Should I bite?

[lurk3r]

I think I've come across a great deal, and after much VW bashing, it looks like I may be jumping on the bandwagon.

My neighbour was here for a few years from Germany, and now wants to move back so his girls will be safe in school (yes apparently berlin is safer than a detroit suburb). He's got a beautiful ....

2001 Audi A6 Quattro 4.2L, with around 105k miles. It needs the timing belt service, dealer quotes $2k but I'm sure I can get it done for less.

I'm seriously looking at getting this to replace the gf's 1986 Mercedes 190, it will also serve as a good winter beater.

He's been driving it for the last couple years and the car's been unbelievably trouble free. He had a mechanic check out the timing belt (when he was getting quotes on the replacement before he realized he was going home) and it seems ok. I will definitely have the complete 100k service done.

The $6500 he wants for it is just too good to turn down.

 

[jlee]

KBB is $7,050 in good, $6,300 in fair. Not a bad price at $6500, but not the steal of the century either (unless KBB is off on these)...but when you add the 100k service, it's not a $6500 car anymore.

 

[lurk3r]

Yeah, its right at bb, but there's nothing close to bb in this area. There are 2 A6's I found, both with the tiny engine, one at ~90k one at ~160k, and both over $10k. Used car prices are insane.

At $6500 if I get 2 years out of it, its a wash, after that, under $2k a year in maintenance will beat the hell out of what the Merc's costing me.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I'd say there are more economical cars to buy, a lot more. But Audi != economical now is it

 

[Excelsior]

The timing belt is only a $2K job at the dealer. You can get it done for much, much less elsehwere. Should be an indepedent shop or mechanic that would do it for between 500-700 around you.

 

[PricklyPete]

I love the car and the engine...but realize that you could very likely spend more than $6500 on this in the next 2 years if suddenly things go south. JLee is right about a car needing a ~$1-2K service right away...is not a $6500 car...but a $7500 car. You really should look at it from that standpoint and make sure it still works for you.

 

[Mermaidman]

What's special about a 2001 A6 that compels you to buy a 10-yr old Audi?

 

[vshah]

just get a few years old legacy GT or something

 

[lurk3r]

What's special about a 2001 A6 that compels you to buy a 10-yr old Audi?

Nothing really, other than its next door, a very good price compared to others locally, and a pretty decent upgrade to the Mercedes 190 the GF has now.

I am including the repairs in what I'm allowing for the purchase price, and will have a mechanic go over it.

The car does have one very rare quality, I actually fit in it, my 6'4" does not sit comfortably in very many cars at all. I had an Impreza TS, with the cloth seats to maximize headroom, it was so cramped I ended up walking with a limp.

 

[halik]

I think I've come across a great deal, and after much VW bashing, it looks like I may be jumping on the bandwagon.

My neighbour was here for a few years from Germany, and now wants to move back so his girls will be safe in school (yes apparently berlin is safer than a detroit suburb). He's got a beautiful ....

2001 Audi A6 Quattro 4.2L, with around 105k miles. It needs the timing belt service, dealer quotes $2k but I'm sure I can get it done for less.

I'm seriously looking at getting this to replace the gf's 1986 Mercedes 190, it will also serve as a good winter beater.

He's been driving it for the last couple years and the car's been unbelievably trouble free. He had a mechanic check out the timing belt (when he was getting quotes on the replacement before he realized he was going home) and it seems ok. I will definitely have the complete 100k service done.

The $6500 he wants for it is just too good to turn down.

$6500 is definitely not a great deal, especially if it needs tbelt. Drop that $2K and you're talking. The service schedule for the belt is 70K btw, my car had it done at 66K (2.7T)

 

[halik]

The timing belt is only a $2K job at the dealer. You can get it done for much, much less elsehwere. Should be an indepedent shop or mechanic that would do it for between 500-700 around you.

The parts kit is about $500 alone at blau and i think the cam bar runs $50 to rent. People pay around 1200 to get it done.

 

[PricklyPete]

The parts kit is about $500 alone at blau and i think the cam bar runs $50 to rent. People pay around 1200 to get it done.

What is blau?

 

[halik]

What is blau?

http://blauparts.com/

Highly recommend them, they know audis.

 

[PricklyPete]

http://blauparts.com/

Awesome...thanks.

 

[amdhunter]

$2k for a timing belt?

 

[lurk3r]

$2k for a timing belt?

They do the waterpump and a bunch of other stuff while its apart, and that's dealer price, no where near what I'll pay.

Thanks for the link and the $1200 ballpark Halik.

 

[boomhower]

Does the GF want it? Is the GF paying for it?

 

[ViviTheMage]

I got my tbelt done for parts + $300 labor ... just find a local VW/GERMAN shop around your area.

Ask around on audizine.com.

That is not a 'steal' though, a steal would be 5k.

 

[PricklyPete]

Does the GF want it? Is the GF paying for it?

Good point...

 

[BW86]

I got my tbelt done for parts + $300 labor ... just find a local VW/GERMAN shop around your area.
.

Damn, that's a good price. Most shops around me do it for 6 + parts

OP: He still has the stock belt at 105k? He's cheating death

 

[Excelsior]

The parts kit is about $500 alone at blau and i think the cam bar runs $50 to rent. People pay around 1200 to get it done.

Is it that much more for the 4.2 than other motors?

That kit is high, but it does include a few 'extras'. Yeah, I suppose ~$1K is a good ballpark for that job.

 

[lurk3r]

Ok, update, took the car to a mechanic that has treated me very well on the Merc, there were a few minor problems, display for the computer is missing some lines, check engine light was on, and the power shade for the rear window dosen't work.

Total for the repairs $1100, got the car for $5000. Will post some pics soon.

I would have been very hesitant to buy in any other situation, but I knew the guy well, he lived next door. He's not selling the car to get another one, he's selling it because he was sent back to Germany by work.

 

[PricklyPete]

Ok, update, took the car to a mechanic that has treated me very well on the Merc, there were a few minor problems, display for the computer is missing some lines, check engine light was on, and the power shade for the rear window dosen't work.

Total for the repairs $1100, got the car for $5000. Will post some pics soon.

I would have been very hesitant to buy in any other situation, but I knew the guy well, he lived next door. He's not selling the car to get another one, he's selling it because he was sent back to Germany by work.

Nice man...great car. A6 is such a comfortable cruiser.