Ticking Time Bomb? 2012 S4 6MT with 85K miles - $28K asking?

[amusante]

So this car is very local to me at a very nice Pre-owned Audi/VW dealer so it makes life a bit easier if I wanted to take a look/negotiate. The mileage is really high, as well as the price for the mileage, but looks like it has the sports diff and drive select. I can't see what maintenance was done on it, but I would imagine going from a B5 S4 with 151K to this would be a dumb move.

Any thoughts?

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...36811455&Log=0

[mr shickadance]

what does the carfax say? if it was registered in CT you can call all 6 dealerships and get the history from it.

In general these cars are very reliable, compared to the b5 s4, insanely reliable.

it's pricey for sure, not unreasonable, but do your research, bring it to speedsporttuning anf have them do an inspection, for $200 its a small price to pay to get an idea of the health of the car.

[Milhauser]

I picked up my 2013 6MT premium plus with 60k for $30k in June. I'm thinking your deal is decent for a prestige. But do you really need prestige? Also, if its CPO this is a solid find


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[MrFunk]

I personally would not buy one with that many miles. That's a lot of miles for a car to be abused.
The weak point is the clutch - with those miles depending on previous owner/s it may (or may not) be on it's last legs.
If you plan on keeping it a long while and you put a lot of miles on your cars I'd suggest finding something with lower miles. I'd not buy one with more than 30k on the clock personally. We - I'd actually not buy one used at all LOL... but that's just me.

[amusante]

To answer a few questions by looking at the dealership's Ad

http://www.weekspreowned.com./used/A...04426626da.htm:

Car is not CPO
Carfax seems decent - 1 owner and most/all of service was done at this dealer, which is basically an Audi dealer
Based on carfax, recommended maintenance was performed
I commute 400 miles a week currently for work, so 20K a year
32K would be about max budget, so this car would be manageable but used for these types of cars is all I can do

[mr shickadance]

you should ask the service advisor who tended to this car, assuming they serviced them by the new audi dealership by the airport, so its one of 4 people there, they should give you some good info.

Still you should take it and get it inspect by SST, they know their stuff, and it's too close not to.

[amusante]

you should ask the service advisor who tended to this car, assuming they serviced them by the new audi dealership by the airport, so its one of 4 people there, they should give you some good info.

Still you should take it and get it inspect by SST, they know their stuff, and it's too close not to.

I take my B5 there currently, so I know them well. Just wanted to see if this car would even be worth pursuing. If I'm going to have a monthly payment, I don't also want to have to continue spending money maintaining the car constantly.

[jygesq]

with all the posts about " have to push clutch to floor" I would be very leery of a stick car with that mileage. Clutch may last until 100 K ,miles. But you have to factor a clutch very soon. About $4000 for audi replacement and maybe more cost if you need new pressure plate ? see posts just above this one.Price also seems high foe a car with such high miles on it

[bhvrdr]

You can get the OEM clutch from Rock Auto for about 700 bucks and the OEM flywheel (LUK) from them for under $600 bucks. The dealership is a ripoff.


I'd personally stay away from sport diff cars (that is a 5K dollar part) if looking at cars out of warranty but thats me.


Mike

[CrownSeven]

You can get the OEM clutch from Rock Auto for about 700 bucks and the OEM flywheel (LUK) from them for under $600 bucks. The dealership is a ripoff.


I'd personally stay away from sport diff cars (that is a 5K dollar part) if looking at cars out of warranty but thats me.


Mike

OP if you're concerned with the sport diff going (I wouldn't), go for a B8.5 then. They seem to have fewer problems than the B8's around the sport diff.

As for the clutch issues comments above - there are plenty of folks on their stock clutches with zero issues (I'm one of them 38K and going strong, oh and no sport diff issues).

If you like the car, and like the price go for it!

[amusante]

I picked up my 2013 6MT premium plus with 60k for $30k in June. I'm thinking your deal is decent for a prestige. But do you really need prestige? Also, if its CPO this is a solid find


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What is better, Prestige or Premium Plus? Not really sure on the differences

[JD S4]

Don't think it's a ticking timebomb - but I paid $31.5k for a MINT 2011 with 22k miles on it 3 months ago..

