A few key points - please

[christhompson]

Thanks Goran,

Useful comparators to beat the salesman with. Not sure about the one with the r/h/f damage, but the 3.3 diesel is right on.

and thanks oldnick - today I celebrate my 65th birthday with max no claims and a member of the IAM - I can insure almost anything.

I do some serious mileage and so can't consider one of the petrolheads loves, but I bask in reflected glory. Particularly as the object to be viewed is debadged. Just cruising slow!

[sarg]

Happy Birthday

[christhompson]

Thanks - can't find an emoticon for a curtsey

[HPsauce]

Happy birthday Chris, I'll be joining you in 2 months and 2 days.

[Goran]

Happy Birthday!

sorry, didnt spot the damaged one.
definitely worth checking out the ones in Germany, from the few French D2's I saw online when looking for my S8, they were mostly overpriced.

Also you know my biased theory, go for a manual gearbox S8 or A8 and avoid any auto box future problems.

[oldnick]

Originally Posted by christhompson

Thanks Goran,

Useful comparators to beat the salesman with. Not sure about the one with the r/h/f damage, but the 3.3 diesel is right on.

and thanks oldnick - today I celebrate my 65th birthday with max no claims and a member of the IAM - I can insure almost anything.

I do some serious mileage and so can't consider one of the petrolheads loves, but I bask in reflected glory. Particularly as the object to be viewed is debadged. Just cruising slow!

well , i suggested asking about insurance because being rather more senior than you and with 25 years without a claim on my french insurance i was a bit shocked when I was quoted 5 times as much as my 5cyl 20v audi , seems my insurance provider doesn't like A8's ...nor have they heard of the iAM I suspect

[christhompson]

Originally Posted by Goran

Happy Birthday!

sorry, didnt spot the damaged one.
definitely worth checking out the ones in Germany, from the few French D2's I saw online when looking for my S8, they were mostly overpriced.

Also you know my biased theory, go for a manual gearbox S8 or A8 and avoid any auto box future problems.

My theory is that the gearbox is inadequate for the power from the big petrol engines but is fine for the diesels. Certainly our lamented barge had no autobox problems at all

Thanks oldnick. The car would be UK insured. Whilst we spend a lot of time in France we are UK based so the car would have to come back to the UK and take a UK plate - and back to UK for MOT every twelve months etc. Also now we are soon not to have a tax disc what can we have in our windscreens to demonstrate insurance and roadworthy like the green sticker and CT sticker?

Anyone know anything about WAUZZZ4D42N004134

Cheers

[ainarssems]

My theory is that the gearbox is inadequate for the power from the big petrol engines but is fine for the diesels. Certainly our lamented barge had no autobox problems at all

It's the torque you should be worried about not the power and 3.3 diesel puts out more torque then 40v S8 - 480Nm vs 430Nm. And 2.5TDI is not far behind 4.2 A8 with 370Nm vs 410Nm

But these boxes show no evidence of failing because of too much torque going through them, it's design, quality and the fact that most of them are never serviced as 'sealed for life' that result in failures.

[christhompson]

Hi Guys and thanks for your thoughts.

Went to see it today, normal crop of small stone chips here and there and some gentle kerb rash on the wheels. The electrics all seemed to work, the dealer had not recognised the solar sun roof. Some funny bubbles on the paintwork - if it had been a steel car I might have guessed rust under.

The big problem was the history. FASH until 2007 146km then nothing. Audi dealership then shows some individual items including cam belt 2012 but no stamps of any sort in the book. Not even an oil change. Also between 2007 and 2014 only 14K kilometers. Controle Technique [MOT] expired June 2013. Can't help but wonder where its been and what its been doing.

Didn't feel right so walked even before any negotiations from the inflated price.

I'll keep looking.

[oldnick]

well , as you are to be uk registered , I personally wouldn't consider anything but a professionally converted lpg car ; probably with a prins conversion but others here can advise ; I ran lpg powered cars for 20 years and the progress in the conversions in that time was amazing

no doubt you know that there is a cut off date before the emission road tax came in , 2001 if I remember correctly

incidentally , whereabouts in france do you rest your head ?