I am looking at buying a 2002 A8 L, $7,000 with 107,000 miles. No records. Suggestions on how reliable it is and yays and nays on if it is a good buy or not would be appreciated. I have found the transmission seems to be unsure of what gear to go into around 38 mph. So it made me nervous. Any thoughts would help. Thanks.

 

See if you can find someone with VAG-COM, local to you, and see if they'd be willing to "run some codes" for you, on the car in question. This, at least, will give you a very basic idea of what you're looking at as far as initial, necessary repairs. It won't cover EVERYthing. Running down some of the easily identified problem MAY reveal other, underlying problems.

Sounds like the tranny is hunting for a gear around the 1-2 shift. probably also doing it at the 2-3 and 3-4, but is much more noticable at the 1-2. Could be one of several different things. I'm not all that conversant on auto-boxes (other than the fundamentals), so I'd say either talk with a Audi tech (we have a couple, here in our users group), or a transmission specialist.

No records means at the VERY LEAST you're gonna want to set aside about $1,500 (give or take) for a timing-belt (and associated parts) replacement. If there is any way you could find out, definitively, if it's had it's (either 70k or 90k-miles) TB service it would be best. Not knowing means that, if it hasn't been done, you'd be driving around on a live hand-grenade, with the pin already pulled. If that belt goes it turns your engine into a GIANT paper-weight. No records means you have no idea what other things haven't been done. Unless you're a very good wrench, have deep pockets, or both, it's a risky buy, no matter how good a deal it seems like on teh face of it.

 

Thank you for the info. I LOVE, LOVE , LOVE the drive. Audi is something else. But I do worry about the cost of a car from some unknown place.