B8 S4 Buying and pricing

[Anees]

Hi guys,

After my B7 RS4 was stolen in April I have been looking at something to replace it with and the natural answer to me is an audi s4 avant with some MRC Tuning.

I have done some research and know all about which options to go for etc. I have found a car that seems to tick all the boxes but it is in London so if I were to travel to get it I would have to pretty sure I am coming back with it.

Finding cars with the Sports Diff / Audi Drive select seems very hard but I have found a car that seems to fit the bill.

MY2009 S4 Avant
Only 26k miles
Phantom Black
DSG/ S Tronic
Super Sports Seats In Black and Red
Bang & Olufson Sound system
Nav
Bluetooth
RS6 Alloys
Full Audi Drive Select with Sports Diff
more things too but these are the main highlights.


Car is priced at £22.5k

The seller says the alloys need refurbishing and the back bumper needs some scratches removing. The tyre thread is also low at around 2 - 3mm so it will need a set of tyres in the near future. The seller is getting the bodywork and wheels done next week but since I would want to paint the wheels a diferent colour anyway I have asked to do a deal to take the car 'As is' . I think I can probably do a deal at £21k. The price is mainly because of the low mileage.

Now I am thinking am I paying too much for a 2009 car? I would prefer a newer 10 or 11 plate car but looking that them there seems to be no difference and I have a private plate anyway.

Seen many others that look great but hardly any have the sports diff which basically makes me think it will corner like an Evo! Lol (Joke)

Does this seem like a good deal?

Thanks for the advice!
Anees

[Kiteral]

Sounds like a good spec and the mileage is low, make sure it checks though by calling audi and seeing if the services match up, the only faults (touch wood) I've had on my '09 car are parking sensors and the fuel filler cap not unlocking.

Price is difficult as low mileage, what's others going for ?

MRC stage two and a new exhaust and they are pretty much approaching a perfect Q car, good luck !

[Anees]

Seller has sent me pictures of the wheels and - yes they are absolutely battered and so are the tyres - they are still the original ones the car was bought with! lol

I had agreed to £21K in principle before he sent the pictures. He says he has a local guy that has also offered him £21k for the car as is but hasn't been in touch yet. I have the document reference no off the logbook so I can check MOT history.

Car has everything I would want, in the right colour combo but I'm just thinking, am I paying too much for a 2009 car even though it has done very low mileage?

[Ian_C]

B8s are very spec dependent. If it has all the toys you want incl 19s, ADS, B&O, super sports seats etc then go for it. 26,000 miles is very low, as long as its been serviced according to the 24 month max intervals I'd go for it. However you have to factor in a full wheel strip and refurb and a set of Goodyear Eagles (plus laser alignment if he's been parking-by-touch) from day one which is going to cost £1100-1200 ish

Him saying he's been offered 21k elsewhere might be a bluff to try and stop you bidding him down when you turn up and see the car?

[Anees]

I'd be tempted to offer something like £20500 to compensate for the travel costs but I also don't want to miss out on what looks to be the "right car" when there are so few about with the Audi Drive Select and Sports Diff.

Regarding service history the seller has said:

Dec 2010, serviced with 8334 miles on the clock
April 2012, serviced with 16,100 miles on it
Rear brake disk and pads replaced June 2013
Nov 2013, serviced with 21,800 miles on it.

MOT is due end of November and so is the tax. Re servicing, Audi say it should be looked at every 15,000 miles or 2 yrs which ever is sooner. It was done last November and has done 6000 miles since, so you have time on your side.

[Anees]

Deal Agreed subject to car being as described. Picking up on Thursday all being well.

Are there any mechanical things I should be wary of when checking the car out?

Seller says DSG box is very smooth 1st-2nd, fast shifts, no undune noises etc. Do these cars have a timing belt or chain?

Any tips, beyond the usual things to check are appreciated.

Thanks
Anees

[Ian_C]

What price did you agree in the end?

Service record is good - its been serviced more frequently than it needs. The interval is 2 years / 20,000 miles max. There will be 70,000 mile cars out there that have only been serviced three times (20k, 40k, 60k).

Engines are camchain iirc

Usual stuff when picking up a car, make sure you get all the keys, locking wheel nut key etc

[Anees]

Thanks !

Also found out it had both the water pump and thermostat replaced under warranty a few years ago. The water pump fitted is the metal housing newer version which is apparently a revised part.

Got 2 keys (and a tracker subscription, which after my RS4 is rather important)

Seller wouldn't budge from £21k and it's the right car in the right colour combo and it has the all important (to me) Sports Diff, B &O sound system, Tech Pack High etc so decided to go for it.

It is hard to price mind. If you look on autotrader for an s4 avant with under 25k miles the cheapest car is almost £30k, admittedly it's a 2011 and then the facelift cars begin.

Collecting Thursday if car is as described.

Thanks for the advice!
Anees

[S4WON]

I think you paid a fair price, welcome to the club!

[Anees]

I have a friend in the car trade and he has the Glasses CAP valuation software. With some of the options that actually at value and with an adjustment for the price the system values the car at just under £25k Retail which is probably about right, not that I go to much of these things - I always think that price cars are selling for on Auto-trader is much more relevant.

Looking forward to collection and I hope the car is as described and has no nasty surprises.

Thanks
Anees