*Help* 2012 S Line Avant Buying Questions

[DansB8.5]

Hey all. I really hope that I've posted this in the right place. I'm new here and know there are some really knowledgeable people here who will be able to advise

So I'm pretty set of buying a 2.0TDI A4 Avant S-Line 144bhp. I've found a 2012 model from a private seller. It's got a very good (not excellent) service history having the first two done at AUDI and then 5/6 done at a German/Italian specialist. 113k miles. He says it's mechanically and electronically sound. HPI check has come back clear. Pictures look pretty clean. No rust. Dodgy noises whatsoever. Selling due to lost job during COVID doesn't really need it since he uses a work van and partner has a similar estate that does the job. Brakes I'm told have about 70% left too and suspension is fine. MOT history is totally perfect with no advisories. 

Originally I wanted to buy with FULL AUDI service history but have learned that as long as it's been regularly maintained at the proper intervals at a specialist or Audi it's fine, plus a non-audi service history will allow the price to be pushed down. I also wanted the top spec but this one is a happy medium for the price. It has the nice things that I like too but doesn't make my insurance go through the roof.

History: 15k AUDI July 2014, 19kAudi July 2015, 34k March 2016 (specialist dealer), 43k July 2017, 69k July 2018, 89k May 2018, 96k December 2019. He also told me it was serviced not stamped at 108k when he bought and there was some pully and belt replacements, also undocumented. I was willing to overlook the last two missing papers because everything else checks out and I can sue it to push the price down. And the German car specialist has numerous lovely reviews online. So I have reason to believe that it's good.

If I bought it I'd replace the cambelt/water pump immediately as it's not been done. I would also carbon clean the valves, have it properly serviced and potential new battery depending on the inspection voltage test.

So, I'm at the stage of making an offer and know there's work to be done which I've explained. He's listed it with some awful photos for 6.5k but I wanted to pay as little as 5k due to the work needed. That being said, it sounds to be a solid car and I don't want to low-ball. I will also only buy this car if my PRE PURCHASE INSPECTION comes back consistent with everything he's told me about the car. Obviously if the engine is about to die or something then I'll steer clear. 

Is 5k to low? Maybe 5.5k? Am I over thinking this deal? My family are going crazy at me for thinking about a high mileage AUDI like this but I believe I've found a diamond in the rough. Please do write in response to this post. I'd really appreciate all of the advice I could get! Essentially I plan on using this car as a comfort cruiser for 2-3 years having very little debt or depreciation and I think it's a low risk investment and something I can sell on for a similar price or more. I also don't want my family to say that I was an idiot for buying a high mileage car because they literally know nothing about this. Cheers.  🙂

Edited June 14, 2020 by DansB8.5
Updated Information for context to readers

[Magnet]

Hello Dan,

Not sure how much of this is going to be of help to you, and most points would come under the heading of ‘thinking twice’ before committing, but here goes:- 

Have you actually seen the car, or are you just going by photos? If so, I would not be thinking too deeply about what are realistic and unrealistic offers until you are at a point of deciding to buy it. In-advance offers can seriously pee off sellers, and most will prefer to discuss figures when there is money on the table, and you actually want to buy it. 

Getting an idea of what you will need/would like to get done is great, but be aware that sellers may not see that they should be reducing the price in accordance to what you want to get done. To be fair, you could be asking them to totally finance your betterment. 

Investment, and selling on? I would simply forget that possibility and anticipate at least ‘normal’ depreciation, and just hope that it turns out that Covid does not have such an adverse effect on ongoing depreciation as might be expected. 

Might be worth looking on eBay, and I think you will (as usual) find comparable, lower and higher priced prices examples. 

If I understand it, the car has covered 7k miles since Dec. ( not insignificant in lockdown) and indeed he bought it since then, and has driven it 5k of those miles - presumably during lockdown. It could be me, but it hardly equates to ‘ not needing’, during his very short ownership. 

I would be interested in how long the owner prior this one had it. Important to know, since two short term owners can equal problems. 

‘...my Pre Purchase Inspection...’. Can we take it that you will be inspection the car yourself, or you will be getting it independently inspected. 

Service and belts at 108k but no invoices, or bills for parts? I would tend to read this as simply some verbal attraction to sell it. 

Just some thoughts Dan, but thinking twice doesn’t usually cost anything. 

Good luck with whatever you decide. 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

p.s. Service history can be important, but can equate to the car having spent half a day at the dealers, have oil and some filters changed, and may, or may not represent how the car has been cared for by the owner. 

 

 

[Steve Q]

Don't always knock independent non Audi  specialist garages. My a6 has been going to the same one since it was 3 years old and we've owned it from new. The car is now 18 years old with 332k miles on the clock with the original engine and gearbox which have never been rebuilt. 

Here's a YouTube video which might help: 

Cheers

Steve

[DavidTdi]

Dan I'm new to the forum but have decades of car experience.

I agree no point in winding up a seller trying to pre-deal before viewing. If selling I refuse to discuss money until you are in front of me.

Also agree re garage servicing... you can't guarantee any... village garage... main dealer.... indy... will do 100%. For example the 130k miles A3 we've just bough has a fully history in the book to 90k yet the pollen filter was choked and the one the car was made with. It's best to ignore any seller's word of mouth claims that this and that has been done... just plan to check and probably do those items.

To be honest it's not ideal the guy... as far as I can work out... has had the car well under 6mths and 5k miles. Also his multiple reasons for selling are sounding like typical made up stuff.

Magnet is right... never buy a car to try and make a profit after using for a year.

Regarding price it's personal to you. There's the car's value which is what it's worth compared to others about at the same time... and then there's its value to you. For example I'll pay a bit more to get a car at right place/right time rather than travelling many miles.... better than losing it for a few pounds to start the hunt again.

113k isn't high mileage really. Our cars have covered 110k, 105k, 130k and 152k. All running perfectly mechanics wise.

 

 

 

 

 

[AndyFromTheBrac]

Like David above I'm new here but not to the car buying process and I've purchased without being present and imported from the US too

Totally agree with him. Most VAG cars will last a proper lifetime if they're looked after. Idependent garages can easily better a dealer, but you need to know you can trust them.

Seller's vagueness around the last few "missing papers" seem to indicate to me that he's not done anything in the past? If it's not written down and validated it didn't happen. That said you can get unlucky with a component failure thats not critical and may not show up in a test, but can add a sizeable bill (something like an EGR valve)

If he's lost his job and now has a "work van", wouldn't he lose that too? Between 96k last service in December and 113k now is a LOT for someone who also has a work van. Presumably these almost 3k miles-a-month were just domestic use? He says he bought at 108k but when was that? (not forgetting we've been unable to drive far for 3 months of the last 6)

It's not impossible, it could be 100% true and some people have been massively unfortunate in this pandemic. Just try to go with the facts.

By "Pre Purchase inspection" sounds like you're having the car assessed? If you're unable to view for yourself and get it inspected that has benefits and drawbacks. Ideally they will offer impartial advice that doesn't "go with the heart" Be sure that the inspection co knows what you value more in the car s condition (you may be less bothered about upholstery stains but more concerned about wheel scuffs/kerbing)  and that they take detailled, high-res photos in clear daylight (any recent phone can do this job there's no excuse for poor quality photos). It's not like you're getting a guarantee and the inspection co will rarely pay out if something they missed ultimately causes issue later. Use the info they give you to decide for yourself what the risk is to you? Ideally it's worth giving it the eye yourself and getting it inspected, if you can?

Some alarm bells in there for me though I think.