Posted in wrong forum perhaps?

[JMC]

(I posted the following in 'Audi S and RS Ownership' a few days ago with zero response so perhaps it was in the wrong area? )


Picking up a 1 owner 13k mile Misano B7 on the first of March. I could have had it at the end of this week but patience and prudence mean I'm not wasting my (expensive) road tax by paying a months worth for a weeks driving.

The car has been bought-from and serviced by the same main dealer and owned by an older woman who's business also had an RS6, R8 etc. In fact, the registration plate was possibly worth more than the new price of the car!

I've test-driven it and it felt brand new. I've checked the history and discovered that there has been absolutely no warranty work done, and the only service was last June at 9k miles.

I've read through the forums here and seen the scare stories about DRC and oil use. Is there anything I should specifically be looking for once I get the car???

[PetrolDave]

I would suggest you get the shocks looked at for leaks which would indicate a DRC problem BEFORE you hand over the money or drive it away. Does the dealer know about the 5 year/60,000mile DRC warranty extension?

When was it first registered? What engine ECU SW version is it running? - has it been updated to the latest (if necessary)?

Oil use is an emotive subject - some seem to use more than others, I'm now using 1 litre every 5000 miles but when new I used quite a bit more.

[P_G]

Like said oil usage is subjective, I was using 1 litre every 2k miles but now uses near 2 litres in 5k miles (all at the same time I may add, don't know how my oil warning gauge has gone from a tolerance of 1 litre to 2? ).

DRC is a reported issue on forums but very hard to quantify if itis a representation of all RS4's as I imagine not all RS4 owners are forum members but again like said, worth checking out before you part with your cash and have a look yourself for peace of mind.

[JMC]

Firstly, the (Scottish) dealer is well recognised and they certainly know their sh*t - especially when it comes to proper Audis. The family run concern still own a couple of Ur's and they have accolades as an RS centre etc.

Car was first reg in Jan 2007 but I don't know about the SW version.

As for the DRC issues, I was advised that the RS6 is more prone to this and that they hadn't seen much to comment about in the RS4's they have sold. Bear in mind, this was from a (nice) salesman so he probably wasn't going to elude to problems.

One thing that was mentioned about the DRC was this...... You wouldn't go out and thrash a cold engine with cold oil - DRC (apparently) requires much the same consideration. It's a pressurised fluid transfer system much like engine oil. If you take it out on a track before it has 'warmed-up' then you are asking for trouble.

I don't even have the car yet so I'm not trying to pretend to know any answers here - I'm only reporting what I was told.

[rjkflyer]

This is bollocks re DRC - both in terms of any assertion that it's uncommon and that you need to 'warm it up'. Presumably he told you not to drive in unusually cold weather (handy north of the border) too...?

It's a shock absorber, not a piston doing a million miles per second continuously.

Having said all of that, you do have a 5 yr/75,000 mile warranty on this specific part. They have also improved the parts, and the process of fitting them so you will hopefully not experience the problems many of us have had.

Aside the DRC, like any car there are known (but relatively minor) issues, but overall it is an absolute monster in a very decent suit.

[chrissy]

Hi, JMC name the well-known Scottish dealer. I noticed that your location says Aberdeenshire. Is it in ABZ? I’m from your neck of the woods and have been into the dealer in ABZ twice about the DRC issue and had the 0090 sw revision done. Oh and a set of front pads replaced at 5k due to them rusting /binding and the sensor cable breaking. So if it’s them they certainly know all about these issues. They should also know about the extended warranty as I brought it up with them.
To give them a credit, any time I have been in the service personnel have been very helpful and taken care of my motor. No excess mileage recorded when performing test drives, they have left well alone when I have asked them not to wash it. All this and I didn’t even buy the car from them. – That’s another story.
Feel free to PM me. I’m interested to know if it was ABZ as I have been thinking about getting a Q5 for the missus from them.

