Buying used RS3 with high mileage?

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Djl

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I've been looking for 6 months now for a used RS3 in the right spec. The few that have come up have either sold instantly or have had some problem making them unsuitable.

I've seen an ad for a car in the spec I want, but the car has 45k miles (2015 model).
Would you buy a PFL RS3 with 45k on the clock?

What things would I have to look out for? Service history etc. My gut says to continue waiting but I'm getting impatient!
 
45k is just above average. If you will keep the car for say three years and do say 30k miles then it’ll have 75k miles. Then again most cars that age will have at least 30k miles anyway
 
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If it’s 2015 I would check it’s history. It is possible it’s one of the many early launch cars in which case it will have been well ‘rogered’. Good history and regular servicing is vital. Where are you buying from?
 
Mine had 41k miles when I sold it Mar 18. Was still an amazing car imho. Full Audi service history etc. Perhaps look for lowest high miles you can find and fewest owners?

TX.

Sent from my BBB100-2 using Tapatalk
 
It also depends on how many miles you will do. If you only do 5k per year then a higher mileage rs3 won’t be too bad as you will bring down the average mileage. But if you’re doing 15k per year then that will soon be getting into undesirable territory.

But as long as it’s been serviced properly 45k isnt high mileage, I would have no worries about the reliability of the car just as long as it’s had a full service history.

The other point is to make sure you’re getting a good deal. A good few thousand lower than the same car with 25k.
 
If the mileage has been done by, for example, a previous owner who used it for a relatively long commute to and from work (combined with a good service history) I wouldn't be overly worried. A car is more likely to be damaged by a boy racer using it as a play-thing at weekends and on tracks than some person who had to use it to commute daily restrained by typical commuter speeds on roads and motorways.
 
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Retroman said:
If the mileage has been done by, for example, a previous owner who used it for a relatively long commute to and from work (combined with a good service history) I wouldn't be overly worried. A car is more likely to be damaged by a boy racer using it as a play-thing at weekends and on tracks than some person who had to use it to commute daily restrained by typical commuter speeds on roads and motorways.
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Couldn’t agree more. Mines at 44k now the past 18months of ownership I’ve put 24k on the clock. Long motorway runs and a nice toy at the weekend. Change the oil on mine every 5/6k by myself and it’s been very reliable motoring (touches wood).
 
It amazes me pricing on these cars I’ve 2018 model Saloon 20k miles on it put into wbac.com comes up at £31k really...and they are selling 3 year old cars for more than that..I know you take a hit at first but come on!!!!!
 
For some reason RS3 prices on we buy any car are terrible!.
When I was looking for mine there was about £6k difference between we buy any car price and the price I paid.
They demand strong money second hand so you pay to play.
I think there will be some poor specked unloved cars for cheaper money but good spec low miles are very desirable so rightly so cost more.
 
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If buying from a reputable dealer can tbem to tell you how many launches it has done.
I believe, from another thread on here, there is flag in the ECU that records launches. Any dealer should be able to read the ECU and tell you.

Could be an indication of ragging !!
 
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Marshy said:
For some reason RS3 prices on we buy any car are terrible!.
When I was looking for mine there was about £6k difference between we buy any car price and the price I paid.
They demand strong money second hand so you pay to play.
I think there will be some poor specked unloved cars for cheaper money but good spec low miles are very desirable so rightly so cost more.
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We buy any car prices are ridiculously low for Audi’s that have good spec and history. Sold an 18 month old high spec S3 in 2015 via dealer Audi approved for £31k WBAC quoted £21k
 
RGBARGEE said:
We buy any car prices are ridiculously low for Audi’s that have good spec and history. Sold an 18 month old high spec S3 in 2015 via dealer Audi approved for £31k WBAC quoted £21k
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I believe only deperate idiots sell their cars on WBAC .
 
