A local bombsite trader (think of a bad-tempered Turkish Bellboy without the wit) has a RHD Audi A4 Avant that he´s taken as a PX, and is going to find difficult to shift. No market for RHD here in Germany, and it´s still on UK plates.
It´s a late ´96 2.6 V6 automatic, fairly high spec. Bad bits: undocumented 115k miles, no service history at all (book is missing). Needs new tyres, plus I think the thermostat has gone as it didn´t move off 60 deg during my test drive, the panel under the engine is cracked. It´s a bit fiddly to sort out a Fahrzeugschein (V5 equiv) for a RHD here, but I´ve done it before. I´d need a new set of lights (eBay) for its TüV (MoT equiv). And I would probably change the cambelt/WP, and have heard this is a bit fiddly on the 2.6 V6 (for fiddly read expensive). Bit of wind noise where the windscreen has been incompetently replaced.
Of course, any money I put in I would be unlikely to get out again as noone wants RHD here, apart from me.
Good bits: No evidence of oil leaks on the bombsite gravel, or of accident damage. Engine bay and oil both clean. Paintwork is OK. It passed an MoT in June 2007, I got the previous owner´s name off the V5 and contacted him - he said the car had been perfectly reliable in the year he´d had it. It drives absolutely superbly, feels rock-solid, the auto kicks down smoothly, the interior is v. clean.
The guy has it up for ?2250, when I offered him ?1500 he said his best price was ?2100. Worth pursuing? I fancy a bit of luxury, and the way this drove - having not driven a V6 before I was amazed at how smooth if was, and plenty quick enough for me.
TIA for any advice.
Car is here:
tinyurl.com/yu2ftw
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 15/12/2007 at 13:07
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Have to say mate, it sounds like a bit of a shed the way you described it.
Its 11 years old. its over 100k miles, its got temperature problems, a badly fitted windscreen.
No service book. Its R/H drive where no one wants one, wont pass a TüV without some degree of expense..
Frankly I think your ?1500 was generous. Leave him your number, and tell him to phone you when he is desperate. Myselff I would pass this one by.
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< Ulla>
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......Leave him your number, and tell him to phone you when he is desperate.....
Funnily enough, that´s what I´ve done.
In many ways it is a bit ´sheddy´. But it did drive beautifully (or maybe I´m just used to the Astra?).
Part of me says that it´s worth the risk, and that with a minimal amount of expense and some Barchettaman TLC it´ll be a great motor for a few years.
The other part of me is saying stop thinking like a fluffy dice, you haven´t really got time to run around sorting the paperwork out, baby is due, give yourself a reality check, and it could prove an expensive mistake.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 15/12/2007 at 13:10
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Bad: V6 engine, fuel economy, rainwater leaks kill CCM electrics, front suspension expensive to repair and wears rapidly. The pinch bolts all rust in solidly as VAG don't use plated bolts.
Good: Galvanised body, safety, comfort if the seats suit you, pattern spares availability, cheap fix know-how if you know where to go.
I would say that with fuel prices as they are, avoid unless you really have a job for it.
659.
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And perhaps a quick fiver's worth of online checks - may be nicked, probably ex-forces or something.
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noone wants RHD here, apart from me.
Why do you want RHD?
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On top of the mentioned problems, you may have worn top end (v expenisve).
Personally I would expect to pay 50% of the UK price as it's abroad and then start deducting for possible costs.
So imo anything over £1,000 is expensive.. and then if things go wrong you could easily spend another £1,000 ,
Could be a money pit.
I'd run a mile.
(Probably got heavy oil in engine to stop the rattles!)
madf
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"I'd run a mile"
or 1.6 kilometres in this case.
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......Why do you want RHD?
I quite like RHD over here. You always get out on the pavement side of the car, and with my Captain Slow driving style I do more getting out than overtaking, if you see what I mean. Obviously it has its disadvantages - notably pulling out from a junction at an acute angle and the blindspots on the autobahn - but I´m kind of used to it now. It´s more to do with trying to get an unwanted car at a bargain price IYKWIM. I generally run low-value cars and don´t worry about depreciation. Plus I always think a RHD car is less likely to be nicked over here.
I have checked the reg no. on the DVLA website, and it comes up as export, as expected.
The previous owner *seemed* a nice enough chap on the phone, and was more than happy to answer my questions.
Turkish bellboy emailed me tonight, saying what a bad offer mine was (1.5k) and how he had already turned down offers of 2k etc etc. And the band plays ´believe it if you like´.....
Maybe this one is more risk then reward, but it was such a smoooooth drive I was really impressed. Heart to rule head? Probably not, but we will see if he gets back to me.
I´m a wee bit worried about the suspension wear and bolts thing 659FBE mentioned though.
Thanks all for the advice.
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Turkish bellboy emailed me tonight saying what a bad offer mine was (1.5k) and how he had already turned down offers of 2k etc etc. And the band plays ´believe
Lol - why did he bother emailing you then?
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< Ulla>
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Don't know what Bellboy's going to say......
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who knows? its 21:30, half a bottle of single malt could be down the hatch by now.
Get the Bellboy translator ready....
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< Ulla>
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