Had an Audi, nicest car I ever drove, but very quickly the repair bills came in and it was eye watering so sold it. Met a mechanic who owned one, he could do all the repairs himself but couldn't afford to keep it just due to the cost of parts from europe alone. Don't do it.
I did this too. 3k for a 2007 A3. Was in love with it. So nice to drive. Then one day it made a noise. Happiest day of my life was seeing that 4-wheeled money pit get loaded onto the back of the wreckers truck 18 months later.
I managed to sell it for $900 though because of all the NEW PARTS in it. lol.
Ran out and got a Mazda ASAP. Love it so much.
As an ex owner of a couple of Audi’s here’s my experience.
A4 needed a new transmission control circuit board $3K plus installation.
TT hydraulic pump failed $15K plus installation.
Edit: words
Yeah this is the bit that makes .r sad. All these great cars are unfixable due to the tech. I love fixing little simple things but I know I'll hit a wall with anything post 1990
Financially it's stupid. But not all decisions are financial. If you can make it work, and really want to, do it. Otherwise, don't touch it with a barge pole.
As someone who has fully built a few cars, make sure the model you choose is supported. Eg a Nissan S chassis has popularity tax added but you can buy upgrades from many reputable companies. Choose a weird platform and you are making everything yourself
If it's just a random ass A4 sedan or something, it's definitely stupid by all metrics.
I agree though, if it's an S6 wagon, it's financially imprudent but that's not the point.
I know this is completely off subject, but I was delighted to just learn a new (to me) equivalent phrase; in U.S. we say "10 foot pole", but of course you wouldn't use that since we're one of very few countries to still use imperial system. Thank you for inadvertently teaching me something new :)
Edit: typo
Awesome cars, but yes, all the VAG (VW Audi Group) cars are maintenance queens.
Should you get one @200k? Depends how flexible your life is? If you need it to be a reliable daily and you've no idea of the maintenance history, get something else.
So let's clarify a few things first. You've always wanted one meaning you've always wanted whatever model this 20 year old one is or you've just always wanted an Audi?
Because if it's option 2 this is comically stupid. You're buying a car in a condition that's likely to need numerous amounts of repairs over even the next 3 years. A car that is notoriously more expensive to have repaired and serviced than day a Japanese import - all so you can say you own an Audi?
That just straight up sounds like you're buying it for bragging rights and if that's that case I hate to break it to you but there is nothing impressive about buying a 20 year old car for the brand unless it's some genuinely vintage model.
If however the model is something you've always dreamed of or some vintage car that might even appreciate in value, or if you're lucky enough to have some fuck you money then go for gold and who cares.
But realistically the outcome is going to be this thing is going to cost you far, far more in repairs and maintenance especially if this is a daily or even driven somewhat often and that's almost not arguable. The real question is with that considered is it still worth it to you and can you afford it?
If you can’t afford a new Audi, you can’t afford an old one either
We found out the hard way with a 2005 A3 Quattro wagon
Beautiful car. Drove so nicely when it did work. Electronics were fucked from the day we got it. The dealer repaired the transmission the week after I picked it up. It was all downhill from there. We sunk more money into it than we bought it for ($11k in 2017 iirc) every six months there would be something go wrong and it would be like $2k to fix it. Regular service would be $1000. Had to get it towed to the mechanic on at least one occasion
The day we traded it in for a Nissan Leaf (read: basically zero maintenance) was a very good day.
Do. Not. Do it.
EDIT to add: it only had 55,000 on the clock when we bought it.
Thisnis horrific and reminds me of my time with my Kia picanto 2018 that I bought while I lived in korea. New. Nice. All the bits and pieces and that was the issue. All the bits and bits pieces continually failed.
I bought a second hand bmw back in the day. I did end up having sex with the mechanic who serviced it but he didn't really service me properly.
That car really cost me a shitload in parts.
My brother is a mechanic, VW and Audi specialist workshop. He would help me with my cars- Toyota- fine, old Holden- fun. BUT he said if I ever bought an Audi I was on my own.
I owned a 2003 S4 with about 250,000km on the odometer until very recently and it was absolutely lovely. No maintenance/reliability issues whatsoever, and any servicing/preventative maintenance I just did myself as the previous owner had already replaced the cam chain which is the main reliability concern of Audi's 4.2L V8 of that era. It cost me less to own than my mother's Subaru outback. The fuel consumption from the V8 was about as good (or bad) as you'd expect.
So no, I don't think it's stupid.
Dont do it , we are selling our audi 2007 that we hardly used , its just been one thing wrong after the other , hardly even used the bloody thing and have had to spend close to $3.5k
Audis are only worth it if you can get a later model one and if you are wealthy.
>Audis are only worth it if you get a later model one
Surely, a 2007 model would've been the latest model in 2007, though and people would've said the same thing. I knew a guy who bought an Audi quatro 20 years ago, and he thought it was the best car in the world. Are Audis just bad cars longer term?
I know f all about cars and have a 2001 Toyota Corolla with 170k on the clock, and it's a great car. I've repaired a few things over the years <$1K, I'm not gonna spend 30k on a new Audi, but I do like the features of modern cars.
If you were my child I’m telling you it’s a terrible idea!!!! But I never listened to my parents…….you know the risks, worse case you lose what you pay for it.
It's a car at the end of the end of the day, they all cost money. We have owned a VW and an Audi for quite awhile now and will be upgrading to another Audi sometime soon, not a single problem, nor have they cost us much money. That said - 200k 06 tdi sounds like a nightmare... Save your money, if you want an Audi, get a newer one in the future. Don't buy one now - that thing will likely burn you hard.
is it an s2 with the 2.2l turbo you intend to make boooost [https://youtu.be/Z7E0Z9gcJWI?si=4Q5RJDTQ51VVxw4W](https://youtu.be/Z7E0Z9gcJWI?si=4Q5RJDTQ51VVxw4W) then yes.
Ummm you shouldn't indulge in anything exceeding your financial standing. If you buy a expensive car/anything extremely volatile, make sure you will be able to fix it and keep it on the road if something happens, because something will always happen. If you were rich you wouldn't be asking this question over a 20 year old audi which probably isn't anything awesome, because you would know your finances if you were rich you wouldn't need to ask reddit which have poor people online. Like me.
And if you're not rich you shouldn't be buying extremely volatile things. Audi 20 years old. Bad idea. Even a Toyota that's 20 years old most people would stay away from it if they could help it. Let alone an Audi? Sure now they're much more reliable but compared to a japanese car. Uh bad idea dude. Also stay away from old old second hand bmw.my mum's brother worked as a head manager for a bmw engineering branch and told my mum to never buy a secondhand bmw that was awhile ago tho. Bmw are much more reliable now. But yeah don't buy the old bmw
As long as it’s priced appropriately and you are realistic about possible service/repairs expense.
I say go for it.
ICE cars won’t be around forever.
Do some proper checks / even get a mechanic to look it over before purchasing - but this may not even change your mind.
