Buying a B8 Soon Need Advice

**RacerX951** · 12-01-2015 08:26 PM

Hi!

I am not new to the German car scene (Porsche guy) but I will be buying an Audi A4 2.0T soon after a long hiatus (first car was a 1990 Model 80). I am looking at some CPO cars at the dealers near me and most of them are loaner pool cars they are cycling out. The one I am looking at in particular is a 2015 P+ w/ tech package. I have driven it twice now and it is awesome. It has all the features I want and only has 9055 miles. Now the part for the advice - it is a ex-loaner car. Should I be wary of those? I realize they are Audis and thus the level of care given to the car by the customer whose car is in for service would/should be higher. But I am still nervous.

Thoughts? The mechanics from indy shops are on both sides of the fence. But it is a CPO...I just don't want a lemon. I do realize I run that same risk with a lease return car though.

Thanks

**kdaffy** · 12-01-2015 08:35 PM

I would have a trusted Indy shop do a thorough PPI before buying. But you will have the CPO warranty which should provide some peace of mind.

**b6Hate4** · 12-01-2015 08:35 PM

I don't think I could get past the weary feeling of a loaner car.

People do not treat those very nice.

**br0wn** · 12-01-2015 09:18 PM

i always think about how i driver rentals/loaners.
that is the reason i would never purchase one.

**Smellie** · 12-01-2015 09:20 PM

Yeah..

Loaners + Dudes = Beat

**RacerX951** · 12-01-2015 09:27 PM

Ack..I was afraid of that...The search continues...

Thanks for the prompt responses!

**Twichel04** · 12-01-2015 09:32 PM

Get a Quattro, get a CPO for sure (extended warranty), find one with complete service records. If you're looking at earlier b8's find one that has already had the oil consumption issue taken care of!

**Nightkiller6** · 12-01-2015 09:39 PM

Make sure it is Quattro. The CVT is a horrible transmission imo and feels real sluggish.

**Smellie** · 12-01-2015 09:42 PM

If I were to do it again

I'd get sport package for sure. Way too worth it for 750$

**19birel** · 12-01-2015 11:47 PM

My dad's B8 was an ex loaner with about 8k miles, and it seemed like a great way to buy a car. He got it in early 2013 and has had no major issues, and he got a killer deal with a CPO warranty which is always nice. There will be people who get loaners and drive them a little hard(I may or may not be guilty of that), but given the demographic that takes their newer Audi to the dealership for service I doubt you'll get a car that lived a terribly hard life.

**Smellie** · 12-01-2015 11:54 PM

^ That is also true.

Just try to imagine how many newer modded audi's there are versus stock on the road

I'd probably give the Audi demographic a 90% non-mod / 10% mod community.

**Project Quattro** · 12-02-2015 05:23 AM

Originally Posted by 19birel

My dad's B8 was an ex loaner with about 8k miles, and it seemed like a great way to buy a car. He got it in early 2013 and has had no major issues, and he got a killer deal with a CPO warranty which is always nice. There will be people who get loaners and drive them a little hard(I may or may not be guilty of that), but given the demographic that takes their newer Audi to the dealership for service I doubt you'll get a car that lived a terribly hard life.

Idk man I had a 2016 A3 loaner with like 5k miles on it last week and as soon as I started it up I just felt bad for the car. Felt way more tired and rough than my A4 with 37k on the odometer.

To the OP, definitely go Prem+ and Quattro. Tech package is also good, and I'd second the above comments recommending the sports package. The seats alone are worth it, and the slightly lower suspension handles better and makes a world of difference cosmetically.

Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk

**treginginco** · 12-02-2015 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by 19birel

My dad's B8 was an ex loaner with about 8k miles, and it seemed like a great way to buy a car. He got it in early 2013 and has had no major issues, and he got a killer deal with a CPO warranty which is always nice. There will be people who get loaners and drive them a little hard(I may or may not be guilty of that), but given the demographic that takes their newer Audi to the dealership for service I doubt you'll get a car that lived a terribly hard life.

What he said. Are all of you 17?

I would never do this for a Ford, Chevy etc.

I have friends who have purchased CPO'd Audis, BMW's and MB's that once lived as loaner cars and everyone one of them have been fantastic, trouble free vehicles that were snagged for amazing deals.

I do think the huge majority of people have a little fun checking out a loaner that is different from a daily driver, but come on folks, these cars aren't little pansy cars.

**JeriQo** · 12-02-2015 08:45 AM

yes loaners are driven hard by some...

but that doesnt mean it does every single time it gets out.

cars are meant to be driven hard anyway -- once in a while.

if you get a great deal from a loaner car, i say go for it. how much is it anyway?

**blbroo** · 12-02-2015 08:52 AM

What do you guys mean by driving a loaner hard? If you are not out doing stunts or trying to intentionally hurt the car, pushing it hard isn't going to damage it. The car has too many built in protections to let that happen.

I push my car hard and it runs like a champ, with more than a few upgrades and 95,000 miles. I wouldn't worry about a loaner, especially if it was CPO. Most people who get them just doe their standard brainless driving around with no hooning or sweet jumps.

**JeriQo** · 12-02-2015 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by blbroo

What do you guys mean by driving a loaner hard? If you are not out doing stunts or trying to intentionally hurt the car, pushing it hard isn't going to damage it. The car has too many built in protections to let that happen.

I push my car hard and it runs like a champ, with more than a few upgrades and 95,000 miles. I wouldn't worry about a loaner, especially if it was CPO. Most people who get them just doe their standard brainless driving around with no hooning or sweet jumps.

redlining... launching..

i mean i do those with my car once in a while.. itd be a shame if i dont.

when i get loaners, i drive them like i would my car. nothing different.

