Potential purchase dilemma

[PetrolDave]

Its with the audi dealer in their workshop. If it comes out clean then I think I'll know for sure.

Don't put any faith in what the Audi dealer says - there's a long history on here of people buying RS4s that an Audi dealer says is clean and/or passes their 100 point inspection check (or whether they call it now) only to find within a few days/weeks that there are expensive things that the dealer check never even looked for (principally because most dealer technicians' product knowledge, especially of RS models, can be written on the back of a stamp using a very thick marker pen).

Given the hint of poor maintenance that a mixed set of tyres indicates (all 4 tyres should be the same make, type and degree of wear IMHO) then to trust an Audi dealer makes even less good sense IMHO. If you really think this might be the RS4 for you then I suggest you opt for a check by an Audi specialist, i.e. someone who really knows mechanics and not just how to use a laptop diagnostic tool.

Just my tuppence worth as a member here and RS4 owner for just on 10 years...

[zainster]

Its with the audi dealer in their workshop. If it comes out clean then I think I'll know for sure.

Don't put any faith in what the Audi dealer says - there's a long history on here of people buying RS4s that an Audi dealer says is clean and/or passes their 100 point inspection check (or whether they call it now) only to find within a few days/weeks that there are expensive things that the dealer check never even looked for (principally because most dealer technicians' product knowledge, especially of RS models, can be written on the back of a stamp using a very thick marker pen).

Given the hint of poor maintenance that a mixed set of tyres indicates (all 4 tyres should be the same make, type and degree of wear IMHO) then to trust an Audi dealer makes even less good sense IMHO. If you really think this might be the RS4 for you then I suggest you opt for a check by an Audi specialist, i.e. someone who really knows mechanics and not just how to use a laptop diagnostic tool.

Just my tuppence worth as a member here and RS4 owner for just on 10 years...

Thanks Dave, really appreciate the feedback as I do with all of it so far. Good to get different perspectives on things.

As I said before, I completely understand and agree on the tyre issue. On the face of it, yes doesn't look good.

But in my scenario earlier, I would say perfectly understandable so then not an issue.

I've seen a few now. The good ones I really liked I wasn't fast enough as they all sold on the same day of coming into sale and hence I'm still looking 7 months on now lol

If I take away the tyres, ,I can't help but think the rest of the car,,it's a really good one and it'll come with a main dealer warranty too.

[John Johnson]

Your not rushing tbh , you generally get a vibe if a car is right or wrong even after the usual desirable jobs have been done .

Yeah I agree with you.
Funny thing is, I thought the last service was something most would be put off by as it wasn't done by a specialist but appears it's more the tyres that people are looking at.

That's quite interesting.
I'm starting to actually like the car more now as I find out more info.

Reading between the lines it's at a competitive price which you have to take into account , if it was the wrong end of 20k ( up 25 plus ) then I'd be prodding and poking things very closely , mine was and I still had a few twiddly jobs to do

[TobyRS4]

Its with the audi dealer in their workshop. If it comes out clean then I think I'll know for sure.

Don't put any faith in what the Audi dealer says - there's a long history on here of people buying RS4s that an Audi dealer says is clean and/or passes their 100 point inspection check (or whether they call it now) only to find within a few days/weeks that there are expensive things that the dealer check never even looked for (principally because most dealer technicians' product knowledge, especially of RS models, can be written on the back of a stamp using a very thick marker pen).

Given the hint of poor maintenance that a mixed set of tyres indicates (all 4 tyres should be the same make, type and degree of wear IMHO) then to trust an Audi dealer makes even less good sense IMHO. If you really think this might be the RS4 for you then I suggest you opt for a check by an Audi specialist, i.e. someone who really knows mechanics and not just how to use a laptop diagnostic tool.

Just my tuppence worth as a member here and RS4 owner for just on 10 years...

Thanks Dave, really appreciate the feedback as I do with all of it so far. Good to get different perspectives on things.

As I said before, I completely understand and agree on the tyre issue. On the face of it, yes doesn't look good.

But in my scenario earlier, I would say perfectly understandable so then not an issue.

I've seen a few now. The good ones I really liked I wasn't fast enough as they all sold on the same day of coming into sale and hence I'm still looking 7 months on now lol

If I take away the tyres, ,I can't help but think the rest of the car,,it's a really good one and it'll come with a main dealer warranty too.

