New guy, looking for a newer used car

[emrliquidlife]

So, I'm looking to buy a vehicle sometime in the summer. I have been a Mercedes guy since 02. I like to buy my cars and drive the hell out them. Get everything I can out of it mileage wise and then dump it. My current 2002, C230 Sport Coupe has 160k miles. I did some cosmetic upgrades, a Kleeman pulley, bi-xenons, a ported supercharger and the AMG C32 brake upgrade. Mostly, I'm into the performance and safety enhacements.

The 2.0 Turbo engine looks to have great tuneability. Something that the Mercedes W203 series really didn't have. But does the tuning and injector upgrades serve to shorten the life of the engines? Are there tuned 1.8 guys with high miles that are still using the origional rings and bearings?

I'm in SoCal, specifically the South Bay area. Is there a known preferred dealer with honest service advisors, and good techs? While I'm mostly a DIY guy, if the car comes with a warranty, why not let the dealer do the work.

As I look into the B7 chassis, what are the know issues to look out for in the manual cars? Any enthusiast blogs, or websites that I can be referred to?

I think I'm dialing in on the 06, maybe the 07 models. I'm hoping for one of those, "driven by a grandmother" cars and not someones modded out car.
Thanks much,

Ed

[madrussian]

Buy mine...

08 Audi A4 2.0T
Under 8k on it.
Black on Black S-Line
Titanium Package
Factory Nav
Bi-Xenons
Cold Weather
Pretty Much every Option

Only mods:

Debadged
Tein SS Coils
Hardwired V1 (Which I'll Remove or leave if you want to pay extra for it)

Driven like a grandma or close to it because well, I cant afford insurance w/o tickets, much less w/ them.

Too bad I'm in Ohio :(

[tneary]

Aren't all used cars driven by a grandmother, or a pastor?

[emrliquidlife]

I was looking for the 06 or 07, so that someone else would have taken the depreciation hit of the first two years.

The above car does sound nice.

E

[B7A4Sport]

You are on the EXACT right track, imho. I just picked up a premium-package '06 2.0T Quattro w/ Tip and some other toys for $26.5k with only 20k miles on it. It's Certified Pre-Owned with some pre-paid mainenance, and I'm currently makin payments of a little less than $300/mo including putting some extras from the dealer on the financing.

One thing I'd highly recommend is asking the dealer if they will put in the 3M ClearBra (can also be called ClearShield) on both the car and your financing plan if you're buying.

My ride still has the factory warranty till 50k, plus it has the 6 yr./100k extended, and I'd never take back this decision.

Best of luck!

[emrliquidlife]

You are on the EXACT right track, imho. I just picked up a premium-package '06 2.0T Quattro w/ Tip and some other toys for $26.5k with only 20k miles on it. It's Certified Pre-Owned with some pre-paid mainenance, and I'm currently makin payments of a little less than $300/mo including putting some extras from the dealer on the financing.

One thing I'd highly recommend is asking the dealer if they will put in the 3M ClearBra (can also be called ClearShield) on both the car and your financing plan if you're buying.

My ride still has the factory warranty till 50k, plus it has the 6 yr./100k extended, and I'd never take back this decision.

Best of luck!

Yep, sounds about right. Love the idea of the warranty.
Still looking around this board for the tech write ups. We have the C230 Sport Coupe with the M111 covered with tech on the mbworld.org board.

I was hoping to see the car at about 22-23k.

Do you know what yours went for new?

I suppose in two years you could see up to a 35% depreciation drop?

[Blake P]

Great to see you here Ed! 4 rings FTW.

[greene08]

You can find a relatively low mileage 2005.5 or 2006 model in that price range if you strip most of the extra options off of it. Just keep looking!

[B7A4Sport]

I was hoping to see the car at about 22-23k.

Do you know what yours went for new?

The official sticker price on the car was $30,---, and the asking price was a good 3 grand below at $27,---, but then I was able negotiate a little more off because I pulled the B8 card . I also got a special promotional finance rate that was only offered on 2006 Certified Pre-Owned A4s ONLY; any other year, model, or even 2006 A4's that weren't CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) didn't get that rate. How about that for a luck-out? (unless that's the dealer tricking me, )

The first thing to remember, is that the salesman is inevitably gonna try and feed you lines of bullshit to "get you in this car today." Guess what that means? You get the free pass to BS right back. Play hardball, tell him you've got your eye on a few cars and they'll have to be the one's getting YOU instead of you buying the car from them.

More than the depreciation, I would harp on the fact you're buying a model that's about to be out-dated. Personally, I like the B7 better anyway, but the dealer doesn't have to know that. If they give you too high a price, just tell them you have other things on the table and that "you can't conceive of overpaying for a soon-to-be old model." Worked like charm for me.

EDIT: Also, I belive 2006's come with pre-paid maintenance that transfers to other owners, whereas other years do not. Surf's got a great deal, unless you're looking for a Quattro; all CVT's are FWD. (sorry to cramp your post, Surf! That IS a great deal tho, including the mods.)

Again, best of luck!

[surfsidedetail]

Buy mine in perfect condition no swirl marks either ;)

07 Quartz Grey
Premium Package
CVT Tranny
18" OEM BBS CH S4 Wheels
S4 Door Blades
DTM Filler Plate
GIAC Chip

13K miles

$26K

[emrliquidlife]

Great to see you here Ed! 4 rings FTW.

So did you like that special Sig we had done up for you?

Didn't know I'd see you out here.

ONLY downside I see as I troll for Audis is that the car is FWD. I'm comparing this to the last E46 BMW. But the bimmer just isn't as sexy as having a turbo.

We'll see.

E

[d. wig]

Buy mine...

08 Audi A4 2.0T
Under 8k on it.
Black on Black S-Line
Titanium Package
Factory Nav
Bi-Xenons
Cold Weather
Pretty Much every Option

Only mods:

Debadged
Tein SS Coils
Hardwired V1 (Which I'll Remove or leave if you want to pay extra for it)

Driven like a grandma or close to it because well, I cant afford insurance w/o tickets, much less w/ them.

Too bad I'm in Ohio :(

why are you selling?

[Blake P]

ONLY downside I see as I troll for Audis is that the car is FWD.
E

No FWD for me. Quattro FTW!

[madrussian]

why are you selling?

i dunno, im bored.

im not sure how serious i am. but i wouldnt mind getting a rabbit s instead... and then buying a cross bones harley.