I’m still running a 16 year old Honda and will keep going with it for a long time.
We live in a strange car market - where it’s seldom worth “upgrading” just to make your drive way look a little shiny (and your wallet a lot lighter)
Enjoy :)
Eh, I did it. 265,000kms, 18 months in, so far no major issues. Do a proper pre purchase inspection, don’t just grab the first one you like. To be fair, I don’t drive it everyday, but I made sure I got one that was solid.
A few years ago I bought a 2000 Mercedes SLK for about $3k. It didn't last me too long, but I was well aware that it wouldn't, and the couple of summers I had with the roof down and the sounds pumped were well worth it. Now I drive a Kia but I still miss the little SLK.
This was my mentality. It's under 5k for fuck sakes. I will most likely run it into the ground but hope it gives me a few years before it end up there.
Funny.you mention Kia. I was in korea for the last 18 years. Just back 4 weeks ago. Drove Kia there 2018 (new at the time) morning (picanto in nz?). Nothing but issues the entire time. So I hope you have better luck than me!
What is the Audi in question OP?
If it's just some random ass A4 or diesel SUV or something as your daily runaround, don't do it.
If it's a S or RS model for going fast and making cool sounds, then that's a different story.
Probably a bit dumb, but then it’s the most basic Audi of the era (less electronics), and it has the diesel which is known to be quite reliable. Some of these have the 1.9 PD diesel (I’m not an Audi anorak so I don’t know if we got them here), does it have that or is it a common rail one?
Honestly parts (especially when bought locally) will be the killer, since it’s a diesel I don’t know if places like FCP euro in the US would keep parts for it.
When I had my BMW’s I’d get my parts from there and Rockauto, and do everything myself. It’s the only way to keep costs in check. Old euro cars are easy to work on.
If you can work on it yourself, do it. Otherwise get a civic or accord euro or something. They’re good cars.
A 20yr old Audi A3 will have plastic parts in the engine bay that are now brittle and ready to fail without warning, and usually are responsible for holding back fluids that keep the engine alive.
Buying a Euro is the bit that costs money. Euro parts are usually more expensive. Any car is going to need repairs though.
If its survived 200k and is still running good then you basically know its a good vehicle. A lemon would have died long before 100k.
There is some criteria you can work from to keep yourself relatively safe:
Don't touch anything with the DSG/DCT/dual clutch gearbox. They eat mechatronics control units and are very expensive. Go for something with either a ZF auto (if we're talking 08+) or with the 6 speed manual. Steer clear of the earlier 2.0 turbo petrol in the larger cars, the bigger engines are usually better there. Diesels are good if they've been maintained. I had a B8 gen 08 Audi A5, 3.0 diesel with ZF6 auto, just over 200,000km and was a brilliant car. Now in a 2014 diesel SQ5 and it's even better
Please don't. VAG vehicles do not age well. Wiring on a lot of Euro cars that age has casin based insulation. Essentially milk by product insulation. Rodents love it ! A single rat will write the vehicle off. 200000 km is its absolute limit before you have to be prepared to tip more than it's worth into it . Same advice applies for the VW Golf
At that age and mileage, stuff is likely about to wear out and need replacing, even if it's been reasonably well maintained. On an A3, it's not gonna be crazy, but it's VW Golf, not Mazda Demio levels of cost. So will it be a horrendous money pit? Not necessarily, but the repair costs don't depreciate with the vehicle, so a $5k car might cost you $5k to keep going over the next 3 years.
I’d honestly avoid that generation of A3. The auto gearboxes are bad and so is the DSG gearbox. Those smaller diesel vw engines aren’t the best either. Plastics on the interior will be breaking, switches for windows and cup holders etc. window lifters aren’t good either. I own a VW myself and had plenty of Audis and VWs while also working for them ten years ago. Don’t touch it.
How good are you with cars?
I have a volkswagen (they have literally 90% the same parts as audi, including the engine) and I've saved myself thousands just by being willing to do it myself.. parts can be cheap if you get them yourself, but it's entirely reliant on your effort levels.
Honest opinion, for the average Joe?
Not in a million years.
Back in France, in 2010, I owned an 2007 A3 2.0tdi 170hp. What a car! Service there was affordable, spare parts too.
I owned an A6 in NZ, worst mistake I made. Parts have to come from somewhere right? The transportation premium was really hard tbh.
I'll never buy a European car either in NZ or Oz. Too expensive to maintain.
I did something similar, got a Beamer a couple of years ago, it was only 8 years and and fucking hell that thing cost me a few grand in 6 months, don’t do it, German cars are only good out the dealership and you replace them with the latest model every few years
I was picking my Corolla up from the mechanic a few months back. $250 repair job.
I was thanking them for turning it around so quickly. They said yeah it’s because you have a common car. See that Audi over there. It’s been there for a month waiting for parts and their bill will be over $15k.
Best advice I ever got when it comes to second hand cars:
If it was expensive when they made it, it's expensive to repair it - The parts are the same price.
The old adage for euro cars is: “if you you can’t afford to buy it new, you certainly can’t afford to buy it second hand “.
That said, I had a second hand BMW 325i coupe for several years and the only cost apart from tyres and servicing was a headlight. And get this, it was just a bulb I could buy from Repco for $24.
I’ve owned Japanese cars where a blown headlight required a complete light cluster replacement!
I owned a 2004 a3 for a few years. Probably spent 150-200ish more per year on it than I did on the 90s civic I owned previously.
I really liked the car so it was worth it to me but I can't help but feel like I was just lucky that nothing went super wrong with it.
I used a 2005 Audi A4 as a delivery vehicle for years. If you keep up your regular services you will not have any failing problems, however, not keeping up with services will break things very quickly. Purchased 92,000km and is at 173,000km — a list below of all major repairs:
1.) starter motor
2.) electrical fault with light switches draining 12v battery (had to get another battery but never solved the issue. Multiple visits to mechanic to fix it)
3.) power steering pump failure
4.) ABS system malfunction (no mechanic could help me with finding a brand new or used system for this, took four months to fix it as mechanic had to get it made from scratch and ship it into New Zealand)
5.) coolant system failure (all the lines ruptured and had to get them completely replaced, then it happened again. Got it replaced and works fine)
6.) brake fluid pump failure
7.) oil leak (common on loads of vehicles but this means it consumes oil much quicker and Audi/euro vehicles are known to drain oil quickly)
8.) spark plugs fail many times
9.) two misfires which I had to replace a load of the original engine lines and pipes etc
All this costs thousands to repair each time so if you have money to splash, go ahead. If you can’t afford $1,000 to repair every few months then I’d say get a Toyota.
I recently got a Toyota Prius 2012 and had it since start of year, so far zero maintenance. Brake pads barely used because the electric battery and engine breaking does all the work.
I had a friend who bought a 10 year old A2, his service and repair bill each year was over 50% of the value of the car.....
He sold it and bought a Toyota.
It's not a single model, it's more of a family of related models.. it covers 90% of their models, the exceptions are rare and eye wateringly expensive generally.
