Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 09:39
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - higgles

Hi,

I`ve gone and put down a deposit on an AUDI A1 2011 (Audi APPROVED) at an AUDi dealership. It`s MOT`d until march and has 1 years Audi warranty. I probably haven`t haggled the BEST deal but at £11,400 it seems ok. I only used my debit card to put down the £400, I didn`t sign anything.

Over the weekend I suddenly realised I probably should have got the car inspected by a third party ? Obviously Audi inspects the car as it`s approved ? They say they`re ok with it being inspected but I need to take ownership within a month.

Do I need the extra inspection or is Audi`s enough ? Also since I haven`t signed anything but I have put down a deposit am I legally bound to still buy the car within the month ? Having not bought an expensive car before I got a bit nervous about it.

I was looking at an AA inspection but noticed `Elite` mentioned too.

There are also garages nearby that could take a look I suppose ? Maybe run it through an MOT ?

Edited by higgles on 23/12/2013 at 09:43

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 09:54
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - skidpan

Hi,

I`ve gone and put down a deposit on an AUDI A1 2011 (Audi APPROVED) at an AUDi dealership. It`s MOT`d until march and has 1 years Audi warranty.

A 2011 car does not need an MOT. It will need its first MOT on its 3rd birthday. I suspect that you have bought a 2010 car if its MOT'd until March 2014.

If that is the case you need to renegotiate the deal but it will also give you a way out if you have been miss sold the car as a 2011.

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 10:44
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - higgles

sorry I got the date of the MOT wrong, it`s taxed til March I`ve checked it`s details online and it says 2011.

reg date: 30 March 2011

age: 2 years 8 months

plate registered: Between 01 Mar 11 & 31 Aug 11

The main question due to being nervous is should I get an inspection on it or is Audi`s Approved Inspection/1 year warranty enough ?

I`m supposed to pick the car up today but they`ve agreed to an inspection which is good in case I should get one. Although ti`ll be another £200 I guess

Edited by higgles on 23/12/2013 at 10:47

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 11:06
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - oldroverboy.

If it is a good audi dealer, they will honour the warranty they give, as a manufacturers backed warranty is usually the best, but if you are buying diesel or dsg be careful.

Outline the conditions of the warranty first, has it been serviced and checked, are the brake pads sufficiently unused, some one had a car from Vag dealer, (a polo) and the brake pads needed replaceing shortly after. look at the detail, so if you are nervous, the check will help, but,

End of the day if you have a bad feeling walk away, but be careful , did you give the deposit as refundable?

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 11:21
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - higgles

Hi,

I believe they`ve got all the history etc. I was going to see the docs today. I didn`t specify refundable deposit so maybe not. I don` t have a bad feeling really just nervous since I`ve never bought an expensive car. £500 is the most I think I ever spent, relied on inheriting my parents old cars instead of birthday presents etc.

it`s a Petrol Audi A1 16000 miles buying from Ridgeway Audi.

www.audi.co.uk/content/audi/locate-a-centre/search...l

so It`s a proper Audi dealer. Being new to buying, I just don`t know what level of trust there is from a main dealer. Hopefully high ?

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 11:32
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - artill

You could ask the dealer if they will give you the previous owners details. They should be able to tell you the cars history. I would want to know if it had any accident damage, and had it needed warrenty work. From my experience dealers dont bother to find out about minor accident damage as long as a car looks straight and saleable.

The cost of an inspection is probably worthwhile if you are still worried. You never know what they will find. You dont need to find much to recover the cost of the inspection, and if they find nothing you didnt pay too much for peace of mind.

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 11:35
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - higgles

thanks very much for all your help this morning.

It sounds like I`m over worrying but maybe I`ll get a check anyway.

In another thread I think you suggested Elite but with the AA I`ll get a discount (probably), any idea which is better ?

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 11:54
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - oldroverboy.

Given that it is a petrol, a lot less to be concerned about. Knowing that, if it is an ordinary manual, just get the dealer to service it before collection and, personally, i don't think a 1.6 petrol would be ex-hire, but if it has full audi service history, I would save myself the £200.

If you inspect ask if the car is put on a lift, and ask if the tracking is checked, but again,

I would save the £200, and get the tracking checked, I am sure someone here can point you at somewhere to do that.

