Proper way to check a used car?

[SendARaven]

Hey all. I'm currently considering buying a new car. The one I REALLY like the most is sold by one of those small, generic dealerships you see driving though the suburb areas so I am skeptical, but I want to make sure I go about this the right way. The dealership agreed to let me send the car for a DEKRA report and diagnostic report at my own cost and I am wondering if choosing to do a full and in-depth test will give me the peace of mind I am looking for, or should I try get hold of a certified mechanic to come and inspect the vehicle? The car is not a bare-bones, basic one. It's a 2014 Audi S5, I test-drove it and it felt great, the only issue highlighted by the car itself was tire pressure so I know I would need to get the tires checked. My biggest concern is that I buy it and not know that many issues are there but not quite prominent enough to make themselves known right now so I would rather know the issues now and I just wanna know the best way to get that info.

The reason I ask which option for inspection is better is because I went online and people have been bashing DEKRA's reports but so far the one's I have read and looked at have been true and accurate on what's wrong with the car. Any thoughts?

 

[yourang]

Vagspec does pre-purchase inspection for VW/audi cars, they do proper check!

 

[D3TTOL]

Don't let them send it for any checking. They have their ways to crook the results.
I was interested in a VW at one of these generic places and they said they'd fix the problems so that it could get a roadworthy cert. Dekra report came back with very little problems but they fixed fck all on the car, turbo had a noise, one mirror was completely loose. Would fold when you drive from the wind but the report came back saying it was all good.

Find someone you trust to do the inspection

 

[SendARaven]

Don't let them send it for any checking. They have their ways to crook the results.
I was interested in a VW at one of these generic places and they said they'd fix the problems so that it could get a roadworthy cert. Dekra report came back with very little problems but they fixed fck all on the car, turbo had a noise, one mirror was completely loose. Would fold when you drive from the wind but the report came back saying it was all good.

Find someone you trust to do the inspection

Ahh you see, that is what I was afraid of. Thanks for the advice and sharing your experience though😁 next issue, I don't know who to trust with an inspection lol.

 

[SendARaven]

Vagspec does pre-purchase inspection for VW/audi cars, they do proper check!

Ahh okay, that sounds pretty dope. I'll look into using them. Thanks a mil😎

 

[Sashr]

You could use a scantool like obdeleven for vw/audi cars

 

[el_guapo3291]

Assuming your age is correct on Carb profile I can understand the allure of buying such a vehicle but perhaps think about something more practical? without any other context into your financial situation this seems like a bad investment. We have established from this post your mechanical knowledge is not at high enough level to where you should consider this type of car at your current age, it's likely going to be a money pit, nevertheless if you do proceed make sure you get it inspected thoroughly, perhaps take it to a VW/Audi dealer and pay for a full inspection (main reason being they usually have propriatary scan tools that can show more data than the typical generic tools used by private workshops) and ask them to pull the full service history just to be sure you are not getting a lemon. If you do go with a Private Mech make sure they at least have VCDS to scan the vehicle.

 

[StangV2_0]

Hey all. I'm currently considering buying a new car. The one I REALLY like the most is sold by one of those small, generic dealerships you see driving though the suburb areas so I am skeptical, but I want to make sure I go about this the right way. The dealership agreed to let me send the car for a DEKRA report and diagnostic report at my own cost and I am wondering if choosing to do a full and in-depth test will give me the peace of mind I am looking for, or should I try get hold of a certified mechanic to come and inspect the vehicle? The car is not a bare-bones, basic one. It's a 2014 Audi S5, I test-drove it and it felt great, the only issue highlighted by the car itself was tire pressure so I know I would need to get the tires checked. My biggest concern is that I buy it and not know that many issues are there but not quite prominent enough to make themselves known right now so I would rather know the issues now and I just wanna know the best way to get that info.

The reason I ask which option for inspection is better is because I went online and people have been bashing DEKRA's reports but so far the one's I have read and looked at have been true and accurate on what's wrong with the car. Any thoughts?

I posted this when I was still in car sales. Try take as much advice from it as possible.

If it were me, I would start with point no 5 & 6.

Good luck!

Used Car Buying Advice | Cars, Bikes, Trains & Planes

Warning. This is a TLDR post. If you are not interested or in the market for buying a car don't bother reading further. If you would like a few tips for your next vehicle purchase then read on. This is a pretty long post and I may edit and add in a few things over time. So there have been a few...

carbonite.co.za

 

[superrob]

 

[Nyt Ryda]

The car is not a bare-bones, basic one. It's a 2014 Audi S5,

I assume it's one of these since these are the only 2014 S5's in the country on Autotrader :

You're 24 with a decent budget. Please don't buy a 10 year old German car. You can get something nice under warranty and service plan which you won't regret.

Also PLEASE don't buy a car in JHB CBD or Kempton CBD or anywhere's CBD.

 

[Oj0]

That is NOT the flashback I expected for the suspension.

I will say 10 Hail Mary's.

 

[dhirennaidoo]

Dekra reports are better than nothing but do not necessarily cover 100% of the risk on the vehicle.
A Dekra report, for example, will not evaluate the chain tensioner on a 1.4TSi engine when it is a very well known problem.
A mechanic who works on the type of car you want to buy is who you should take to examine it.