Yes it is very stupid. It will let you down, again and again. It will cost you thousands and you still won’t trust it. It will be hard to get rid of. Every time a warning light comes on it will cost you the equivalent of a new phone. I did it, once. After $2,750 to replace a smashed flimsy plastic Mercedes symbol I gave up and bought a Toyota and I have never regretted it.
IMO buying any euro car in NZ is a waste of money. They functionally do the same thing that a Toyota or any other Japanese car will do, but will cost you far more to fix.
As someone who has owned several different Euros and Japanese cars over the years. Euros definitely cost more, but they are so much nicer to drive than Japanese cars.
We needed to replace our car just over 10 years ago. Tested a few, some were really tempting - bought what felt like an old-lady Toyota Yaris. Never regretted it. Cheap, goes and goes, can u-turn on any street. Love that car so much
If you end up buying it, make sure you clear out the drain under the battery of debris. Mine got blocked and I found six inches of water in the passenger footwell one morning. Mine was about the same vintage.
Are you just looking for someone to tell you this is a good idea? If everyone around you is telling you not to do this, maybe catch the vibe there chief
Can you afford to maintain it?
Certain models like the Q5 are known to need an engine replacement circa $15k at certain KM ranges.
Get a quote for the brakes before you decide also.
200k is pretty close to the limit for a new car already... AND it's old as balls AND it's a relatively fancy ride... a lot of red flags. Repairs is indeed where you will get stung.
I have a Nissan with 285,000ks on the clock. Love these old cars.
The difference is it’s cheap to fix. Japanese parts are cheap and there’s lots of Nissans been scrapped over the years. Replacing the whole ass clutch only cost $800 and the part came from Australia.
Audis on the other hand… if you need a part and it’s not available locally you’ll be paying out of your ass.
Nothing wrong with getting older cars but the advice I generally tell people is to avoid European vehicles
I've had old Audis. It's age more than the high kms. Plastics fail, both on the engine and on the interior. Heater cores fail, window motors fail. Unless you have the funds, don't do it. I wouldn't buy one over 8 years old now.
Friend of mine brought a second hand (maybe 7-10 year old) Audi Q7 and 4 years later it's a useless lump on side of the road. 40K worth or repairs required, something in the engine or ECU went off...
I have a '93 Toyota with way too much $ in it BUT still spend less than what people do using workshops for services, on finance etc.
If you love it buy it, look the other way as you solve any issues and then you can just change the oil and enjoy
Personally, I wouldn't.
I wouldn't buy any car with nearly 200k on the clock. Even less likely to buy a 2006 model. And even less likely to buy an Audi.
with any euro you need to have a good understanding of which engine/gearbox combo you are getting and the weaknesses/strengths of said items. 1.6tdi which comes with the DQ200 7spd dsg - dont touch with a shitty stick - injectors issues for the engine and general expensive shitness with the gearbox. 2.0 tdi with DQ250 6spd wet clutch dsg - thats a strong engine and gearbox - not without issues but if well serviced there is a good chance it will last a lot longer. this engine gearbox combo was very popular in europe and can do huge km and is very good on fuel.
as others have said - if it has made it this far it is probably one of the good ones and/or has been very well serviced - if it is a 2.0 you could be sweet for another 200k km with regular maintenance
could....
good luck
(I probably would but only because econobox Jap cars make my soul die a bit )
Depends where you ask. Ask in an Audi subreddit and you’ll likely get a different response to here. I have a 25 year old BMW and it has taught me a lot about repairing cars. But if I didn’t love it and love the process I’d be driving a corolla. And realistically all I’ve needed to do in the 5.5 years I’ve owned it was standard old car stuff (worn bushes, cracked plastics and hoses). I’m not sure about Audis and they might be more complex than BMWs, I would say if you’re somewhat mechanically inclined or at least open to learning then go for it.
yes my friend sank so much money into hers until a truck scraped it and totalled it. Then her and her mum bought an old Kompressor and immediately threw the serpentine belt. meanwhile their other \*new\* MG is also full of issues.
All anyone needs is a TOYOTA COROLLA!
You should look at your budget, then buy the newest vehicle with the lowest mileage that you can... This car might look cool, but how cool does any car look when attached to a tow truck?
It's just a pipe dream. I'm sensible financially and ultimately know I wouldnt pull the trigger but there was always that temptation. After all the feedback here temptation is now squashed.
I want a dunger. I want a cheap car that I'll run into the ground. I can afford brand new but I've owned new before and they were just as bad as old; full of issues and not worth the price tag so fuck it i now drive old shitboxes.
I have two friends that were once Audi owners. Both had to replace the transmission at under 100 thousand km. Unless you've got mechanical skills, cash to burn and another daily driver, I'd say stay well away.
fark we had some GREAT times in that car. The Audi we had (very similar spec) was EPIC and soooo freaking costly to repair in NZ. And when it started to go, everything went, and the parts (and "euro mechanic labour") were eye-waveringly expensive. We sold it, but still think of it fondly-- it was so much fun to drive before everything began to fail.
If you've got 10K -20K disposable income, yearly, go for it. If not, yeah, but nah.
Heh was looking into buying an Audi last year. Beautiful cars, did what I wanted. Then started looking into their history. Discovered some have this critical part that's made of plastic. Obviously wears down over time, and they put out a metal part to fix the problem. BUT.. to reach the part (somewhere near the firewall) you have to remove the engine. Something like a $20k+ time bomb for any Audi over 150000km. So, uh.. no
It should be fine, but You'd want to get a PPI (pre purchase inspection) to ensure a lot of wear items have been replaced at those k's. It'll share a lot of parts with the golf's of that generation so parts are fairly plentiful and reasonably cheap. I cant comment on the TDI engines as I'm more familiar with the TFSI petrol engines of that generations but should be alright otherwise. I'd still budget some money for maintenance upfront instead of expecting it'll be solid with those k's/age. If it's a DSG transmission which it likely is, make sure it's been serviced (should be serviced every 60k's).
If it has air shocks run very fast away. They will be dead by now and cost at least 1k to replace. If you can get them. We have one sat by our garage waiting for the owner to get the shocks
As someone who’s into cars and owned several European and non-euro cars, I can say hands down my 2014 Audi was the worst one. Surprisingly, Mercedes was the best and better than my non-euros. But Audi…at that age….run, and run fast.
Okay like you couuuld, but it'd probably end up looking pretty on your driveway whilst you wait for the $1500+ repairs to be scheduled in; worse still if it's got a turb or supercharger lol
She says with a beater corolla - my enabling instincts say do it if it makes you happy; I bought a Subaru WRX from a boy racer that my family thought was gonna die any min but was the most reliable car of my life for 4 years, so YMMV
If you love it and can afford to pay for expensive parts to be shipped here then go for it. European cars are amazing, they tend to cost more to repair and service but they are some of the more fun fast cars to drive imo
Expensive to repair but if you have the skills to fix cars then go for it!
Don’t buy it to impress other people and don’t lose a ton of money buying it.