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teslaboy said:
If buying from a reputable dealer can tbem to tell you how many launches it has done.
I believe, from another thread on here, there is flag in the ECU that records launches. Any dealer should be able to read the ECU and tell you.

Could be an indication of ragging !!
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Not always as I used to "prime" my LC and sit at the lights with the car buzzing away and then just moved off as normal without launching. I actually did very few proper launches indeed just a few at Rockingham for their eighth mile sprint.

TX.
 
terminator x said:
Not always as I used to "prime" my LC and sit at the lights with the car buzzing away and then just moved off as normal without launching. I actually did very few proper launches indeed just a few at Rockingham for their eighth mile sprint.

TX.
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So Tx are you saying your car was indeed 'ragged' but with very few launches !! ?
 
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teslaboy said:
So Tx are you saying your car was indeed 'ragged' but with very few launches !! ?
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Ha ha afaik buzzing the car stopped isn't straining the drivetrain ;) pampered car, a credit to the owner ;)

TX.

Sent from my BBB100-2 using Tapatalk
 
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Understanding who the previous owner was is more important than the number, IMO. still being in warranty would be a big plus for this, too, but with a 2015 car that is relatively unlikely (few people seem to buy the extended warranty).

I have had two pre-owned RS3s, both ex Audi-fleet and both have been completely fine and trouble-free. I do lots of motorway miles in my cars and typically sell them with 90k on the clock. My 8P was Audi-maintained, unmodified and sweet as a nut with 90k on the clock. My current car now had 36k on the clock and again is doing great.
 
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I had a 2008 TTS that had done 100k miles. Was well maintained and like new to drive.
 
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I would rather buy a well looked after higher mileage than one that has sat still, engines are designed to be used and run not sat still doing nothing. If any engine is warm then it can't be ragged per se, they are meant to rev out and should be able to sit at high revs for their lifetime.
I live in Europe and unlike the UK my local Audi dealer is more than happy to retail used Audi's with >90k miles.

I did 100k miles each on two 800cc mbikes with limited maintenance averaging 25k miles a year, every day rev'd to 12k and ridden quickly, both still going strong when sold. Modern engines are tough as, regular oil + filter and it should do you well.

Mileage is just an indicator, lots of cold starts moving around a driveway or nicely warmed up to operating temp doing higher miles?
Enthusiastic owner with higher mileage or somebody who doesn't give a rats but driven locally?

45k miles imo isn't close to high, just nicely loosened up.
 
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45k is high mileage?

my 01/2016 with 122.000km/76.000mi has done highway mileage.

Want to keep it till 2021.

we will se how many miles will it reach and if everything goes ok.
 
I am currently on 23k miles after one year - I fully expect to be on late 40s by this time next year. Right now I don’t plan on selling my car but doing a PX with a dealer when maybe the next RS3 is available. My PCP is on 14k so over 4 years I am not meant to be over 56k miles so it may make sense to PX it when I get to around that point but it will probably be 2.5 years at my mileage rate right now instead of 4.

(My car is currently having the sunroof replaced under warranty because it rattled. It is almost 4 weeks since I had it and probably at least another week before I get it back. I am in a Q2 right now :( )
 
Spinstorm said:
I am currently on 23k miles after one year - I fully expect to be on late 40s by this time next year. Right now I don’t plan on selling my car but doing a PX with a dealer when maybe the next RS3 is available. My PCP is on 14k so over 4 years I am not meant to be over 56k miles so it may make sense to PX it when I get to around that point but it will probably be 2.5 years at my mileage rate right now instead of 4.

(My car is currently having the sunroof replaced under warranty because it rattled. It is almost 4 weeks since I had it and probably at least another week before I get it back. I am in a Q2 right now :( )
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Wow that’s quite a few miles, I was worried mine was bad at 14 months doing 15k.

I do worry what the residual will be for a 100k+ RS3, but surely these cars will be a long way off ever being sub £15k? Look at the old B7 RS4’s and the cheapest of the are £15k, £25k for a proper mint one low mileage for a 10+ year old RS.

