Sadly it looks like I need to sell the Superb, but at the sametime I need the replacement car to be of simillar size only much cheaper and reasonably reliable.

Budget will only be about 3K for now, so looking at older A4's and A6's (around 2001 to 2003ish). Dont want a Golf or Passat, or anything Seat and having already had an Octavia for more of the last decade than I can recall, it needs to be something different. so has to be Audi to stay in the VAG group.

Economy and mileage on the replacement are of no concern really, what is of primary importance is cost to change, so what should I buy within Budget.

B5 A4 would be good, not as big as you'd think though.

A4 Avant TDI (or not TDI) would be the place I'd be looking to be honest if you need to shift a bit of kit around.

I have a 53 Plate Audi A4 2.0 FSI SE (B6) - Done 102,000 miles now - Full Audi Service History etc :

So far -

NOx sensor has gone £650.00 and it had a fuel issue after the Carbon Filter fell apart after it wasn't replaced on the 90,000 mile service. However, it does run well and people always think it's worth alot more than it is. Let me know if you have any questions and I will try my best to answer them for you.

I would suggest you go for either the TDI as suggested above or the 1.8T / 2.0 TFSI as the FSI's are prone to 'issues'.

I popped into my local garage to book a service on my Superb as its due, and outside on the forecourt they had an 2001 Y reg A8, as i know the owner quiet well I borrowed the keys and went for a drive. Despite its size the A8 felt lovely to drive and would certainly be a mileage cruncher, Road tax is based on the old system which is just as well, as this particular one had the 3.7 Litre V8 engine mated to an automatic gearbox. Given the price he wants for it as a trade sale to me, its now in the running depending on how much a cambelt change would be as its currently due.

So, thoughts please.

Audi A8, 3.7 V8 Auto petrol with all the toys including satnav, electric blinds, sunroof etc. Everything currently in full working order.

Quattro 4 wheel drive.

Mileage: Currently on 173,000 odd but it drives perfectly, having done quiet a few miles in it today.

Car has had 2 owners from new, 1st as an Audi demonstrator hence all the kit, then the same owner since.

Current tax runs out in October 2012, reason is the owner bought it for himself but prefers his 3.0 Jag which he has had for 2 years.

MPG on the computer was averaging 23MPG since it was reset, so not terrible.

Great car, but parts are stupidly expensive if this go wrong, bodywork being aluminium can be expensive to repair.

Big issue was ECU box under scuttle panel used to fill up with water, £1000's to sort that out.

Depends how cheap it is to buy!

The price he wants for it kind of makes it almost disposable to the point that if something went wrong you would just weigh it in for scrap.

its the newer version as well so has the updated interior with better seats and fully electronic dash with a maxidot type display and comes with a folder full of history going right back to day one.

Sounds good,

Time to take a brave pill?

I may well have a chat with the owner of the garage and see whats what. He will take my Superb off me, but in his words he will need to get a price to buy it from a Skoda main dealer as he does not want to retail it himself so will in effect be passing it straight to a main agent as its to new, plus paying out what would be a large chunk of cash in my favour is not really his thing. However when we spoke today he did not see that as an issue as mine is diesel and quiet desirable. As they are an small ex Skoda dealer I have no problem with this, and our family have bought quiet a few cars from their over the years, indeed my first vRS came from this garage brand new.

They are servicing the Superb before I head back to Dorset next week, only thing they cant do is the DSG oil change although I know I can get that done in Dorset for a reasonable price.

This is the car by the way, found the ebay classified ad.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120829894196?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_1196wt_1219

Looks stunning! If you're not bothered about fuel costs, I'd go for it.

A luxo barge supreme :yes: But fuel costs will be ruinous if you're pootling about :(

Why are you selling the Superb?

Looks a good car, just a word of warning though it'll be on the new tax bands I think as they started on the 1st March 2001? Maybe worth just checking, just incase you get hit with something daft like £400 per year tax.

Road tax is bank K, currently £260 PA.

Road tax is bank K, currently £260 PA.

That's not too bad at all! I thought it would be higher, in that case I would buy it, you can't beat a V8

That's ace. I'd imagine if anything goes badly wrong you'd make money breaking it...

Do it! Do it now!

I'm a little upset that there is no picture showing the engine bay .

I have seen the engine bay, the engine is very large and has a large plastic cover on.

The A8 you're considering is exactly the same model as my last car in the UK. It's even the same colour. It was the last of half a dozen luxo-barges that I deliberately bought trade and without warranty with high mileages and very low prices over a period of about 2 years of self employment after being employed by VAG. Touch wood,I managed to run them for a few months each and then sell them for a bit more than their cost. Good luck if you decide to go with this one.

Only thing I'd say is check the insurance as a lot of the lower cost companies won't quote for the Aluminium Audis due to the higher repair costs.

Edited 3 January, 201214 yr by cheezemonkhai

Looks like I am going for it. Garage have got me a reasonable price for the Superb subject to an inspection which they are doing tomorrow whilst its being serviced. The reason for inspection is because they are buying the car on behalf of another dealer, but it wont be an issue as I know the car is perfect.

I popped in this morning and spent nearly an hour wading through the folder full of bills and receipts for the Audi, the history is very comprehensive and the previous owner who has owned it for 10 years has split it all down into individual years. There are all MOTs, all Tax discs, and lots of invoices from Amersham Audi including one for £3.5K 18 months ago which appears to have involved replacing both head gaskets, and another 12 months before for 1K. Hopefully thats all the biggies taken care of for a while, except for a cambelt change which is coming up (£500 inc. tensioners from dorset specialist).

Did an online quote through confused.com for insurance and comes in at £330 Fully Comp for 12 months with protected NCB.

So how have your first few hours been, or have you not got it yet?

Nice. I love those, hope you get it and enjoy it as you're meant to!