How many Previous Owners is too many??

GaryP · Nov 16, 2017

Morning everyone..!

So, looking at a Dec 2013 plate S4 Avant with 30k on the clock. It has 4 previous owners so I would be the 5th..!! But, is this too many? I would keep the car for at least 3 years so it would level out a bit.

The car is a really high spec one, full ADS (Dampers, Steering and Sport Diff), Magma Red SS Seats, Convenience Pack, Black Edition, Rear Camera, Tech Pack High, Foldy Mirrors, Adaptive Headlights, Advanced Key, Hill Hold, Storage, Metallic Grey (Monsoon I think).

It has a full Audi Service History and has 1 year left of a 5 year Audi Warranty. Apparently there is also plenty of other receipts for any maintenance done - not that at 30k I expect much to have needed to be done. Going to view it this week, but just wondering what fellow members on here think about the number of owners.

Its for sale at £24,940.

Thanks in advance for any guidance/recommendations.

Gary.

DieselJake · Nov 16, 2017

Does seem allot 4 owners in 4 years, I can understand if people were registering it in other family members names but otherwise it seems a bit suspect. With full Audi history I suppose you can expect it to be alright but who knows.

EXSpartan36 · Nov 16, 2017

That seems alot of owners in a short time plus add the fact that there are plenty of other receipts for work done would suggest that the car is hasssle and prone to going wrong.

Darren92 · Nov 16, 2017

Its a performance car, some people buy them and then realise they can't afford to run it.

I wouldnt worry, its only a number on the V5 at the end of the day and it has an Audi warranty which you will be able to extend if required.

RyanJonS4 · Nov 16, 2017

I wouldn’t worry too much about it, I’m the 5th owner of my b6 S4.

It was 3 years old when I bought it, had already had 4 owners but was absolutely mint with full service history.

I think as people have said already, people either buy and find they can’t afford to run/service etc. Or like to swap and change them up before they lose too much money on them.

I’ve now had it 10yrs and it’s never given me any trouble other than the usual thermostat and both secondary rads.

My advice would be ignore the owners and judge the Cars condition on merit. There are minters out there to be had, if you find one snap it up...if not, keep looking!

Gazwould · Nov 16, 2017

Usual.. after the honeymoon and you realise you have a high maintenance wife..

Changed for a 3.0 tdi .

GaryP · Nov 16, 2017

EXSpartan36 said:
That seems alot of owners in a short time plus add the fact that there are plenty of other receipts for work done would suggest that the car is hasssle and prone to going wrong.

@EXSpartan36 - I maybe should have worded it more like there is a good history and evidence of being looked after, rather than making it sound like tis been in the garage a lot!

Will go view it, see what condition it is in, check the paperwork and receipts - then have a good long think!

Ledgie · Nov 16, 2017

As above, ignore the number of owners. You'd prefer a looked after car with lots of owners than a single owner car that's never seen a service.

MarkWizard · Nov 17, 2017

Could have been a demo or pre-registered car. You can get details of previous owners from the DVLA

scotty76 · Nov 17, 2017

As long as you have service history and warranty you have some backup. Assuming it's S Tronic it'll need the gear box oil changed at 38k at the very latest. Maybe get them to do it now for peace of mind?

LEW_PERFECT · Nov 17, 2017

If it's anything like ex's you can have one that's been ridden and damaged by one or it be passed round like currency and suffer the same.. either way, you're going to have maybe one or two issues, maybe multiple. Just be prepared to enjoy the riding but be prepared should it have an episode.

GaryP · Nov 17, 2017

So everyone - I went to see it this morning and it was lovely. In tip top condition, very high spec, all paperwork looking good, even spoke to the Independant Trader who took it in as Part Ex and sold it on to the last owner. So it all feels good. Just discovered though through talking to that last Trader that it does not have Heated Seats!! *** - it has nearly every other option - Diff, Dampers, Steering, SS Seats, Advanced Key blah blah. Who on earth spe'd that level but didnt put Heated Seats on it!!

