Hi all

[R1RS4]

Oh forgot to post a pic of a cracking Imola B7 Saloon I saw whilst I was out working in Baku!!

The driver said he was really happy with the MRC Map!!!

LOL great that

Good to see they have fitted the roof rack that really does take your eyes away from that outdated rear end!

[R1RS4]

Evening all! I've just signed up (with the help of Phil and Mike to get round the forum-not-liking-my-email-address issue).

I currently drive a Renault Megane RS250, however, am now seriously looking for a B7 RS4. The other half would like me to get an Avant as an alternative smelly, wet dog lugger (her Freelander currently has that task), but I prefer the saloon. Needless to say, I will probably end up with an Avant.

I'm looking forward to perusing the forum over a mug of tea.....

One things for sure mate, which ever you choose your enjoy and treasure

Good luck in your search for the right car

[Rick_RS4]

both are great, im biased to the saloon but the avant is a sexy one, i nearly got an avant but decided i dont have kids, <beep> to transport to the tip or 50+ years old

i chose the gentlemans choice, the only choice

black saloon

[R1RS4]

Yes as Rick_RS4 said the Avant the sexy one

That's why Audi continued the Avant

Keep cranking!

[Tile Diver]

Ah there we go, normal service has resumed, an RS4 as it should be!!!! :big blink:

Any excuse to post a pic up eh!!!

[mustdash]

Thanks for the welcome guys...... The MeganeSport forum has a similar discussion over which is the fastest, although that usually revolves around colours...... I have to say, I am actually liking the Avants...... Please don't shoot me!

Anyway, today I have clocked up 200 miles driving from the Midlands to the big smoke of Hayes to look at a '56 plate black saloon, followed by a jaunt up the M25 to Hatfield to look at a '56 plate silver Avant.....

The saloon was £20k (which is the very top of my budget), had 53k miles on it and had all 4 tyres on the very legal limit and all 4 disks badly lipped.... The salesman was also an arse. That was a waste of a journey as the car was over priced / needed too much spending on it straight off the bat.

The Avant was £18k, had 62k miles (1 owner from new), had 3 brand new tyres and one that was running decent tread, the rear disks looked good, the fronts had a lip on them though. Looking through the service history it has 7 stamps, all from a main dealer, however, the last MOT cert mentioned misting on one of the shocks. I know that this is a pre-curser to the dreaded DRC failure, so am in two minds as to whether to ask for it to be reduced by a further £600 to be able to get it done, or to walk away (the car has recently been reduced to the current asking price so I'm not sure there's going to be much movement)....

As good as the ones in the classifieds are, unfortunately I am in the position of needing finance, so a private purchase isn't really an option.

Thoughts?

[R1RS4]

Well you have started the ball rolling

You will get a lot of advice, and the more the better

You already know about the discs and DRC
as mentioned
Oil cooler pipes for corrosion - the pipe change can lead to an cooler change too, approx £1200 (stealers)
Spark plugs changed?
Brake fluid flush?
When is the service due?
Exhaust condition?
If poss... Check when VCD's cleared, for fear of hidden warnings

The more you see he better the feel for the right car

Good luck

[MikeFish]

3 new tyres for me is a no no. I only ever replace 2 or 4. Replacing only 3 and not the fourth sounds like someone struggling to afford the upkeep and makes me wonder what else they might have scrimped on. If I had a puncture that was unrepairable I'd replace both tyres on that axle.

[doodlebug]

3 new tyres for me is a no no. I only ever replace 2 or 4. Replacing only 3 and not the fourth sounds like someone struggling to afford the upkeep and makes me wonder what else they might have scrimped on. If I had a puncture that was unrepairable I'd replace both tyres on that axle.

This. Should replace, as a minimum, the pair on an axle.

[HYFR]

Finance? Just get a TESCO loan at a lower Apr than a dealer and then buy private and save the dealer margin!

[mustdash]

The tyres thing was a (small) nagging doubt in my mind, but the shock misting was the bigger worry - at least all the tyres were the same brand and not some Linglang ditch finders! .

One has come up for sale today near me so will be taking a trip to have a look tomorrow - red saloon, bucket seats, 62k miles, £18K - am a litte dubious about the dealership it's at as it's in a less than salubrious area of the city of dreams - I guess a viewing / test drive etc will sort that. Does anyone here work for / have access to the Audi systems to check the history of potential purchases (i.e. verify mileage / work done etc)?

My plans for any car I get are to get it to Unit20 ASAP for a thorough check over etc, regardless of where it's come from.

[neilparf]

Finance? Just get a TESCO loan at a lower Apr than a dealer and then buy private and save the dealer margin!

+1 makes more sense and opens up your choice considerably...

Good luck!

Saloon's rule!!!

[C17LJR]

Finance? Just get a TESCO loan at a lower Apr than a dealer and then buy private and save the dealer margin!

This, or there's plenty places that offer a pcp type deal, even when buying private as that's what I done.

Now buy mine...

[HYFR]

You can't get a PCP "balloon" type package on a car of this age.

So it will only be a straight repayable.

TESCO defo cheapest, plus the car isn't securitised against the loan.

Finance? Just get a TESCO loan at a lower Apr than a dealer and then buy private and save the dealer margin!

This, or there's plenty places that offer a pcp type deal, even when buying private as that's what I done.

Now buy mine...

[neilparf]

TESCO defo cheapest...

Or Sainsbury's bank 0.1% APR cheaper. Same differnce really...