HI - Newbie seeks advice

John H

John H

Member
Hi, just joined, and I wonder if I might get some advice about price.

I am looking at a 2005 A2 TDi Special Edition model for sale in a local non Audi garage. It is not 100% cosmetically perfect, but it does seem a well looked after car. One local owner, 56,000 miles, serviced once only at 30k miles. As far as I can see it the only extra of any note is cruise control. I have driven it, albeit for only about 20 miles, and everything seems OK. It has a few months of manufacturers warranty left, but will obviously need a service soon, plus front tyres and probably front disks.

But what is it worth? They have it stickered at £6995, I offered them £6,500 and so far I have got them as far as £6,800, but we have yet to strike a deal.

Is this car worth £6,800? bearing in mind that I would be a cash buyer, "sold as seen" and they would have nothing to do to it bar wash it.

Any opinions gratefully received.

John H
 
It seems a very good price to me for a 2005 - I presume 75bhp? But even so good value. If it looks/drives ok and I was in the market I'd consider it. See if they will let you speak with the original owner.
 
might want to bear in mind 56,000 miles, the cambelt will be due a change soon!!

Id say it was a decent price for a 2005 plate.

Cheers

Yatz
 
Thank you for the replies, and feel free to keep them coming. ;)

It seems a decent price to me too (yes it is a 75bhp version) but a quick look over the car suggests it will need front tyres and probably front disks soon, as well as being due a service and a cam belt in the near future. This is why I am trying to get them to knock the price down a bit further, but so far it has been like pulling teeth.

A bit of background about me ... I already have three cars (a 2000 VW New Beetle, a 2006 Porsche Cayman and my wife has a 2005 VW Golf Mk 5 1.4S) so I am well aquaint with German vehicles.
Some pics here http://www.arthurlea.com/Toys/Toys.htm

I am presently using the Beetle for a fairly lengthy weekly commute, and being the 2.0 version it is rather thirsty. I was therefore considering "retiring" the Beetle for a while and using an A2 simply for the benefit in fuel consumption. The £35 a year in road tax would be a huge benefit in keeping running costs of another vehicle down, and one of the few benefits of being over 50 years old is that insurance costs would be minimal too.

I always rather wanted an A2 when they wer new, but I considerd them too expensive for what they were.

Cheers

John H
 
If I am not mistaken 2005 TDi the timing belt is not due until 80k.

Tyres are £60 each and pads/discs should be sourced for less than £100. Providing you don't ask Audi to supply/fit. Given that the warranty is due to expire I would go independent or Stoke/Satfford Audi who for some reason have unbelieveable service/belt price deals.

John - I like the 'toybox'. I have always followed 911's and used to drive a 1969 911T - which like you sold it for more than I paid. I think my midlife crisis is due to kick in soon and seem to be drawn to the Cayman - although if I found a mint 964 C2 I could be swayed if i can convince my wife!
 
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Foghorn said:
John - I like the 'toybox'. I have always followed 911's and used to drive a 1969 911T - which like you sold it for more than I paid. I think my midlife crisis is due to kick in soon and seem to be drawn to the Cayman - although if I found a mint 964 C2 I could be swayed if i can convince my wife!
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Thanks, and it would be nice to add an A2 to the toybox. :D

I sold my 964 to buy the Cayman, and they are like chalk and cheese. The 964 is of the old school "hairy chested" style of Porsche, great if you are in the mood, but hard work otherwise. At one point in my ownership I published some thoughts about it http://www.arthurlea.com/Stories/911/index.htm

The Cayman feels like it's from a different century, which I suppose it is, and while it may be less charismatic, it is as deft as a scalpel and mighty quick. I love it.

:cool:
 
Foghorn said:
If I am not mistaken 2005 TDi the timing belt is not due until 80k.
Click to expand...

I am aware of that, but the garage selling the car isn't, so I have no intention of telling them. All part of the war of attrition on the price. ;) I hate vendors who don't know the product they are selling :mad: It was really funny watchin the salesman trying to get the front bonnet open. :rolleyes:

I also had a cam belt snap at 60k miles on a previous VW, despite their assurances it was good for 80k, so I am very wary of this these days.


Foghorn said:
Tyres are £60 each and pads/discs should be sourced for less than £100. Providing you don't ask Audi to supply/fit. Given that the warranty is due to expire I would go independent or Stoke/Satfford Audi who for some reason have unbelieveable service/belt price deals.
Click to expand...

