I think I know what I'm gonna buy; I just can't find it!!

[DaKid]

I think I know what car I want ... an Audi A6 SE with a 1.8 Turbo engine (probably around a 99T with 70k miles) which I'll chip from 150bhp to 185bhp (PDF of power/torque increases: http://www.superchips.co.uk/curves/vag18t.pdf). Should be comfy, well-equipped and relatively sporting. Once I have a bit more money I'll maybe get some stiffer suspension and put an exhaust on, but that may depend how it drives after having had it a while.

The problem is, I can't find one anywhere!! I've seen a couple now and they both had problems (one oil leak and other dodgy dealer who'd steam-cleaned the engine). I'm scouring autotrader, fish4cars and exchange&mart, but nada. zip. zilch.

Requirements are 80,000 miles or less and £6k absolute maximum. I know I'm looking at the right amount as there are a few further afield (but too far to travel) and almost no more if I increase my budget, but I just can't find any in my area. Anyone know where else I could look? Websites you can recommend? Anything?

[Russ]

whats wrong with a steam cleaned engine.

[Shad]

It removes all the protective oily grease that stops things rusting.

[DaKid]

Plus you can't see oil leaks which is apparently a not-uncommon problem on A6s. I also felt like I'd walked into a dodgy-car-dealer timewarp when the guy was wearing a sheepskin jacket, which also didn't fill me with confidence.

[Russ]

It removes all the protective oily grease that stops things rusting.

if its been steam cleaned im sure anything that needed to be resealed would have been.

[5lab]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...544521282&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...544209018&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...544227528&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...545088348&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...545824711&rd=1

some to get started with

[DaKid]

Have been checking eBay ... am a little scared though. I barely know enough what to look for when buying privately, let alone when I'm buying unseen!

[dkmech]

You are not though. Go and see it then bid. And you can pay same way as you would with a normal car.

[5lab]

yeah - what you can do is add a search agent on ebay to alert you whenever there is a new listing for (say) 'audi a6 se' - as most car auctions are 10 days long when one pops up that you like, give the guy a mail and arrange to see it within the next few days. if you really like it you can make an offer on the spot and he might well say yes, otherwise bid away until you win

[DaKid]

Oooooh ... never thought about that. I can be so dumb sometimes.

By the way, can you think of any alternatives I ought to consider but might have missed? Volvo S80 is too luxury (not sporty enough), Saab 9-5 not so keen on the interior, BMW/Merc too expensive for the same thing ... gotta be max £6k and 80k miles still though.

[5lab]

looked at the s60? its a little more sporty than the s80, particularly in 'r' version (which might be out of your price range, but 0-60 in under 6 seconds..), or a late s70 t5. i wouldnt have thought a 1.8 a6 (thats a lot of car) is particularly quick, but i may well be wrong..

lexus?

[DaKid]

Volvos are generally a little too comfort-oriented, although I'd consider an R version - unfortunately out of my price range though.

Looking for a relatively modern car, so real high performance as well as luxury is a bit impossible.

1.8 normally aspirated is a bit lethargic, but hopefully a 1.8 turbo with a chip on it (about 185bhp) ought to be enough to make it fun, if not a rocket!

[5lab]

this might be a bit late, but what about something like.. http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW...00517190354255

might be a little over your budget, but there are plenty around for a few quid less (i just like that colour)

[DaKid]

Thanks for posting. Am actually still looking ... had trouble finding exactly what I want. I keep changing my mind so often lol.

Saw a car yesterday that I think I might buy ... just gonna get a mechanically minded mate to come look it over with me then I'll put a deposit down. It's a Saab 9-5 3.0t V6 SE with an auto box (they only come with autos), and with 72k miles on a 99 T-plate. Full leather interior, climate, cruise, etc ... also done some research and found I can plumb my Sony MP3 headunit into the car and link it up to the steering wheel controls which is nice. 200bhp, so nice and quick although the suspension is a little too comfort-oriented for my liking. Reckon about a grand ought to get a full rework of that done though, so some saving to be done. Shame about the auto box, but having driven it, it's still nice to drive