[ubg]

My F30 has left the port so should be here soon. Whilst I am very excited, I am seemingly having great difficulty in shifting my current Audi and would appreciate fellow forum members' advice. I have little experience in selling cars privately apart from my Z4m which sold easily.

Thus far I have tried ebay twice (got to £8k), autotrader and pistonheads for 5 weeks (no interest) and contacted BCA auctions who reckon it is worth £7.5k in an auction. Dealer offered my £7.75k part ex but ordered new car anyway so guess he doesn't care.

The private sale price is somewhere between 9-10k and she is still under warranty from Audi (advert link below).
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p

I am not trying to advertise her via the forum but would appreciate any personal experiences of trying to shift prestige metal or pointers incase my advert maybe putting people off. Thanks for your help.

[F30AM]

It's the run up to Christmas, the economy is still tits up, the A4 is now considered a rep mobile and has lost its cache unfortunately, it's hell to sell big cars etc. Cut your losses and get rid of it ASAP. £8k to £8.5k is all you'll get. Every day lost, more depreciation. Pity, it looks really nice and I feel for you.

I've not sold a car for years, I just hand mine over to younger members of my family in exchange for lots and lots of favours. However, this time, my GTI won't be given away, has got 20 people fighting over it and I'll get what I want for it. I wonder if the F30 will be as saleable in 2-3 years. Doubt it.

[johnbmw6]

Agreed with the facts and price £8K/8.5K Max and it could go with luck.

[ubg]

Yep very sad to see her go for that low. Might as well part ex and get £7750 and save the hassle. I'd take £9k, will hold out for a few more
days.

As you say, what will happen to big engined 328s and 335ds in a few years? Bargains galore for some, heartbreak for us chasing the romance of the new car experience.

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by Rb79

Yep very sad to see her go for that low. Might as well part ex and get £7750 and save the hassle. I'd take £9k, will hold out for a few more
days.

As you say, what will happen to big engined 328s and 335ds in a few years? Bargains galore for some, heartbreak for us chasing the romance of the new car experience.

Let's cross that Rubicon when we get to it. I have a good feeling the F30 will do well, even the big engine 330d with its superbly low CO2 levels and brilliant fuel economy. I think the F30 Diesels have killed the market for Audi and Merc and rightly so. Even the 5 Series has suffered quite badly. BMW have got this car so right that even a hatchback lover like me has switched.

I also own a Merc C Class 350CDI Sport Saloon. The F30 is so far ahead in every respect that I think it will be pretty tough for Merc to catch up. As far is the A4 is concerned, it does not even have a look-in. Sorry.

Take comfort, you are getting a truly brilliant car soon and will be getting rid of an also-ran: ASAP I hope.

[ubg]

Originally Posted by F30AM

Let's cross that Rubicon when we get to it. I have a good feeling the F30 will do well, even the big engine 330d with its superbly low CO2 levels and brilliant fuel economy. I think the F30 Diesels have killed the market for Audi and Merc and rightly so. Even the 5 Series has suffered quite badly. BMW have got this car so right that even a hatchback lover like me has switched.

I also own a Merc C Class 350CDI Sport Saloon. The F30 is so far ahead in every respect that I think it will be pretty tough for Merc to catch up. As far is the A4 is concerned, it does not even have a look-in. Sorry.

Take comfort, you are getting a truly brilliant car soon and will be getting rid of an also-ran: ASAP I hope.

I would never compare my A4 to the F30, years and light years apart. I think the E90 is a different matter though. I definitely think BMW engines are so efficient and clean that they will stay current for a long time with the others playing catch up. I guess it will be interesting to see how diesel residuals compare to petrol given the amazing bigger petrol engines. I am also hoping xdrive becomes desirable.

What ever happens F30AM, hope you get a better price for yours than you do for your wife's! I am sure the alloys will be in better condition at the very least

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by Rb79

I would never compare my A4 to the F30, years and light years apart. I think the E90 is a different matter though. I definitely think BMW engines are so efficient and clean that they will stay current for a long time with the others playing catch up. I guess it will be interesting to see how diesel residuals compare to petrol given the amazing bigger petrol engines. I am also hoping xdrive becomes desirable.

What ever happens F30AM, hope you get a better price for yours than you do for your wife's! I am sure the alloys will be in better condition at the very least

Never a truer word was said in jest!
She drives the Merc and the AMG alloys are truly superbly buggered. I cringe every time she parks. Kerbs them regularly. I've given up worrying about it. I don't even look at the wheels anymore as I want to puke. Otherwise, the rest of the car is perfect!!! I think the BMW will be treated in a similar manner. As for selling the Merc, it's worth beans IMO. And that's madam's little problem!!!!

[ubg]

Audi FINALLY sold! How much effort do we exert for the sake of a few hundred quid? I was sceptical about these 'we-scam-you-to-buy-your-car' type sites but 'we-pay-more-for-diesels' must be the Ronseal equivalent.

Just a quick question for fellow forum members, have you approached supplying dealers to give you a loan car before the new car arrives? I have never been in this position before. John, it seems you have been driving a touring on loan? Are they amenable to such requests?

