New RS4 Ownership going badly, help please

[Ivan Good]

OK

Bought an RS4 Avant 3 weeks ago from a dealer. Having an issue with intermittent knocking on the front suspension. This i being sorted, the dealer has put up a fight, but now admitted he is responsable for the repair. Knocking wasnt present at time of purchase.

The suspension issue, and the dealer trying to wriggle out of it was bad enough, today he log book has turned up. It was bought with 2 former keepers. The log book in fact shows 3. I know its not the end of the world to some people, but I'm gutted. Any advise? Return the car, get a partial refund, if so how much?

The dissapointing thing, is aside the issues, its a great car and only done 56K

Thanks

Ivan

[docurley]

3 owners really is not the end of the world and for a car of this age things will go wrong.

If the car spec and condition is good I would have a moan see if you can get a service out of it and move on.

[Surrey Sam]

Appreciate that being sold a vehicle as a two owner car then changing to three, isn't great and mars the buying experience. However, it's just a number and means nothing in the grand scheme on these cars; I don't even think that you could put a value on any compensation for that fact.

I would however concert your efforts with the dealer into getting the knocking issue resolved and just use the misrepresentation of owners as additional leverage to get the car into fine fettle. Then enjoy it, because in 6 months’ time you won't even think about it.

[Baz4]

Depends who the owners are, mine is technically a 4 owner car including myself. But one of those owners was Tyneside Audi. Doesn't really count as an owner I my mind

[chris_m]

I bet there aint an abundance of rs4's with so few owners. Sounds a good car on that mileage too. If you wanted to, I am not up on contract law but I believe it could be classed as miss selling and you may be in your right to return. Me personally would probably keep the car if it's a good one.

[davers6]

It's an old car what do you expect? 3 owners is nothing for these cars search the forum.
He didn't have a crystal ball as far as suspension goes if he's sorting it what's the problem?

[gt2]

I never understand why people get so stressed about how many owners a car has had, it proves nothing regarding reliability etc.

[MikeFish]

When you buy a car privately and it has 2 previous owners in the log book, once you get the log book in your name it will say 3 previous owners. Is this not the case with cars bought from dealers too? Or does it increase by one automatically once the last owner sells to the dealership? I alsways assume that whatever the log book said when you bought a car it would increase by 1 when you get the new log book in your name. Isn't that what has happened here?

Either way, 2 or 3 owners is nothing on a 7 years old car. If I boiught it from someone claiming to be the original owner it might be a little different but even then it's no big deal; when I bought my truck brande new it said I was the 2nd owner as the lease company regsitered it in their name first (not a demo car, ordered and built to my spec) so even though I was hte only person that had ever actually owned or possessed it, it still said 1 previous owner.

More owners the better if you ask me anyway.

And as long as you were happy with the condition of it when you bought it then what's the issue? I'd be far more bothered about the suspension. The owner issue would have been such a non issue that I wouldn't have even bothered to mention it to anyone.

[Ivan Good]

Just had an interesting conversation with the previous owner. He traded the car in to the dealer who I bought it from. He made the dealer aware of the knocking at the time of sale.

Yes its not the end of the world, and its a lovely car.

[marc1]

When you buy a car privately and it has 2 previous owners in the log book, once you get the log book in your name it will say 3 previous owners. Is this not the case with cars bought from dealers too? Or does it increase by one automatically once the last owner sells to the dealership? I alsways assume that whatever the log book said when you bought a car it would increase by 1 when you get the new log book in your name. Isn't that what has happened here?

Either way, 2 or 3 owners is nothing on a 7 years old car. If I boiught it from someone claiming to be the original owner it might be a little different but even then it's no big deal; when I bought my truck brande new it said I was the 2nd owner as the lease company regsitered it in their name first (not a demo car, ordered and built to my spec) so even though I was hte only person that had ever actually owned or possessed it, it still said 1 previous owner.

More owners the better if you ask me anyway.

And as long as you were happy with the condition of it when you bought it then what's the issue? I'd be far more bothered about the suspension. The owner issue would have been such a non issue that I wouldn't have even bothered to mention it to anyone.

A proper dealer doesn't add another owner (unless they registered the car in their name, such as the Tyneside Audi example mentioned). If it's not a registered dealer and someone just buying and selling then it will increase the owner by one.

