Buying an Audi a good idea?

[Fuma]

If you're asking questions about affordability out of motor plan then you shouldn't be looking at luxury vehicles at all.
A modern Audi. BMW, Mercedes or Volvo vehicle is something that you do not want to service outside of a motor plan if a major component breaks.

Also considering you're getting married and all the expenses you'll have, the last thing you want on your hands right now is another expensive headache.

This^^. This guy I know bought a 2nd hand Freelander and couldn't afford a single tyre when time came to change em.

 

[Grimspoon]

I drive an A4 and its the best car I have driven. Highly recommended.

@Mike - I also had a dealer tune me my car is worth less because it is Multitronic, and mine is a 07. They will find any excuse to cut you down.

They will buy it off you for R100k and sell it tomorrow for R170k.

 

[TeRRoRByteZ2007]

I'm on my 3rd Audi now - great cars!

But I would rather suggest you go for a newer model that has a bigger blanace of the motorplan left. The parts are very expensive...

Would prefer if I could, but then it goes beyond my price range. I can only spend about R85 000 Max.

If you're asking questions about affordability out of motor plan then you shouldn't be looking at luxury vehicles at all.
A modern Audi. BMW, Mercedes or Volvo vehicle is something that you do not want to service outside of a motor plan if a major component breaks.

Also considering you're getting married and all the expenses you'll have, the last thing you want on your hands right now is another expensive headache.

Think I should just stay with Ford then. Will be looking at the Focus hatch next week. Nothing wrong with Ford, but would have like to get a bit more on the luxury side of things since it'll probably be a long time before I can buy a car again.

 

[walterl]

I'm driving my 3rd Audi but I buy them new and trade them in when they are 5 years old and out of freeway plan

 

[pboy]

nice family sedan, 2005ish model: honda accord type S. look no further mate!
will not sell mine. period!

they say german cars after motorplan are pretty worthless, as that's when most of them start giving problems.
same crowd says that with jap cars, they pretty much just being run in at 100 000kms! had a honda civic at 250 000kms- no problems! now the accord is at 160 000kms... only one out of regular service items list has been replaced. for the ride, the comfort, the fuel economy, and the value you get: there's nothing close! i paid R110k for mine...

 

[Grimspoon]

nice family sedan, 2005ish model: honda accord type S. look no further mate!
will not sell mine. period!

they say german cars after motorplan are pretty worthless, as that's when most of them start giving problems.
same crowd says that with jap cars, they pretty much just being run in at 100 000kms! had a honda civic at 250 000kms- no problems! now the accord is at 160 000kms... only one out of regular service items list has been replaced. for the ride, the comfort, the fuel economy, and the value you get: there's nothing close! i paid R110k for mine...

Whilst I agree they are great cars etc etc, they leave a lot to be desired when it comes to performance. I felt like a grandpa driving the new Accord. You have to ring its neck to get any excitement out of it.

Edit: O and out of all the cars I looked at for some reason he Accord was the most expensive to insure, in fact ridiculously expensive.

 

[ToxicBunny]

If you're asking questions about affordability out of motor plan then you shouldn't be looking at luxury vehicles at all.
A modern Audi. BMW, Mercedes or Volvo vehicle is something that you do not want to service outside of a motor plan if a major component breaks.

Also considering you're getting married and all the expenses you'll have, the last thing you want on your hands right now is another expensive headache.

I'm sorry that is complete BOLLOCKS...

I just serviced my Merc, R1200 for a service. It was cheaper than my mates service on a Polo...

Yes, if something big goes wrong out of maintenance plan you're up shytecreek without a paddle, but that goes for any car, not just the luxury ones.
Although saying that, I just helped my dad replace the fuel pump on his Audi and it wasn't nearly as expensive as I thought... can't remember the price anymore though.

 

[Grimspoon]

I'm sorry that is complete BOLLOCKS...

I just serviced my Merc, R1200 for a service. It was cheaper than my mates service on a Polo...

Yes, if something big goes wrong out of maintenance plan you're up shytecreek without a paddle, but that goes for any car, not just the luxury ones.
Although saying that, I just helped my dad replace the fuel pump on his Audi and it wasn't nearly as expensive as I thought... can't remember the price anymore though.

+ 1. Everyone has this perception that only expensive luxury cars cost a fortune to fix. Incorrect.

I also think that South Africans have this perception that you can only drive a car under maintenance plan. I guess that's what keeps the economy ticking as people are constantly buying new cars as apposed to pre owned.

 

[DominionZA]

+ 1. Everyone has this perception that only expensive luxury cars cost a fortune to fix. Incorrect.

I also think that South Africans have this perception that you can only drive a car under maintenance plan. I guess that's what keeps the economy ticking as people are constantly buying new cars as apposed to pre owned.

+1

I have never purchased a brand new car. IMO it is throwing money away the second you drive it off the floor.
I typically purchase 2 to 3 years old and generally end up getting a balance of motor plan which is nice as you can get whatever fixed if it goes wrong after purchase. Thankfully, never used it for more than servicing.

Motor plan is definitely a nice to have, but not a necessity.

 

[Grimspoon]

+1

I have never purchased a brand new car. IMO it is throwing money away the second you drive it off the floor.
I typically purchase 2 to 3 years old and generally end up getting a balance of motor plan which is nice as you can get whatever fixed if it goes wrong after purchase. Thankfully, never used it for more than servicing.

Motor plan is definitely a nice to have, but not a necessity.

Agreed, nice to have but seriously not a must have IMO.

There are also plenty of mechanics around that can fix issues on most cars for a fraction of the cost a dealer will charge you.

