Looked at an S for a friend, your thoughts...

[Klum00]

2000 S4 with 56,000 miles Nogaro w/Alcantara $13,500

Some iffy stuff on this car.

According to the guy selling it he traded his corrado for it a month ago and now doesn't want it as his project car.

• The car as the newer model badges on both front and rear. (first weird thing in my mind)
• It has the aluminum trim instead of wood on the interior.
• Interior drivers door latch is very loose
• No floor mats
• No jack or tools
• Looks like some lining missing around the tails inside the trunk
• Cup Holder is not working
• Cup holder and hazard plastic surround fell off when i touched it
• On headlight is out
• AC not working

All these can be pretty simple fixes, and I told my buddy I would be more than happy to work with him to get them fixed

Now the more major issues

• Accident in 2004 Undercariage damage and the Airbag deployed
• A year later there was an odometer issue. It went from 46666 in 205 to42508 in 7/05
• The car feels significantly slower than mine. I'm chipped and its not, but according to the seller the piggies are done and it has a milltek catback.

He is a VAG mechanic at a local shop and says that he just replaced the turbos, rotors and pads. Obviously I have no way to tell if the turbos were in fact replaced, even if he supplies me with reciepts it means nothing because it could have been a car they serviced.

Yeah the car is quite cheap for the miles,plus it comes with tien coilovers and 19" neuspeed wheels. It looks gorgeous from the outside but i'm worried about all the little things adding up. I would love to trust the guy on all the issues, but really i don't know him so I have to assume all the things he said he has replaced or repaired are in fact not replaced.

Also the title went in his name from someone in florida on June 24th. Who takes the time to replace the turbos and then sells the car two and a half weeks later, but doesn't replace the timing belt and associated parts? (he said he wasn't sure when the last time it was replaced)

Things just dont seem to add up, what do you guys think?

[B528QM]

If it seems like a scam it usually is... The turbos thing is probably the sketchiest thing about it. And if he is going to keep it forever then the carfax is no biggie... but if he plans on selling it in a year or two it will play a big part. Overall that price is not a steal, and a/c is iffy it could be simple or it could be involved. If he did the turbos then why in the world not make the A/C work?

[csre9]

is this car in Pasadena?

[Klum00]

yes, why do you know it?

[mholme]

That car sounds familiar..How long has it been for sale?

[Slow4]

2000 S4 with 56,000 miles Nogaro w/Alcantara
Now the more major issues

• Accident in 2004 Undercariage damage and the Airbag deployed
• A year later there was an odometer issue. It went from 46666 in 205 to42508 in 7/05
• The car feels significantly slower than mine. I'm chipped and its not, but according to the seller the piggies are done and it has a milltek catback.

Quick question

How do you damage the undercarriage in an accident?

Did it pop a curb? Did it go underneath another car? I'm no crash scene expert but to damage the undercarriage, you would have to do some serious damage to the car like have it fly off a 5ft drop.

All in all, I think the car was probably gutted for whatever mods it had, and replaced them with the OEM or old used parts (hence the "I replaced the turbos). Think about it:

* Lowered car
* Modified interior cabin
* Turbo replacement with no TB job done
* supposed piggies and milltek exhaust

[Klum00]

That car sounds familiar..How long has it been for sale?

Couldn't tell you. Again this is for a buddy of mine, he found it on craigslist and I check fairly regularly and haven't seen it...

[csre9]

yes, why do you know it?

I sent the link that I found on Craigslist today to my buddy 5 min before I read your post.
I had deja vu..

Sorrry..

I took him for a ride in my car last night and he is getting rid of his VW for an s4 lol..
I told him it was a super deal..

Why would the AC not work though?

[Klum00]

Quick question

How do you damage the undercarriage in an accident?

Did it pop a curb? Did it go underneath another car? I'm no crash scene expert but to damage the undercarriage, you would have to do some serious damage to the car like have it fly off a 5ft drop.

All in all, I think the car was probably gutted for whatever mods it had, and replaced them with the OEM or old used parts (hence the "I replaced the turbos). Think about it:

* Lowered car
* Modified interior cabin
* Turbo replacement with no TB job done
* supposed piggies and milltek exhaust

Yeah I was thinking hopped a curb too. Yeah I was fairly certain they didn't make the alcantara and aluminum trim in the 2000's. Could be wrong though. The Carfax shows a clean title though, so could have swapped out the vins maybe? Where else can I look for vin #s?

[Klum00]

Why would the AC not work though?

Out of freeon or the condenser could be fucked. That's why it's a big if.

Be sure you friend is very cautious with this car...

[Slow4]

Yeah I was thinking hopped a curb too. Yeah I was fairly certain they didn't make the alcantara and aluminum trim in the 2000's. Could be wrong though. The Carfax shows a clean title though, so could have swapped out the vins maybe? Where else can I look for vin #s?

DMV.

Just ask them for a list of owners and history records. Should run you something like $5.00.

I dont know how the DMV works in MD, but here in VA its fairly simple to rquest...

EDIT: In a previous post you said something about receipes. Ask if he has maintenance records for the car. Personally, I keep the receipts and records for everything I have done to the car.

[csre9]

Out of freeon or the condenser could be fucked. That's why it's a big if.

Be sure you friend is very cautious with this car...

I already told him to forget it..
99% of shady things like that don't turn out well.

[mholme]

Couldn't tell you. Again this is for a buddy of mine, he found it on craigslist and I check fairly regularly and haven't seen it...

That's where I think I saw it a few months ago..Craigslist..

[Klum00]

yeah the more i've thought about this the sketchier it is. no way he is buying this thing.

[Klum00]

DMV.

Just ask them for a list of owners and history records. Should run you something like $5.00.

I dont know how the DMV works in MD, but here in VA its fairly simple to rquest...

EDIT: In a previous post you said something about receipes. Ask if he has maintenance records for the car. Personally, I keep the receipts and records for everything I have done to the car.

I carfaxed it before even looking at it, thats how i know about the accident and odometer issue.

I'm sure he'll say it didnt come with any records, and i have no way of knowing if his records are real being that he works at an audi/vw shop. I might actually go there with a few jacks and tell him i want a few hours with it to check it out...