Buying used in 2023

[DHR]

I should be excited, but the experience so far of buying a used car in 2023 is an absolute nightmare.

I've had our cars for 16+ years, sadly one of them has to go due to body work but they've both been flawless in that time.

Prices are through the roof because of the ol' pandemic which is one thing, but that's just timing.

The thing I'm REALLY struggling with is having whittled us down to a 1.5 TSI engine after an age, only to find that people have had a nightmare with them kangarooing so a 2018 low mileage car, at a good price, having had 3 owners just seems beyond suspect.

They would be the 3 VAG group variations of car my wife's after too and due to mileage we do diesels are out.

Have the prospect of dropping 15k over god knows how many years on a total lemon, not fun!

Then there's the "software" updates, I long for the old days of four wheels, a good engine, the luxury of Aircon and cruise control and little else

I'm hearing tech causing so many problems, from bad engine performance, through to cars braking on motorways due to faulty radar etc. Not only is it daunting it's terrifying.

 

[DHR]

...starting to think this is why I keep cursing people for driving near the middle of some roads coming the other way.

Electric I'd considered, but in all honesty, we don't do milage that warrants one, all I really wanted was relatively quick engine, cruise control and that's pretty much it.

 

[DHR]

Maybe I've missed it in the discussion, but you've decided on a specific vag engine that you want, but don't know what car to get?

Essentially I'm struggling dropping from an 05 1.8T and 06 2.0 down to the 1.5T / 1.4T engines. I've driven two now, and although both have been nice cars (Golf, A3) the pickup, lag at roundabouts does have me concerned specifically with the Mrs driving as we're both used to being able to easily take off without issue.

Thing is, you rule out those engines, it's a massive proportion of them on the market, and most seem to be saying they're lemons because of the hesitation, and resultant fix VAG put out, then blamed on the 'characteristics' of the engine.

The second factor, outside of that, is just the frustration with the overcomplication of many out there. Happy with cruise, Aircon, that's it, don't want lane assists and all that messing around, I'm actually quite happy to have a manual handbrake, don't need radar cruise etc. Just more to go catastrophically wrong.

Like an earlier post mentioned, it's like they're intentionally designed have a limited use so everyone is on the PCP bandwagon constantly cycling through cars at cost because most will struggle to fix or maintain them anymore.

I'm actually starting to become concerned for many a traditional independent garage given the specialist kit, per manufacturer they're going to need to use too (e.g. timing kit for Audi belts etc)

Back on topic, went to see a 1.8T 15 plate Audi and it was battered, near 16k they wanted for it - brown coolant so the silica bag has already had it, terrible paintwork etc.

...there are a fair few 1.4-1.5T A3 and Golfs coming up, but they're all around the kangaroo fault time with 1-2 owners at most and sub 40k on the clock which keeps making me think people have tolerated it, had enough and shifted it through a trade in and took the hit.

 

[DHR]

So I'll let you lot keep scrapping

She's ended up with a tidy A3, she's happy with it thus far. It's a dog in eco mode but soon as you whack on dynamic, more throttle response etc. drives more like a 'normal' car. It's got more lag than the other turbos I've driven but she's happy enough so all good.

Edit - I managed to dodge a load of the lane assistance nonsense too which is a bonus!