This is the particular car I'm looking at.

For anybody who hasn't, or can't, use the link the headline details are:

2014 Audi A4

2.0 TDI SE Technik

86k miles (138k km)

Manual

Full service history

Immaculate MOT history

1 owner

So I'm on the look out for a used car with a £6k budget and came across this.

I have never had an Audi before, but to me this feels like potentially a good deal.

It's well equipped, the mileage is relatively low given the age of the car, it looks to have been well looked after.

I don't know much about cars, but my understanding is that the 2.0 TDI is a reliable old thing.

Only thing I know of that I should be checking for in the service history is a new timing belt and water pump around 75k miles. Is that correct? Anything else I should be checking?

So yeah, would buying this car be a mistake? What should I be aware of when inspecting and test driving it?

Thanks very much everybody 🙂

57 minutes ago, mackemforever said:

This is the particular car I'm looking at.

For anybody who hasn't, or can't, use the link the headline details are:

2014 Audi A4

2.0 TDI SE Technik

86k miles (138k km)

Manual

Full service history

Immaculate MOT history

1 owner

So I'm on the look out for a used car with a £6k budget and came across this.

I have never had an Audi before, but to me this feels like potentially a good deal.

It's well equipped, the mileage is relatively low given the age of the car, it looks to have been well looked after.

I don't know much about cars, but my understanding is that the 2.0 TDI is a reliable old thing.

Only thing I know of that I should be checking for in the service history is a new timing belt and water pump around 75k miles. Is that correct? Anything else I should be checking?

So yeah, would buying this car be a mistake? What should I be aware of when inspecting and test driving it?

Thanks very much everybody 🙂

Hi, yes its been looked after but if you knowledge of cars is limited steer well clear as its coming up to the milage where DPF faults will occur along with likely a new clutch, the timing belt is a plus but consumables such as pads and discs can be pretty eye-watering if you are set on having an Audi buy the petrol version as its a lot less prone to emissions related problems. Its cheap for a reason.

Steve.

Hello Alex,

Prior homework is king.

Without going through that with a tooth comb, you will be in the very vulnerable situation of falling in love with the shine, and you know what falling in love can do for your eyesight.

Do you mind me pointing out the not so good/potentially not so good facts about this car. By doing that, you can decide for yourself how this fits in with your requirements:- 

Checking the DVLA vehicle record shows the last V5 was issued as recently as 7 November. Now this could be a rejected- within-30 days car, or it could be that it was previously on a cherished plate - which was removed then-? But you need to find out. 
 

You say ‘Immaculate MOT history’. Really! Yes, if you ignore the car being fairly regularly being presented for MOTs with tyres below or near the legal limit. Regularly advised for leaky shock absorbers. Brake pads below limit or near limit. Even rose coloured glasses couldn’t justify this being termed as having an ‘Immaculate MOT history’. All of this smacks of not being too concerned about ensuring it’s correctly maintained. 
 

‘Full service history’ ? Their website states something along the lines of ‘service history documents’. Have you asked them to e-mail you copy of exactly what they have - which should include print outs of Audi computerised history at least through the warranty period. Without actual sight of that, I would be treating it as if it never existed, until you see it. 
 

‘I don’t know much about cars…’ Very dangerous territory! If I were in your situation, I would be arranging a paid for experienced inspection of this car, before making any expression of interest. 
 

The other pre-interest ‘investment’ I would make would be to spend £9.99 on a VCheck check against the registration number ( instantly available on line once you have paid the £9.99). This will tell you most of what you need to know inc. any auctions it’s been through.

Do a forum search on ‘Cambelt’ ( selecting Everywhere on the drop down menu). That will point out recent dictates on recommended change intervals. You can then decide whether to go with it and take a chance - or not. 
Please let us know how you get on Alex. 
Regards,

Gareth.

24 minutes ago, Stevey Y said:

Hi, yes its been looked after but if you knowledge of cars is limited steer well clear as its coming up to the milage where DPF faults will occur along with likely a new clutch, the timing belt is a plus but consumables such as pads and discs can be pretty eye-watering if you are set on having an Audi buy the petrol version as its a lot less prone to emissions related problems. Its cheap for a reason.

Steve.

So when I said I don't know much about cars I was under selling it a little bit. I've worked on my own motorbikes for years, and while I don't have a garage right now I can at least handle basic maintenance like pads and discs to save on labour costs.

I did also run an old diesel Merc for a few years, so I'm familiar with the need to drive it at speed enough to keep it running well. I'm only going to do about 5,000 miles a year but most of that is going to be motorways so it should be fine on that front.

If it hasn't had timing belt and clutch done yet I'm going to try and get a bit knocked off. I know the timing belt should have been done by now, so if it hasn't then it's a fair thing to ask. Clutch maybe less so, as I know that it's not something that you'd expect to have been done by now, but it is getting towards the point where it could go wrong.

Even if I do need to spend a grand getting a new clutch in at some point, that's no issue. I'm not looking for a cheap car because I need one, I'm looking for a cheap car because I like them!

1 hour ago, mackemforever said:

So when I said I don't know much about cars I was under selling it a little bit. I've worked on my own motorbikes for years, and while I don't have a garage right now I can at least handle basic maintenance like pads and discs to save on labour costs.

I did also run an old diesel Merc for a few years, so I'm familiar with the need to drive it at speed enough to keep it running well. I'm only going to do about 5,000 miles a year but most of that is going to be motorways so it should be fine on that front.

If it hasn't had timing belt and clutch done yet I'm going to try and get a bit knocked off. I know the timing belt should have been done by now, so if it hasn't then it's a fair thing to ask. Clutch maybe less so, as I know that it's not something that you'd expect to have been done by now, but it is getting towards the point where it could go wrong.

Even if I do need to spend a grand getting a new clutch in at some point, that's no issue. I'm not looking for a cheap car because I need one, I'm looking for a cheap car because I like them!

Hi I am glad you can cover the basics that will help a lot and a grand on the clutch will cover the parts, the car you are looking at has the same engine as my one had and believe me when I tell you that you will have to buy something above cheap for the diagnostics, I ran mine for over 270k and I can confirm that at some point soon it will suffer the dreaded P200 code which is the low pressure EGR cooler blocked which regardless of how fast you drive will happen I strongly advise that you make good use of the forums archive in both the A4/A6 sections as this will give a good insight into the problems you may encounter, the P200 and Adblue system failures being very common and expensive both parts and labour, I wish you the best of luck, the two items I mention are definitely not DIY.

Steve.

Wondering if you have progressed with the potential purchase Alex?