When to sell my Audi Q7

[Starfalls]

We have a 7 year old Audi Q7 with 60k miles. So far, we had no major repairs. Maintenance costs are about $200 to 400$ per year. Recently changed all tires from Costco for $1800 for the first time. It is a very nice car would like to keep as long as possible, but also don't want to deal with expensive repairs. Any recommendations on how many miles or years more we can keep it? Thanks

[Topic is now in Personal Consumer Issues - mod mkc]

[LuckyInLife]

I am on my second Q5. I got rid of the first one when the mileage was a little over 95,000, I think. It was starting to have issues with leaking coolant, and I could tell there were going to be more expenses. I traded it in on a CPO Q5 with only 17,000 miles. I think I got in right before all the craziness with used car prices, because it is still worth almost as much nearly 3 years later. I love German cars, but a lot of them get expensive over 100k miles.

[bloom2708]

Totally up to you. Each time I get a $1,000 car repair I am sad, then I compare that to spending $30k, $40k, $50k and up on a new car.

Car repairs are both expensive and cheap at the same time.

As we head toward retirement, I find I am "priced out" of new cars. That makes repairs and maintenance items more tolerable.

[TinyHouse]

Buy a Toyota or Honda, keep it forever. This is my formula for buying cars.

[Outer Marker]

Find a good independent repair shop and keep it for as long as it meets your needs. You'll undoubtly have a few expensive repairs, but they are going to be far less than the cost of a comparable replacement vehicle. I'm on 17 years with my BWM 328i, sport package, stick shift, which I can't buy anymore, even if I wanted to.

[smatter]

We kept our 2009 Q until about 140k - right up til we were going to be due for brakes and tires again and some systems (side assist) started to go. I second finding a good independent repair shop. This was always the key to keeping repair costs down and good recommendations for what the car needed or didn’t.

[inverter]

My parents just hit 100k miles on their 2013 Q7 TDI. Going strong!!

[Quahog Guy]

Last year my 2017 Q7 started to use oil. Then it became excessive. Started in the 85K-90K range. It got so bad that I had to get rid of it. A long painful story. They have had oil usage issues previously from what I learned.

I would look to sell/trade it when it hits 80K miles.

[TN_Boy]

Last year my 2017 Q7 started to use oil. Then it became excessive. Started in the 85K-90K range. It got so bad that I had to get rid of it. A long painful story. They have had oil usage issues previously from what I learned.

I would look to sell/trade it when it hits 80K miles.

If it had the 2.0 liter turbo motor, there was a class action suit and Audi was legally required to fix it. However, depending on when the excessive consumption started, they would pay between all and well, none, of the cost. I assume that extended to the 2017 model years but don't know that for a fact. There is a reason I am familiar with this problem ....

I will say that I wound up with most of an engine rebuild for about 2k, and the car (not a Q7 but it had the aforementioned motor) has actually been quite reliable otherwise at well over 100k. And still a lot more fun to drive than most Honda and Toyotas!

[GettingComfortable]

Find a good independent repair shop and keep it for as long as it meets your needs.

And/or learn to do a little, a lot, or all such work yourself. Exceptions: Warranty and recall work.

[climber2020]

My own target is 200,000 miles or 15 years; whichever comes first.

First car I owned made it to 180k before it died; current one is at 150k and still going strong.

[snackdog]

Audis are infamous for poor quality but sounds like you got a good one. I would keep it another 60,000 miles and re-evaluate then.

[caffeperfavore]

Audis are infamous for poor quality but sounds like you got a good one. I would keep it another 60,000 miles and re-evaluate then.

It seems like Audis are getting better. They went through some dark days in the late 90s/early 00s along with the rest of the VAG brands, but maybe that's behind them now. Consumer Reports ranks their reliability at number six out of 24 brands, sandwiched between Honda and Subaru.
https://www.consumerreports.org/car-rel ... 824554938/

Perhaps I'm rationalizing though, as I've been eyeing used off-lease Q7s. Someone should probably talk me out of that.

[TheOscarGuy]

We have a 7 year old Audi Q7 with 60k miles. So far, we had no major repairs. Maintenance costs are about $200 to 400$ per year. Recently changed all tires from Costco for $1800 for the first time. It is a very nice car would like to keep as long as possible, but also don't want to deal with expensive repairs. Any recommendations on how many miles or years more we can keep it? Thanks

[Topic is now in Personal Consumer Issues - mod mkc]

Not an Audi, but I had a BMW. I got rid of it at 68K/6 years. At that age and mileage I would think its time. But you have less repair expenses, so maybe my experience doesn't apply to you.
I have been scarred with European manufacturers and I'd never again buy one. But everyone is different

[H-Town]

Buy a Toyota or Honda, keep it forever. This is my formula for buying cars.

"forever" in your sentence meant that not literally forever. Maybe 5 year, maybe 10 years, maybe 15 years depends on the usage and upkeep.