[amusante]

Don't think it's a ticking timebomb - but I paid $31.5k for a MINT 2011 with 22k miles on it 3 months ago..

I'm not seeing anything close to that within 200 miles of my location, at least not in stick.

[esimp2k]

I just looked and there's a 2011 p+ 6sp with 32k Miles for $28900. And it's apr stage 2 rs grill intake etc. shit I might sell my 2010 with 100k+ to get it! And it's in ct.
And magna flow exhaust.

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[amusante]

I just looked and there's a 2011 p+ 6sp with 32k Miles for $28900. And it's apr stage 2 rs grill intake etc. shit I might sell my 2010 with 100k+ to get it! And it's in ct.
And magna flow exhaust.

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Where are you looking? I wasn't really doing the private sale route to keep financing easier, but maybe I'll start looking for my own loans.

[doug97gxe]

What is better, Prestige or Premium Plus? Not really sure on the differences

Prestige adds adaptive headlights and i think blind spot monitoring or something of the sort.. nothing major

[doug97gxe]

Where are you looking? I wasn't really doing the private sale route to keep financing easier, but maybe I'll start looking for my own loans.

you can also try nationwide searches with http://www.penskeautomotive.com/ .. they have many dealerships in CT that will transfer/car swap for you

[esimp2k]

Where are you looking? I wasn't really doing the private sale route to keep financing easier, but maybe I'll start looking for my own loans.

Autotrader


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[mmm def]

I traded my 2011 with 103k on it 6mt, only issue ever was a thermostat replacement nothing else. If taken care of they are solid. I ended up missing the s4 so much I bought another.

[hodrosS42001]

That price is a joke.. Especially with 6mt should be under 20k

[MrFunk]

That price is a joke.. Especially with 6mt should be under 20k

LOL. Under 20k? No.
Here is the black book value factoring in 90k miles. http://www.blackbookportals.com/bb/p...=thinkbank.COM

Black Book Retail as of 08/22/2016
Extra Clean Clean Average Rough
Base $33,750 $31,625 $29,325 $25,900
Options ($950) ($950) ($950) ($950)
Mileage ($4,175) ($3,350) ($2,525) ($1,700)
Total $28,625 $27,325 $25,850 $23,250

Even in rough condition it's worth 23k. Clean it's worth almost 29k.

To answer a few questions by looking at the dealership's Ad

http://www.weekspreowned.com./used/A...04426626da.htm:

Car is not CPO
Carfax seems decent - 1 owner and most/all of service was done at this dealer, which is basically an Audi dealer
Based on carfax, recommended maintenance was performed
I commute 400 miles a week currently for work, so 20K a year
32K would be about max budget, so this car would be manageable but used for these types of cars is all I can do

OP -
If I were you and had 30k to spend on another car and drove 20k miles a week for work I would absolutely not buy a car with that many miles.
I'd get a brand new GTI or a very lightly used Golf R all day long no hesitation.

[hodrosS42001]

There are 2011/2012 DSG Prestige Models in my area with similar mileage who can't be given away for 21-22k..

[amusante]

OP -
If I were you and had 30k to spend on another car and drove 20k miles a week for work I would absolutely not buy a car with that many miles.
I'd get a brand new GTI or a very lightly used Golf R all day long no hesitation.

Yea, I've been mulling over just getting a new Passat for under 30 and mayyyyyyyybe putting the B5 in the garage for another time, but I'm just not sure I could live with it.

[bakedziti]

That price is a joke.. Especially with 6mt should be under 20k

If anything the manual should make this car more expensive; they are much harder to find because of the lazies in this country.

[jonwoods]

Dealer markups are obscene. I picked up a pristine 2011 mt fully loaded for $31k cdn (about $24k us) with just 35k miles on it a couple of months ago. Similar Audi dealer cars are going for 30% more than that or more. The ones I was finding on non Audi lots were usually rat-bagged money pits. The previous owner was offered $25k cdn from the dealer for reference (those shiny dealerships have expensive overhead). Take your time - find a good car, buy private and $profit.

