Audi - keep up very expensive?

cerebus

cerebus

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We are have been looking into getting the Audi Avant(station wagon) due to family needs. BUT, we keep hearing that the Audi is so expensive to maintain. Is that correct, and such a big deal? We have been seeing so many beautiful Audi's second hand, and would just love one! Thanks!
 
Out of motor plan?

It is expensive to maintain...
 
Voicy said:
Out of motor plan?

It is expensive to maintain...
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As are other German cars (BMW, Merc).... we had a big Merc service (150k) that cost R12k.... mind you, there were a few replacement parts.
The services itself aren't really expensive. The last B service was R2900, which is not too bad.
 
According to Tim182:
Service on these cars is generally less than on most little and affordable cars.
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Last time I checked a major service at Audi/BMW/Mercedes cost in the region of R800-R900 while an oil service cost R600.
Click to expand...
 
any of the nicer vehicles are expensive to maintain.

Make sure you get a good say 5 year motorplan & then sell it just before that's over & get another one...
 
Brawler said:
According to Tim182:
Click to expand...

Uhm what?

BMW services, under maintenance, are free.
Merc, each service you pay an extra 10% more (0%,10%,20%, .... until 50%, then you're out of the plan).
Beyond that, it's a lot more than R800-900.

ChilliGirl said:
any of the nicer vehicles are expensive to maintain.

Make sure you get a good say 5 year motorplan & then sell it just before that's over & get another one...
Click to expand...

+1.
Unfortunately with the German cars from the last 7 years, they changed their insurers so no maintenance plans could be extended (120k-150k).
 
froot said:
Uhm what?

BMW services, under maintenance, are free.
Merc, each service you pay an extra 10% more (0%,10%,20%, .... until 50%, then you're out of the plan).
Beyond that, it's a lot more than R800-900.
Click to expand...

Apparently that what they cost out of motorplan:erm:
 
Brawler said:
Apparently that what they cost out of motorplan:erm:
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I can go look for our service invoices. Anything from R2-3k for a minor service, and a decent major service (no major parts replaced) about R6k including labour.
 
In my experience (I have a C200) it all depends on where, and how you have your vehicle serviced. As the car gets older, you will have to replace some non critical components, which do add up. Sure you can get away with doing a minimum service and pay only R 600 to R 1000, but it could end up costing far more in the long run.

A proper service at agents/independent workshop will include a general inspection of the vehicle, which might (or not) find other bits and bobs that need to be replaced besides the normal service parts. A service at a "we service all makes" more often than not only sees an oil and filter change, and maybe some big items such as the cam-belt (when needed). They do not always know what and when to look for.

To answer your question, it depends on the condition and mileage of the Audi. If it needs only the bare minimum, then it can be quite affordable, but it very rarely does. That said, same would apply for any type of vehicle. It all depends on your definition of a service, i.e. have it done properly by the right people, or just keep the car moving for as little money as possible.
 
froot said:
I can go look for our service invoices. Anything from R2-3k for a minor service, and a decent major service (no major parts replaced) about R6k including labour.
Click to expand...

Indeed, even my wife's i10's first service was almost R2k, but then it was done properly by the agents.
 
cerebus said:
We are have been looking into getting the Audi Avant(station wagon) due to family needs. BUT, we keep hearing that the Audi is so expensive to maintain. Is that correct, and such a big deal? We have been seeing so many beautiful Audi's second hand, and would just love one! Thanks!
Click to expand...

What do you see as expensive? Also, what Audi are you looking at, TDI, TSI, non-turbo?

I have an older 2.0L A4. It costs me fuel (I get 11km/L in town), tires (price range from R900/tire upwards) and a service every 10000km which cost me about R1500 at a non dealer workshop which I trust and have been dealing with for many years. I treat the car nicely so it treats me nicely. I love the car and would buy one again anyday...if only Audi did not stop selling the non-turbo engines.
 
cerebus said:
We are have been looking into getting the Audi Avant(station wagon) due to family needs. BUT, we keep hearing that the Audi is so expensive to maintain. Is that correct, and such a big deal? We have been seeing so many beautiful Audi's second hand, and would just love one! Thanks!
Click to expand...

To answer your question in full...

If there is a turbo involved, make sure the car is in mint condition.... not too many kilos, definitely not a performance one (TFSi, etc)... the turbo's are very very expensive should they pack up.
Try get a maintenance plan involved, a maintenance plan extension covers about 2 services (1 minor, 1 major) and will cover either the amount, or up to double the amount you paid for it.

As long as you don't have expensive parts breaking, you should be fine. See my previous post for the service costs.
Replaced an alternator in the last service, R1000.
Merc battery (larger than a std batter), R1800.
Other similar parts were also R1000-R1500.
 
It depends, will you take the car to an Audi stealership or will you have a private mechanic do all of your work?

A decent private mech will save you thousands. Last year my A3 cost me around R6,500 to maintain. This included Cambelt service, replacing all the calipers, replacing front discs, having rear discs skimmed, replacing a coolant system hose that had broken off (it happens after 214,000kms), replacing my water pump (propeller had broken) and various other minor things.

If a turbo goes things can get costly, but apart from something major going wrong, Audi costs aren't that scary. Unless you take it to a dealership, in which case I'd recommend taking some vaseline with.

What year and model Avant are you looking at?
 
@ Derrick

Phoned a private service dept last year (specialising in Merc but does other cars too) and the Merc dealer actually ended up being cheaper. Problem is at times that they have to buy the parts from the dealers....
 
Of the two of those, I'd take the older one tbh.... I don't think its a Turbo engine.

Oh and saying that the 2003 A4 Avant retails at R104000 is complete bollocks, its closer to R85k... so if the seller is selling at R65k that car has BIG problems that he's trying to get away from.
 
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Also, they don't keep stock of all items locally meaning sometimes you have to wait weeks for the 'parts to come from Germany'.
 
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