Buying A6 2.7T with 150k miles
#1
04-13-2011, 01:10 AM
Buying A6 2.7T with 150k miles
I was offered to buy a family members 2000 A6 2.7T with 150k miles on the ODO for $2500.
A few things:
1. The car is due for a timing belt.
2. The front control arm bushings are squeaking and control arms move slightly when prying with a prybar. I could replace the control arms myself.
3. The right rear quarter panel was hit between the door and fuel door. I feel comfortable fixing this myself. The owner's insurance gave him $4000 for this damage, but he has decided to sell the car under book price and he is buying an S4.
4. Owner is willing to work with me on price because of the timing belt and control arm bushings. Probably would come down no more than $500 to $700 off of the $2500.
5. Original turbos are in the car.
6. New 2Bennett performance clutch/ pressure plate 1000 miles ago.
7. Chipped
8. Rear competition swaybar installed.
The car is very clean inside and out other than the right rear damage. The owner (my uncle) has always owned Audis, does his own general maintenance and has always had the car serviced for major maintenance like timing belt and clutch at Audi specialists.
Oil has been changed without exception between 3k and 5k miles throughout the car's life and only synthetic oil used. The car is never put away hot after turbo use - idled for a few minutes before shut down.
My main concern is the turbos and mileage. I am mechanically capable of doing most of the work on the car, but realistically with a family, sports and hobbies, I will not have time. This means that if the turbos go out, I will probably scrap the car, as I can't imagine it would be worth throwing $5k at it.
Is it unheard of for Audi turbos to go for 250K miles or is it likely I would be facing this expense in the next 20k miles or so?
I love the way the car drives, the power and the style of the car. As my high mileage daily driver is on it's way out, I have been starting to look around for my next car, and then this came up. I did not plan on considering a $2500 car with high mileage, but this option fell in my lap. If I could get 3 or 4 years out of it, I would be able to save up for a much newer, lower mileage car then.
I'd be interested in opinions!
Thanks,
Craig
A few things:
1. The car is due for a timing belt.
2. The front control arm bushings are squeaking and control arms move slightly when prying with a prybar. I could replace the control arms myself.
3. The right rear quarter panel was hit between the door and fuel door. I feel comfortable fixing this myself. The owner's insurance gave him $4000 for this damage, but he has decided to sell the car under book price and he is buying an S4.
4. Owner is willing to work with me on price because of the timing belt and control arm bushings. Probably would come down no more than $500 to $700 off of the $2500.
5. Original turbos are in the car.
6. New 2Bennett performance clutch/ pressure plate 1000 miles ago.
7. Chipped
8. Rear competition swaybar installed.
The car is very clean inside and out other than the right rear damage. The owner (my uncle) has always owned Audis, does his own general maintenance and has always had the car serviced for major maintenance like timing belt and clutch at Audi specialists.
Oil has been changed without exception between 3k and 5k miles throughout the car's life and only synthetic oil used. The car is never put away hot after turbo use - idled for a few minutes before shut down.
My main concern is the turbos and mileage. I am mechanically capable of doing most of the work on the car, but realistically with a family, sports and hobbies, I will not have time. This means that if the turbos go out, I will probably scrap the car, as I can't imagine it would be worth throwing $5k at it.
Is it unheard of for Audi turbos to go for 250K miles or is it likely I would be facing this expense in the next 20k miles or so?
I love the way the car drives, the power and the style of the car. As my high mileage daily driver is on it's way out, I have been starting to look around for my next car, and then this came up. I did not plan on considering a $2500 car with high mileage, but this option fell in my lap. If I could get 3 or 4 years out of it, I would be able to save up for a much newer, lower mileage car then.
I'd be interested in opinions!
Thanks,
Craig
#2
04-13-2011, 06:27 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Western MD USA
Posts: 2,955
I would consider any car with 150K miles to be a gamble. It seems like this could be a good deal but I'm not sure that I would consider it to be a reliable option as a "daily driver".
I like to describe my relationship with my A6 as a "love, hate, fear" arrangement:
I love it when it is running well and everything is working properly.
I hate it when something goes wrong and I have to diagnose and fix something (PITA to work on, parts are pricey)
I fear the next time something stops working and I might be stranded (which has NOT happened, OK once but it was my fault for doing something dumb)
91K miles on my clock
I like to describe my relationship with my A6 as a "love, hate, fear" arrangement:
I love it when it is running well and everything is working properly.
I hate it when something goes wrong and I have to diagnose and fix something (PITA to work on, parts are pricey)
I fear the next time something stops working and I might be stranded (which has NOT happened, OK once but it was my fault for doing something dumb)
91K miles on my clock
#3
04-13-2011, 05:21 PM
Turbos can die early or live long, depending on how the car is driven. This one sounds well maintained and not abused. I would do some searches here on turbos for advice on how to check whether they are leaking oil. If so, that is a sign that the seals are gone and they are headed to eventual failure. My 2.7T is at almost 188k and has a small oil leak on one side, but it has been present for 20k miles and does not seem to be worse. I am prepared for near term failure but would be happy to reach 250k with the oem turbos.
#4
04-14-2011, 12:25 AM
Thanks, I'll read up on how to check the turbos. If they check out I will probably buy the car and never look back.
My yearly mileage is around 10k, so not huge. Mostly the car will be used to commute to work or as a weekend head out to the beach and have some fun on the twisties on the way car.
As with all of my cars, I will plan on learning how to fix it if I buy it. Having an expert 20 minutes away - my uncle who is selling the car - will help as well.
My yearly mileage is around 10k, so not huge. Mostly the car will be used to commute to work or as a weekend head out to the beach and have some fun on the twisties on the way car.
As with all of my cars, I will plan on learning how to fix it if I buy it. Having an expert 20 minutes away - my uncle who is selling the car - will help as well.
#5
04-14-2011, 06:39 PM
You can part it out and make a profit at that price. Go for it. Be prepared as things can get costly. Don't but anymore than you have to in it then part it out when the first big repair comes due.
Bob
Bob
#7
08-20-2011, 10:39 AM
Hey!!
I know this is old but did u ever get ur uncle's car? If u did how is it running, any problems? I got d same model/year n mine has 160+k n still runs good!!
I don't use it much either maybe 5k a year. I'm bout to take it to Miami from NY that's gonna b half of d miles I put a year! Lol but I'm confident I won't have a problem. I was just wondering if u got it n how is it going!
I know this is old but did u ever get ur uncle's car? If u did how is it running, any problems? I got d same model/year n mine has 160+k n still runs good!!
I don't use it much either maybe 5k a year. I'm bout to take it to Miami from NY that's gonna b half of d miles I put a year! Lol but I'm confident I won't have a problem. I was just wondering if u got it n how is it going!
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