[gIzzE]

Fiona had one for about a year, it was 12 months old when we got it.






Was a nice enough car, I got bored of it after a fortnight, but she quite liked it all the way through.

I would never own another Audi manual though, offset pedals combined with differnet pedal heights and a footrest that also gets in the way makes them incredibly hard work.

I sold my S4 because of that.

[xenon]

One of those rare convertibles that look better with the roof up. It's too slab-sided and just doesn't look right, imo. The waistline is too high.

[gIzzE]

Also remember at 59k miles the cambelt is about due.

I was quoted £1600 from Audi Norwich to do one on a 3.0tdi Avant last year, this was a £3k car. I then got quotes of around £800 from Indys, that was inlcuding the pumps.

Put me right off.

[gIzzE]

Think it is every 60k miles or 4 years.
Then went to 80k miles or 4 years.

[RCUK]

OK... cambelt thing... pushes Audi out of contention

gIzzE - thanks for pointing that out!! Something i totally overlooked!

[gIzzE]

Don't write it off, depending on age it may have just been done, but look at the history carefully.

The woman I was buying it from said that her car was every 80k miles, and it had only done 72k, however, I pointed out that being a March 2004 car it should have been down in March 2008 and again in March 2012, neither of which had been done and thus the "full service history" that is was advertised as having was far from true.

The owner of the car you are looking at may well have done it all on time.

[djgandy]

^^

Make checklist of items. If you turn up and it has decent tread on all tyres and cam belt done then you are probably onto a winner. If you are going to have to spend 2k in 3 months time, walk away and find another one.

[RCUK]

Thats a point.. i wonder if the company servicing it would have a record of the cam belt?

EDIT: Okay... so if i could read ... i would have read the bit in the add where it says in bold:
SERVICE HISTORY INCLUDING THE CAMBELT BEING CHANGED

Looks like its back on the list.....

This is why car hunting can be SO fun..

I did check tyres, and they look pretty okay. Tho the alloys are a bit crappy so fairly good chance they will get changed in future anyway.

VERY tempted now...

[peterg1965]

RCUK, I would just go for it provided all relevant checks come through OK. It's a lovely car and there is a decent chance you will get a fair wedge of your money back in 18 months, with minimal risk. By the time you make your mind up it might be sold, offer the £5k and wait till the phone rings

[djgandy]

^^ With the cam belt being done go for it. 5k is cheap.

Who cares if the alloys are scuffed. You can't see them when you are driving

[RCUK]

im calling the guy tomoro.. offer him £5k..

IF this goes wrong.. im showing my wife this thread

One thing tho.. airbag warning light was on. Guy said it was because he had disconnected battery to change it. Just remembered that bit now!

[mowflow]

Airbag light is no biggie. Common problem for VAG cars of this era to have the light on for no apparent reason. You can get it reset at most garages, buy a plug in module off eBay for about £15 which does it or simply remove the bulb

[RCUK]

ooh.. cool.... i thought it was suggesting airbag might have an issue!

Will call the guy tomoro... see what he says to £5k...

[Mart1000]

Originally Posted by mowflow

Airbag light is no biggie. Common problem for VAG cars of this era to have the light on for no apparent reason. You can get it reset at most garages, buy a plug in module off eBay for about £15 which does it or simply remove the bulb

Airbag light will be on for a reason though wont it? If its on, I doubt it would fire in an accident. Removing the bulb or getting a bypass module as fine and dandy, until the worst happens.

[RCUK]

Right... gut feeling is to stay away.....

SO .. gonna stay away.

Car hunt will continue (have my dads 2007 accord to tide me over for next 2 months!)

[peterg1965]

[sheps]

Airbag light could be a very simple issue; on my wife's old A4 (of slightly older vintage) a dirty/corroded connector under the seat - a known problem - caused the same fault.

I pulled the connector apart, cleaned the contacts, plugged it back together and cleared the fault with VAGCOM cable - problem solved. Do a google search and see if there's a common problem like this with this model. Chances are if it was widespread on the A4 saloon and Avant, it's going to occour on the vert.

The airbag light coming on because the battery was disconnected is bullshit. The seller simply can't think of another reason that doesn't sound expensive or the actual reason.

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by RCUK

Right... gut feeling is to stay away.....

SO .. gonna stay away.

Car hunt will continue (have my dads 2007 accord to tide me over for next 2 months!)

If your gut says no don't do it, why is your gut saying no though? Electrical issues? Those things are pretty common on late 90's early 00's cars, especially lights coming on when you clean under the seats!

You have time so you hold all the cards but remember those folding tops will be going up in price a bit come March.