Can anyone confirm if on a late 2013 plate you still had to spec Heated Seats even if you went with Supersport Fine Nappa seats?

And - would you honestly be that bothered not to have them??

Car is lovely, and I'd like it - just worried that lack of Heated Seats will give me a selling headache in 3 years time!!

jdp1962 · Nov 17, 2017

GaryP said:
So everyone - I went to see it this morning and it was lovely. In tip top condition, very high spec, all paperwork looking good, even spoke to the Independant Trader who took it in as Part Ex and sold it on to the last owner. So it all feels good. Just discovered though through talking to that last Trader that it does not have Heated Seats!! *** - it has nearly every other option - Diff, Dampers, Steering, SS Seats, Advanced Key blah blah. Who on earth spe'd that level but didnt put Heated Seats on it!!

Can anyone confirm if on a late 2013 plate you still had to spec Heated Seats even if you went with Supersport Fine Nappa seats?

And - would you honestly be that bothered not to have them??

Car is lovely, and I'd like it - just worried that lack of Heated Seats will give me a selling headache in 3 years time!!

Buy it; enjoy it; don;t even worry about non-heated seats.

mister.c. · Nov 18, 2017

Its fun how some threads end up! Original post was concerned about there being too many owners (also interpreted as it had been sold too many times). Then after seeing the car, the concern goes to not being able to sell it (in three years due to lack of heated seats!)

I wouldn't worry on that score (but then to me, heated seats are not a deal breaker). If all you are worried about is re-sale, then don't. If it is mint and the right price with just that missing, then it sounds a good un.

slick · Nov 21, 2017

5 owners and no heated seats is pretty rubbish. would avoid.
for a few quid more there are a other much nicer specced examples.

GaryP · Nov 21, 2017

jdp1962 said:
Buy it; enjoy it; don;t even worry about non-heated seats.

You've got heated seats though!!! Haha. You'll be cosy in the depths of winter, whereas I'd have to sit on a hot water bottle..! :cold:

jdp1962 · Nov 22, 2017

GaryP said:
You've got heated seats though!!! Haha. You'll be cosy in the depths of winter, whereas I'd have to sit on a hot water bottle..!

They get switched on for maybe a minute or two at most. Very over-rated IMHO.

gary_a4_quattro · Nov 22, 2017

jdp1962 said:
They get switched on for maybe a minute or two at most. Very over-rated IMHO.

I had that opinion too prior to having them, probably not a deal breaker for if the rest of the car was perfect, but after living with them through last winter ( not that it was especially cold) , driving home after a day working in an unheated workshop was very pleasant, plus wifey can toast her buns as much as she wants to keep warm instead of having the car temp set to a sauna-esque 25 C !!

jdp1962 · Nov 22, 2017

gary_a4_quattro said:
I had that opinion too prior to having them, probably not a deal breaker for if the rest of the car was perfect, but after living with them through last winter ( not that it was especially cold) , driving home after a day working in an unheated workshop was very pleasant, plus wifey can toast her buns as much as she wants to keep warm instead of having the car temp set to a sauna-esque 25 C !!

Fair enough; the other option, if the rest of the car is exactly what you want, is, of course, retro-fit.
Calling @NHN.

V6_Man · Nov 22, 2017

@GaryP so, when are you picking it up?

GaryP · Nov 24, 2017

Tashfeen said:
@GaryP so, when are you picking it up?

Hi Tash

I've decided against it in the end!!

Could not make the numbers work in my head. I've just put in the initial application form for a Golf R Estate there now this morning. Some good deals just been release today that make more sense for me at the moment financially. I decided I did not like the idea of having a 7 year old S4 on my hands in 3 years time, then trying to move it on - especially living in Northern Ireland where I think the market for these cars is very small, and therefore a hassle for anyone wanting to view it. I also did not like the idea of it not having heated seats on the leather when it came to re-sale. I had contemplated a retro-fit, but then decided I felt very uneasy about what it involved, and on £25k worth of car! Getting in to my car last night at Belfast Airport after it had been chilling there all week and was 1 deg C last night, I think I made the right choice about lack of heated seats!!! :cold:

It was a lovely car though, someone will get a gud un...!! I just could not make the maths work in my head to feel happy enough. I'm sure I'll love the Golf R for 2 years though.

scotty76 · Nov 24, 2017

Amazing how many people have gone S4->Golf R and the other way as well. Seems a well worn path!

