RS246.com Forum :: The World's #1 Audi R, S and RS Enthusiast Community

hi all, i,m new here and hope this is posted in the right section. after years of wanting i now have the cash to by an rs4 b7 avant. my max budget is about 22k and i want the best i can get. just want some advice from you guys that own and run them, i,m aware of drc recalls/issues but also read about possible oil cooler probs, active exhaust valves, and coil packs and the carbon issue. anyone had these problems and did audi recalls sort them out. do lower mileage cars suffer more with carbon due to less use or shorter trips? whats the most mileage youd, guys would buy a rs4 with? theres a nice 1 for sale local to me in the right colour etc but showing topside of 80k and bit unsure. i know german motors go forever but due to the high revving nature was just unsure on mileage. i know i could spend 4-5k more just for 30-40k less. sorry for gong on but want to make sure i buy the right one. thanks in advance guys and looking forward to joining the rs crew lol

FON

Try and buy a forum car, something like this http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?t=102214

I wouldn't be too put off by mileage, I've seen some good cars with 100k on the clock and still pulling like new
Buy on condition not mileage
Where abouts are you based as you might be lucky and get a local forum member to show you around one ans see what to look out for

As Graeme says, condition is key.

I bought a forum car. No more than your budget. 70k miles. 2k miles in and it's great thus far.

You're unlikely to get Audi to cover the common issues you note, unless you buy a car from a main dealer. At which point expect to pay 3k-5k more than you would if buying private. Which would cover a lot of ills...

A strong suggestion would be to pay a specialist to inspect any car you're seriously interested in. Ask the vendor all the basics, potentially go and have a look yourself if you can, then get a recognised specialist to inspect, specifically noting the areas you are most concerned with (they should know most, but don't leave anything to chance. And your discussions with the vendor might throw up specific checks that aren't regular).

There are lots of posts from the last couple of months on the same topic, so do some research here. You'll even find a full check list of the items to check out.

Good luck.

Also watch out for the sticky clutch issues. Check tyres and brakes all expensive.

1. Don't forget Rule 1
2. Make sure you look at a few cars, list your basic requirements [Colour] and then nice to haves [IE factory extras such as SS+, FBSW, SatNav, Dynamic Xenons, Auto Lights ETC ETC]
3. Bucket seats are far more desirable and are IMHO mandatory
4. Buy from a forum member or at least an enthusiast if at all possible
5. As others have said, don't stress on the mileage - £22K should see you get a decent example.

thanks lads, i,m in cornwall and in the last few years have only seen 2 for sale down here. the first 1 i drove last year and it was a peach that i would have bought but only got the finances together in the last few weeks. theres 1 10 miles away but showing 89k. might be worth a look but don,t want to be a timewaster either. i,m sure the right 1 will come up soon!!

I bought a my first B7 of a forum member (nick). I test drove his car and fell in love with it there and then. It had done 89000 miles but he had treated it like a brand new car and spent so much on it. I'm so chuffed. Maybe I took a risk buying the first car I saw but I'm one of the lucky ones where it paid off.

I would just try and as far as you can to find your RS4 mate - I was prepared to go national and considered cars near Leeds, South and North Wales (even Scotland) and I am on the SE Coast. I even considered one in Ireland! I just thought that for the right car I would go miles - get as much info as you can and as I said if u can get one from a forum member / enthusiast then you should get a goodun!!

rocket as sync says go as far as necessary to get the right car, don't just look locally.
I've travelled all over the UK for "the right car"
But know this, once you buy one that's it, no way back and you'll never appreciate any other car fully ever again because, for all their little imperfections, they are the ultimate, all round machines
Luxurious, practical, all wheel drive, wicked looking yet somehow subtle with it, sound bloody awesome and boy are they fast for a car that weighs over 1700kgs
I'm now on my second one and you smile every time you sit in it, hell I smile when it's taking £90 off me at the pump...... again
You will sell the wife and kids to keep it on the road........... and not feel guilty afterwards, kind of like a serious addiction

Let us know when you've bought it then