Umm, I forgot to mention I'm in Scotland! :D
 
andyman said:
Great website John and I love the Prawns story!!,
You surely must be some kind of writer??.
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Thank you, and the full website is www.arthurlea.com although it seriously needs a refresh.

I am actually a retired beaurocrat ... although I did used to do some freelance motorcycle journalism. For those who like bikes, some of my pieces are in the "stories" section.

;)


PS ... I has another surreptitious look at that A2 today, and noticed a sizeable dent in the passenger door. Amazing the things you miss with rose tinted specs on. Hmmm :(
 
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I think the guidance for the cam belt has changed. Do a search and theres a thread about the varying recommended time to change it. Personally id replace it on the 60k service as well as having covered 60k miles it'll be 3 years old and its only rubber, At the very least a visual inspection will need to be carried out.
 
Hi John H

A couple of pointers on buying a used A2.
Does the car have climate control - if so, the panel below the radio will have a small digital display in the centre(not sure if this was standard on later SE models) If not, summer driving can be a bit of a pain as A2's are very noisy with the front windows open so check this out on your test drive.
Also, an electric air compressor is supplied as standard for inflating the (optional) spacesaver or punctured tyres. Check it is with the car as these often go missing.

Cheers Spike
 
spike said:
Hi John H

A couple of pointers on buying a used A2.
Does the car have climate control - if so, the panel below the radio will have a small digital display in the centre(not sure if this was standard on later SE models) If not, summer driving can be a bit of a pain as A2's are very noisy with the front windows open so check this out on your test drive.
Also, an electric air compressor is supplied as standard for inflating the (optional) spacesaver or punctured tyres. Check it is with the car as these often go missing.

Cheers Spike
Click to expand...

Thanks, yes the car does have climate. I also checked under the floor in the boot, but I confess I did not look for a pump.

JH
 
John H said:
Thanks, yes the car does have climate. I also checked under the floor in the boot, but I confess I did not look for a pump.

JH
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I didn't check mine when I brought the car, but if it doesn't have a pump I'm sure it doesn't matter that much. You can always point it out and get some money off..
 
John H said:
Hi, just joined, and I wonder if I might get some advice about price.

I am looking at a 2005 A2 TDi Special Edition model for sale in a local non Audi garage. It is not 100% cosmetically perfect, but it does seem a well looked after car. One local owner, 56,000 miles, serviced once only at 30k miles. As far as I can see it the only extra of any note is cruise control. I have driven it, albeit for only about 20 miles, and everything seems OK. It has a few months of manufacturers warranty left, but will obviously need a service soon, plus front tyres and probably front disks.

But what is it worth? They have it stickered at £6995, I offered them £6,500 and so far I have got them as far as £6,800, but we have yet to strike a deal.

Is this car worth £6,800? bearing in mind that I would be a cash buyer, "sold as seen" and they would have nothing to do to it bar wash it.

Any opinions gratefully received.

John H
Click to expand...

I saw the Cayman and Scotland references, are you the John H from Caymanclub with the red 2.7? If so, excellent choice of both cars!

SS7
 
Shoestring7 said:
I saw the Cayman and Scotland references, are you the John H from Caymanclub with the red 2.7? If so, excellent choice of both cars!

SS7
Click to expand...

Oh yes, that's me all right, in fact Ithink I have spotted a few ringers on here already from other lists I frequent. Small world cyber-space, eh?

:D
 
John H said:
Oh yes, that's me all right, in fact Ithink I have spotted a few ringers on here already from other lists I frequent. Small world cyber-space, eh?

:D
Click to expand...

Welcome John. I've had two A2's, a new tdi and then a FSI Sport. My 2nd experience was mixed. The dealer did a frankly above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty job, but there appears to be issues with the first gen FSI engines.

I wrote it up in my blog here: http://thecarlistblog.blogspot.com/2007/02/let-me-tell-you-tale-of-my-audi-a2-are.html and also: http://thecarlistblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/sorted.html

However its not put me off, they are brilliant little cars, and offer truly ground breaking economy even if you're not a Scotsman!

SS7
 
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Well ... I vascillated over this car and the inevitable happened, someone else has bought it!

In truth I guess I knew this was not the car for me, good value though it was, there were too many minor cosmetic issues, and being a fusspot it would always have bugged me.

No matter, older and wiser, and I will know much better what to look for next time.

Thanks for all the advice so far!

John H
 
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