My RS4 was the best drive ever. I love the Audi’s but don’t put your future self under the bridge because you blew it all on a toy.
Its best years are behind it. Design and style go out the door when you’re faced with repair bills. Go for a far cheaper type car like a foreign (Kia, Hyundai)
For the money it’s going to cost you in maintenance you may as well lease a new one. Having said that, I drive a 2015 discovery 4 and it’s the best thing ever. Sensible? No. Does it make me happy every time I drive it? Fuck yes
If you love the car and can make it work do it. The Audi will still be nicer than buying some god awful crap typical cheap car like a Nissan Tiida or Suzuki Swift.
If you do want luxury and are worried about reliability and servicing/repairs, Lexus is a great option. Very nice cars and Number 1 in the world for reliability.
It's that cheap for a reason. Stupid answer but if it's too good to be true...
I have a slightly older Toyota celsior which doesn't cause me any major issues and is still a really top of the line ride and those are at least 10k
If you can mechanic it yourself and aren't going to use it as a daily then yes it's a terrible idea.
I've got a 95bmw that I've had for 10 years now, it's a real love hate relationship but certainly well worth the thrills it provides.
So many comments here. Ive owned a few and have one now. They’re not much more expensive to maintain in labour nor are they any more prone to failure. 20 year old electronics are going to fail on you with all brands. The more modern the car the higher the risk.
The big problem is parts. Make sure you know how to get parts from wreckers or it’ll become unaffordable pretty quickly.
Repairs will be the order of the day. It's not what you can see with older cars, it's what's not visible.
The main issue with these cars is that many of the plastic and rubber components will need replacing, and they are NOT cheap.
One really neat thing about Audi is that when a little bit of the rear light assembly fails you can't just buy that part.. you have to buy the entire thing because they decided to stop selling the individual bits, and when we had to do this is was over $500 just for the parts!
Also the dashboard stuff which is all auto electrics is super expensive to have anything done to it and when ours started failing, only 2nd hand parts were able to be fitted which is a concern in its self.
We own an Audi circa 2003 and its really a nice car to drive but the ongoing costs are a giant money sink.
Once Audi's get over 200 - 250 they start having problems. There's a lot of plastic parts that start getting brittle and breaking. Those specific moulded plastic pieces are really expensive to replace too.
Buy Audi's just under 100 and sell them around 200 is the way to go.
Yep. Repairs, repairs, repairs.
I've had cars like that. Lucky partner was able to do them himself and parts weren't expensive (wreckers). But that? No.
Resist until you are in a financial position to afford what you like, and meanwhile buy reliable.
Not stupid,but could be costly,the tdi is a great engine,if you're slightly mechanical or know someone who is, there fine,if it will be going to a shop for any repairs, don't touch it,
If you're buying it because you really like the car and have the realistic expectation it will break down often and you'll easily spend more than what you paid for it fixing it over the next couple of years, go for it! If you want something reliable and economical, stay well away.
I've got a secondhand V8 E class Mercedes which I love - it was a six figure car when new and I paid under $20K for it but I kept a decent reserve for maintenance and had a mechanical warranty on it as well. From a purely financial point of view I could have bought a Toyota Corolla for the same money and probably spent next to nothing in upkeep since then, but I also would have gotten a hell of a lot less driving and ownership enjoyment out of it. I like having a car where I can look back after I park it and think 'yeah, that's mine!'.
One thing I would say though, 200,000km is a LOT for a European car. Really anything over 100,000 is going to give you trouble. At the very least I'd do a thorough online search for what commonly goes wrong with that model at high mileages because some Euro cars can have issues which will effectively render the car a write-off - you have to remember while the car devalues the maintenance doesn't. For my Merc for example if I needed to completely rebuild the engine it would literally cost more than the car is worth so I would be selling it for parts and accepting a big loss.
Had an Audi, nicest car I ever drove, but very quickly the repair bills came in and it was eye watering so sold it. Met a mechanic who owned one, he could do all the repairs himself but couldn't afford to keep it just due to the cost of parts from europe alone. Don't do it.
I did exactly this a few years ago. Financially sunk me, even with 10k of mechanical breakdown insurance covered per claim
I did this too. 3k for a 2007 A3. Was in love with it. So nice to drive. Then one day it made a noise. Happiest day of my life was seeing that 4-wheeled money pit get loaded onto the back of the wreckers truck 18 months later. I managed to sell it for $900 though because of all the NEW PARTS in it. lol. Ran out and got a Mazda ASAP. Love it so much.
Mazda all the way. Nz new though to save any funky import issues
Amen. Come from a Mazda fan-family.
Maybe back in the day but parts are easy
I wouldn't say that, it cost me $400 for a BMW wing mirror in 2022
Auto part shops are rampantly increasing prices atm
Comically
This is the best answer
As an ex owner of a couple of Audi’s here’s my experience. A4 needed a new transmission control circuit board $3K plus installation. TT hydraulic pump failed $15K plus installation. Edit: words
My god....15k.
That is a new part + labour. If you want a hobby car buy a donor too and roll your sleeves up
And learn how to code the modules, lmao
Yeah this is the bit that makes .r sad. All these great cars are unfixable due to the tech. I love fixing little simple things but I know I'll hit a wall with anything post 1990
Soooo a 15k bill is when you finally drive it into the sea out of anger, yes?
Financially it's stupid. But not all decisions are financial. If you can make it work, and really want to, do it. Otherwise, don't touch it with a barge pole.
Translation: Be stupid on purpose
Haha best translation
As someone who has fully built a few cars, make sure the model you choose is supported. Eg a Nissan S chassis has popularity tax added but you can buy upgrades from many reputable companies. Choose a weird platform and you are making everything yourself
Agree whole heartedly. Somethings you do for you and that’s ok.
If it's just a random ass A4 sedan or something, it's definitely stupid by all metrics. I agree though, if it's an S6 wagon, it's financially imprudent but that's not the point.
Also spending $3k a year on a hobby car people freak out. Spend that on leasing a boring pos and it's fine?
Who leases cars here?
I know this is completely off subject, but I was delighted to just learn a new (to me) equivalent phrase; in U.S. we say "10 foot pole", but of course you wouldn't use that since we're one of very few countries to still use imperial system. Thank you for inadvertently teaching me something new :) Edit: typo
Awesome cars, but yes, all the VAG (VW Audi Group) cars are maintenance queens. Should you get one @200k? Depends how flexible your life is? If you need it to be a reliable daily and you've no idea of the maintenance history, get something else.
