yes.

 

Aoh35, I just got my car this week. Its an 07 S-line. I can tell you that the power seat would be worth the wait in my book if it will move down and away for easier exit when you turn off the ignition and then returns to the correct postion when your start the car. This function is great on my wifes BMW as it helps for ease of getting in and out of the car(at least it does for me becasue I am small and drive with t he seat elevated and forward more than most people. Aside from that, is there bluetooth with the 08? It could be another nice feature in helping decide. My 07 was 29795 sticker and I got it for 26,500 plus tax, license, tags. If you can get an 08 for 600 over invoice with the options you want, that is a great way to go. I am assuming it's within your budget since you are considering it. An 07 can be purchased 1000-1500 below invoice but you might have to settle for it without the exact features you want. That's the way I went because I think this car is going to hold its value well and it represented a big savings over the 08. The 06 is third on my list because of the risk you have to take. Based on the deals that can be had for the 07 and the 08(600 over cost if thats true) I would go new 07 or 08 for sure.

 

Yes, you could easily get the updates done yourself; I just thought it might make you feel better if the owner had Audi do a light checkup on the car at the same time. You might also consider having a private mechanic with A3 experience do a prepurchase inspection - usually costs about $125, worth it.
My experience with dealers has been the oppostie of what most people consider common knowledge. If you go to the sales manager with a firm idea of the car you want to order and a $1000 deposit, it can almost always be had for less than a car on the lot.( unless there are incentives).Dealer isn't paying floor plan fees, or a salesman. I ordered my '07 at the beginning of last summer (May) on just such a deal - I've had the car a year now

 

OK guys, I test drove the 2006 this morning. Black with gray leather interior. I discovered a few things.
It was built in May 2005. Has 27,100 miles. Bought locally and serviced at that dealer.

Besides audio, cold weather, open sky, and xenon's, it also had Sport (all aluminum vents), Navigation, 6-disc CD in glovebox, sat radio (XM), homelink, auto headlights and rain sensing wipers. But no power driver's seat. I did not know you could get that on a 2006 without getting the premium package.

I tried to hook my phone to it via bluetooth, but the display said "phone not installed." Not sure what it would take to add that.

Negatives were a pea-sized round dent in the rear hatch down to the metal; a cracked fog light cover; and a bad bit of curb rash on the front passenger wheel. Floormats were dirty, too. Not sure the cost to repair these.

I noticed no clunks, squeaks or rattles while driving. With sunroof open or closed.

The guy was selling it for a friend and had no service records to show me or the Mulroney. But he said he could get those.

I figure with the issues above, maybe I could get him down to $20,000.

I test drive a new 2007 this afternoon. Any thoughts so far?

 

Sounds like a great price on the 2006. Kinda makes me said for my resale value. I would have hoped to see it sell for much more. There was a 2006 in the LA Times today, similarly equipped, advertised for $28,495. So I would think $20k is a very good bargin.

Cheers!

 

Chef, what about the curb rash, dent and fog light cover? Those repairs would add up I think.

 

You could probably get thewheel fixed for $40 or so, the fog light cover shouldn't be too much, and the dent fixed for not much, depending on its severity. I bet for just a few hundred dollars you could get it back looking good. I would replace the carpet mats with the rubber ones, and they are around $75. Definitely play it up during negotiations, but it shouldn't be much work to take care of on your own. If you live in SoCal, then I could direct you to a place that takes care of dents really well for cheap.

Cheers!

 

You can fix those things but consider the following "red flags" .

1. Selling for a friend. Why would the owner not sell it on his own? Probably becasue it was driven by a teenager who abused it and the kid brat owner needs to stay out of sight for fear of ruining the sale.
2. Dents, cracked light, dirty mats,and curb rash are signs of neglect. Especially for a car of this quality and of such low miles and only 2 years old. Chances are that it was also neglected during break-in and for services as well.
3. The reason it it priced low, is that most consumers in this market would expect a car thats 2 years old to be pristine. It takes a low price to entice a buyer to ignore such significant "red flags".

Just my 2 cents!

 

SocalA3;
Very good points. My red flag went up the minute it became obvious that it was not the owner who was handling the sale.
AOH35 - you need to meet the owner. For a private sale - it's really suspicious when you are not dealing with the owner. SocalA3 hit it right in the 10 spot.
The curb rash is something that would prompt me to do some deeper digging - it's not that big a car and the forward sightlines are pretty good.
Just my two bits.
BTW - Feels good to be back.

 

The strange thing is -- the man who was selling it for a friend said the following. (He looked about 50 years old.)

"I have a friend from college who has a son. They asked me to help sell the car. The son graduated and got a good job, bought a great car (the A3). Reality sets in on how much the payments are and he decides he needs to get a smaller and more economical car. There is nothing wrong with the car."

So then, while I am at this guy's house looking at it, he says the owner has clear title, which means it is paid off, so there are no payments for the owner to be making.

It does not make sense.

Also, as far as neglect, I raised the hood and the engine compartment was quite dirty. And that dent on the rear hatch- the paint is scrapped off, so the dent repair as well as re-painting would be needed.