 

[DominionZA]

Agreed, nice to have but seriously not a must have IMO.

There are also plenty of mechanics around that can fix issues on most cars for a fraction of the cost a dealer will charge you.

Classic example...

My previous Audi needed it's cambelt service. Audi Airport replace everything. Cost (Quote): R8,000!!!
My car was out of motorplan so I got my good old mechanic at Auto Service Center to quote. Says no more than R2,000. I ended up paying R1,200 as he said most of the "wheels" (not sure of the component tech names) were 100% and would last until the next cambelt service, so he only replaced what needed replacing.

So R8,000 to R1,200. BIG difference. If you don't have someone that is good with these German luxury sedans then ye - you go to the dealer and pay out your butt. Find yourself a good mechanic and it becomes perfectly affordable to drive one of these cars.

 

[Grimspoon]

Classic example...

My previous Audi needed it's cambelt service. Audi Airport replace everything. Cost (Quote): R8,000!!!
My car was out of motorplan so I got my good old mechanic at Auto Service Center to quote. Says no more than R2,000. I ended up paying R1,200 as he said most of the "wheels" (not sure of the component tech names) were 100% and would last until the next cambelt service, so he only replaced what needed replacing.

So R8,000 to R1,200. BIG difference. If you don't have someone that is good with these German luxury sedans then ye - you go to the dealer and pay out your butt. Find yourself a good mechanic and it becomes perfectly affordable to drive one of these cars.

Exactly. I have a excellent mechanic who works from home, he is great. Has all the diagnostic tools etc. And he is a fraction of the cost of Audi.

 

[Paul_S]

I'm sorry that is complete BOLLOCKS...

I just serviced my Merc, R1200 for a service. It was cheaper than my mates service on a Polo...

Did I not mention in my post "if a major component breaks"?
Where did I specify day to day maintenance costs?

Yes, if something big goes wrong out of maintenance plan you're up shytecreek without a paddle, but that goes for any car, not just the luxury ones.

Now that is bollocks.
The agents for luxury car manufacturers charge insane amounts of money for major components compared to cheaper vehicles.
There is no way that Ford are going to charge R100K for a Fiesta engine replacement like BMW did for my friends BMW 320d.
Same with gearboxes. A gearbox for a Ford Fiesta is not going to set one back R118K.

Yes you'll pay a lot for any gearbox and engine replacement from the agents outside of maintenance/warranty but it's more likely to be in the R20K to R30K range for an i20, Fiesta, etc. and not R100K+

 

[Grimspoon]

Did I not mention in my post "if a major component breaks"?
Where did I specify day to day maintenance costs?



Now that is bollocks.
The agents for luxury car manufacturers charge insane amounts of money for major components compared to cheaper vehicles.
There is no way that Ford are going to charge R100K for a Fiesta engine replacement like BMW did for my friends BMW 320d.
Same with gearboxes. A gearbox for a Ford Fiesta is not going to set one back R118K.

Yes you'll pay a lot for any gearbox and engine replacement from the agents outside of maintenance/warranty but it's more likely to be in the R20K to R30K range for an i20, Fiesta, etc. and not R100K+

. . . . . and for that reason you don't go to the agents.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Did I not mention in my post "if a major component breaks"?
Where did I specify day to day maintenance costs?



Now that is bollocks.
The agents for luxury car manufacturers charge insane amounts of money for major components compared to cheaper vehicles.
There is no way that Ford are going to charge R100K for a Fiesta engine replacement like BMW did for my friends BMW 320d.
Same with gearboxes. A gearbox for a Ford Fiesta is not going to set one back R118K.

Yes you'll pay a lot for any gearbox and engine replacement from the agents outside of maintenance/warranty but it's more likely to be in the R20K to R30K range for an i20, Fiesta, etc. and not R100K+

I did qualify my statement.....

Well of course Ford won't charge R118k for a Gearbox, because they don't HAVE a multitronic gearbox.. but they will charge in the R40k range.. which is still absurd for a vehicle like a Ford Fiesta, and roughly what I reckon Audi would try and stick someone for, for a standard manual gearbox.

 

[Paul_S]

. . . . . and for that reason you don't go to the agents.

Agreed. One can do things a lot cheaper through a private mechanic.

Sometimes however there are special parts that can only be purchased new through the agents and second hand can be dodgy unless you have an honest mechanic.
I've heard of too may people being ripped of with reconditioned engines, gearboxes and differentials and only finding out later that the workmanship was shoddy when the part fails.

 

[DominionZA]

Agreed. One can do things a lot cheaper through a private mechanic.

Sometimes however there are special parts that can only be purchased new through the agents and second hand can be dodgy unless you have an honest mechanic.
I've heard of too may people being ripped of with reconditioned engines, gearboxes and differentials and only finding out later that the workmanship was shoddy when the part fails.

Just find one that is reputable. I have been going to Andre at Auto Service Centre for around 8 years now. Never an issue and always 100% satisfied.

 

[Brawler]

Any new car besides the most basic of cars require plug in to the dealerships laptop to do diagnostics, reset warnings etc. How do the back yard guys get around this?

 

[DominionZA]

Any new car besides the most basic of cars require plug in to the dealerships laptop to do diagnostics, reset warnings etc. How do the back yard guys get around this?

If he is a decent mechanic, he well have the tools. The guy I go to has all the tools necessary to maintain my Audi as well as other luxury sedans.

 

[Grimspoon]

Any new car besides the most basic of cars require plug in to the dealerships laptop to do diagnostics, reset warnings etc. How do the back yard guys get around this?

My back yard mech has all the diagnostic tools. Easy.