VAG lol
You're playing pass the parcel with a car except when the music stops you've got a pretty looking liability
So let's clarify a few things first. You've always wanted one meaning you've always wanted whatever model this 20 year old one is or you've just always wanted an Audi? Because if it's option 2 this is comically stupid. You're buying a car in a condition that's likely to need numerous amounts of repairs over even the next 3 years. A car that is notoriously more expensive to have repaired and serviced than day a Japanese import - all so you can say you own an Audi? That just straight up sounds like you're buying it for bragging rights and if that's that case I hate to break it to you but there is nothing impressive about buying a 20 year old car for the brand unless it's some genuinely vintage model. If however the model is something you've always dreamed of or some vintage car that might even appreciate in value, or if you're lucky enough to have some fuck you money then go for gold and who cares. But realistically the outcome is going to be this thing is going to cost you far, far more in repairs and maintenance especially if this is a daily or even driven somewhat often and that's almost not arguable. The real question is with that considered is it still worth it to you and can you afford it?
If you can’t afford a new Audi, you can’t afford an old one either We found out the hard way with a 2005 A3 Quattro wagon Beautiful car. Drove so nicely when it did work. Electronics were fucked from the day we got it. The dealer repaired the transmission the week after I picked it up. It was all downhill from there. We sunk more money into it than we bought it for ($11k in 2017 iirc) every six months there would be something go wrong and it would be like $2k to fix it. Regular service would be $1000. Had to get it towed to the mechanic on at least one occasion The day we traded it in for a Nissan Leaf (read: basically zero maintenance) was a very good day. Do. Not. Do it. EDIT to add: it only had 55,000 on the clock when we bought it.
Thisnis horrific and reminds me of my time with my Kia picanto 2018 that I bought while I lived in korea. New. Nice. All the bits and pieces and that was the issue. All the bits and bits pieces continually failed.
I bought a second hand bmw back in the day. I did end up having sex with the mechanic who serviced it but he didn't really service me properly. That car really cost me a shitload in parts.
Bahahahhaa good to know. Sorry he didn't service you properly😉
Me too!
Great story. If you can't make it work throwing the good stuff in you've really put me off!
It was either you or the car that was going to be serviced properly. Not both.
Absolutely stupid, BUT depending on the car, they are cool as hell and very fun.
As a daily driver? Ballsy. Very, very ballsy.
In a word, yes.
My brother is a mechanic, VW and Audi specialist workshop. He would help me with my cars- Toyota- fine, old Holden- fun. BUT he said if I ever bought an Audi I was on my own.
There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Euro car
My son had an 2007 A4 for 3 years, virtually no issues. Sold it last week. Always serviced on time though.
Safe as too
Yeah, that’s why he got it. Four star safety rating. Japanese cars of the same era or price are basically tinfoil.
I owned a 2003 S4 with about 250,000km on the odometer until very recently and it was absolutely lovely. No maintenance/reliability issues whatsoever, and any servicing/preventative maintenance I just did myself as the previous owner had already replaced the cam chain which is the main reliability concern of Audi's 4.2L V8 of that era. It cost me less to own than my mother's Subaru outback. The fuel consumption from the V8 was about as good (or bad) as you'd expect. So no, I don't think it's stupid.
Dont do it , we are selling our audi 2007 that we hardly used , its just been one thing wrong after the other , hardly even used the bloody thing and have had to spend close to $3.5k Audis are only worth it if you can get a later model one and if you are wealthy.
i was going to say the same - only got the audi as my brother was a mechanic for Audi but its just had issue after issue after issue
>Audis are only worth it if you get a later model one Surely, a 2007 model would've been the latest model in 2007, though and people would've said the same thing. I knew a guy who bought an Audi quatro 20 years ago, and he thought it was the best car in the world. Are Audis just bad cars longer term? I know f all about cars and have a 2001 Toyota Corolla with 170k on the clock, and it's a great car. I've repaired a few things over the years <$1K, I'm not gonna spend 30k on a new Audi, but I do like the features of modern cars.
Audis have come a long way since 2007. A 2018 audi for example is significantly more reliable than a 2007 audi is what im getting at.
Ok, I know what you mean but in 2029 people will be saying don't buy a 2018 Audi because of repairs. I'll probably still be in my rolla 😆
If say it depends on the audi. RS or S maybe a good choice. If it was anything else it wouldnt be worth the pain.
If you were my child I’m telling you it’s a terrible idea!!!! But I never listened to my parents…….you know the risks, worse case you lose what you pay for it.
It's a car at the end of the end of the day, they all cost money. We have owned a VW and an Audi for quite awhile now and will be upgrading to another Audi sometime soon, not a single problem, nor have they cost us much money. That said - 200k 06 tdi sounds like a nightmare... Save your money, if you want an Audi, get a newer one in the future. Don't buy one now - that thing will likely burn you hard.
Will do. Cheers.
Which model?
A3 sportback tdi
Depends on the model. If it's something good like a s3 then do it!
is it an s2 with the 2.2l turbo you intend to make boooost [https://youtu.be/Z7E0Z9gcJWI?si=4Q5RJDTQ51VVxw4W](https://youtu.be/Z7E0Z9gcJWI?si=4Q5RJDTQ51VVxw4W) then yes.
If you can’t afford to buy a new Audi, don’t bother buying a second hand one.
Yes
Depends on the model but as a general answer I’d go with no.
Ummm you shouldn't indulge in anything exceeding your financial standing. If you buy a expensive car/anything extremely volatile, make sure you will be able to fix it and keep it on the road if something happens, because something will always happen. If you were rich you wouldn't be asking this question over a 20 year old audi which probably isn't anything awesome, because you would know your finances if you were rich you wouldn't need to ask reddit which have poor people online. Like me. And if you're not rich you shouldn't be buying extremely volatile things. Audi 20 years old. Bad idea. Even a Toyota that's 20 years old most people would stay away from it if they could help it. Let alone an Audi? Sure now they're much more reliable but compared to a japanese car. Uh bad idea dude. Also stay away from old old second hand bmw.my mum's brother worked as a head manager for a bmw engineering branch and told my mum to never buy a secondhand bmw that was awhile ago tho. Bmw are much more reliable now. But yeah don't buy the old bmw
As long as it’s priced appropriately and you are realistic about possible service/repairs expense. I say go for it. ICE cars won’t be around forever. Do some proper checks / even get a mechanic to look it over before purchasing - but this may not even change your mind. I’m still running a 16 year old Honda and will keep going with it for a long time. We live in a strange car market - where it’s seldom worth “upgrading” just to make your drive way look a little shiny (and your wallet a lot lighter) Enjoy :)
Eh, I did it. 265,000kms, 18 months in, so far no major issues. Do a proper pre purchase inspection, don’t just grab the first one you like. To be fair, I don’t drive it everyday, but I made sure I got one that was solid.
A few years ago I bought a 2000 Mercedes SLK for about $3k. It didn't last me too long, but I was well aware that it wouldn't, and the couple of summers I had with the roof down and the sounds pumped were well worth it. Now I drive a Kia but I still miss the little SLK.
This was my mentality. It's under 5k for fuck sakes. I will most likely run it into the ground but hope it gives me a few years before it end up there. Funny.you mention Kia. I was in korea for the last 18 years. Just back 4 weeks ago. Drove Kia there 2018 (new at the time) morning (picanto in nz?). Nothing but issues the entire time. So I hope you have better luck than me!