As rjkflyer said the car is a beast, even with some of the issues I wouldn’t swap it for the world. Every time I get in and fire it up the grin gets bigger and bigger. All I have to do now is find a way to convince the missus that a Milltek / Tubi system will complete our lives.

Enjoy

Chrisc

[JMC]

Hi Chrissy. It's NOT ABZ - Go about 60 miles south (and a bit to the west) to find a real Audi dealer.

Camerons in Perth had 4 RS4s for sale at the week-end whereas ABZ only had one. Three of the Perth cars had been sold from new and looked after by them. The Aberdeen car was bought-in, had the wrong (red) seats, the wrong wheel, and was originally an Audi UK car and potentially spent a fair bit of its high mileage on a track with a variety of drivers. Couple this to the fact that ABZ wanted at least £6k more than the car was worth and you begin to see the differences..... Need I say more?

[chrissy]

I know where you are coming from. I have only put the car there so far for warranty work. Anything else and I go to the Volkscentre. They have been nothing but spot on anytime I have been round. I have heard many good things about Cameron’s in Perth and had mentioned trying there for a car. Will probably pop round with the missus and see what deals they have

Best of luck with the car.

[allybongo]

I bought my car from Camerons as specced by the M.D. and they have cared for it impeccably.. it is time to move my RS4 on and i offered it to them back to buy in.. They offered me a pittance and even tried to rope in a swap deal on an A4 Avant they are having trouble shifting... Do not think Perth Audi are any better than any other dealer when it comes to stealing from you!!

[JMC]

Do not think Perth Audi are any better than any other dealer when it comes to stealing from you!!

Business is business and they are not there for the fun of it. I've never heard of anybody who was happy with the money they were offered from a dealer. I personally think what is more important is what you said in the first part of your reply:

I bought my car from Camerons as specced by the M.D. and they have cared for it impeccably

[allybongo]

The director tried to rope me in by saying RS4 models are losing £1750 a month but i notice the three Avants they have are still the same price they were last year... My car has 7000 miles and is MINT and they have three all over 25,000 miles and they are asking £7,000 more for them than they offered for mine... NO WAY!!

[allybongo]

I bought my car from Camerons as specced by the M.D. and they have cared for it impeccably.. it is time to move my RS4 on and i offered it to them back to buy in.. They offered me a pittance and even tried to rope in a swap deal on an A4 Avant they are having trouble shifting... Do not think Perth Audi are any better than any other dealer when it comes to stealing from you!!

[JMC]

They only have two Avants now as I've bought the Misano. It has 13k (not >25k) miles and I paid a reasonable price for it - though it certainly wasn't cheap. However, it was the 'right' car.

Bear in mind, whatever they have paid for that car before selling it to me they still need to make a profit. For the price I'm paying I'm getting a couple bits 'put right' which includes new tyres. There's extended warranty and other issues which will cost them and hence reduce that profit.

THATS'S LIFE!!!

If you set-up a successful dealership with huge overheads I think you could ask for top dollar on a good car too. Furthermore, if you are asking them to buy your car 'as seen', that's very different to them asking to buy your car.

I traded a marvellous '05 3.2q for the B7 and they got the old car for a song. Perhaps I could have sold it for £3-4k more, but to whom and when is a very different matter.

I certainly haven't bought the B7 to go back next year and ask for my money back.

[PetrolDave]

My car has 7000 miles and is MINT and they have three all over 25,000 miles and they are asking £7,000 more for them than they offered for mine... NO WAY!!

We should expect dealers to make a profit - but that is profiteering, not making a profit.

[rs4v8]

Unfortunately they know that the vast majority of people will just trade in their old car, either because they don't know any better, don't care or because they don't want the hassle of the autotrader etc.
Not sure they actually make much money on the new cars so they've got to make a profit somewhere. This is why they sting you at trade-in time and also why they can charge 60 quid + for service labour.

However, as said above, there's making a profit and there's ripping the piss!!