PLEASE HELP ME! I am entertaining buying a 2008 Audi s6 -need honest advice/feedback

[mpcarter]

Hey guys i am brand new to this site. I joined because i have been doing research for weeks on the 2008 audi s6 but the information out there seems all over the place. I was looking for a vehicle with AWD and with some balls on it while having all the bells and whistles i am accustomed too with my loaded jeep (obviously they are much different). this s6 popped up and it seemed like it was fate. it was priced for $13,500 but i got the owner down to $10,500-$11,000. To give you some background I am a college student, i work 2 days a week but i pull in about $300 a week after taxes (could possibly pick up another day of work). I can afford to purchase the car but the up keep price scares me. The gas mileage does not bother me, it actually averages a little more than my jeep with a V8. Some of the research i found seems like the s6 is very well built and reliable and does not require much maintenance other than brakes, tires, rotors, oil changes ( which hopefully i can learn to preform these myself to save money, if you know a site that has in depth instructions in these areas it would be appreciated). Other sites suggest that the maintenance is very high in the range of 4K-6K a year! and that there are many issues in which people pay 10k-20k to fix issues over the few years the person owned the car. So if you owned this model your input would be very appreciated!! The particular vehicle that i am looking at has 99.000 on the ODM and has a rebuilt status (which again makes me nervous), however when asked about the rebuilt status he was very open and sent carfax that the dealership he got it from gave to him. he said that the audi dealership could not find any sign of structural damage whatsoever. I am obviously going to get a pre- purchase inspection at an audi dealership. But the inspection can cost around $200 for a thorough look through. I dont want to dump that cash into just inspecting it if this car is a money vacuum. HELP ME OBI WON KENOBI (of Audis), YOURE MY ONLY HOPE

[A4Qwattro]

Stay away. Spend your time in college understanding how to compromise, achieve in school, and find your dream career (because this is a part of life that you are going to be living for the next 30-40 years). Don't underestimate how big of a deal this is. This is the difference between being unhappy and spiraling into depression, and becoming the next Elon Musk. Spending $10,000 on a 10 year old german car with a V10 at this time in your life is not wise. Just trust when I say you can live without it. Realistically, if you want to set yourself up to have a financially secure and successful future (as a somewhat older person, let me tell you that you want this!), stay away.

I know this feeling you are having, we've all been there. Right now you probably cannot stop thinking about the S6. Reading about it on all the forums, google pictures, looking for other owners etc but find something else to focus on. The urge will pass, and you will still have $10,000 to save towards something more meaningful to you in the future.

I recommend some things to focus on or think about

1) Plan a trip to a place you've never been. Learn about the location. Your feelings for the car will just go away.
2) Learn about how to become financially saavy. https://www.moneyunder30.com. Tick off some boxes like learning how to get and maintain a good credit score, learn about saving for retirement, learn about which banks actually give decent interest rates on your savings (they are not the ones that you think), learn about how taxes work. Your feelings for the car will go away.

[mpcarter]

You nailed the exact feeling i have for this vehicle! so I can definitely see that you have great insight on this. I am not sure i made this clear earlier, but i need a new vehicle either way due to my jeep is falling apart as we speak (or in this case, type). I am spending around the same level of money either way whether it is on this car or a different one. Not sure if that changes your thoughts but stashing the money for later is not really an option at this point.

[A4Qwattro]

Understood, my main concerns are the salvage title, maintenance nightmare, as well as low resale value in the future. Insurance, registration etc will be high as well. So getting the S6 and it will most likely become a money pit that you may regret later.

You can spend $10,000 and still be wise about it. Find something with good resale value, low insurance cost, low maintenance cost. So that cost of ownership turns out to be very low. Was thinking Toyota 4 Runner but the damn the resale value is so strong (lol) that I'm having a hard time finding something at 10K without crazy miles on it (not that miles means anything on a Toyota truck). 4Runner, Jeep Wrangler, 2013+ Honda Accord (those can be surprisingly nice).

These types of compromises that you make now, are the types of decisions that allow you to afford a brand new german car in the future. Or for the financial saavy, a lightly used, and already depreciated german car. Trust me when I say the urge is strong only because you've been staring at the thing for a while now, and not because you'll die without it. The urge will pass.

[mpcarter]

Youre very right with the resale value and insurance. I looked into it and i think i would be paying like $1800 a year with that rebuilt status hanging on the car. Thank you for talking me out of it. I have to go break the bad news to the seller that i have had on the hook for like 2 weeks...sigh

[carmudgeon]

There's an old saying that the most expensive car you'll ever own is a cheap German car.

[twopedalwarrior]

Here are my two bits.

Keeping an expensive car working well on a beer income is going to be REALLY hard. Timing covers leaking, just dropping the tranny at a shop will set you back aroun 800CDN to just look. Not even going into the price. Carbon cleaning the valves, another grand.

Power steering pump part is about 300-400, and 3.5 hours labour for install and fluid. This car will eat your bank book fast, 10 year old vehicle is going to be a on the count down on what breaks next. Even like mine which is very well maintained, odd litte things happen.

If you want a taste of luxry with bells and whistles, SKIP the A6 line COMPLETELY and get yourself into a manual a4. It will be cheaper, not like a honda but not as bad as an A6.