Just an update,
TL/DR: I got the car but was a bit of a roller coaster for me, maybe even the wrong choice.
The story goes:
I travel down from Scotland to Birmingham to see it and potentially buy it (backed myself into a corner there I know). I arrive, the dealer stands me up for an hour at the airport (not gonna complain cause he's giving me a lift to his place). We arrive it rains heavily, I'm having a look around notice a few stone chips and that the tires are basically bold (asked on the phone and he said they had 3-4mm left). Have a quick drive immediately notice it is louder than it should be, I ask he says its got an aftermarket exhaust but doesn't know what it is (It has a resonator delete but an original exhaust), how he failed to say this when I enquired about the car is beyond me. Car drives well, and it's not remapped, we go back I have a look at the mileage it sits at 35k it was advertised at 29k ???? I try huggling £500 down for tires and mileage I get £250. We go in sign the paperwork pay the money ask for the second key: "Sorry mate comes with only one". Did I mention the logbook hadn't come in from the trade yet so I had to file in a V62 at the post office to even think about driving it away? The cherry on top? 4 out of 6 washer jets at the front are not working.
Definitely not a nice experience of buying a car that you have worked hard to get. Would not recommend this dealer to anyone!
Moral of the story:
-Don't trust a dealer when it says that the car is very clean and in good condition.
-Do better homework especially on non-big chain dealers.
-Don't back yourself into a corner.
-These days you need to specifically ask for every single element individually or you just don't get any indication.
-Will I buy again from a small dealer? most definitely not.
-Should I have walked away? Probably, (the price was really good for a facelift and the car had the speck I wanted)
-Will I regret it? Will keep you posted on that.
I sincerely hope this does not turn into a full-on nightmare.
My actions:
- Get it into Audi asap for recoding the key and ordering another one.
- GAP insurance.
-HPI check with vin and logbook details.
-Get the car checked overall by a specialist to see if there are more issues hidden around.
As i'm writing this I'm thinking I should have walked away.
Any advice or criticism for my choice is welcome.
I wouldn't knock all small independent dealers. There are rogues, just like in all trades.
Your situation (to me) sound like a classic case of you've committed to putting down a deposit, and travelled a long way to buy it. I dare bet you felt pressured to completing the deal, rather than demanding your deposit back.
The Red flags for me would have been, the bald tyres. None standard exhaust (or res delete), more miles than advertised, only one key, and most importantly no logbook. I would bet that if it was a local dealer to yourself and you'd popped down to have a look, you'd have walked away.
I think we, as Brits, are too polite to say `No` or ask for our deposit back.
There are a few area's of the UK I'd not buy a car from (due to reputations) and that's Birmingham and Bradford.
Get the car to Audi straight ways and ask for a health check on it. If they raise some concerns, then you'll have something in writing to demand your money back. As said above, you have 14 days to ask for your money back if not entirely happy.
Hopefully though, Audi will give it a good bill of health. A spare key can be bought. New tyres can be fitted, and water jets fixed or replaced and the logbook will arrive shortly.
What was the name of the dealer? So we can take a look at his website and see the other cars he has advertised for sale.
Good luck, and let us know what Audi say.
