Car sourcing - A8 for example

bemak · 09-10-2023 11:04AM #1

Hi all, I'm in the market for a well spec'd Audi A8 - 2013-14. Few online but nothing that I've been tempted by and they're slow enough to appear - the good ones anyway. I'm checking all the usual haunts like DD, Marketplace and Carzone etc but are there any other places where I could be keeping an eye out? When the bigger dealers get them in as trade-ins they offer them down to the smaller independent garages because they're "too old" - is there any way to get in at that point? I assume there's a much bigger trader network that us Joe Soaps can't access? I've emailed a few garages as a heads up to keep me in mind if anything suitable comes in - just curious to know if I'm missing a trick anywhere else?

Savage_Henry · 09-10-2023 11:28AM

Check , if there is an Irish Audi forum. You can post there, that youre looking. Forum members often have well maintained cars

Savage_Henry · 09-10-2023 11:28AM

Also if you see one parked, leave a note that youre looking. Who knows.

Savage_Henry · 09-10-2023 11:31AM

I know a garage used to buy from these guys

https://www.pjmckennacars.ie/stock.php

bemak · 09-10-2023 11:37AM

thanks a mil. the forums are a good shout - didn't think of that

bazz26 · 09-10-2023 11:41AM

I'd keep an eye on the auctions too. I'd imagine A8s are in small numbers here and may go to auction over directly to the trade due to low demand. I'd also say that a few probably end up being exported to Eastern Europe. These big cars are cheaper here than at home as the likes of Poland changed the laws a few years back and now allow the importing of RHD cars so it can make sense to buy one here and bring it home there.

Of course the only thing that would concern me about going the auction route is they can be used to offload duds or money pits. You would want to know your beans regarding the A8 if looking over one at auction. Anything needing fixing on an A8 won't be cheap.

bemak · 09-10-2023 11:47AM

ya I'd be too wary of auctions but might be worth keeping an eye on them all the same. I think a lot of the cars that end up in smaller garages are from auctions too but at least you'd get a few months grace with them

Atlantic Dawn · 09-10-2023 12:15PM

You should set up alerts on Donedeal and the other classified website, cars like this might only be up for a few hours before they are snapped up so you need to move quick on the good ones and have your eyes open on the bad.

Have you checked your current insurer will cover you in the A8, I would check this on a fictional car as soon as you can, might mean you need to change insurer in the meantime, some insurers simply don't want certain models on their books and will give outlandish quotes on anything out of the ordinary.

You should do some research on what are the weak points in these cars, perhaps the gearbox or suspension and you might be able to tell from a test drive if something is on the way out or it has a good service history you might see a known issue has been recently rectified. Heres a good model guide over the years and where there was issues to watch out for...

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/audi/a8/2010/good

bemak · 09-10-2023 12:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121213419#Comment_121213419

thanks a mil. ya i've them well researched and have projected the cost of insurance etc as well. have loads of alerts - i usually see them early thankfully

goochy · 09-10-2023 01:45PM

Not a common car . only way to get as cheap as possible is private sale or auctions - have you tried up North ?

bemak · 09-10-2023 06:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121213778#Comment_121213778

The Nox kills the viability

User1998 · 10-10-2023 04:05AM

I’d say a garage could source a Euro 6 one from the UK for you (2015+)

goochy · 10-10-2023 05:56PM

try somewhere like First choice autos in Dun laoghaire , sounds like type of car they would be used to sourcing - they had a NI in stock a while ago and source cars also

greasepalm · 10-10-2023 06:17PM

Try Lewis Motors in Cabinteely as they source high end cars for anybody. They also do FaceBook and Instagram to show their cars.

goochy · 10-10-2023 06:24PM

its not quite high end / high value enough for them me thinks - no disrespects - more First choice autos

bemak · 11-10-2023 08:44AM

thanks lads - will give First Choice a try. I wouldn't be suave enough for Lewis Motors I'd say!

eamonnq · 11-10-2023 11:16AM

Would importing one from Japan be an option?

goochy · 11-10-2023 12:00PM

First choice is owned by former owner of JPS motors Volvo - they sold business to Spirit . i have no connection just check out their stock regularly !

goochy · 11-10-2023 12:01PM

it would have to be petrol / hybrid to come from Japan

Wildly Boaring · 11-10-2023 12:13PM

Chance asking on this group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Autostadt

bemak · 11-10-2023 04:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121223071#Comment_121223071

thanks!

koutoubia · 11-10-2023 04:58PM

A friend of mine has an S8 ( not I'm the year you are looking) he maybe looking to offload.

You would Deffo want to check your insurance on it though!

Magown3 · 12-10-2023 08:49AM

When you say well spec'd, what sort of features are you looking for?

Obviously the A8 should be a decent spec already.

I'm just curious.

bemak · 12-10-2023 09:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121226893#Comment_121226893

ya as you say the A8s are nicely spec'd already but I suppose the main feature I'd be hoping for would be the upgraded seats - i've sat in both and i really liked the upgrade (I have a bad back). An extra bonus with them is that sometimes they are ventilated but that aspect wouldn't be critical. I'd also like the surround cameras, as opposed to just the reversing camera and the 3-spoke steering, think the other one is a bit old fashioned. Sunroof, adaptive cruise control and the matrix headlights would be nice (which would rule out a 2013 example as they only came in the facelift models).

That would be the jist of what I'd be looking for. Anything more is a bonus but thats kinda my baseline

Jesper · 12-10-2023 09:36AM

I'm actually looking for an A5 Sportsback (5 door) at the moment. It can be imported for regular VRT and NOx and no customs if it's registered int he north before 2021. So I'm keeping an eye on

Usedcarsni and Autotrader (use a NI postal code). Autotrader is the main trader for UK/NI.

I've bought a car from Prestigue Margue before https://www.prestigemarques.net/used-cars/search-results?page=2&make=AUDI&vehicleType=cars. There great and I'm very happy with my purchase. I've given them 2 weeks to see if they can source an A5 for me.

_Kaiser_ · 12-10-2023 09:37AM

Still keeping an eye for an A8 myself :) but most of the ones of that age are fairly high mileage - and like you, I would rather the matrix lights.

I'm tempted to give this one a call, but the spec vs even my A7 looks a bit lacking in some areas

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a8-2013-3-0-tdi-260-bhp-new-nct-6-24/35248887

bemak · 12-10-2023 09:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121227060#Comment_121227060

i had seen that one too - looks lovely to be fair

_Kaiser_ · 12-10-2023 09:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121227080#Comment_121227080

I wonder what he'd give me for my A7 which has 100k less km on it and different extras... hmmm!

bemak · 12-10-2023 09:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121227046#Comment_121227046

thanks for the tip! i had a look before for a 2015 A8 and did a quick calc on the Nox and the whole cost of importing was coming back at €10k or something crazy

bazz26 · 12-10-2023 11:19AM

Here you go lads:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2015-audi-a8l-3-0-tdi-lwb-quattro-massive-spec/31890475

bemak · 12-10-2023 11:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121227393#Comment_121227393

ya i've seen that one but the mileage is too high for me personally

Car sourcing - A8 for example

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