TxTim

I was very close to purchasing a new 2024 A7 today. I made arrangements to purchase an A7 at a location 150 miles from home. When I arrived for test drive the check engine and alert triangle lights were illuminated on the dashboard. The salesman said “We’ll fix that. The car has been sitting in the showroom for a while. The battery was dead today so we had to jump start before you arrived.” When they took it back to the shop, the mechanics said it was holding a charge but their diagnostics indicate that a new battery is needed. Furthermore, the dead primary battery had caused a smaller battery in the SOS calling device to also drain excessively - so they plan to replace that battery as well. I decided not to complete the purchase as I give this more consideration.

My questions are:
(1) Is this normal for a battery to go dead on the showroom? (The salesman, sales manager, and GM all said it was common.)
(2) Is the parasitic drain on an A7 so great that a better will drain if the car is parked for several weeks?
(3) What tests or checks can a buyer perform before purchase to ensure there are no electrical issues that would cause premature battery discharge?