What should I pay for this?

[speedicar225]

Hello:

This is the first post of a wouldbe S3 owner. I am looking at a car with "issues" and wonder what the concensus opinion as to its worth is- should I buy and what should I pay?

General: New MOT, tyres, brakes etc all good. Full Audi dealer SH.

51 Reg in sky?blue, with 59k miles. Bodily:external unmarked apart from some light scuffs in the lower front and rear corners, Alloys: faces scratched but rims sound. Interior - undamaged but drivers seat bit mucky. Everthing works.

Mechanical: needs cam belt change. Also various advisory notes from Audi dealer concerning suspension bushes etc. There appears to be a problem with the exhaust manifold which rattles very well on acceleration. Performance seems good but probably not as sharp as it should be.

Owner wants a cash sale and I would prefer to pay a fair price. Should I buy and what should I pay.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[1animal1]

personally id offer £6000 if they want a cash sale, but be prepared to pay upto 7k-7500 if its either Avus silver or kingfisher blue (ones blue the other looks sky bluey), they vmay want more but from what i can see the prices are all over the place at the moment

 

[FazS3]

hmm sounds like the car has had a lot of wear and tear, you sure the mileage has not been clocked??

 

[voorhees]

hmm sounds like the car has had a lot of wear and tear, you sure the mileage has not been clocked??

I thought that....mines done 81k and it sounds like its in better nick

 

[speedicar225]

hmm sounds like the car has had a lot of wear and tear, you sure the mileage has not been clocked??

Yes: forgot to mention that I have seen all the MOTs and mileage can be taken as genuine. Have known the car for years.

So, this being the case, offer price?

 

[FazS3]

Yes: forgot to mention that I have seen all the MOTs and mileage can be taken as genuine. Have known the car for years.

So, this being the case, offer price?

well personally i would first see how much the owner is wanting for the car?he may have a lower figure in mind then what you offer, you never know?

You need to take into consideration the expenses you going to have to pay in order to get it upto reasonable condition, which seems like its going to be a fair bit.

having alot of advisorys on the MOT never sounds too good to me personally but I would probably be guessing around the 6.5 mark seeing as it needs a cambelt which will cost you in region of 300-450.

what factory options does it have??any chance you got any pics?
also just because all MOTs are present it doesnt mean the mileage is legit but the condition of drivers seat, steering wheel gearknob should be an indicator of how much the car has been used.

 

[1animal1]

thing is the only reason we are assuming its hammered is because of the bushes which are renowned for going on S3's.... the drivers seat is described as being 'mucky'...it doesnt sound too hammered to me, all depends what the manifold problem is

 

[speedicar225]

well personally i would first see how much the owner is wanting for the car?he may have a lower figure in mind then what you offer, you never know?

You need to take into consideration the expenses you going to have to pay in order to get it upto reasonable condition, which seems like its going to be a fair bit.

having alot of advisorys on the MOT never sounds too good to me personally but I would probably be guessing around the 6.5 mark seeing as it needs a cambelt which will cost you in region of 300-450.

what factory options does it have??any chance you got any pics?
also just because all MOTs are present it doesnt mean the mileage is legit but the condition of drivers seat, steering wheel gearknob should be an indicator of how much the car has been used.

That's helpful, thanks. I have had another look over the car, Kingfisher Blue, "metal finish" mirrors, internal controls don't seem excessively worn - rear knob and steering wheel are good.

Spoke about manifold problem. Seller said that Audi dealership that serviced the car wanted £1500 to change the part and that was discounted. They talked of it being a not unusual problem and also talked of an Audi recall??? Anyway, it has NOT been done and the owner has happily run the car without problems, albeit, with the rattling noise on occasion. It is more pronounced when you "press on".

Have looked at the advisory list referred to in earlier posts and they are of the bushes etc type. Nothing major, probably just a bill building excercise by the dealer, as dealers do.

So there it is: seemingly a desirable colour, carrying some wear,(why wouldn't it?). the cam belt thing seems manageable, but the manifold issue is a major potential worry.

Can anyone help me get an understanding of what the manifold issue could be and an idea of costs if it does need replacing?

Thanks.

 

[FazS3]

mate seems like the car is very expensive, there are plenty around i think you could pick up a better example.!

 

[1animal1]

but not that colour and without knowing the history....... at least you know whats wrong with it and can adjust your price accordingly....id be more interested in buying this than any other that i hadnt got a clue about

 

[FazS3]

well if it going to cost him 1500 for the manifold and then the cambelt on top i believe the car is probably worth around the 5ish mark.

 

[1animal1]

exactly a perfect reason to offer just that....

 

[speedicar225]

well if it going to cost him 1500 for the manifold and then the cambelt on top i believe the car is probably worth around the 5ish mark.

Thanks for that. He is expecting less, so that seems promising. Really would like to know the potential in the manifold problem. Incidentally the same dealership quoted him £1000 for the cambelt change!!

No wonder he is selling the car. The seller is a decent bloke but possibly a bit clueless when it comes to matters mechanical. Easy target for his local Audi dealership and they no doubt take full advantage.

Thanks again for your responses. If the manifold problem is something you may have heard about or had to deal with, your guidance would be welcome. NFW i'm going the Audi dealership route.

Thanks.

 

[1animal1]

well cambelt change which we all advise getting water pump done at same time will cost £250 ish at vag specialist so thats no biggy..... make sure you get haldex done too (rear diff oil and filter)....shouldnt cost you more than £500 for a good service

 

[paul_brad]

I would have thought kingfisher blue would devalue an S3! It's a bit girly.

 

[1animal1]

nope....kingfisher is one of the rarest colours and should fetch a premium (albeit a small one)

 

[speedicar225]

Just to express thanks to you all for your interest and assistance.

Car is purchased at the suggested figure. Currently having cam belt change/water pump replacement done.

Inital drive of 30 miles was fine. Needs a good wash and valet, then the fun begins.

Thanks again.

 

[Nilz]

Congrats, what did you end up paying in the end, as theres a few fgures flying about in this post, if it was £5k, then you got a GOOD deal!!!

Get some pics up as well, will be good to see the car.

 

[sixsr]

Given the condition, I'd of thought it'd be worth no more than £4.5k

Car valuation adjusted for 59,000 miles

Retail:


£6,278
http://www.warrantydirect.co.uk/


Private Good:£5,498Private Average:£4,918Private Poor:£4,428Part Exchange:£5,208Trade:£5,013

 

[1animal1]

comon it wasnt exactly a shed

 

[speedicar225]

Hello again,

Apologies for the delay in responding: been chasing down the 2 issues that came with the car.

Cam belt change, with usual parts and a water pump done well for £190. Apparent exhaust manifold problems resolved today for the cost of a new stock DV and a jubilee clip at £24.50 in total.

So all issues resolved to my satisfaction and the car cost me £5k.

Thanks for the help, chaps. Pics when I can, probably after the alloys have been refinished.

 

[Nilz]

Hey, sounds like you got a deal there, well done!!

And some cheap fixes too...looks like happy days are here again

 

[golf]

Hello again,

Apologies for the delay in responding: been chasing down the 2 issues that came with the car.

Cam belt change, with usual parts and a water pump done well for £190. Apparent exhaust manifold problems resolved today for the cost of a new stock DV and a jubilee clip at £24.50 in total.

So all issues resolved to my satisfaction and the car cost me £5k.

Thanks for the help, chaps. Pics when I can, probably after the alloys have been refinished.

Bit of a result, that!

Out of interest what was actually 'wrong' with the exhaust manifold?