**blbroo** · 12-02-2015 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by JeriQo

redlining... launching..

i mean i do those with my car once in a while.. itd be a shame if i dont.

when i get loaners, i drive them like i would my car. nothing different.

Bah. Just helps clean out some carbon build up. Guys here are doing that with Stage 2 E85 cars often and running strong. A couple of days of launches in a stock A4 won't be noticeable. Most cars get test driven and people will want to punch it to see how hard they take off.

At stock, you are accelerating around the same pace as an Altima or Camry. I think the car will be fine.

**JeriQo** · 12-02-2015 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by blbroo

Bah. Just helps clean out some carbon build up. Guys here are doing that with Stage 2 E85 cars often and running strong. A couple of days of launches in a stock A4 won't be noticeable. Most cars get test driven and people will want to punch it to see how hard they take off.

At stock, you are accelerating around the same pace as an Altima or Camry. I think the car will be fine.

exactly, thats why i do it! so for OP, you shouldnt worry about getting that loaner.

**Lambda13** · 12-02-2015 09:15 AM

I'm not nice to loaner/rental cars.

**COLD13** · 12-02-2015 09:32 AM

I wouldn't worry about it being a loaner, 9,000 miles on a 2015 CPO'd. Unless you drive 50,000 miles a year you still have a 5 year warranty there. Good luck.

**b6onboost** · 12-02-2015 10:22 AM

If its CPO and appears to be in good condition, don't worry about it being a loaner.

Just because its been driven by a lot of people doesn't mean its been abused. I'm sure a hand full of people went full throttle, took some on-ramps fast, maybe launched it...so what? Its just being driven spiritedly on the street. Most enthusiast on this site pretty much do that on the reg.

Most of the excessive wear on loaners is skin deep. Its bumper nicks, door dings, curbed wheels, interior scuffs, coffee spills...that sort of stuff.

**RacerX951** · 12-02-2015 10:23 AM

Thanks for the advice/thoughts. Interesting thoughts regarding the sport package... at first I thought I wanted it for sure. Then I decided it wasn't a "must-have", I am going to test drive one with the sport package later this week and that will make the decision I suppose.

Originally Posted by COLD13

I wouldn't worry about it being a loaner, 9,000 miles on a 2015 CPO'd. Unless you drive 50,000 miles a year you still have a 5 year warranty there. Good luck.

I average right around 20k per year for mileage...Do you think that changes anything?

**COLD13** · 12-02-2015 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by RacerX951

Thanks for the advice/thoughts. Interesting thoughts regarding the sport package... at first I thought I wanted it for sure. Then I decided it wasn't a "must-have", I am going to test drive one with the sport package later this week and that will make the decision I suppose.

I average right around 20k per year for mileage...Do you think that changes anything?

just saying that a CPO car warranty is 6 years or 100,000 miles, this is the original warranty combined with the CPO warranty. So the car you are talking about has about 5 years or 91,000 miles until the warranty expires, what ever comes first. This is how Audi explained it to me anyway

**JBAeroEngineer** · 12-02-2015 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by COLD13

just saying that a CPO car warranty is 6 years or 100,000 miles, this is the original warranty combined with the CPO warranty. So the car you are talking about has about 5 years or 91,000 miles until the warranty expires, what ever comes first. This is how Audi explained it to me anyway

CPO adds 2 years/100k after factory expires (some things like sound system speakers, etc. aren't covered though)
so for a 2015 (first delivered) you're looking at a warranty ending in 2021 or 100k miles

**doowopaudi** · 12-02-2015 11:12 AM

I wouldn't be too concerned with the car being a loaner vehicle if it was CPO'd. You're covered for a good amount of time, so you should be good with that car.

**SleeperCar** · 12-02-2015 12:21 PM

OP, have you considered the following question?

do you ever wonder why loaner cars go for extreme deals?......sit on that question for a while.....

other than that, id say if the deal is right, and you get more features than you normally could afford, go for it. Its CPO so there is minimal risk.....just because others here dont respect all audis doesnt mean its not worth it.

**JBAeroEngineer** · 12-02-2015 01:58 PM

I bought my 2010 that was a loaner, CPO, in 2010 with 6k miles. didn't get much of a deal, price wise. Though at the time, the B8 A4 was the hottest entry level car.

only issue that was concerning was bubbling paint on the driver's side rear quarter panel. It creeped up about 2-3 months after purchase; dealer must've done a rushed repair. Had to fight with AoA for the dealer to cover it. After that though...pristine.

**RacerX951** · 12-02-2015 03:37 PM

Thanks everyone - I am aware/familiar with how the extended warranty works. In response to the question about - why they are flipping them so soon - they flip them every year because they want you in a brand new model car while your "old" car is getting fixed you are tempted by the fancy new one. Not to mention the B9 will be coming soon.

**RacerX951** · 12-02-2015 03:38 PM

Oh and the ones I have seen are not extreme deals. A good fair price but not a steal.

**JeriQo** · 12-02-2015 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by RacerX951

Oh and the ones I have seen are not extreme deals. A good fair price but not a steal.

how much?

**RacerX951** · 12-02-2015 06:09 PM

2015 A4 P+, Tech, Sport, B&O, Quattro, 8-spd Auto, S-line - 7,500 miles - $38,900 - is currently one of the sales guys cars
2016 A4 P+, Tech, Quattro, 8-spd Auto S-Line 3,700 miles - $38,900 - basically new - prev. owner had to get into a cheaper car