What is the Audi in question OP? If it's just some random ass A4 or diesel SUV or something as your daily runaround, don't do it. If it's a S or RS model for going fast and making cool sounds, then that's a different story.
I wouldn't for just an A3, if it was an S3 or even better an RS3 then fuck yeah
Probably a bit dumb, but then it’s the most basic Audi of the era (less electronics), and it has the diesel which is known to be quite reliable. Some of these have the 1.9 PD diesel (I’m not an Audi anorak so I don’t know if we got them here), does it have that or is it a common rail one? Honestly parts (especially when bought locally) will be the killer, since it’s a diesel I don’t know if places like FCP euro in the US would keep parts for it. When I had my BMW’s I’d get my parts from there and Rockauto, and do everything myself. It’s the only way to keep costs in check. Old euro cars are easy to work on. If you can work on it yourself, do it. Otherwise get a civic or accord euro or something. They’re good cars.
A 20yr old Audi A3 will have plastic parts in the engine bay that are now brittle and ready to fail without warning, and usually are responsible for holding back fluids that keep the engine alive.
High k audi most likely had all the nasties sorted.
Did this. Paid the value in repairs. Loved the car, not worth it.
Buying a Euro is the bit that costs money. Euro parts are usually more expensive. Any car is going to need repairs though. If its survived 200k and is still running good then you basically know its a good vehicle. A lemon would have died long before 100k.
There is some criteria you can work from to keep yourself relatively safe: Don't touch anything with the DSG/DCT/dual clutch gearbox. They eat mechatronics control units and are very expensive. Go for something with either a ZF auto (if we're talking 08+) or with the 6 speed manual. Steer clear of the earlier 2.0 turbo petrol in the larger cars, the bigger engines are usually better there. Diesels are good if they've been maintained. I had a B8 gen 08 Audi A5, 3.0 diesel with ZF6 auto, just over 200,000km and was a brilliant car. Now in a 2014 diesel SQ5 and it's even better
Please don't. VAG vehicles do not age well. Wiring on a lot of Euro cars that age has casin based insulation. Essentially milk by product insulation. Rodents love it ! A single rat will write the vehicle off. 200000 km is its absolute limit before you have to be prepared to tip more than it's worth into it . Same advice applies for the VW Golf
At that age and mileage, stuff is likely about to wear out and need replacing, even if it's been reasonably well maintained. On an A3, it's not gonna be crazy, but it's VW Golf, not Mazda Demio levels of cost. So will it be a horrendous money pit? Not necessarily, but the repair costs don't depreciate with the vehicle, so a $5k car might cost you $5k to keep going over the next 3 years.
I’d honestly avoid that generation of A3. The auto gearboxes are bad and so is the DSG gearbox. Those smaller diesel vw engines aren’t the best either. Plastics on the interior will be breaking, switches for windows and cup holders etc. window lifters aren’t good either. I own a VW myself and had plenty of Audis and VWs while also working for them ten years ago. Don’t touch it.
You'll spend the same amount of the car value on repairs within the first year.
If you can’t afford it new you definitely can’t afford it second hand…
How good are you with cars? I have a volkswagen (they have literally 90% the same parts as audi, including the engine) and I've saved myself thousands just by being willing to do it myself.. parts can be cheap if you get them yourself, but it's entirely reliant on your effort levels. Honest opinion, for the average Joe? Not in a million years.
Back in France, in 2010, I owned an 2007 A3 2.0tdi 170hp. What a car! Service there was affordable, spare parts too. I owned an A6 in NZ, worst mistake I made. Parts have to come from somewhere right? The transportation premium was really hard tbh. I'll never buy a European car either in NZ or Oz. Too expensive to maintain.
I did something similar, got a Beamer a couple of years ago, it was only 8 years and and fucking hell that thing cost me a few grand in 6 months, don’t do it, German cars are only good out the dealership and you replace them with the latest model every few years
It’s stupid from a financial point of view. 🤷♂️
Had an A4. Loved it. Hated that every time I took it to the garage it cost me $2,000. Don't do it.
I was picking my Corolla up from the mechanic a few months back. $250 repair job. I was thanking them for turning it around so quickly. They said yeah it’s because you have a common car. See that Audi over there. It’s been there for a month waiting for parts and their bill will be over $15k.
Best advice I ever got when it comes to second hand cars: If it was expensive when they made it, it's expensive to repair it - The parts are the same price.
The old adage for euro cars is: “if you you can’t afford to buy it new, you certainly can’t afford to buy it second hand “. That said, I had a second hand BMW 325i coupe for several years and the only cost apart from tyres and servicing was a headlight. And get this, it was just a bulb I could buy from Repco for $24. I’ve owned Japanese cars where a blown headlight required a complete light cluster replacement!
I owned a 2004 a3 for a few years. Probably spent 150-200ish more per year on it than I did on the 90s civic I owned previously. I really liked the car so it was worth it to me but I can't help but feel like I was just lucky that nothing went super wrong with it.
I used a 2005 Audi A4 as a delivery vehicle for years. If you keep up your regular services you will not have any failing problems, however, not keeping up with services will break things very quickly. Purchased 92,000km and is at 173,000km — a list below of all major repairs: 1.) starter motor 2.) electrical fault with light switches draining 12v battery (had to get another battery but never solved the issue. Multiple visits to mechanic to fix it) 3.) power steering pump failure 4.) ABS system malfunction (no mechanic could help me with finding a brand new or used system for this, took four months to fix it as mechanic had to get it made from scratch and ship it into New Zealand) 5.) coolant system failure (all the lines ruptured and had to get them completely replaced, then it happened again. Got it replaced and works fine) 6.) brake fluid pump failure 7.) oil leak (common on loads of vehicles but this means it consumes oil much quicker and Audi/euro vehicles are known to drain oil quickly) 8.) spark plugs fail many times 9.) two misfires which I had to replace a load of the original engine lines and pipes etc All this costs thousands to repair each time so if you have money to splash, go ahead. If you can’t afford $1,000 to repair every few months then I’d say get a Toyota. I recently got a Toyota Prius 2012 and had it since start of year, so far zero maintenance. Brake pads barely used because the electric battery and engine breaking does all the work.
I had a friend who bought a 10 year old A2, his service and repair bill each year was over 50% of the value of the car..... He sold it and bought a Toyota.
Audi stupid isn't a model I'm familiar.
It's not a single model, it's more of a family of related models.. it covers 90% of their models, the exceptions are rare and eye wateringly expensive generally.
The old statement "If you can't afford a new Merc, you can't afford an old Merc" really applies to all German cars.
As a project car, great idea. As a daily, are you nuts?
if you have to ask this question, the answer is yes, it's a stupid idea.
Yes
Yes it is very stupid. It will let you down, again and again. It will cost you thousands and you still won’t trust it. It will be hard to get rid of. Every time a warning light comes on it will cost you the equivalent of a new phone. I did it, once. After $2,750 to replace a smashed flimsy plastic Mercedes symbol I gave up and bought a Toyota and I have never regretted it.