[MaestroAl]

I'm carless. I feel poor Soooo close to cancelling my sodding order and just going to drive away in a pre-reg from Sytner

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by MaestroAl

I'm carless. I feel poor Soooo close to cancelling my sodding order and just going to drive away in a pre-reg from Sytner

Dont do it, it will arrive.

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by Rb79

Audi FINALLY sold! How much effort do we exert for the sake of a few hundred quid? I was sceptical about these 'we-scam-you-to-buy-your-car' type sites but 'we-pay-more-for-diesels' must be the Ronseal equivalent.

Just a quick question for fellow forum members, have you approached supplying dealers to give you a loan car before the new car arrives? I have never been in this position before. John, it seems you have been driving a touring on loan? Are they amenable to such requests?

Mine is, but i have spent a lot of money with them.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by Rb79

Audi FINALLY sold! How much effort do we exert for the sake of a few hundred quid? I was sceptical about these 'we-scam-you-to-buy-your-car' type sites but 'we-pay-more-for-diesels' must be the Ronseal equivalent.

Just a quick question for fellow forum members, have you approached supplying dealers to give you a loan car before the new car arrives? I have never been in this position before. John, it seems you have been driving a touring on loan? Are they amenable to such requests?

Erm, just be careful about those companies. Apparently 95% of sellers DIDN'T get the offered price. They drop the value once they have it for every single mark not declared.

But great you got it sorted a weight off I'm sure.

[ubg]

Thanks NISFAN, any funny business and he will be walking home. Yes it is a relief but sad how little some cars are worth. Still Cooper Reading will lone me a car, I did suggest the M6 that has been in the showroom for two months, more likely to be an old 116 with no
air con or worse ie not a BMW - I'll have to shower every time I get out :-)

[NISFAN]

I thought of your plight after seeing an 06 A4 S Line is a used car lot near me with £6995 in the window. Some poor sucker would have traded it for £5k if that. No doubt wasn't the V6 version, but amazing how little used cars are worth these days.

[ubg]

Cheers NISFAN, nice of you to empathise with my plight. A4 tech is nearly 10 years old even if car isn't, probably on a par with end of line E46. To be honest she needs a major
service, tax and brakes so can't grumble too much. I ran my last A4 for 140,000 miles so someone will get a bargain. Perhaps these car buying sites are the future instead of part ex and will get all our F30s when the F40 is launched!

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by Rb79

Cheers NISFAN, nice of you to empathise with my plight. A4 tech is nearly 10 years old even if car isn't, probably on a par with end of line E46. To be honest she needs a major
service, tax and brakes so can't grumble too much. I ran my last A4 for 140,000 miles so someone will get a bargain. Perhaps these car buying sites are the future instead of part ex and will get all our F30s when the F40 is launched!

Funny you should say that, I had a new A4 S Line in 2005 (wanted the newly released e90, but company policy ruled against, booo!), and still to this day thought it was quite modern looking inside. Looking at your pictures made me realise how dated it now looks. The minimalist trend that BMW started with the E90 is now in full force.

[RichardM]

Today I became carless too when the CLS went back. Didn't think of asking the dealer for a car and picked up a lovely Kia from Hertz this evening for a not so cheap rate.

Can't knock the Kia though, seems to have everything on it, full colour Sat Nav, ipod interface, reversing camera etc. Very smooth and quiet, just very little 'Go'!

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by RichardM

Today I became carless too when the CLS went back. Didn't think of asking the dealer for a car and picked up a lovely Kia from Hertz this evening for a not so cheap rate.

Nice wheels

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by RichardM

Today I became carless too when the CLS went back. Didn't think of asking the dealer for a car and picked up a lovely Kia from Hertz this evening for a not so cheap rate.

Can't knock the Kia though, seems to have everything on it, full colour Sat Nav, ipod interface, reversing camera etc. Very smooth and quiet, just very little 'Go'!

The wife loves hers.

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by RichardM

Today I became carless too when the CLS went back. Didn't think of asking the dealer for a car and picked up a lovely Kia from Hertz this evening for a not so cheap rate.

Can't knock the Kia though, seems to have everything on it, full colour Sat Nav, ipod interface, reversing camera etc. Very smooth and quiet, just very little 'Go'!

So annoying for you and MaestroAl.

Thank my lucky stars that I kept the GTI.

[MaestroAl]

It's doubly frustrating 'cause my MPS is sitting on my drive mocking me without Tax, Insurance or MoT It's nearly £500 to tax it and similar money to insure it and since I'm only gonna get >£4k for it, I'll be buggered if I'm forking out a grand to keep driving it for its last month As soon as I get my new reg number back from the DVLA I can sell it

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by MaestroAl

It's doubly frustrating 'cause my MPS is sitting on my drive mocking me without Tax, Insurance or MoT It's nearly £500 to tax it and similar money to insure it and since I'm only gonna get >£4k for it, I'll be buggered if I'm forking out a grand to keep driving it for its last month As soon as I get my new reg number back from the DVLA I can sell it

Maybe both our cars have eloped!!