Advice on Audi S6 Avant?

Rodeo · 11-11-2005, 07:25 AM

I have an opportunity to buy off-lease my uncle's 2003 Audi S6 wagon. Its in pristine condition, with only 9,500 miles. He does not want the buy-out at $38,500, and will transfer the rights to me if I want to buy it for that amount.

I called Audi and they will not negotiate the price, its a take it or leave it deal. According to KBB, private party value is $42k, trade-in is $37k, so its not a screaming deal. But I really like the car and like I said its in perfect condition.

Anyone had experience with this vehicle? Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated.

We'd have to sell the wife's 04 Honda Pilot, which is a perfectly good vehicle. But the Audi's in a different class altogether!

speeder · speeder's Garage

Is it black? If so, it has special value to some members of this board.

Seriously, that's a cool car. Even if it's only a *fair deal*, go for it if you want. Has my stamp of approval.

jorian · 11-11-2005, 09:31 AM

I have driven several and it is a phenominal car. Much more substantial feeling than the S4. I don't know anything about reliability/maintenance issues but at 9500 miles its basically brand new. It probably has nearly the room of the Pilot but delivers more than double the grins per mile. Just think how you'll look in it wearing your GP coat...

Jims5543 · 11-11-2005, 10:15 AM

I have no experiance with the S6 Avant, I am on my second A-6 and all I can say is welcome to the love/hate relationship. Wonderfuls cars that drive like a dream. My 2001 A-6 was an elecrtical gremlin nightmare. A visit a month for 12 months to the dealership. But I miss that car so much, go figure.

My 05 has 2K miles on it so I cannot comment on the dependability of it. I can say that it does not drive as nice as the '01 due to the '01 having the sport suspension and the '05 not.

Good luck with it they are wonderful cars to drive.

lendaddy · 11-11-2005, 10:19 AM

I have and am selling my bi-turbo A6 and will likely never own another Audi. I could literally have had it in the shop every week I've owned it. You just learn to live with certain things or you'll go nuts.

gatotom · 11-11-2005, 01:08 PM

I have never driven a S6 but I own 2 A4's and even thou the price is a stretch, they are one hell of a car. I frequent the A4 forum and listen to people piss and moan about the silliest things like my radio reception isn't very good around tall buildings.

Wtf, all I can say is drive the crap out of them for a bite heavy on the scale compared to our beloved p-cars they are one fun machine particularily if you live in snow country, they are like a mountain goat with wheels.

Buy the damn thing and in the spring you might not get that much fun out of your p-car, hahahahahaha. just joking.

speeder · speeder's Garage

OMG Steve, did you say S6?

Just re-read this, when I answered I thought that it was just an A6 avant. The S6 will walk all over your other cars. Next year the trip to Montreal for F1 will be a bit faster.

kaisen · 11-12-2005, 05:00 AM

The S6 Avant is the least 'S' of the S-car lineup, it's really just the only way to get the 4.2L V8 in a wagon body. Not to take away from the car, the S6 is still a great package. But don't confuse it for the RS6 450hp biturbo V8, the only other 'S' variant in the A6 line. The A6 2.7T sedan will out sprint a S6 (or 4.2 sedan).

I would not buy that '03 unless you REALLY like the car better than your alternatives. At $38500, however, it is a great deal for what it is . A 2003 All-Road (twin-turbo V6, available with 6 speed if that's what you like) brings over $10000 LESS with similar miles. An one chip (from GIAC, APR, etc.) nets you over 310hp and over 300 ft-lbs. The Allroads are also more SUV-like and get better mileage. Just an alternative if you like Audis.

I've owned a bunch of Audis, mostly S-cars, and currently own a 2001 Audi A6 2.7T Q sedan, 6 speed. Not the most reliable car. The electrical gremlins are there (like the central readout in the dash losing pixels and lines - $800), lots of oil leaks, suspension components wearing out, etc. It gives me that warm fuzzy feeling like I still owned my 1983 Jaguar.

If you have $38K to spend, then certainly you can afford to extend the warranty on the S6. It would be the best way to justify owning the car.

E

Rodeo · 11-14-2005, 05:18 AM

Thanks for the comments everyone ... I knew I'd get some experienced intelligent advice here!

After reading the above and doing a little research on my own, I'm getting reluctant to pull the trigger on this. If I can get it certified to 100,000 miles for not that much more $$$, maybe I'll go that route. But $38.5k is pretty much all the money.

Any lease experts out there? Audi tells me that they will NOT transfer the title directly to me because I reside in a different state than where the vehicle is registered. It makes no sense to me, but Audi says they will only sell to the lease holder, someone in the same state as the lease holder, or the dealership.

Which got me wondering … what happens if the dealership does not want this car for the residual? Audi won’t negotiate the price with me, and they can’t force the dealership to buy it for the residual. So maybe they will they sell it to the dealer for less, and I can buy it from the dealership for a better price?

kaisen · 11-14-2005, 05:31 AM

It's worth a shot to try the Audi dealer. They MAY be able to negotiate the lease-end buyout. I doubt it though. Actually, $38500 is pretty near wholesale/auction price for the car. VCI (Audi credit) isn't stupid. They will just bring it to auction and take their chances. I personally believe they'll get the $$$.