[Deano_123]

I never understand why people get so stressed about how many owners a car has had, it proves nothing regarding reliability etc.

I'd go off the condition of the car and the history so owner numbers doesnt bother me. What would bother me though is if the dealership havent been fully straight with this and been cunty over the DRC issue what else have could have been overlooked?

Dont want to put doubt in your mind but I'd take it to independant specialist for a once over for peace of mind.

[MikeFish]

When you buy a car privately and it has 2 previous owners in the log book, once you get the log book in your name it will say 3 previous owners. Is this not the case with cars bought from dealers too? Or does it increase by one automatically once the last owner sells to the dealership? I alsways assume that whatever the log book said when you bought a car it would increase by 1 when you get the new log book in your name. Isn't that what has happened here?

Either way, 2 or 3 owners is nothing on a 7 years old car. If I boiught it from someone claiming to be the original owner it might be a little different but even then it's no big deal; when I bought my truck brande new it said I was the 2nd owner as the lease company regsitered it in their name first (not a demo car, ordered and built to my spec) so even though I was hte only person that had ever actually owned or possessed it, it still said 1 previous owner.

More owners the better if you ask me anyway.

And as long as you were happy with the condition of it when you bought it then what's the issue? I'd be far more bothered about the suspension. The owner issue would have been such a non issue that I wouldn't have even bothered to mention it to anyone.

A proper dealer doesn't add another owner (unless they registered the car in their name, such as the Tyneside Audi example mentioned). If it's not a registered dealer and someone just buying and selling then it will increase the owner by one.

That's not what I meant Marc. I meant if the number of previous owners increments when the dealer buys the car or when you buy it from the dealer.

[Graeme4130]

Appreciate that being sold a vehicle as a two owner car then changing to three, isn't great and mars the buying experience. However, it's just a number and means nothing in the grand scheme on these cars; I don't even think that you could put a value on any compensation for that fact.

I would however concert your efforts with the dealer into getting the knocking issue resolved and just use the misrepresentation of owners as additional leverage to get the car into fine fettle. Then enjoy it, because in 6 months’ time you won't even think about it.

Exactly this
Most RS4's at this age will be over 3 pref owners by now as they tend to change hands pretty regular (people buy these cars on a whim and a year later decide they want something else)
Use the miss-selling as leverage with the dealer to get the knocking sorted. If it's an Audi approved used car from a dealer, perhaps see if they'll discount your first service as way of compensation

I can't imaging going from 3-4 owners is going to make any difference when it comes to selling on. In fact, sometimes having a car with more owners can be a good thing as people tend to look after cars a lot more when they're relatively new to them, and perhaps get a bit complacent in the later years. food for thought

[marc1]

When you buy a car privately and it has 2 previous owners in the log book, once you get the log book in your name it will say 3 previous owners. Is this not the case with cars bought from dealers too? Or does it increase by one automatically once the last owner sells to the dealership? I alsways assume that whatever the log book said when you bought a car it would increase by 1 when you get the new log book in your name. Isn't that what has happened here?

Either way, 2 or 3 owners is nothing on a 7 years old car. If I boiught it from someone claiming to be the original owner it might be a little different but even then it's no big deal; when I bought my truck brande new it said I was the 2nd owner as the lease company regsitered it in their name first (not a demo car, ordered and built to my spec) so even though I was hte only person that had ever actually owned or possessed it, it still said 1 previous owner.

More owners the better if you ask me anyway.

And as long as you were happy with the condition of it when you bought it then what's the issue? I'd be far more bothered about the suspension. The owner issue would have been such a non issue that I wouldn't have even bothered to mention it to anyone.

A proper dealer doesn't add another owner (unless they registered the car in their name, such as the Tyneside Audi example mentioned). If it's not a registered dealer and someone just buying and selling then it will increase the owner by one.

That's not what I meant Marc. I meant if the number of previous owners increments when the dealer buys the car or when you buy it from the dealer.

Arh ok, just when you buy from the dealer I believe.

[Harris.]

I don't believe the old owner for one second , why would he tell the dealer and have the price pushed down ?

As for owners im the 6th and to be honest my car is straight , fully serviced with history .

Why lose sleep . Get it fixed at Audis with genuine parts and give him the bill .And if he don't except that ask for a full refund