The OP's Audi Q7 has 60k miles after 7 years. Because of low mileage, they can easily keep it to 12 to 15 years mark if they want to. How's that for Toyota or Honda's "forever" standard?

[SouthernInvestor]

PP said it -- you need a good independent repair shop, and I'd just keep the Q7,

[Stevenjohnson]

Research specific issues with your generation and model, for example failure prone components or design flaws and when to expect those to fail. Other things fail based on age and use, will your suspension be worn out at 60k miles or 100k miles depends on how you drive and where. Budget for these things and replace preemptively. Keep it as long as you like. If you anticipate which systems need attention and when and replace components before they fail you can escape the “oh no something broke I need to sell my car” mentality. I find it odd, are you also trying to time selling your house before it needs repairs or do you have a repair fund and plan upgrades as needed?

[finite_difference]

I am on my second Q5. I got rid of the first one when the mileage was a little over 95,000, I think. It was starting to have issues with leaking coolant, and I could tell there were going to be more expenses. I traded it in on a CPO Q5 with only 17,000 miles. I think I got in right before all the craziness with used car prices, because it is still worth almost as much nearly 3 years later. I love German cars, but a lot of them get expensive over 100k miles.

Did you ever replace your coolant?

[finite_difference]

We have a 7 year old Audi Q7 with 60k miles. So far, we had no major repairs. Maintenance costs are about $200 to 400$ per year. Recently changed all tires from Costco for $1800 for the first time. It is a very nice car would like to keep as long as possible, but also don't want to deal with expensive repairs. Any recommendations on how many miles or years more we can keep it? Thanks

[Topic is now in Personal Consumer Issues - mod mkc]

If you religiously stay on top of ALL recommended maintenance I would expect a modern car to last at least 150k miles.

[snackdog]

Audis are infamous for poor quality but sounds like you got a good one. I would keep it another 60,000 miles and re-evaluate then.

It seems like Audis are getting better. They went through some dark days in the late 90s/early 00s along with the rest of the VAG brands, but maybe that's behind them now. Consumer Reports ranks their reliability at number six out of 24 brands, sandwiched between Honda and Subaru.
https://www.consumerreports.org/car-rel ... 824554938/

Perhaps I'm rationalizing though, as I've been eyeing used off-lease Q7s. Someone should probably talk me out of that.

JD Power still has the brand well below average, on par with Jaguar. Yikes.

[snackdog]

Buy a Toyota or Honda, keep it forever. This is my formula for buying cars.

"forever" in your sentence meant that not literally forever. Maybe 5 year, maybe 10 years, maybe 15 years depends on the usage and upkeep.

The OP's Audi Q7 has 60k miles after 7 years. Because of low mileage, they can easily keep it to 12 to 15 years mark if they want to. How's that for Toyota or Honda's "forever" standard?

"Forever is a mighty long time"

[DS03]

Audis are infamous for poor quality but sounds like you got a good one. I would keep it another 60,000 miles and re-evaluate then.

It seems like Audis are getting better. They went through some dark days in the late 90s/early 00s along with the rest of the VAG brands, but maybe that's behind them now. Consumer Reports ranks their reliability at number six out of 24 brands, sandwiched between Honda and Subaru.
https://www.consumerreports.org/car-rel ... 824554938/

Perhaps I'm rationalizing though, as I've been eyeing used off-lease Q7s. Someone should probably talk me out of that.

Don't do it, lol. From what I have read in the past, Q7's are on the more problematic end of the Audi reliability spectrum. Maybe if it is a CPO and you have some warranty coverage in the beginning to work out any potential issues.

[henry]

Audis are infamous for poor quality but sounds like you got a good one. I would keep it another 60,000 miles and re-evaluate then.

It seems like Audis are getting better. They went through some dark days in the late 90s/early 00s along with the rest of the VAG brands, but maybe that's behind them now. Consumer Reports ranks their reliability at number six out of 24 brands, sandwiched between Honda and Subaru.
https://www.consumerreports.org/car-rel ... 824554938/

Perhaps I'm rationalizing though, as I've been eyeing used off-lease Q7s. Someone should probably talk me out of that.

You might find the article below from a recent issue of Consumer Reports of interest, which discusses maintenance and repair costs of various car brands. Although Audi might have improved reliablity (looks to be a bit better than average now), their average maintenance and repair costs as they age beyond 5 years old are still higher than most. The most current issue of Consumer Reports ranked Audi as having the fourth HIGHEST 10-year maintenance and repair costs among 28 different brands in their reader survey. (BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche were the only ones higher.). No surprise I guess given these are all luxury makes whose cars have more complicated powertrains and more features and consequently more items that need maintenance or that can eventually break and need repair at some point.

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/ca ... 081677414/

However, to the OP, maintaining and fixing a 7-year old Audi is still likely going to be less expensive than buying a new one.