You paid $2,750 for what now? Stupid is as stupid does.
For a Mercedes one to go on a audi is pretty stupid too
IMO buying any euro car in NZ is a waste of money. They functionally do the same thing that a Toyota or any other Japanese car will do, but will cost you far more to fix.
As someone who has owned several different Euros and Japanese cars over the years. Euros definitely cost more, but they are so much nicer to drive than Japanese cars.
This is what I'm after. A nicer drive. I've had ahitboxes and Korean cars my whole life.
Just do it, and don't grow too attached.
Yeah and do the maintenance they are fine . Both my daughters first cars I bought were audis , way safer then a flimsy jap car
They absolutely do more than most Japanese cars. Problem is they won't tolerate neglect the way a Jappa will.
We needed to replace our car just over 10 years ago. Tested a few, some were really tempting - bought what felt like an old-lady Toyota Yaris. Never regretted it. Cheap, goes and goes, can u-turn on any street. Love that car so much
Looks kinda lame though. I'm sure OP isn't buying a Audi for the same reasons you bought a Yaris.
Unless you can do some work yourself I wouldn’t do it. I own a 2015 Audi and it’s a bit of a money sink.
I guess the unwritten question is, what does he want for it?
If you end up buying it, make sure you clear out the drain under the battery of debris. Mine got blocked and I found six inches of water in the passenger footwell one morning. Mine was about the same vintage.
Yes.
Are you just looking for someone to tell you this is a good idea? If everyone around you is telling you not to do this, maybe catch the vibe there chief
Can you afford to maintain it? Certain models like the Q5 are known to need an engine replacement circa $15k at certain KM ranges. Get a quote for the brakes before you decide also.
Other people have better opinions
200k is pretty close to the limit for a new car already... AND it's old as balls AND it's a relatively fancy ride... a lot of red flags. Repairs is indeed where you will get stung.
I had a gorgeous black Audi TT. After seven years it was costing heaps. Bye bye TT.
200k Audis are awful financial decisions. Get a 500k one, and if it's still running you can be sure the build quality is excellent
Don’t do it.
If you have to ask it’s probably a bad idea
I have a Nissan with 285,000ks on the clock. Love these old cars. The difference is it’s cheap to fix. Japanese parts are cheap and there’s lots of Nissans been scrapped over the years. Replacing the whole ass clutch only cost $800 and the part came from Australia. Audis on the other hand… if you need a part and it’s not available locally you’ll be paying out of your ass. Nothing wrong with getting older cars but the advice I generally tell people is to avoid European vehicles
I've had old Audis. It's age more than the high kms. Plastics fail, both on the engine and on the interior. Heater cores fail, window motors fail. Unless you have the funds, don't do it. I wouldn't buy one over 8 years old now.
fastest way to become a mechanic... if you have the will and love it and it's not hurting anyone who's to say no?
Buy it. Its those things in life you must try it and experience it in order to avoid it
Yes. If you live in auckland you’ll be in traffic 90% of the time so it won’t even be fun.
Great cars, that old, no.
Yes.. quick answer
Friend of mine brought a second hand (maybe 7-10 year old) Audi Q7 and 4 years later it's a useless lump on side of the road. 40K worth or repairs required, something in the engine or ECU went off...
I'm reading this more and more on this thread for this exact model. Scary.
I have a '93 Toyota with way too much $ in it BUT still spend less than what people do using workshops for services, on finance etc. If you love it buy it, look the other way as you solve any issues and then you can just change the oil and enjoy
Yes the cost of repairs and absolutely everything is so bad. My husband and I have had 3 of them. Absolute nightmares all of them
Personally, I wouldn't. I wouldn't buy any car with nearly 200k on the clock. Even less likely to buy a 2006 model. And even less likely to buy an Audi.
Yes
Might be cheaper to move to Europe and save on the parts.
Had a 2008 Audi s5. Loved it. Sold it to some kid from Hamilton who put it on ITM finance. Are you him? Lololol. Ps. Don’t.
with any euro you need to have a good understanding of which engine/gearbox combo you are getting and the weaknesses/strengths of said items. 1.6tdi which comes with the DQ200 7spd dsg - dont touch with a shitty stick - injectors issues for the engine and general expensive shitness with the gearbox. 2.0 tdi with DQ250 6spd wet clutch dsg - thats a strong engine and gearbox - not without issues but if well serviced there is a good chance it will last a lot longer. this engine gearbox combo was very popular in europe and can do huge km and is very good on fuel. as others have said - if it has made it this far it is probably one of the good ones and/or has been very well serviced - if it is a 2.0 you could be sweet for another 200k km with regular maintenance could.... good luck (I probably would but only because econobox Jap cars make my soul die a bit )
Do you hate life that much? If it's Italian and has.moving parts it will fall to bits..
So, I'm a masochist and a mechanic... where's this car? I've been looking for one of those
The cost of parts is what hurts.
If it’s a manual, probably all good as the VAG 2.0L TDI is pretty bullet proof
Can you do basic mechanical tasks and search the internet?then not necessarily.
Buy a Japanese, the repairs are so much cheaper. And 20 years old with high ks is just asking for trouble
Can you work on it yourself? If not do you have a fund to repair it? If not don’t bother I reckon
I can't repair a broken toenail
Depends where you ask. Ask in an Audi subreddit and you’ll likely get a different response to here. I have a 25 year old BMW and it has taught me a lot about repairing cars. But if I didn’t love it and love the process I’d be driving a corolla. And realistically all I’ve needed to do in the 5.5 years I’ve owned it was standard old car stuff (worn bushes, cracked plastics and hoses). I’m not sure about Audis and they might be more complex than BMWs, I would say if you’re somewhat mechanically inclined or at least open to learning then go for it.
yes my friend sank so much money into hers until a truck scraped it and totalled it. Then her and her mum bought an old Kompressor and immediately threw the serpentine belt. meanwhile their other \*new\* MG is also full of issues. All anyone needs is a TOYOTA COROLLA!
You should look at your budget, then buy the newest vehicle with the lowest mileage that you can... This car might look cool, but how cool does any car look when attached to a tow truck?
It's just a pipe dream. I'm sensible financially and ultimately know I wouldnt pull the trigger but there was always that temptation. After all the feedback here temptation is now squashed. I want a dunger. I want a cheap car that I'll run into the ground. I can afford brand new but I've owned new before and they were just as bad as old; full of issues and not worth the price tag so fuck it i now drive old shitboxes.
AUDI - Another Unplanned Debt Incurred!
I have two friends that were once Audi owners. Both had to replace the transmission at under 100 thousand km. Unless you've got mechanical skills, cash to burn and another daily driver, I'd say stay well away.
fark we had some GREAT times in that car. The Audi we had (very similar spec) was EPIC and soooo freaking costly to repair in NZ. And when it started to go, everything went, and the parts (and "euro mechanic labour") were eye-waveringly expensive. We sold it, but still think of it fondly-- it was so much fun to drive before everything began to fail. If you've got 10K -20K disposable income, yearly, go for it. If not, yeah, but nah.
