Want Audi estate for my wife -- please advise

[roberto]

Originally Posted by notorious

Understood Adrian. Thanks!!

So today I'll be viewing the car that you suggested:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01803274962346

Will let you know the output...

*** If anyone has an opinion about reliability of this car please post here asap ***


Update: Tried to check tax rate via Roberto's link https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ViewVehicle
and I get:
"The vehicle tax rates are only available if you have the latest 11 digit reference number from the V5C registration certificate (logbook)"

Hope this won't attract dreaded £540 p.a. bill

1. it looks a good car and they tune well i think if thats your intention
2. its another link for tax prices but as long as its less than 226 ie: 225 or less your ok
3. £290 that car
4. service history is very important (check spark plug changes) they are expensive so nobody does them the Tips broke off a friends car and he had to get another engine

[notorious]

Got it. Cheers Roberto !!

[Adrian E]

Presume you're mainly looking just to see if it's the right sort of car for you and your wife?

If seriously considering buying then:

Check s-tronic service done on or before schedule (38k advised on mine)
Ideally annual services, but most are on longlife
Plugs should be done around 57k/6 years
Supercharger belt is due at about 60k miles (and might as well do the auxiliary belt at the same time, as it involves pulling the front end into the service position)

These are based on a pre-2012 so the service book may indicate a different interval (or in the case of the supercharger not quote an interval at all!)

My invoice for spark plugs quotes £12.99 each for them, but we had the car on a service plan which covered the cost entirely so labour isn't broken down.

The only fault ours has suffered from is a failed thermostat at pretty much bang on 50k miles. Not sure if later cars suffer with it, but the supercharger needs removing to change it. Ours was covered by the warranty (circa 6 hours labour to change according to Audi book)

Report back soon!

[notorious]

Looked at the car.
Cosmetically very nice example in and out.

Drives very nicely.
And yes, very low RPM on top gear @ 70mph.
On S-series car. After world of D2s I find it fascinating...

Unfortunately, the car was clearly driven by someone who does't love cars.
Someone who loves driving, but not cars.
Scratches here and there in interior. Not major ones and most interior trim can be replaced to fix the issues, but driver clearly 'didn't care'.

My 2002 D2 looks far better from interior condition point of view than this 2014 car.
So, it is not STUNNING like they describe it.
Just OK condition.

Dead fly in the headlight. How fly could get to the headlight? This is beyond me.
Dead spider in the tail light. How he got there? Bad design/ sealing?
Headlight and taillight look OK to me. Not misty or milky. No mechanical damage.
Just perplexed how insects got inside...

No transparency with servicing.
No receipts.
All they have is 4 stamps in service book from **independent** Audi specialist. No single Audi stamp.
I can understand why they did this -- I hate Sytner with passion.
BUT God knows what was actually done with S-tronic, etc. Have they serviced it properly?
Engine doesn't seem to leak anywhere, but you have to put car in the air to really inspect.

The car was driven by daughter of 'business partner' of the establishment, who is now on vacation in Croatia returning back on Monday.
That explains to me why some buttons are so scratched -- women's long nails


Here comes the shocking part.

D2 width mirror to mirror is 1973mm.
This A4 avant width is 2040mm.
That's right, A4 is 67mm **WIDER** than D2. Jesus Christ.

When my wife realised the prospect car is almost 7cm wider than our D2 (which she thinks is quite monstrous in size),
she said she's unprepared to switch to it from her current Fiat Punto manual. I can understand her.
I’ve had no idea either about how wide the damn thing is...

I loved the car overall. Interior scratches can be fixed. Flies and spiders can be removed from lights.
My wife was shocked with width.

Next steps:

It looks like we need to see A3 / S3 with her... Just to see how it compares.
(Another shock: A3s are only 7mm narrower than D2 mirror to mirror. But perhaps it looks smaller visually)
They are about the same price on Autotrader as A4 cars.
Clearly, there won't be as much legroom at the back though.

Anyone knows about post-2013 era A3/S3s? Are they any good? Long term reliability? ...

