Wrong badge on the back?

[DavidT]

It looks a very good buy to me

Dippy imported his 2001 avant so may be able to give you some tips on any spec differences etc.

[mikeyquattro]

Parptoot. If you want me to have alook, give me a shout. Might be worth asking if you can get it up on a ramp at his work?

[Dippy]

Just read this. The parking sensors gave it away because I'm positive that this was NOT an option for UK cars.

As an import all you need to think about is the value. I imported mine in 2001 for 34K. At that time the UK list price for my car with the options I had was 43K. That's about 20% cheaper. Now the value of a car is what someone is prepared to pay for it. Although there is nothing wrong with a personal import (and in fact sometimes they are better!), if the buyer knows that it is an import then they will want to pay less. I suggest that you should think this way too.

Other issues with personal imports:
The owner needs to keep proof of VAT payment for 4 years (no longer valid in this case).
Some insurance companies will charge a premium - if they do, go elsewhere
Some Audi dealers treat you as a substandard customer - if they do, go elsewhere

[searider]

Not it's second owner - third I think.
Two previous keepers.

Chap that owned it in Southampton - who moved to Chelmsford did not buy it new. He told me he bought it from a military type in the Hereford area.

Quite likely a personal import on the military scheme therefore.

[Parptoot]

Fantastic information, thank you.
The import thing has put me off slightly, but as mentioned above I should be ok to get decent insurance quotes.

I'm going to have a quick look wednesday evening with a friend, then if I decide it's worth a proper look in the daylight I'll ask the very kind mikeyquattro for a helping hand to scour over it with me and batter the price down some more. It would be good if I could push him into the high £6,000s rather than the low £7,000s, but thats unlikely I think. But then I'll have the cash and he needs it.

[Philws4]

IMHO the fact that it is an import would not put me off buying a 7 year old car if all else was A1.

I say go for it

[Parptoot]

I've been to look at the car, but it was getting dark by the time I got there. I found a few things that I'd like an opinion on.
1 - 119,000 miles but overmat and carpet worn right through were heal sits.
2 - Registration documents state 'engine number - NOT KNOWN'
3 - On road test I was expecting a bit more bang for my money, I've driven most exotica and mainstream performance cars, and I seem to remember these being a bit more torquey than this felt. It felt a bit better when I operated the ESP switch to engage the Revo conversion and better still once it had warmed up. Maybe it's me?
Other than these things it seemed like a fairly tidy car, although I did ask if it had genuine parts during the service which he replied yes to, but I found a Mann oil filter on it!!

Any pointers or should I run for the hills and find another?

[Peakz]

Engine number not known is common on imported cars, I doubt it's anything to worry about.

[mikeyquattro]

mats are common. My S4 overmat had worn through, but I bought more so not to wear the carpet.

Worth getting a second pair of eyes to look round it. Maybe get it vagcom'ed and log a run to check boost etc

[Parptoot]

I put vag com on it and it picked up one fault
1 fault found:
17536 - Fuel trim:bank1 (mult) :System too lean
P1128-35-00 - -
But thats it. I cleared it then drove it and checked again but it had gone for good.
I'd like that second opinon if you are available mikeyquattro?

[Parptoot]

Possible cause for the lack of power maybe??

Possible Symptoms
Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) active
Possible Causes
Mass Air Flow Sensor faulty
Oxygen Sensor Control faulty
Fuel Injector(s) faulty
Possible Solutions
Check Mass Air Flow Sensor
Check Oxygen Sensor Control
Check Fuel Injector(s)
Special Notes

[mikeyquattro]

No worries. I can have a look. I'm free Friday afternoon and Saturday all day. A log on Vagcom should show if any prblems are evident. I'll PM you my mobile no. and we can go from there

Mike

[Dippy]

I'd be more worried about the lean DTC than the fact that it is a personal import. It WILL have been built on the same line as every other car ordered by a UK Audi dealer.