Audi TTS first service at 3 years old, Should I avoid?

[gord115]

So I have seen a2018 Audi TTS (same engine as Golf R) and it a good price and just the spec I want.
It has only done 24000 miles

However after inspecting the Audi service history I can see it only had it's first service at 13000 miles when the car was 3 years and 1 month old.The next service was 2 years 4 month later.

The car is at an Audi dealer advertised as Full Audi Service History!

Considering less than 4.5k per year could this cause problems?

The Golf R I have at the moment does less than 5000 miles per year but I have the oil changed every year.

Should I take the risk or avoid.

Your opinions appreciated.

Edited by gord115 on Friday 21st April 05:49

[SimonTheSailor]

If it's THE ONE you want and a good price, complain about the service history and get more money off. Get them to service it before they hand it over.

Oils have increased vastly and some cars now don't get oil changes for 20K miles anyway. I can't imagine it's done any damage.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Wouldn't put me off, personally, but try and negotiate a cheap service plan if you're worried about it?

[Daston]

The oil service on my 911 is 24 months or 20k miles I think a lot of VAG cars follow the same process.

I however do an oil change every 12 months to be safe.

[Baldchap]

Daston said:

The oil service on my 911 is 24 months or 20k miles I think a lot of VAG cars follow the same process.

I however do an oil change every 12 months to be safe.

But it is whichever is soonest. This TT should have had one at 2 years regardless of how low the mileage was at that time.

Have to be honest, at that mileage it wouldn't bother me, though I would want to know it's been done 100% to the current service with things like belts etc if appropriate.

[TarquinMX5]

Hmmm.

Well, it does have a full Audi service history, ie a full record of its history with Audi. However, it isn't a history that confirms that it's been serviced according to the the schedule, which is not the same thing.

Assuming the record is correct, it would ring alarm bells for me, what else has been skimped? Of course, Covid affected servicing and use, which might be the reason but I'd want to look at it very carefully, particularly bearing in mind how some of these are driven, ie thrashed. Private or ex- lease car, as that often makes a difference to how it's been treated?

It might very well be a good one but I'd want to look very carefully and not trust one word that the salesperson says.

[Hants PHer]

gord115 said:

So I have seen a2018 Audi TTS (same engine as Golf R) and it a good price and just the spec I want.
It has only done 24000 miles

However after inspecting the Audi service history I can see it only had it's first service at 13000 miles when the car was 3 years and 1 month old.The next service was 2 years 4 month later.

It appears the car is on a flexible service schedule, so it only asks for an oil & filter change when it sees fit. Also, the two year point may well have coincided with Covid, and was postponed. It had a service at the three year point but only 13,000 miles, so I wouldn't be overly concerned, as long as that service included a brake fluid change, new pollen filter and a Haldex fluid and filter change.

The second service, two years on, should have included oil & filter (obviously) plus pollen filter and brake fluid, since the latter two are on a two year cycle.

If all that checks out on the Audi printout then I'd be happy enough. A 24,000 mile car that's had two proper services seems reasonable to me.

[Om]

Has it been serviced elsewhere/outside of Audi in that time?

Otherwise it does seem a long time between services even for a modern engine. That could also be an indication of the way in which it has been owned/treated/neglected. They are fairly common so I would be tempted to let my head overrule my heart and wait for something with better history.

Having said that I am quite risk averse - my 370z is 10 years old and has 10 stamps in the book and the Cayman is 16 and has 15, so perhaps I am not so objective...

[C69]

Is this an Approved Used Audi, or is the car being sold outside of the scheme?

If it's the latter, it might be worth asking why.

[Grumps.]

Wouldn’t the first service cover certain initial checks after run in as it would be a year or 12000 miles old?

[Tommo87]

Audi will only have a record online, if they serviced it. It’s likely been serviced at an independent garage.

[gord115]

I've now got the service record from Audi.
Things are a little bit clearer.

Although the car was delivered Sept 2017 it wasn't actually registered til March 2018.
The first service was Oct 2020.

So only 7 month over for first service from date of registration.(assuming first service at 2 years)

The car was actually at the dealer for 6 months before been registered which does seem a long time.

[Driver101]

Lots of short trips and the same oil for 3 years? Avoid.

There isn't a lack of Audi TT. Move on to the next one. The holes in the service history are putting you off buying the car. You will face the same issues when you come to sell or trade the car in.

[Tommo87]

A lot of cars missed a service during lockdown.
A lot of cars did hardly any mileage during lockdown.