Ps, I have personally been to Ridgeway in faraday Rd with a friend, and our impressions were good, (but she did not get the car she wanted) not the dealers fault. (finance)

orb

Edited by oldroverboy. on 23/12/2013 at 12:01

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 12:33
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - higgles

again, can`t thank you all enough for all your help today.

anthony

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 13:08
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - Ethan Edwards

HPI check?

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 13:23
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - Galaxy

Most reputable dealers do HPI checks on everything they have for sale these days, largely for their own protection. If you ask the dealer about an HPI check they will almost certainly be able to show you the results of their own one.

Of course, if you so wish, there's absolutely nothing to prevent you doing your own own. You just need the reg and Vin numbers.

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 13:26
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - Ethan Edwards

Yes but if you have any doubt at all about the dealer then it's a small bit of reassurance isn't it.

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 14:52
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - nortones2

Unless you have some expertise (and the OP has less than my wife, probably) have it checked out. Main dealer, Audi A4: she happened to notice some white "acrylic" along a seam at the rear under a wheelarch, and asked what that was. We took off various coverings in the boot: lo and behold more sealant inside. A bodged, and nowrusty repair job from a big bump. Salesman seemed genuinely surprised: it all looked fine superficially. Sales handle so many vehicles they don't have time to do more than a cursory glance. Maybe:) We left them to it.

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Mon 23 Dec 2013 15:00
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - A3 A4

I have bought three used Audi's from a main dealership. Two of the three although sold with full service history were overdue cambelt changes - one by three years! In both cases it only became apparent when at the next service/MOT when I was told they needed replacing and the costs to do so.

In fairness to the dealership once I pointed out that they were sold with full service histories and should have been replaced prior to purchase, I had little trouble in getting them replaced FOC. I often wonder what would have happened had either failed.

All three needed work doing under the used warranty and on each occasion, no questions were asked and the work carried out very professionally, although they seem more keen to oblige when the vehicle was bought from the same dealership.

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Tue 24 Dec 2013 00:02
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - SteveLee

£11K for a two year old supermini? Dear oh dear...

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Tue 24 Dec 2013 09:46
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - madf

Friend has a 2 year old A1 with diesel and stop/start.

I was amazed how noisy and uncomfortable the ride was and is over non billiard smooth surfaces. - especially when I read the road tests which fail to mention it.. It confirms my opinion that most road testers lie about certain makes and models and deliberately fail to mention the bad points.

The engine was also grumbly, noisy and harsh (inside the car.). Would drive me nuts.

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Tue 24 Dec 2013 11:22
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - nortones2

German roads being glassy smooth, Audi design for home market primarily. Skoda on the other hand has to contend with pretty rough surfaces: they tune the suspension to match. Hence Skoda is a better option for the UK. IMHO. On ride as well as other grounds.

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Tue 24 Dec 2013 11:28
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - RT

Big manufacturers like Ford and Opel/Vauxhall, use a range of suspension settings in different European countries to reflect road surfaces and driver preferences.

Don't VAG do this ?

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Tue 24 Dec 2013 14:48
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - Andrew-T

It confirms my opinion that most road testers lie about certain makes and models and deliberately fail to mention the bad points.

IMHO a new car would have to be near undrivable for it to be slated in a motoring publication. How could the cosy maker/publisher relationship work otherwise?

Just look back a few years and try to remember new models that were enthused over, then relegated to also-rans 2 or 3 years later. Of course we must make some allowance for the journos only having a short time with a pre-launch copy, but even so ....

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Tue 24 Dec 2013 14:58
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - A3 A4

Never forget the Chrysler Alpine was car of the year in 1976, beating the BMW 3 Series.

Did any make it to their tenth birthday?

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Fri 27 Dec 2013 04:57
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - SteveLee

At least the Alpine rode fairly well and was reasonable value - the A1 will have your fillings out!

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Fri 27 Dec 2013 09:34
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - daveyK_UK
Other than a prestige Audi badge and some crome touches and slightly better plastics in places, what does the A1 offer that makes it considerably more expensive than the Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia or VW Polo?

What are the differences/improvements that really matter?
Where does the significant price increase come from?

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Fri 27 Dec 2013 10:37
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - Andrew-T
Where does the significant price increase come from?

Your wallet, if you're daft or brand-loyal (or both) enough to but one ....

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Fri 27 Dec 2013 12:05
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - madf

"Everything you'd expect of an Audi is here - lots of soft-touch plastics and mouldings, a clear and logical layout and chrome-rimmed air vents"


Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/audi/a1#ixzz2ofyDIqzl

So muppets buy cars with "soft touch plastics" and think it means quality?

