[Tank.]

This has possibly been covered before but whilst doing some pricing up and investigation into getting an audi an ebay ad took my attention.

A former traffic A6 3.0 tdi quattro.

So the question, would you buy an ex traffic car?

My arguments for, the engine will have been pushed hard so chances are it would shift better than the same civilian car and will have been maintained and serviced well.

Interested to hear peoples opinions and even if anyone has previously bought one

 

[MEH4N]

I wouldnt if i wanted to keep the car for years but would as a run about and if it was cheap enough.

 

[Jem]

I would expect it would be mechanically sound, police cars are very well maintained, and while it will have had its legs stretched it will have been driven by very highly skilled drivers all its life.

Cosmetically though, it may have taken a hammering, but that's easy to see.

I wouldn't by an A6 3.0TDi Quattro though, I was very unimpressed.

 

[Tank.]

Really? What turned you off?

 

[SteveyG]

God knows who's been in the back of it spitting or kicking the doors etc. That would be enough to put me off.

 

[Tank.]

God knows who's been in the back of it spitting or kicking the doors etc. That would be enough to put me off.

Really? Would have thought being on a forum of obsessive car cleaners the cleanliness wouldnt be a problem

 

[herbiedacious]

Back in the late 70's when l was an apprentice at a rally prep. garage, we used to source our Mk1 escorts from Liverpool police 'cos they were all twin cams with several rally mods already done (all under stock looking bodywork) l don't know if this is still the case, but l wouldn't be surprised if today's Traffic cars are modified and uprated too.

 

[Tank.]

I know the vecras look very standard outside but are either 2.8 or 3L V6 vxr's underneath

 

[Jem]

Really? What turned you off?

I expected it to be fast and feel special, it was neither. Understeered like a b1tch too.

 

[Tank.]

I expected it to be fast and feel special, it was neither. Understeered like a b1tch too.

Oh thats a bit disappointing

 

[CoOkIeMoNsTeR]

I bought a V70 T5 once, a 52 plate one with 186k otc. Went fine, but it was refurb'd after being decommissioned, so no holes in the roof or the dash and no evidence of being a police car, and this one was fully marked. By the time it got to me it had picked up a leather interior on the way.

Don't know about the Audi's, but the Volvo's were the povo spec ones, no fancy interior toys, so maybe miss out on those?

Otherwise if the miles are nice and the car looks good, why not? The real question is why would you not have a 530d instead

 

[Tank.]

For some reason ive got audi 3.0 tdi in my head whether its A4 or A6 doesnt really matter and finding it hard to sway away from that

 

[CoOkIeMoNsTeR]

If its what you want, I see no reason to be put off by an ex-police car, most are refurb'd with no nasty holes or extra lights by the time they hit eBay, but may need some cosmetic tidying etc :thumb:

 

[Tank.]

Not seen many manuals though, guess its not an option for a cop in pursuit to be messing about with gears too.

Auto isnt an option, i drive an automatic lorry so still want the control over a manual car plus can see things getting expensive if theres a problem with an auto box

 

[CoOkIeMoNsTeR]

Aren't most 3.0 TDi's auto? I know they're all quattro, and I'm sure manuals are rare anyway. My Volvo was a manual

 

[Jem]

Not seen many manuals though, guess its not an option for a cop in pursuit to be messing about with gears too.

Auto isnt an option, i drive an automatic lorry so still want the control over a manual car plus can see things getting expensive if theres a problem with an auto box

I would expect less expense with an auto, they just work. A manual, if you can find one, will at some point be wanting a new clutch and duel-mass flywheel.

I've always found the 3.0TDi engine lack lustre. I'd be looking at a Volvo V70 2.4 D5, they make progress very quickly indeed with little fuss.

 

[CoOkIeMoNsTeR]

You've obviously never had an Audi automatic then

A clutch & DMF is a drop in the ocean compared to a quattro auto fault, which is common, its called the multitronic; in the trade we call it the multichronic :doublesho

 

[Jem]

To be honest, I have no desire to own any form of Audi!

 

[Tank.]

Sorry i didnt say, it doesnt specifically have to be an ex traffic car, just the audi popped up and thought id ask the question.

So far deciding criteria is family estate, V6 and either 4 wheel drive or rwd.

Basically dads retiring at the end of the year and I'm never going to be in a financial position to get myself a nice car so he's decided he wants to buy me a car and he knows I'm chasing the idea of an Audi. Although unclear of what the budget will be :\

 

[Tank.]

I didnt realise, until my interest in audi, just how many audi's there are on the road. Its insane!