consumer alert on a very needy A8 someone tried to sell me today...

[Ritz]

Wasted a couple hours of my time today looking at this:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=309953217&dealer_id=1359953&atc_id=AT-127982C1

Looked too good to be true (red flag) and it was. The car had clearly been hit in the front, the front alignment was out, the center grill was hanging on by one fastener, the trunk would only open using the physical button (on the trunk lid). I was discouraged from connecting my VAG and it quickly recorded errors from a number of key modules (ABS/airbag/HVAC/Radio). I didn't even allow the VAG to finish the scan and packed up my laptop. The paint was also in pretty rough shape and it needed tires/brakes. That's about as far as I got in 10 minutes and decided to hand the keys back to a flustered sales critter without test driving it.

When I called, I was told it was "in great shape". LOL The search goes on.

Best,

p.s. As I was pulling in to the lot, an obviously miffed group of guys was leaving and shouted "don't buy a car from these guys." :)

[woofster]

Thanks for that public service announcement. I've seen that ad as well and my initial thought was "not bad" as the car seemed to be in decent condition from the photos. This is just another example of how photos can be deceptive and that you really can't tell until you see it in person.

[FlyTyinFool]

And really good on ya for taking a VCDS. I certainly didn't have one when I was searching. I was able to locate someone local to the car ( I had to take a flight to go look it over) I finally purchased. I would have paid a dealer to scan it for me (not purchased from an Audi dealer), but in this case it only cost me lunch. I have, since, provided the same service for several folks that needed it. The price has always been the same - lunch.

Another note... Since you mention that you scanned the car, I take this as a verifiable report. It's really easy to just cast aspersions, the Internet is full of that crap. Way to look out for yourself, AND others.

[M|R]

Wish I could have stopped you sooner...

STAY AWAY FROM A BETTER WAY AUTOS IN NAUGATUCK, CT AT ALL COSTS ** EVERYBODY!!! I along with a friend of mine have experienced the dealership and the [rather shitty] salesmen they have. They are unprofessional and shady to say the least.

This past summer I was looking at B6/B7 S4's. I saw A Better Way (ABW) had an 05 with 40 something thousand on the clock that looked great in the pictures - for a decent price. Given that the dealer is about 20 minutes from me, I took a spin down there. I went directly to their "Inventory Lot" instead of their office (up the street a ways). The lot consisted of rows of cars, unlocked 24/7, in a gravel lot adjacent to an office building - red flag #1. I drove through for a little bit and finally found the S4 I was looking at amongst at least a dozen cars with peeling faded paint and excessive body damage. Sitting right next to it was an identical B6 S4 with almost 100k that was beat to shit - and I mean it. The bumper had multiple cracks and pieces missing, the windshield was cracked, the grille was held on by red zipties lol...the list goes on - red flag #2. A salesmen finally came out and I told him I was interested in the other S4 and he got plates and let me take it for a test drive. The car had a crack in the window and a few dents here and there - but he kept telling me as soon as I put a deposit down on the car, they would be fixed. He told me the cars that were on the lot had damage because they are auction cars and they dont have the time to fix them because they flip them too quick - red flag #3. I didnt take his word for that and a quick Google search later deemed this statement epic bullshit, as nothing gets fixed once they have your money - they tell you to come back later and procrastinate the whole ordeal. Although the car drove fine, I was in no way about to give even one penny of mind to ABW - needless to say I ran away from that dealer.

My friend went to go look at an S4 from this dealer a while before I did and they played out the car as being in great condition. He got there and the car was far from it. If I recall correctly, the car shook at highway speeds and needed a whole list of things maintenance wise. Before he took it for a test drive he asked for the CarFax and they pretended to not hear his question just like the commercials lol. He got home and pulled a CarFax on it and it had a slew of accidents, damages, and repairs. He ran from that dealer too.

This dealer has become an actual joke amongst my friends and I. Whenever we see advertisements for the dealer itself we find it funny. Oh, not to mention, while I was at the DMV getting my S4 registered the advertisement screen inside the DMV had an ad for "An honest and customer loyal dealership" - it was for A Better Way Autos.

I said it once and I'll say it again, everyone stay away from A Better Way Autos in Naugatuck, CT.

Sorry you had to endure that OP...

[ctjibber]

i am that "friend"....please avoid at all costs all the salesman did was request i drive him to the "inventory lot" in my own car... while on that short trip all the guy talked about was hunting bobcat in the backwoods of waterbury ct...now i am from ct and there are no woods in waterbury... Besides that all the cars in the lot gave me a good laugh, if u want u can hed down and see for yourself but i suggest you dont

[Ritz]

Well, I'm glad I brought the VAGcom along. Not that it would have mattered much in this case due to all the physical damage that was easy to spot. The car had obviously been flogged pretty hard. The sales girl seemed rather indifferent and said something along the lines of "we flip most of our stock within 30 days." They had "reduced" the price on the A8 above because it had been there for more than 30 days. You'd think smarmy places like this wouldn't be able to stay in business. *shrug*

The only upshot was that I was able to stop in Redding on the way back and grab a steak at the Redding Road House. :)

Best,