[hodrosS42001]

Except 90+% of people don't want them...

[bakedziti]

Except 90+% of people don't want them...

hence

they are much harder to find because of the lazies in this country.

thus the increased price

[MrFunk]

Yea, I've been mulling over just getting a new Passat for under 30 and mayyyyyyyybe putting the B5 in the garage for another time, but I'm just not sure I could live with it.

I wouldn't get a Passat
If you want a sedan then go with a GLI?
You should check out the new GTI's. They are really good. Why get very used when you can get brand new? Especially if it's a 20k a year for work commuter.

[amusante]

I wouldn't get a Passat
If you want a sedan then go with a GLI?
You should check out the new GTI's. They are really good. Why get very used when you can get brand new? Especially if it's a 20k a year for work commuter.

I like the Passat because it's a bit more "Mature", plus the R-Line seems nice enough. I want a sedan also, so the GTI isn't my first choice. Although it'll be my work commuter, I'm also hoping to have some fun with the car, which is where my dilemma comes from.

[esimp2k]

I'd get the 2011 stg2 I pointed out and have it checked out prior. I think it said EXCELERATE did the work and they are tops in ct imo.


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[grovlet]

North Bay Imports - They specialize in Audis - typically have quite a few S4s in stock - so check in with them periodically (They have none right now..) You can also ask them to do a search for you with the requirements you are after.

I bought my car from them as well as use them for service - they are super laid back and easy to deal with but handle every request with proper focus.

[LaCross]

My s4 has 127k miles and i beat the piss out of it and autocross it regularly. never an issue *knock on wood*

Stay away from DSG and sport diff. 2 most problematic parts, gone.

[jygesq]

If anything the manual should make this car more expensive; they are much harder to find because of the lazies in this country.

not true MT. Cars are cheaper as the demand for them is lower, only special buyer wants MT

[DannyDeez]

what does the carfax say? if it was registered in CT you can call all 6 dealerships and get the history from it.

In general these cars are very reliable, compared to the b5 s4, insanely reliable.

it's pricey for sure, not unreasonable, but do your research, bring it to speedsporttuning anf have them do an inspection, for $200 its a small price to pay to get an idea of the health of the car.

My cars carfax showed almost all of its service being performed at Danbury Audi, yet when I asked them for the records they weren't able to produce anything for me.

[DGVR6]

My cars carfax showed almost all of its service being performed at Danbury Audi, yet when I asked them for the records they weren't able to produce anything for me.

They should be able to pull out everything, no matter what dealer your car was serviced in.
My SA pulled everything out from day 1 on my S4 even when it was serviced at a different dealership, it showed what repairs were performed.

[Dirt]

They should be able to pull out everything, no matter what dealer your car was serviced in.
My SA pulled everything out from day 1 on my S4 even when it was serviced at a different dealership, it showed what repairs were performed.

This. I just bought my B8 in May and had it in for its 55k mile service over the weekend. The SA was able to pull the entire maintenance history going back to the original owner. He wasn't allowed to print a copy for me, but he could see all the records.

OP - I also drive 20k miles / year and this is now my daily. If I were in your shoes, I'd buy a S4......but wait for one with fewer miles. That's an extra 1.5 year's worth of driving compared to something with 50k miles on it.

.

[jsh139]

If you truly drive 20K miles per year then I think it would be a good idea to try to find one with lower miles. The 2010-2012 cars are very similar as far as reliability and maintenance go. You should try to find a 2010 Prestige 6MT with lower miles.

[amusante]

I appreciate the advice guys. I don't think I would be happy without the S4 so I will focus on finding a lower mileage example.

[CrownSeven]

not true MT. Cars are cheaper as the demand for them is lower, only special buyer wants MT

Your statement makes no sense.

[Dr GP]

You should really consider buying an extended warranty if you are concerned about a MAJOR failure. But the clutch assembly will not be covered. The DSG trans will be.