Would you buy a "lemon" car that was bought back by Audi?
#1
Would you buy a "lemon" car that was bought back by Audi?
I am looking at an 2015 Audi S8L (37K miles) for sale at $37K.
In 3.5 years, it has had 3 owners. Still under warranty. Looks gorgeous. Carfax has no obvious signs of concern.
What are the caveats one should look at?
In 3.5 years, it has had 3 owners. Still under warranty. Looks gorgeous. Carfax has no obvious signs of concern.
What are the caveats one should look at?
#2
AudiWorld Super User
Only if I knew exactly why. Audi service records would have the details if you can get access. Thus if history of electrical issues, no way. More than one very identifiable water leak (like the known D4 windshield one), no way. BUT, if it was ultimately one major thing and they finally replaced part (tranny, motor, steering, etc.), then okay. Or if car was simply down for two months waiting for some oddball part after prior repair attempts (which could trigger a lemon law buy back), easily ok.
On that last scenario, I had one Hybrid specific part like that on Q5. It took a few weeks to diagnose and they had to get technical help higher up. Ultimately they literally had to pull the relevant component from the production line and "red tag" air freight it from Germany. It did not affect vehicle long term in any way, but had car been in the lemon law window, they would have been very close to triggering the buy back rules in CA. We had a loaner anyway, and once we got rid of the gen 1 Q7 truck/minivan in drag loaner they first handed us, wife was fine to wait for part.
On that last scenario, I had one Hybrid specific part like that on Q5. It took a few weeks to diagnose and they had to get technical help higher up. Ultimately they literally had to pull the relevant component from the production line and "red tag" air freight it from Germany. It did not affect vehicle long term in any way, but had car been in the lemon law window, they would have been very close to triggering the buy back rules in CA. We had a loaner anyway, and once we got rid of the gen 1 Q7 truck/minivan in drag loaner they first handed us, wife was fine to wait for part.
#3
AudiWorld Super User
Yeah, see if you can track down the various warranty claims made against the VIN. See what was going on with it, Cirrus.
#4
AudiWorld Member
I would not call it "lemon" car. My wife's Range Rover is 3,5 years old and currently has 3 owners on Carfax ( the last one is me). We got this car when it was 10 months old and it had 2 owners on carfax at that time, but actually it was one owner,which moved from New Hampshire to Massachusetts.
I went to Land Rover dealership and checked the service history, could not find anything wrong with the car and happily own it since that time.
I went to Land Rover dealership and checked the service history, could not find anything wrong with the car and happily own it since that time.
#5
AudiWorld Super User
BTW, if it is only the 3 owner part: you can get that fact pattern without a lot of weird stuff. First year or less and it's a dealer loaner, but it is titled as is the norm at least here in CA. Next owner is a short lease. Next owner flipped to D5 or a Q8 or Q7 or whatever.
Mine got turned in after a year by a 75 year old dude with money falling out his pockets at 3200 miles. His comment to the salesman when he moved into his next ride--Gen 2 Q7 with the V6--boiled down to "too much car." Apparently about his 10th one at that Audi + Porsche + ... Bentley ... dealer. Or, my then second year Audi D3 W12. I was also techically the "third owner" at only about 18 months from its build date. Firat owner was dealer manager who got a new ride of choice every year. Second owner was some senior exec at SAP before he got transferred back to the Vaterland and they bought him out of the W12. I was happy to let the prior various owners take the first close to ⅓ haircut for 5,000 miles or less.
Mine got turned in after a year by a 75 year old dude with money falling out his pockets at 3200 miles. His comment to the salesman when he moved into his next ride--Gen 2 Q7 with the V6--boiled down to "too much car." Apparently about his 10th one at that Audi + Porsche + ... Bentley ... dealer. Or, my then second year Audi D3 W12. I was also techically the "third owner" at only about 18 months from its build date. Firat owner was dealer manager who got a new ride of choice every year. Second owner was some senior exec at SAP before he got transferred back to the Vaterland and they bought him out of the W12. I was happy to let the prior various owners take the first close to ⅓ haircut for 5,000 miles or less.
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