Decided to sell my B5 A4 and move up to something bigger, but wanted all of the benefits of audi vehicles and the resources of this site.

I've been looking at everything from 97-01 A6 sedans and avants, probably totaling 20 different cars over the past 6 weeks.

On each viewing, took my trusty laptop with the VAG-COM software, which elicited the same reaction in all but one case - the seller nearly ****ting in his/her pants.

Most just sat quietly by looking nervous while I told them what was wrong with the cars they were trying to pass of as mechanically and electrically sound, while others got quite pissed. All but one vehicle had multiple codes without CELs in the dash display.

Funny enough, one seller got really pissed at first, and by the end of the visit, asked me for the ross-tech website so he could buy the software himself! Can you guess what his intentions are?

What I found: 99% of the cars that have been wholesaled are trashed, as you'd expect, but the prices can be quite appealing. Stay away from those "auto sales" or "wholesaling" lots. Just don't waste your time.

Just because a car is privately sold, don't think you have to pay more for it. Unfortunately, many private sellers, think that they can command higher prices simply because they are selling the car privately, despite not caring for it properly. Ironicallly, if you are lucky enough to find one of those few people that have really cared for the car, they will probably be most likely to work with you on fair negotiation of price. You can get a great deal with these people, but they are really few and far between.

I thought looking in outlying areas might yield better results, but found that to be untrue personally.

Ultimately, I ended up buying an 00 A6 sedan from the local audi dealer with whom I've done business with in the past. Great shape, mechanically sound, no codes, and the salesman was unfazed by my VAG-COM. Pick it up next week.

 

Congrats on the car, but don't you think the Audi dealer would have known to clear the codes?

 

I would hope they'd clear them as a matter of course.

 

...they had the tools to clear them. Does not mean the car has any less problems than any of the other cars.

 

Agree 100% - hopefully 'cause they fixed any issues, but perhaps to eliminate any 'evidence'.

 

and an inspection by a qualified audi/indy tech.

The codes that you read don't always have anything to do with current information. Its only showing that the code did exist at some time. The item may have been repaired but the code never cleared.

 

i was looking with my friend for A8, and i private seller 04 A8 57k miles $28k (in good condition), and dealer 04 A8 54k miles $39k (same in good condition). So tell me will you go to the dealer???

 

But seriously, I'd trust the dealership to correct any faults associated with the fault codes prior to selling more than someone who neither cares about or necessarily wants my repeat business. I also take into consideration the fact that my immediate and extended families have done business with the dealer for 10 years. I'd hope that would account for something.

 

I'm with you. Got any pics of the new ride?

 

But which interface:

Key-USB or HEX-USB-CAN?<ul><li><a href="http://www.ross-tech.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&amp;Category_Code=VAGCOM" >VAG-COM store</a></li></ul>