They are a "soft touch" themselves - who touches the dash plastic when driving? Autoexpress testers obviously.

"The A1 is the quietest premium supermini there is. The diesel engines can rattle when pulling away, but the petrols are always smooth and quiet, and you’re well insulated from wind and road noise. An engine stop-start system is standard across the range and it works quickly and unobtrusively."

tinyurl.com/oxl4nok

Tthe diesel engines CAN rattle? CAN?

They do...

Weasel words..

Edited by madf on 27/12/2013 at 12:06

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Fri 27 Dec 2013 11:21
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - Cyd

If i were buying a 2y8m old car I would be asking the dealer to supply it with a full 12mth MoT.

Also make sure it's not due a service for at least 6 months (although I always fully service any car I buy within a few weeks, regardless of what the 'history' says).

At 16k is it still on its original tyres? If so what condition are they in?

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Fri 27 Dec 2013 17:32
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - Avant

"Other than a prestige Audi badge and some chrome touches and slightly better plastics in places, what does the A1 offer that makes it considerably more expensive than the Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia or VW Polo?"

At least in terms of list price, the A1 and A3 are little if any more expensive than the Polo and Golf respectively and one thing the Audi badge does do is - rightly or wrongly - ensure that their cars hold their value well.

Where I think Audi miss a trick is in not offering the Golf GTI and GTD engines in the A3. They aren't exclusive to the VW brand as a GTi engine is sitting nicely in my Octavia vRS.

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Sat 28 Dec 2013 06:53
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - Chris79
Theres another thread running at the moment with a guy trying to choose between an Octavia or a passat. People seem to think that the Octavia suffers from a lot of road noise, some even describing it as unbearable. I couldn't comment on the Octavia as I ve never owned one, however I can confirm that all of the 3 audis I have had have been very well insulated and extremely comfortable at speed and across varying road surfaces. The q3 we presently have has the best ride so far out of all of them but then it does sit on the deepest profile tyres.

When we bought our first audi it was a choice between a golf and an a3. As someone has already stated we had the audi as the price difference between the two was minimal.
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Sat 28 Dec 2013 15:21
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - Cyd

IIRC I'm sure the Octavia comes out the factory with Conti SportContacts?? Can anyone confirm?

My Saab 9-3 Aero also had these as standard factory fit. I swapped to Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric 2s in standard (ie non XL) format. The car is much quieter and significantly more comfortable on our pitted roads with only a slight loss of steering and handling precision. I was happy with the trade off. They are 235/45/17.

Edited by Cyd{P} on 28/12/2013 at 15:22

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Sat 28 Dec 2013 17:53
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - skidpan

When we test drove the Octavia Estate the first car was on Dunlops (15") and was ear shatteringly noisy, the second car was on Bridgestones (16") and whilst quieter was still noiser than our C-Max which was on 16" Continental Sport Contacts at the time and we thought that was a noisy car. We did not but the Octavia (road noise was just one issue) and eventually replaced the Contis on the C-Max with Kumho's, what a difference, like having a new car.

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Sat 28 Dec 2013 19:43
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - Avant

As I've just said on the Octavia v Passat thread, I haven't found any of my three Octavias excessive in terms of road noise. The OE tyres have all been Continentals. It's possible that lower trim levels may have less noise insulation.

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Sun 29 Dec 2013 00:39
Audi A1 - Buying Audi A1 from an AUDI dealer - SteveLee
Theres another thread running at the moment with a guy trying to choose between an Octavia or a passat. People seem to think that the Octavia suffers from a lot of road noise, some even describing it as unbearable. I couldn't comment on the Octavia as I ve never owned one, however I can confirm that all of the 3 audis I have had have been very well insulated and extremely comfortable at speed and across varying road surfaces. The q3 we presently have has the best ride so far out of all of them but then it does sit on the deepest profile tyres. When we bought our first audi it was a choice between a golf and an a3. As someone has already stated we had the audi as the price difference between the two was minimal.

So what you're saying is you've found an Audi that doesn't ride as poorly as the others - well done. Most cars are comfortable at speed, It's when you slow down things get rough.

Audi's used to be comfotable but my experience of them in the last 15 years is they are terrible.

Edited by SteveLee on 29/12/2013 at 00:40

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