Do yeh feel lucky punk - well do yeh?
Discussion
I think I'm becoming the service history bore here but I've been asked this question and I'm probably not the least biased.
A colleague is looking to buy an Audi A6 2.0 diesel.
He's found a 2 1/2 year old one at 36K at about £3K cheaper than elsewhere. The independent dealer was straight with him, it came from an Audi dealer who couldn't warranty it as it has never been serviced.
They've now serviced it and all seems well. They will also stick a 6 months warranty on.
Should he buy it. I've said "why take the risk" . Others have said he's already £3K ahead and if it's running OK now, it will probsbly be fine for the 2-3 years he's going to own it.
A colleague is looking to buy an Audi A6 2.0 diesel.
He's found a 2 1/2 year old one at 36K at about £3K cheaper than elsewhere. The independent dealer was straight with him, it came from an Audi dealer who couldn't warranty it as it has never been serviced.
They've now serviced it and all seems well. They will also stick a 6 months warranty on.
Should he buy it. I've said "why take the risk" . Others have said he's already £3K ahead and if it's running OK now, it will probsbly be fine for the 2-3 years he's going to own it.
I suspect it's a PCP car where they realised it was cheaper not to service and take the hit for it but as has been suggested, has the mileage been adjusted too?
In 2-3 years time when the car is 4-5 years old, I suspect a missing history from early on will easily be not noticed and I see on WBAC that they only knock off about £500 for no history so if the car goes OK for the time he owns it, he could be onto a winner but I keep asking - why take the risk? The cost of something going bang in 2-18 months could easily be more than £3K and he's stuck with an expensive pile of parts which he'll be committed to fixing.
In 2-3 years time when the car is 4-5 years old, I suspect a missing history from early on will easily be not noticed and I see on WBAC that they only knock off about £500 for no history so if the car goes OK for the time he owns it, he could be onto a winner but I keep asking - why take the risk? The cost of something going bang in 2-18 months could easily be more than £3K and he's stuck with an expensive pile of parts which he'll be committed to fixing.
Pistom said:
I suspect it's a PCP car where they realised it was cheaper not to service and take the hit for it....
Usually the penalty is hefty to prevent exactly that.Who knows the story? We used to have a nightmare getting some employees to have their company lease cars serviced, and there's quite a wide school of thought that thinks servicing is a scam, which anyone who has been exposed to a VAG dealer will appreciate.
There's a story on an MB forum I visit of someone who bought a <3yr old C Class at auction only for it to throw a rod a couple of months later. Turned out it had never been serviced and that's why it was in the auction rather than on a dealer's forecourt.
What does he consider his alternative is?
Would he pay the extra £3000 that you say the other cars of similar age and mileage cost?
Or is he looking at what else is available around that lower price point, which is presumably not only older but higher mileage anyway?
£3000 difference on a car with a value of around £17-20k is a big difference for effectively 1 missing service stamp. Do the other aspects of the car seem ok?
Would he pay the extra £3000 that you say the other cars of similar age and mileage cost?
Or is he looking at what else is available around that lower price point, which is presumably not only older but higher mileage anyway?
£3000 difference on a car with a value of around £17-20k is a big difference for effectively 1 missing service stamp. Do the other aspects of the car seem ok?
Edited by Wooda80 on Thursday 11th October 10:33
Wooda80 said:
What does he consider his alternative is?
Would he pay the extra £3000 that you say the other cars of similar age and mileage cost?
Or is he looking at what else is available around that lower price point, which is presumably not only older but higher mileage anyway?
£3000 difference on a car with a value of around £17-20k is a big difference for effectively 1 missing service stamp. Do the other aspects of the car seem ok?
His alternative is an older car and can't stretch the extra £3K for a legitimate car.Would he pay the extra £3000 that you say the other cars of similar age and mileage cost?
Or is he looking at what else is available around that lower price point, which is presumably not only older but higher mileage anyway?
£3000 difference on a car with a value of around £17-20k is a big difference for effectively 1 missing service stamp. Do the other aspects of the car seem ok?
Edited by Wooda80 on Thursday 11th October 10:33
Yes, the car seems fine but it would be easy to hide 20-30K miles extra if that has happened. Would someone really do 50K without servicing?
It really comes down to how lucky he feels.
If he gets 2-3 years with no issue then he will have done OK as there is no way he could afford a car like that otherwise.
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