable and more practical, will limit resale opportunity
Check for DRC replaced under warranty previously as now outside goodwill period

Looks nice in pics though

[johnnydog]

IMO, if the car ticks all the right boxes condition and spec wise, go for it - there is a lot of tired ones out there now and finding good ones is only going to get harder. A good one worth spending that bit extra on, I think.
I personally would have Recaros any day above buckets - Recaros have electric adjustment, there's more leg room in the rear, they don't have the hard hump of the seat frame to jossle over to avoid it ramming you up the ar*e, and they tend to wear better. Those Recaros in that car look to have been reasonably well looked after, as they can show wear and creasing on the outer lower seat cushion.
It also has ali trim, which breaks up the black seats and door cards - it just brightens up the interior from all black.
Just my thoughts, but everyone is different!
I always thought that if you have leaving home / coming home function, then the car will have auto lights and wipers. The rain and light sensors are in the bigger mirror base which the car seems to have, and the pics would appear to show the light switch in the auto position (sidelights not on in the pics).
But ultimately, if it suits you in every way, go for it!

[johnnydog]

Going back to the pics - just clarifying TimDogg comments, it does have Auto lights etc, cos it has the two push in rotating switches to the left of the main light switch......