[roberto]

wow!
that's the trouble with buying cars
some peoples immaculate is another person's poor condition
i went to look at an immaculate 2012 Q3 for my wife it was Dirty
and they wanted dealer retail price
when i said that the woman said How Rude !
personally i would stay away from autos if she will drive manual
sounds like you are after the so called (unmarked example inside and out car)

maybe your postcode might help folk on here to make suggestions close to you so you are not travelling far and wide to look at poor cars

All newer cars are wider and getting wider But parking spaces are NOT

here's more reds :-)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01805146501794

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01805317040555

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01806027090191

[notorious]

Yeah, Lots of surprises.

I’ll actually travel for a good example.
Last time I brought D2 I travelled to Edinburgh from Reading area.

Do you see any good Petrol candidates?
It looks like we have had consensus with Ian that Petrol is less complicated hence more reliable in the long term.

[Adrian E]

The thickness of the D2 doors was always what made it mega wide to park for me - the exterior mirrors don't stick out much from the outside of the body if you look down the side of the car. Our S5 (which is wider than the A/S4) would fit in the garage with ease with the mirrors folded in, and the fun and games I had getting the S8 in are well documented! If it 'feels' too big for your wife, then it probably is. If you're both just going off the numbers I'd not worry about it if she's happy with driving it and the interior space.

If the width is a sticking point then try the Octavia - it's closer to A3/Golf width but without the loss of rear legroom or a big boot. It's a great family car and I would've bought one if the Golf hadn't come up. They have the benefit of being popular with private owners so tend to be better specced once you've swerved the ex-lease ones.

The post 2013 A/S3 are good cars - basically a Golf with quattro, but without the theft risk of a Golf R. The Sportback has significantly more headroom than the 3 door hatch, but could no way be described as an estate - it's a 5 door Golf hatch. The Golf is at least as practical and in estate form a lot more practical than the A/S3.

As for car dealer's descriptions - they're all pretty much universally as bad as each other. If you're not buying brand new you're taking pot luck on condition. We got lucky with our privately owned Golf GTI at a year old - it's rare to find anything that hasn't been car washed by cretins in supermarket car parks or had bird poo left on it for weeks.....you get lucky, or you don't....

Skoda in 'primer' but with leather and memory seats as a minimum

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01805246832897

White and decent spec

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01806047147972

Kermit green (looks great) and decent spec - newest shape. Think it gets ACC as standard?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01805016099146

Big benefit as a long term ownership proposition is how new a car you get for the money

Private sale Golf R? Dull colour though. Having had a look I think it's only the R that comes with the option of the 2.0T engine

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01803114475798

[Adrian E]

Originally Posted by notorious

Do you see any good Petrol candidates?
It looks like we have had consensus with Ian that Petrol is less complicated hence more reliable in the long term.

I wouldn't touch a diesel as a family runabout now - too much exhaust aftertreatment which knocks fuel economy to the point there's little real world difference in running costs. Plus the cost of repairs is eye watering - stats I've seen suggest the average life expectancy of a diesel is now a good few years less than petrol - used to be the other way round when diesels were still mechanical injection. They are great if you live on the motorway and need 600 mile range, but for anything else in car terms they've had their day.

[notorious]

Thanks again Roberto and Adrian.
Step by step I get aligned with reality.

I think we will spend Sunday viewing newer A3.
Still undecided which one, but perhaps this (Hopefully this newer, but simpler example wasn't trashed yet and is still in good condition)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01805106387392
Edit: OOPS, this one was sold -- perhaps this was a clean example

going to see this one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01805246841869
Gutless engine, but will give an idea of size of the car, hopefully to convince the wife to test drive it

Then we'll need to decide:
1. Do we actually need A4 or should it be A3 (or other A3 class car)
2. Shall we look for newer car to ease search hopefully to get an example in truly good condition, (from someone who actually loved the car and took care of it)
3. Shall we take waiting position for an older cart example to emerge in the market in equally good condition.

[briang9]

This also gives you tax rates

https://totalcarcheck.co.uk/

good luck with the search