While I don't have much experience with an S5 (or any Audi), I have a fair amount of experience with maintaining my own Polo TDi and a few years owning an older mk6 Ed35 so I will say this:

1. I agree with everyone in the room. The car is already 10 years old. VAG dual clutch boxes can teach you real emotion.
2. If it's the 3.0 V6 I think it is, the sound can make you forget all reason. It's heavenly. If you go down this route, then
   1. Educate yourself first. Do not trust anything a dealer, seller or even your own mechanic says. Get the VIN number of the car and ask Audi for the service history (they may not give it to you nowadays, but it's worth a try). Find the engine code and research what the common problems are, like here. Every brand (including the japs) has common problems. Ask your mechanic what he thinks about
   2. Call a dealer, give them the VIN and ask for prices on some common items. Service kit, headlight, boot lid gas strut, control arm bushes, for example. I specifically mention control arm bushes because that's the type of thing that you fork out for. It's not something like a bumper or body panel that will be covered by insurance in an accident, but more of a long-term maintenance item. It's made of rubber and rubber gets brittle over time, not just kilometers.
   3. If you end up with an after-market warranty, be sure to read the fine print.

Good luck either way.

 

[Kamikaze]

Do you have a cool R70k to spare in your bank account? Because that's what you'll need to keep that car running. If you want to learn that the hard way, go for it. Just know you've been warned.

Get something more sensible.

 

[WianB48]

For someone at Age 24, i would consider something like a Toyota Urban Cruiser.

Can get decent ones for roughly 30-50K on it and full service history. and reliable.

Don't buy Audi if you can afford the costs of maintaining it

 

[Trompie67]

I wouldn't listen to these twerps - buy it! NOW! Just go for it. WTF do they know? They just envious they didn't spot it sooner. Or didn't spot something similar when they were your age! Fuggem! BUY IT!!!!! They just jealous!!!






Right.

Now that emotion is finished talking in you head.

Are you fkn stupid? Or do you have a trust fund? Jy gaan kak, Jy gaan huil.

I've walked this road. Porsche 928S. Bought from Investment Cars when they were still on Republic Road. Saw me coming from a mile away. They laughed. All the way to the bank.
I cried.
I walked. A lot.
Because the car was a POS. Blown head gasket. Was fine when it was a cold start. Hot start: GFYS, too much coolant in 3 cylinders.
Replacement motor from Stuttgart Auto cost R25k. German Workshop in the 'Vale had to pull my engine, and when Stuttgart Auto dropped the replacement off they took mine in exchange. Complete. So no option to pick & choose best parts from mine to swap with "new" one.
It then needed new injectors. R2k each. x8.
R41k plus R4k labour. Which was discounted because Werner, the owner, was a family friend.
A third of what I paid for the car.
There was no CPA & dumbass protection in those days. It was a case of "As jy dom is, moet jy kak".
I traded it at Jhb Auto down in the depths of End Street in Jozi CBD for a second hand 328i. They were the only retards that would look at it.
Got 50% of original purchase price.
I cried.
Last pic I took of it: It was parked next to a skip at the back of Jhb Auto. Seemed pretty fitting to me.

But by all means. Buy yourself the high performance vehicle. Please make sure to post the trials, tribulations & heartache in this thread so I and others can gloat at your misfortune 7 reply with "I told you so" (Polite version).

On another note. A mate just dropped R9 bar on a Lambo Urus and is loving it. Not as much as the 458 he traded it for, but he hasn't broken the Urus. Yet. Dirt roads, horse shows, 458, don't mix so well! Urus fares better!

 

[wesleydn]

Also be aware of cloned cars,
Cloned meaning the numbers on your car are false and the real numbers are for the car you are driving and the car is stolen or hijacked.

If you dont buy from a repuitable dealer like an Audi or VW or We buy cars, if your car is found to be cloned you wont get a refund and you are out a car and the money you paid. even if financed, you will be liable for the money.

We buy cars used to have a problem with this, iv taken lots of cars away from thier customers as the cars turned out to be stolen or hijacked. They have at least always sorted thier clients out that i know of. They have also put a lot of messures in palce now to prevent this and isnt a common occurance anymore.

Also if there was an accident and claim made. there is a record. if there was no claim, not always a record

also use this

SAIA launches online tool for consumers to check the status of a second-hand vehicle – Moonstone Information Refinery

www.moonstone.co.za

 

[BlueCrayon]

This will end in tears if you buy a 10 year old Audi. Any of them

 

[aiccc]

Dekra report is useless. I read hundreds of them, they miss the most basic of stuff.

Send it to a VW specialist or dealer.

That audi is too old to buy without expecting problems and they are not cheap to fix. Is this a daily or project?

As a project, yes why not.

 

[Toxxyc]

Get the car's VIN and run it through Audi. I can almost guarantee that it was either in an accident, or the kilos were altered. That's what these guys do.

 

[Deku]

@SendARaven I think most people at the age of 24 wants to buy something flashy and fast.I was one of those idiots ,you worked out the premium etc or saved up enough to buy it cash but the parts and how hard it will become to find it either imports or scrapyards.

after my fucked up polo GTI hell i had for two years I have only been bying new cars not top of the line cars about the same price you looking at now they are slow as hell light on fuel just for that piece of mind .

Remember any sporty car the previous owners bought it for that reason as well and they also did not drive like old ladies they put it through its paces.My friend bought a ford focus ST back in the day it was more at the mechanic then at his house he had to go buy a tazz just to get to work and back.

If you go through with the purchase good luck and godspeed brother hope its 100% and you never have to replace anything.