Caddie3.2

I love my 2010 Audi Q5 (3.2L, Premium Plus), but it has 91k miles on it, and I'm about to increase my commute to 104 miles per day. I don't mind driving a car until its life is over, as long as I'm not looking at really expensive repairs, but with an Audi, even basic maintenance is pricey. If I trade it, I'm looking at less expensive vehicles that will amount to about $10k out of pocket after the trade, less expensive maintenance costs, plus better mpg, but if I keep it, what expenses should I expect to have?

I hate to give it up, but which is the smarter option?

jbbarrette

Personally I don't likekeeping a car with that mileage, usually sell around 80,000. But that's all I have to offer, I have no details on maintainence costs.

dcl23

Obviously, there is no easy answer or you would not be soliciting feedback as you would have made the decision already. Historically, I have kept cars for a long time - usually about 10 yrs. or 130,000 miles. However, those have been a Honda, Toyota, and a Subaru. It sounds like finances are a factor in this decision for you - so, the smart thing (from a financial perspective) is probably to trade it before major repairs, get a less expensive vehicle that gets great gas mileage and uses 87 octane gasoline for your long commute. Of course, if I followed my own "smart" advice, I wouldn't have followed my heart and bought my first "luxury" vehicle a few months ago. Good luck!

Dalancroft

With that kind of commute, personally I think I would trade in for something with far better gas mileage, perhaps even -- GASP! -- a Prius or other high-MPG road cruiser.

- B -

Or you could even trade it in for a Q5 TDI..... Mine gets great fuel mileage and you would keep the form factor, but it would wear quickly considering the daily commute your looking at....

80,000-100,000 miles on most German luxury cars start to require more maintenance..... Toyotas start with basic maintenance around 90,000 -130,000 with the newer models.(like for example coolant flushes and brake maintenance )...

Q5forWife

For $10K or perhaps a little more, maybe get a used, reliable, and good mileage compact car (Civic or Corolla?) for the weekday commutes. Keep the Q5 and enjoy it on the weekends and when you go out on the town.

tomaszp72

If you want to trade it in, trade it for the Passat TDI. We have one, great car and gets 40+ MPG. Before Q5 I had the passat for almost 10 years and 120K miles. When I sold it still was running great. It was probably good for another 100k + miles.

Dalancroft

Good call. A friend of mine drives a 2001 Jetta TDI, averages about 44 mpg, and with more than 150K miles it's still running like a top. (A bit beater-ish on the outside, though, as he rarely washes and never waxes it.)

awryexperiment

That was exactly my thought. Plus diesel engines last much longer.