Friend's 2014 Audi A6 diesel offered for Rs 10 lakh: Do I buy it?

The only reason he is selling it is because of the NGT-rule in the NCR-region.

BHPian amit_2025 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The German Itch

Dear BHPians, Please excuse the long post but would sincerely appreciate some advice here:

A close friend has an immaculate Audi A6 (Diesel, 2014 registered) which he was planning to exchange for a new car (XUV, Vitara etc. in contention), only because the car will be unusable in Delhi commencing January 2024. I have witnessed the car being purchased and been privy to its maintenance as well. He has been offered 10 Lakhs by used car dealers

More about the Car:

1. Exceptionally well maintained Audi A6, TDI, Premium Plus. 2014 Registered, Delhi Number
2. 3rd Owner, but only because the 1st transfer was from a company name to an Individual name. The car was bought used from an Expat in Feb 2019 with about 20k on the ODO and was Audi Approved
3. Current ODO is around 32k with regular servicing and maintenance, very sparingly used
4. Insurance valid till July 2023

Now the predicament; Have been wanting to add another car to our garage purely for driving pleasure, safety, space and some highway trips, without burning a hole in the pocket. The current cars in the house are the 2016 Creta Petrol AT (Self Driven) and 2020 XL6 (Chauffer driven). If I was to purchase the said Audi then I would buy it being aware that I would only be able to keep it for about a year before I have to sell it outside (unless the NGT rule in NCR changes). Have booked the Hycross but can very well defer the purchase for another year if it makes commercial sense

Guidance needed:

1. At 10 Lakhs, given the condition of the car shared above. Is it worth it?
2. What is the anticipated depreciation hit the post 1-year that one should expect? Is it fair to expect a price of 7-7.5 Lakhs in a year's time, where the next owner would effectively be the 5th owner?
3. Is the NGT Ban valid from the date of car manufacture or the date of registration?
4. Any experience in someone selling their Car at the end of the 10-year period outside NCR. How smooth/difficult is it?
5. I understand this may be an experiment but is the car's depreciation hit fair for the "Audi Experience" for a year?

Thanks a lot for your help and advice here

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Go for it. I usually don't recommend buying old German cars, but this one is a unique case where it's being let go just because of the 10-year ban. The car is known to you, the price is low & the odometer has just 32000 clicks.

• Worth the effort & risk. I myself drive a 2013 competitor to the A6 and it's still a fabulous experience.
• Strictly follow our used car checklist (including service history, checking past insurance claims etc.).
• Be mentally prepared for upkeep costs of about 1 - 1.5 lakhs averaged each year. Some years will be lower, some will be higher, but a 1 - 1.5 lakh average is what these cars settle down to.

Here's what BHPian lamborghini had to say on the matter:

1. For Rs. 10L it is worth it - it would be a lot cheaper than the Hycross you have mentioned except for the fact that the NGT rule kicks in a year. For reference, we sold our 2011 60K driven A6 for 9.15L in Mumbai last year when the market wasn't inflated as it is now.
2. Depreciation hit is a gamble.
3. Should be from the date of registration
4. At the end of the 10-year period, getting a NOC could be difficult. May have to sell it even sooner so there are no issues with NOC. There is a thread on the NGT Ruling in Delhi which would answer a lot of your queries.

Personally, the car is great! If it is indeed in great condition - you're looking at spending 3L (depreciation), and 1L (maintenance, insurance, etc. - the main worries would be the air suspension, AC, and rubber components - belts, mounts, etc. going bad - if you decide to repair these than the 1L could go higher to 2-2.5L depending on what work is to be carried out and from where).

So if you take a 4-5L cost towards this fun expense, a slight premium on the new Hycross when you defer the purchase by a year - you're looking at a 5-7L hit for a year of fun owning an Audi.

Unless you can figure the re-registration bit out; IMO, not worth it - I'd instead look at buying a new VW Tiguan TSi for the same price as the Hycross top variant (maybe a little more), and enjoy it for 15 years. Keep the 5-7L hit you would spend towards maintenance and fuel, and get a fun-to-drive SUV you can truly bond with for a long time to come.

Alternately, stretch the budget a bit & pick up a good 2020 example of the new-gen A6 TSi with an extended warranty.

Here's what BHPian Lobogris had to say on the matter:

Absolutely not. Do not buy it unless you are prepared to lose most of your 10 lakhs for driving it for one year. People talking about resale in Bombay are not factoring in the impact of the 10-year rule in Delhi NCR. I tried selling my pristine Volkswagen Passat which costs above 40 lakhs after it was 10 years old. I did not get a quote of more than 80k from anywhere. This is a losing game. You will struggle to sell it in a year for even 5 lakhs.

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