Hopefully the Q2 will help remind you what you’ve got.

I’m battling with Audi on the tyres and at a total loss, been told I can go to the motor ombudsman but not sure how to handle that or what they can even do. Audi CS really is a shower of excrement. Argghhh how annoying it is they make such good cars, around the niggles of course
 
Spinstorm said:
I am currently on 23k miles after one year - I fully expect to be on late 40s by this time next year. Right now I don’t plan on selling my car but doing a PX with a dealer when maybe the next RS3 is available. My PCP is on 14k so over 4 years I am not meant to be over 56k miles so it may make sense to PX it when I get to around that point but it will probably be 2.5 years at my mileage rate right now instead of 4.

(My car is currently having the sunroof replaced under warranty because it rattled. It is almost 4 weeks since I had it and probably at least another week before I get it back. I am in a Q2 right now :( )
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I’m sure you know but on the mileage rate it’s calculated per annum not total, so in theory they could charge you if you hit your total before 4 years, unlikely pX’ing but they could.
 
AudiNutta said:
Wow that’s quite a few miles, I was worried mine was bad at 14 months doing 15k.

I do worry what the residual will be for a 100k+ RS3, but surely these cars will be a long way off ever being sub £15k? Look at the old B7 RS4’s and the cheapest of the are £15k, £25k for a proper mint one low mileage for a 10+ year old RS.

Hopefully the Q2 will help remind you what you’ve got.

I’m battling with Audi on the tyres and at a total loss, been told I can go to the motor ombudsman but not sure how to handle that or what they can even do. Audi CS really is a shower of excrement. Argghhh how annoying it is they make such good cars, around the niggles of course
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Re the tyres, did no one like what car come back to you?
 
TYb said:
I’m sure you know but on the mileage rate it’s calculated per annum not total, so in theory they could charge you if you hit your total before 4 years, unlikely pX’ing but they could.
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Yes they will charge you, the deal is 4 years not 56k miles. So if you need to px early you will only get a px value, and if that is less than the current value then you will have to pay the difference. You may be able to VT it if you’ve paid over half though .
 
deanshaw24 said:
Yes they will charge you, the deal is 4 years not 56k miles. So if you need to px early you will only get a px value, and if that is less than the current value then you will have to pay the difference. You may be able to VT it if you’ve paid over half though .
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I only would getting charged the difference per mile IF I returned the car to Audi finance after 4 years. But I won’t. They don’t know my yearly mileage if I did return it - they would only know the total mileage.

Your right in saying that I may end up paying the difference in the car value and the PX price at the dealer but I accept that. Just like I paid £18k to PX my S3 to RS3.

The dealer would settle the outstanding finance on the car and own the car and then I would pay the difference between that and the PX value. I hope that the car will keep its value well so the mileage won’t be a massive influence on the next cars value but that is years away...
 
In the uk were obsessed with “high mileage”

100k is high, if it’s been serviced correctly and looked after I really can’t see the issue with 40k plus miles.
 
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AshRS3sportback said:
In the uk were obsessed with “high mileage”

100k is high, if it’s been serviced correctly and looked after I really can’t see the issue with 40k plus miles.
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A car between 70k and 90k is when they need work, get a car over 100k and all the major stuff has been done and onto a reliable car again. We’ve had loads of experience proving thats correct.

Mileage is somewhat irrelevant if the car is maintained properly, I’d buy a car with 80k and extensive history as opposed to a car with 40k and no history.
 
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D0C said:
Re the tyres, did no one like what car come back to you?
Click to expand...

What Car never replied.

DVSA replied said as it’s an issue that could be detected in normal checks (tyres) it is not a safety issue, what a lot of rubbish. Yes correct we should all complete checks on our car before every use but reality needs to be realised and considered. It sounded more like an excuse that Audi would use rather than an impartial party that cares about our safety.
 
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