Quick advice needed A8 Purchase

[mrh3113]

Can't decide....

I have narrowed down my search to the following - both D3 facelift 3.0 TDI models:

57 plate with 62k miles, just being serviced and new MOT, £12k to include 1 year warranty

09 plate with 105k miles, new MOT, recent pads/discs/tyres/front suspension, both inlet manifolds and air suspension compressor done under warranty. Has BOSE stereo upgrade. Private sale. £11750 - but I would probably want to buy warranty to play safe...

Both in pretty immaculate condition.

Age old question - newer car with more miles (and some of the major malfunctions these cars get already fettled) or slightly older but lower miles.... I intend to keep for 4 years at least, so 'newer' one will have 150k miles by then - I wonder if I will struggle to sell, wheras the older one will only be just over the 100k miles mark and may be easier to shift on.

Any consensus....?

[Dilligaf10]

The A8's will run to high mileages without much of a problem. I have a D3 on 180k at the moment, last one went to 298k and the one before that 200k. My D4 I got five weeks ago has already got an extra 9k on it.

Check all the electrics as they can get expensive.

Personally I would go for the later option and get a warranty.

[mrh3113]

I think I am leaning that way too... It has been a motorway mile muncher which is inherently less stressfull to all the components.

How did your cars 'feel' when they got that sort of mileage? Were they starting to get noticably tired...?

[XM5ER]

If I can hijak this for a minute. I'm eying the D3 as well at the minute (slightly older one), are there any major pitfalls to look out for, eg the suspension compressor, injectors etc?

Its one of these or a Merc CLS.

[Andy JB]

I'd check if the 57 plate has a DPF? I'm moving these days more towards a buying mentality of more miles & newer being better for some components like DPF's which need heat & regular runs, where as an older one with few miles will likely be shot by now.

Also newer model had air compressor replaced, older one liklely to need this imminently - peace of mind. Good choice either way.

[XM5ER]

How durable are the suspension struts?

BTW just found this guy whilst doing a bit of digging on the compressor units www.bagpipingandy.com.

[Dr G]

Generally they're tough; only done one recently on an 05 car with a load of miles on it.

Air sus parts are all available from 'Air Suspension Shop' at semi-reasonable price in Germany who have a store on ebay UK.

[XM5ER]

Thanks Dr G

[Dilligaf10]

They still drove as well as when I got them. The 298k was only part exchanged as electrical gremlins were starting plus I like to keep the fleet upgraded.

TBH I was very sorry to see it go, still drove beautifully, my all time favourite car in 44 years of car ownership.
DPF are not a problem for us due the amount of motorway mileage they do. 70k per car, per year.

[mrh3113]

Thanks for that.
I've decided to plump for the newer high mileage one.
Anyone recommend a respectable warranty provider....?

[dkatwa]

mrh3113 said:

Thanks for that.
I've decided to plump for the newer high mileage one.
Anyone recommend a respectable warranty provider....?

Might be worth phoning Audi dealers in case something tasty has been p/ex'd recently due to the new Reg no?