quick on advise on Audi A3 purchase

Mikros

My neighbour is selling his 2007 Audi A3 1.6 with 50,000 km. He moved abroad last year and the car has been sitting idle for that time. He's not coming home so has finally decided to sell it.

It is due a service and needs an NCT but otherwise is in perfect condition. Has a verified service history.

I'm in the market for a hatchback and just wondering what a reasonable offer is for it? The prices on carzone seem crazy which is what he is working off. Also anything else to look out for? All advice appreciated :pac:

Mikros

I was thinking €8-€9k?

Mansized Wreath

9k should get you it. That's great mileage for an 07.

Atlantic Dawn

Mikros wrote: »

I was thinking €8-€9k?

Far too much for a car that has been sitting idle for that time, if it were with full history and not idle, possibly. When a car is sitting idle this long especially over a winter there tends to be a lot of parts which may need replacing beyond what a normal service will do. Lights may have condensation, brake pads and discs may be corroded, handbrake may be seized, tyres most likely are cracked from sitting idle, internally may smell of damp, window seals could be covered in moss, bearings may require attention etc etc. In addition the NCT when you get it will only last until next year where it will need a test again. I'd offer him €7k at a max, my initial offer would be €6500.

Here's one going for €7995 from a dealer, full history and is diesel model which is more in demand http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3710296

1.6 with 64,000km going for €8k asking http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3751636

Mikros

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Far too much for a car that has been sitting idle for that time....

Thanks for the suggestions. The car has been taken out every few weeks for a quick spin so it has not been completley idle. I took a good look at tyres, brakes, headlights, seals etc. and all seems fine. You make some good points though and I will be trying to bargain him down on the back of them. Forgot the NCT is backdated as well.

He will be taking his price guide off the likes of carzone where there are some crazy asking prices. I'll just have to get my haggling hat on..

colm_mcm

Carzone is dealers giving warranty, finance, artificial trade in prices etc.

Is it 3 door or 5 door?

Mikros

3 door. I rarely have passengers so it wouldn't bother me too much.

terrydel

Mikros wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions. The car has been taken out every few weeks for a quick spin so it has not been completley idle. I took a good look at tyres, brakes, headlights, seals etc. and all seems fine. You make some good points though and I will be trying to bargain him down on the back of them. Forgot the NCT is backdated as well.

He will be taking his price guide off the likes of carzone where there are some crazy asking prices. I'll just have to get my haggling hat on..

Is it advertised on the web anywhere?

terrydel

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Here's one going for €7995 from a dealer, full history and is diesel model which is more in demand http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3710296

thats petrol, not diesel.

Mikros

terrydel wrote: »

Is it advertised on the web anywhere?

No not yet, fresh on the market as such. I'm getting a look in as it would suit both of us if we can agree on a price.

terrydel

Mikros wrote: »

No not yet, fresh on the market as such. I'm getting a look in as it would suit both of us if we can agree on a price.

Best of luck, Im probably finding out on one thurs, 04, but from a dealer with a years warranty and full nct (if it doesnt fail miserably thurs!)
I wont steal in on ya here
but if you dont agree, throw up a link to it. I'd prefer newer than 04 meself, but hard to find within my budget.

Which version is it, attraction/ambition/ambiente?

HJL

Instead of him going by Carzone prices tell him to look at Donedeal which will be more realistic of the going asking price of similar cars.

Atlantic Dawn

;;

Mikros

terrydel wrote: »

Best of luck, Im probably finding out on one thurs, 04, but from a dealer with a years warranty and full nct (if it doesnt fail miserably thurs!)
I wont steal in on ya here
but if you dont agree, throw up a link to it. I'd prefer newer than 04 meself, but hard to find within my budget.

Which version is it, attraction/ambition/ambiente?

Cheers, it's the ambition (sport) version. I'll definitely throw a link up here if we don't sort something out.

Going on donedeal asking prices €6.5 for an 07 with 50000 km would be a steal - not sure that will happen. Anything under 8k I will be happy enough with. Hopefully that gives both of us a half decent deal.

terrydel

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

;;

Eh, you linked a car that was petrol but stated it was diesel.

terrydel

Mikros wrote: »

Cheers, it's the ambition (sport) version. I'll definitely throw a link up here if we don't sort something out.

Going on donedeal asking prices €6.5 for an 07 with 50000 km would be a steal - not sure that will happen. Anything under 8k I will be happy enough with. Hopefully that gives both of us a half decent deal.