I cant help but think your trying to make excuses for the previous owners tyre choices to convince yourself to buy it?

[rs user]

health check...
not sure how audi do their health check but to see the cooler properly and the rad pack etc front bumper and undertray really need to come off at the very least the undertray....to see the aux belt,oil cooler pipes and check integrity of all under engine components.

[zainster]

Reading between the lines it's at a competitive price which you have to take into account , if it was the wrong end of 20k ( up 25 plus ) then I'd be prodding and poking things very closely , mine was and I still had a few twiddly jobs to do[/quote]

Haha! ah John, your obviously a good reader!
Yes, the prices is also very sensible especially considering it's had the oil cooler and pipes plus DRC fully replaced, at well below £20k imho, that's very reasonable.

[zainster]

health check...
not sure how audi do their health check but to see the cooler properly and the rad pack etc front bumper and undertray really need to come off at the very least the undertray....to see the aux belt,oil cooler pipes and check integrity of all under engine components.

Luckily, the oil cooler and pipes has been replaced just under 3 years ago.

[zainster]

I cant help but think your trying to make excuses for the previous owners tyre choices to convince yourself to buy it?[/quote]



You're probably right mate if I'm honest.
At first value, I was thinking I am not going to get this. But when the rest of the car history stacks up well I'm now not so sure I should disregard the car just on the one fact it was traded in with 3 tyre brands. I have come across a few RS4's that have have had 2 brands (matching fronts and different matching rears) so if you get a puncture just a few days say before you are about to trade the car in, would you really spend on a brand new matching tyre before the car went in knowing you've already not been offered a decent p/x on it?

Ofcourse we'll never know how the 3 tyres got on there, they in isolation would not have done any damage to the mechanically. What people are 'assuming' is that it hasn't been maintained on that one evidence. I'm the same as it made me think.

I wont find out about the outcome of the health check results until Wednesday and I will need time to go through the report as well so we'll see but I must say I really appreciate all the views, so thanks all.

[zainster]

Your not rushing tbh , you generally get a vibe if a car is right or wrong even after the usual desirable jobs have been done .

Yeah I agree with you.
Funny thing is, I thought the last service was something most would be put off by as it wasn't done by a specialist but appears it's more the tyres that people are looking at.

That's quite interesting.
I'm starting to actually like the car more now as I find out more info.

Reading between the lines it's at a competitive price which you have to take into account , if it was the wrong end of 20k ( up 25 plus ) then I'd be prodding and poking things very closely , mine was and I still had a few twiddly jobs to do

Hi John

Sent you a couple of pm's but their still sitting in my outbox.

[marc1]

Sounds like you want the car, so buy it if you are happy with all but the tyres. I do tend to agree it does suggest at least a loss of interest in the maintenance of the car by the owner. Or that they've been replaced under a scenario that you describe, or even by the dealer. BTW I have an up sized (275/30/19) set of MPSS's brand new if you want to replace them with proper rubber.

[marc1]

Just go add to the other comments about dealers. If you go to Audi.co.uk and type the reg in, it will give you an option for a timing belt. they can't even get that right.

Even the latest Audi magazine they sent me mentioned the C7 RS6 Plus performance at 650ps.

[zainster]

Sounds like you want the car, so buy it if you are happy with all but the tyres. I do tend to agree it does suggest at least a loss of interest in the maintenance of the car by the owner. Or that they've been replaced under a scenario that you describe, or even by the dealer. BTW I have an up sized (275/30/19) set of MPSS's brand new if you want to replace them with proper rubber.

Haha! I'll defo let you know about the tyres if I end up buying it.

I've read here on many occasion people say don't write off a high mileage car or even a cat d because of this or that ... this by all accounts looks like it's been well maintained bar the 3 tyres but that's because we're all assuming/believing it's been running on that for ages. I have found out its had 3 spark plug changes in its life including a big service only last January so im thinking the 3 tyres most likely is something it was on perhaps in a scenario I mentioned earlier.

Way I'm looking at it is is a win win. .. its got most of the desirable options in one of the most desirable colours (& shape Lol) verified history, low miles, some big known issues sorted, recent discs up front and big service last Jan including spark plugs. If the health check shows its got alot of impending work needing I can simply walk away!