Enjoy the R, they are great cars.

V6_Man · Nov 24, 2017

GaryP said:
Hi Tash

I've decided against it in the end!! Could not make the numbers work in my head. I've just put in the initial application form for a Golf R Estate there now this morning. Some good deals just been release today that make more sense for me at the moment financially. I decided I did not like the idea of having a 7 year old S4 on my hands in 3 years time, then trying to move it on - especially living in Northern Ireland where I think the market for these cars is very small, and therefore a hassle for anyone wanting to view it. I also did not like the idea of it not having heated seats on the leather when it came to re-sale. I had contemplated a retro-fit, but then decided I felt very uneasy about what it involved, and on £25k worth of car! Getting in to my car last night at Belfast Airport after it had been chilling there all week and was 1 deg C last night, I think I made the right choice about lack of heated seats!!!

It was a lovely car though, someone will get a gud un...!! I just could not make the maths work in my head to feel happy enough. I'm sure I'll love the Golf R for 2 years though.

I thought you were going to put the deposit on it ....

. As long as you are happy then whether it is an S4 or Golf R it doesn’t matter. I have seen an increased number of Golf Rs in the Road recently and these do look

.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

GaryP · Nov 24, 2017

Tashfeen said:
I thought you were going to put the deposit on it .... . As long as you are happy then whether it is an S4 or Golf R it doesn’t matter. I have seen an increased number of Golf Rs in the Road recently and these do look .

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, was very close. That particular S4 was very nice, but when I did my future planning my maths made me too uncomfortable to go ahead. Then, this week local dealer let me know about Golf R deals, so interest captured, then today, various Lease firms sent out emails with even better deals. It took me all of an hour or so to get quotes then negotiate with local dealer to match it!!

Took a 2014 hatch out before signing up, not really the same thing but boy did it shift..!! Newer ones are a bit more refined and have a great standard spec.

And I'm getting White, so you'll like that!!

GaryP · Nov 24, 2017

It was initially a rather disappointing test drive as it didn't feel so quick and was rather quiet engine/exhaust wise. We then noticed the car had been left in ECO mode! Doh!! Was good to see how quiet it ran in that mode. We decided to call it Wife Onboard mode..!!!!

scotty76 · Nov 24, 2017

The S4 is the same. Feels broken in Efficiency mode.

V6_Man · Nov 24, 2017

scotty76 said:
The S4 is the same. Feels broken in Efficiency mode.

S4 has an efficiency mode as well

. No wonder my consumption sucks

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

V6_Man · Nov 24, 2017

GaryP said:
Yeah, was very close. That particular S4 was very nice, but when I did my future planning my maths made me too uncomfortable to go ahead. Then, this week local dealer let me know about Golf R deals, so interest captured, then today, various Lease firms sent out emails with even better deals. It took me all of an hour or so to get quotes then negotiate with local dealer to match it!!

Took a 2014 hatch out before signing up, not really the same thing but boy did it shift..!! Newer ones are a bit more refined and have a great standard spec.

And I'm getting White, so you'll like that!!

Will be looking forward to it mate

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How many Previous Owners is too many??

Registered User

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Registered User

Drive It Like You Stole It

Registered User

Registered User

Registered User

Active Member

Registered User

Registered User

Registered User

Grumpy Old Man

Registered User

Registered User

Registered User

Grumpy Old Man

Registered User

Grumpy Old Man

Moderator

Registered User

Registered User

Moderator

Registered User

Registered User

Registered User

Moderator

Moderator

Similar threads