If that is the case it's STILL worth trying Audi dealerships. They can buy the car out of the lease (for $38500) and certify it. The CPO should cost them under $1000 since it needs no services and should have zero wrong with 9K miles. They will need the WIFM, so let them make $250-500 profit. So you'd be buying a CPO Audi with CPO warranty for, say $39900. VCI often offers low / subvented finance rates (they had 2.9% recently) that you could take advantage of. They may even take one of your cars in trade, which may be easier and save you sales tax (varies by state).

It is still my advice to buy something else.

E

Rodeo · 11-14-2005, 05:36 AM

E, thanks again for the advice. If the Allroad is such a superior vehicle, why so much cheaper?

p.s. I went into this knowing really nothing about Audis, I just knew this was a really well cared-for low mileage example that could take on the duty of our Honda Pilot but with a bigger fun factor.

kaisen · 11-14-2005, 06:14 AM

'Superior' may not be the right term regarding the All-Road. It's really just supply and demand. The S6 is a rare car. The All-Road is not. Sure, some may rather have the S6 .... I simply ask if it's worth the extra $$$$$.

It's kinda like a 911 Club Sport. Rare, big money. I could achieve the same results by buying a relatively cheap 911C2 and modding it.

The S6 has flared wheel arches front and rear that will accomodate some pretty large tires (easily 275mm). That is one difference that you can't overcome. But do you care? The 'regular' wagon or All-Road will swallow 255mm tires with little prob. They come standard with 215-235mm.

The S6 can come with aggressive sport seats that have ample lateral support. Great seats for autoX, but not great for grocery shopping. Nice suede headliner too, if that's your thing.

E

david.avery · david.avery's Garage

I had an S4, and the only thing that scares me about these cars is the cost of maintaining the uber-technology that's in them. My s4 was excellent, I owned it for 50K miles, and never had a dime other than tires in it (the price of the car included all maint). It also never had a fault worth noting either.

The good thing is that this model is the big v8, which I think is much less stressed than the bi-turbo v6 of the s4. As long as you get dealer coverage, I'd say go for it!

Rodeo · 11-14-2005, 12:34 PM

Well, I checked into the CPO program (Certified Pre-Owned). Would be great to get a 100,000 mile warranty with the car, right? At least put my mind to rest given some documented problems with the car.

Nope.

The CPO warranty is only good for 2 years. The car has 9,500 miles and a factory 50,000 mile warranty. So the CPO adds no value, I'll have 3 years, 40,000 miles left on the factory warranty without the CPO.

RallyJon · 11-14-2005, 01:11 PM

I will never own another Audi unless I live near a dealership with a competent service department. Our local Audi dealer can't be trusted to do anything on a car without screwing something else up. No problem has ever been resolved in a single visit.

ronb · 11-14-2005, 01:15 PM

you can buy an extended warranty, zero deductible, covers everything, for approx 3500.00. I did that w my S4 (went to 100k) was the best $$ I spent on it, yep, electrical problems that took 4k worth of time in the first year on the aftermarket warranty. Definetly worth it with the warranty, not worth it without.

Jims5543 · 11-14-2005, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RallyJon
I will never own another Audi unless I live near a dealership with a competent service department. Our local Audi dealer can't be trusted to do anything on a car without screwing something else up. No problem has ever been resolved in a single visit.

Same here. I even told the salesman when I purchased the 05 that he was selling me the car by default due to no other dealership nearby.

Their incompetance was astounding. It took no less that 4 trips with the car left for days at a time for each trip to resolve a coolent leak that turned out to be a pinhole in the radiator.

When I traded in my 01 the drivers window would not roll back up once rolled down. You had to do a dance to get it back up which involved pulling on the window and hitting the switch at the same time.

There was a trip a month for 12 months owning this car for service. On one of the first trips I pointed out the side marker was broken and needed to be fixed or replaced. They glued it in and got glue all over the fender and left it there!!!

They also attempted to glue back together my rear shade. It was later replaced after I was informed what the fired mechanic had done. Of couse the rear shade was a 2 tripper as well and the car was in for 14 days for that one.

I purchased this 05 in hopes that sonce I am the original owner and will care for the car the way I am used to caring for one it will be better to me over the years. Time will tell, this might be my last Audi.

Rodeo - If I can provide one piece of advice. Do not own one of these cars without a warranty it does seem the S line is a little better built but I would still not go without one. I do not understand why you cannot extend to 100K miles I was able to with my 01 granted it had 50K on it when purchased.

Rodeo · 11-14-2005, 01:35 PM

The 100,000 mile CPO warranty is only good for 2 years from purchase. In 2 years, the car will probably have 40,000 miles and still be under the original factory warranty. So the CPO warranty is useless to me, its redundant.

SoCal, I'll still have 3 years/40k miles left on the factory warranty if I buy it next month when the lease is up. That's about what I'd get with most new cars today: 3 yrs/36k.

ronb, I've always been leery of those aftermarket warranties. Have to read the fine print carefully. And those companies have been known to go out of business.

Our local dealer is a multi-brand store. I've dealt with their Porsche, BMW and Acura service departments, and they all stink. I expect Audi will be the same.

If it weren't for those fender flares, I would not even be thinking about this car anymore