Theyre the nicest imo. The one im looked at is also ambition, climate control, alarm etc. the climate control is a nice to have.

what colour is it?

colm_mcm

But why not just buy the one for €6.5k, why pay more just cos your mate thinks its worth more!

terrydel

colm_mcm wrote: »

But why not just buy the one for €6.5k, why pay more just cos your mate thinks its worth more!

Because there isnt one! He said 6.5 would be a steal based on whats hes seen on donedeal, as in he'd be extremely lucky to get a deal like that.

colm_mcm

Ah right, I ouldve nearly rang them myself at that price

Actually I wouldn't, the 1.6 a3 is a hateful car. Nice interior but infuriatingly slow.

terrydel

colm_mcm wrote: »

Ah right, I ouldve nearly rang them myself at that price

Actually I wouldn't, the 1.6 a3 is a hateful car. Nice interior but infuriatingly slow.

Id have rang before ya!
I like them, most likely will have signed off on one after thurs
Ive a 650 kawasaki for when i want to go fast :cool:

Mikros

colm_mcm wrote: »

But why not just buy the one for €6.5k, why pay more just cos your mate thinks its worth more!

Eh €6.5k was the price someone suggested it was worth on here. There is no similar spec cars for sale quiet that low. I don't plan to pay more than its worth - just getting some 2nd opinions on what that might be.

terrydel

This is a nice one:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A3/1.6-FSI-/201233209648728/advert?channel=CARS

No getting thru to the seller tho unfortunately.

darragh o meara

Beware the 1.6 litre engine is find if the supp of petrol. The missus bought one a few years back and is forever putting petrol into it. Given the choice she'd have a diesel any day but is not in a position to upgrade it. She does approx 70 miles a day and there wouldn't be much left from €20 of petrol.

Bpmull

darragh o meara wrote: »

Beware the 1.6 litre engine is find if the supp of petrol. The missus bought one a few years back and is forever putting petrol into it. Given the choice she'd have a diesel any day but is not in a position to upgrade it. She does approx 70 miles a day and there wouldn't be much left from €20 of petrol.

From what you are saying at a very rough calculation this is what it works out at

20euro of petrol at 1.70 a litre roughly which is 11.7 litres.
70 miles which is 112 km.
That's 10.45 l per 100km or 27 mpg a very rough calculation. Surely it couldn't be that bad on petrol could it.

L-M

colm_mcm wrote: »

Ah right, I ouldve nearly rang them myself at that price

Actually I wouldn't, the 1.6 a3 is a hateful car. Nice interior but infuriatingly slow.

Have you been in a basic enough new A3? Nothing nice about the interior at all, really.

colm_mcm

The last one I drove (sportback) had tonnes of options, (everything except a proper engine) but even in Calcutta spec, its not unpleasant.

L-M

My mother has one, I'm not mad about it at all. Very plasticy and it has a bad seating position.

I've been in a few S lines and they're a fantastically nice place to be in.

darragh o meara

Bpmull wrote: »

From what you are saying at a very rough calculation this is what it works out at

20euro of petrol at 1.70 a litre roughly which is 11.7 litres.
70 miles which is 112 km.
That's 10.45 l per 100km or 27 mpg a very rough calculation. Surely it couldn't be that bad on petrol could it.

Yup hers is anyway and has been checked a few times to see if there is something up with it, Everytime it comes back with a clean bill of health. By the way it's tyre pressures are checked weekly, no air-con (well it has it but the pump packed in last year and it's a €1000+ to fix it so not bothered) , the car is driven like a saint so that's not it either. Previous 1.6 Bora I had with same engine was very close MPG wise.

To put it in perspective my Focus RS was getting about 22mpg and there was a lot of spirited driving involved. In saying that give it a good trashing and 15mpg or less could be achieved

Oh to the OP one or two things I'd check with that engine is for creamy oil and aircon pumps not pumping.

The creamy oil in a lot of cases with this engine is a blocked breather pipe which fills with condensation and goes back into oil. Easy fix if spotted on time ( clean pipe, run oil flush through engine and replace oil and filter) However they can blow head gaskets too so get it checked just in case.

The second is the aircon pump seems to give bother in a lot of the Vag range. As I stated earlier it's a €1000+ for a new one before you fit it so make sure the aircon blows nice and cold.

MuppetCheck

Haven't they also got the same soft gearbox that a lot of other VAG 1.4 and 1.6's have?

Leonard Hofstadter

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Haven't they also got the same soft gearbox that a lot of other VAG 1.4 and 1.6's have?

Yes. The 1.6 FSIs don't though, but they have their own problems.