Should I buy this car?

Ptrreynolds

So,
I'm potentially moving to Cork - need a car.

I'm a fan of Mondeos, great value for low mileage.

I'm a bigger fan of buying from people I know. I once bought a Mondeo of a Trader, and he's a great guy, I would genuinely trust. This car would come with 1 month/1000 mile warantee. It costs around 2K which is my budget (you can get a great car for 2K and I don't believe in spending more if its transport you are looking for)

So I'm genuinely not worried about immediate future - as I said, its a good guy I'm buying from.

I am (hopefully) about to start a new job in Cork, so I need a car that can get me to and fro about once a month. I calculate pessimistically about 6K miles a year.

The car is an Audi A6, 1.8 petrol, my insurance will be 1300, full license, 26,no NCB (not typically my type of car). 01, 120K miles.
The following issues:
higher mileage - 120K
Rev counter display does not work
Tires need replacing
there is a ticking - he says its a VW/Audi thing, but first I heard
Very slight grind from driver rear wheel
interior needs a steam clean
throttle is hunting - that means its jumping RPM - most likely a valve clean - not a big job
Starting is sluggish - hasn't been driven in 3-4 months, most likely low amps in the battery? Starter does sound battery sluggish.
Drivers door handle spring needs replacing, but not urgently
Rear windows dont work very well, they are right.. out of practice, oil the regulators should do it.


I was going to buy a 04 mondeo from a dealer (also 2K and a great deal by the sounds), but not a guy I know. Same price, lower mileage (on the clock). I like the idea of a nice car for the long trips but most important to me is a tight car that's a good runner.

Absolutely any advice welcome

MyStubbleItches

its a no-brainer, go for the mondeo. I'm surprised you're even considering the Audi with that list of issues. How much is it?

Also, E1300 sounds like a lot for insurance. Is it the 1.8T model?

barura

mondeo easily! More common, more parts, really nice car to drive... No brainer!

seanmacc

The Audi may look the biz and be great for picking up chicks. Bear in mind that fixing any issues will cost you an arm and a leg with it. My brother has a A4 1.8tdi. He had to change the windscreen wiper motor last year and it cost him the guts of 2 grand fully fitted. Dealer servicing costs a fortune and its very difficult to get certain issues fixed without going to the dealer.

TestTransmission

seanmacc wrote: »

He had to change the windscreen wiper motor last year and it cost him the guts of 2 grand fully fitted.

2k for a wiper motor?I find that a bit hard to believe

Gate Automation

take mondeo, great car i have second

seanmacc

TestTransmission wrote: »

2k for a wiper motor?I find that a bit hard to believe

So did I. 1500 for the part and a couple of hundred for the labour. Now I deice before turning the wipers on for fear of getting a similar shock one day.

EDIT- There was a wiring problem that needed sorting that caused it he tells me. Still they are an expensive mistress

Lurching

Just because you know the dealer, doesn't mean the car isn't a bag of crap. What happens when then warranty runs out?

MugMugs

seanmacc wrote: »

So did I. 1500 for the part and a couple of hundred for the labour. Now I deice before turning the wipers on for fear of getting a similar shock one day.

EDIT- There was a wiring problem that needed sorting that caused it he tells me. Still they are an expensive mistress

He's having a laugh. Walk on.

2k is not going to get you a reliability safe house but with the issues you've just stated, this Audi is well on the way out.

Max Power1

TestTransmission wrote: »

2k for a wiper motor?I find that a bit hard to believe

Id find the 1.8 tdi harder to believe tbh

seanmacc wrote: »

The Audi may look the biz and be great for picking up chicks. Bear in mind that fixing any issues will cost you an arm and a leg with it. My brother has a A4 1.8tdi. He had to change the windscreen wiper motor last year and it cost him the guts of 2 grand fully fitted. Dealer servicing costs a fortune and its very difficult to get certain issues fixed without going to the dealer.

Absurdum

seanmacc wrote: »

The Audi may look the biz and be great for picking up chicks.

lol seriously??

Soarer

I think he means it has a big boot for throwing the girls into!

mickdw

That Audi sounds like a disaster. Walk away from it.

Bandara

Absurdum wrote: »

lol seriously??

yep, but only if you black it out, put passat alloys on it and wear faded jeans without a belt...

furtzy

TestTransmission wrote: »

2k for a wiper motor?I find that a bit hard to believe

Had to check this out...they are about €100.....€1900 labour seems a bit steep!

Tea 1000

I would say that a clean A6 of that age is likely to cause problems and money, let alone a crap one, which that is! Don't bother, they're not that reliable at the best of times.