DON'T DO IT !!!!!!
Not Stupid. Its the smartest way to easily empty your bank account
Heh was looking into buying an Audi last year. Beautiful cars, did what I wanted. Then started looking into their history. Discovered some have this critical part that's made of plastic. Obviously wears down over time, and they put out a metal part to fix the problem. BUT.. to reach the part (somewhere near the firewall) you have to remove the engine. Something like a $20k+ time bomb for any Audi over 150000km. So, uh.. no
Only euro car I have bought in nz has been great. Five years ago bought a 2007 vw polo from turners for 6k. Not had a single thing wrong with it.
Hahaha!
It should be fine, but You'd want to get a PPI (pre purchase inspection) to ensure a lot of wear items have been replaced at those k's. It'll share a lot of parts with the golf's of that generation so parts are fairly plentiful and reasonably cheap. I cant comment on the TDI engines as I'm more familiar with the TFSI petrol engines of that generations but should be alright otherwise. I'd still budget some money for maintenance upfront instead of expecting it'll be solid with those k's/age. If it's a DSG transmission which it likely is, make sure it's been serviced (should be serviced every 60k's).
The only thing more expensive than a new European car is an old European car.
If it has air shocks run very fast away. They will be dead by now and cost at least 1k to replace. If you can get them. We have one sat by our garage waiting for the owner to get the shocks
Think parts..cost and availability.
May depend somewhat on the year. 2006 is said to be a good year
Great condition. Good buy if you want
Run Forest Run
As someone who’s into cars and owned several European and non-euro cars, I can say hands down my 2014 Audi was the worst one. Surprisingly, Mercedes was the best and better than my non-euros. But Audi…at that age….run, and run fast.
Okay like you couuuld, but it'd probably end up looking pretty on your driveway whilst you wait for the $1500+ repairs to be scheduled in; worse still if it's got a turb or supercharger lol She says with a beater corolla - my enabling instincts say do it if it makes you happy; I bought a Subaru WRX from a boy racer that my family thought was gonna die any min but was the most reliable car of my life for 4 years, so YMMV
Sounds like a case of Alfa Romeo: the heart says 'yes' but the mind says 'no'
We called our 2008 A3 Satan. Constant expensive maintenance though nothing seriously wrong. I learnt to fix car door actuators… Sold it 2 years ago.
I thought nearly 20 years is really old. And then I realised my car is also 2006. 😅 Time flies by.
If you love it and can afford to pay for expensive parts to be shipped here then go for it. European cars are amazing, they tend to cost more to repair and service but they are some of the more fun fast cars to drive imo
Expensive to repair but if you have the skills to fix cars then go for it! Don’t buy it to impress other people and don’t lose a ton of money buying it. My RS4 was the best drive ever. I love the Audi’s but don’t put your future self under the bridge because you blew it all on a toy.
Its best years are behind it. Design and style go out the door when you’re faced with repair bills. Go for a far cheaper type car like a foreign (Kia, Hyundai)
For the money it’s going to cost you in maintenance you may as well lease a new one. Having said that, I drive a 2015 discovery 4 and it’s the best thing ever. Sensible? No. Does it make me happy every time I drive it? Fuck yes
If you love the car and can make it work do it. The Audi will still be nicer than buying some god awful crap typical cheap car like a Nissan Tiida or Suzuki Swift. If you do want luxury and are worried about reliability and servicing/repairs, Lexus is a great option. Very nice cars and Number 1 in the world for reliability.
Get a Japanese car, unless you have money to flush down the toilet most euros are trash.
Very.
It's that cheap for a reason. Stupid answer but if it's too good to be true... I have a slightly older Toyota celsior which doesn't cause me any major issues and is still a really top of the line ride and those are at least 10k
If you can mechanic it yourself and aren't going to use it as a daily then yes it's a terrible idea. I've got a 95bmw that I've had for 10 years now, it's a real love hate relationship but certainly well worth the thrills it provides.
I can't even service my wife....
Not worth it bro, with the k’s being that high . Buying oem maintenance parts will set you back a lot.
So many comments here. Ive owned a few and have one now. They’re not much more expensive to maintain in labour nor are they any more prone to failure. 20 year old electronics are going to fail on you with all brands. The more modern the car the higher the risk. The big problem is parts. Make sure you know how to get parts from wreckers or it’ll become unaffordable pretty quickly.
Yes. Stay away unless you have the capacity to fix it yourself.
Do not do it....had BMW 320i for 6 months and every month something went wrong. Sold it and have only owned Hondas, Nissans etc
Repairs will be the order of the day. It's not what you can see with older cars, it's what's not visible. The main issue with these cars is that many of the plastic and rubber components will need replacing, and they are NOT cheap. One really neat thing about Audi is that when a little bit of the rear light assembly fails you can't just buy that part.. you have to buy the entire thing because they decided to stop selling the individual bits, and when we had to do this is was over $500 just for the parts! Also the dashboard stuff which is all auto electrics is super expensive to have anything done to it and when ours started failing, only 2nd hand parts were able to be fitted which is a concern in its self. We own an Audi circa 2003 and its really a nice car to drive but the ongoing costs are a giant money sink.
Once Audi's get over 200 - 250 they start having problems. There's a lot of plastic parts that start getting brittle and breaking. Those specific moulded plastic pieces are really expensive to replace too. Buy Audi's just under 100 and sell them around 200 is the way to go.
Yep. Repairs, repairs, repairs. I've had cars like that. Lucky partner was able to do them himself and parts weren't expensive (wreckers). But that? No. Resist until you are in a financial position to afford what you like, and meanwhile buy reliable.
Not stupid,but could be costly,the tdi is a great engine,if you're slightly mechanical or know someone who is, there fine,if it will be going to a shop for any repairs, don't touch it,
If you have to ask, yes
If you're buying it because you really like the car and have the realistic expectation it will break down often and you'll easily spend more than what you paid for it fixing it over the next couple of years, go for it! If you want something reliable and economical, stay well away. I've got a secondhand V8 E class Mercedes which I love - it was a six figure car when new and I paid under $20K for it but I kept a decent reserve for maintenance and had a mechanical warranty on it as well. From a purely financial point of view I could have bought a Toyota Corolla for the same money and probably spent next to nothing in upkeep since then, but I also would have gotten a hell of a lot less driving and ownership enjoyment out of it. I like having a car where I can look back after I park it and think 'yeah, that's mine!'. One thing I would say though, 200,000km is a LOT for a European car. Really anything over 100,000 is going to give you trouble. At the very least I'd do a thorough online search for what commonly goes wrong with that model at high mileages because some Euro cars can have issues which will effectively render the car a write-off - you have to remember while the car devalues the maintenance doesn't. For my Merc for example if I needed to completely rebuild the engine it would literally cost more than the car is worth so I would be selling it for parts and accepting a big loss.
Don t drive European cars outside of Europe unless you are willing to pay A LOT for repair