These are undoubtedly some of the most trying, harsh and tumultuous economic times we have ever seen, and nothing comparable has existed in generations. The era of relative prosperity that was the hallmark of the first decade of the 21st century has now made way to a sort of fire sale attitude, where people who got in way over their heads with the purchase of luxury items are letting them go at incredibly low prices.

In fact, if you have ever wanted to purchase a used Audi luxury car, now is the best opportunity that you have ever had, especially if you have cash, or private financing at a great rate. But, as with the purchase of any used vehicle, the process is by its nature full of risk, and the margin for error is incredibly slim. With a little preparation, patience and forethought, though, you will be able to avoid and mitigate most of this risk, and come away with a vehicle that you can drive around with pride and prestige.

Here are a few of the things that you will need to be aware of in order to make the most of your purchase of a used Audi A4 for sale.

Bring A Mechanic With You

Always clear it with the seller first, but bringing a mechanic that you know and trust, and who has experience with the Audi line of automobiles, can be one of the most important things that you do in order to ensure that you are getting the best Audi at the best price. If the seller balks at this, hesitates, or suggests a mechanic of his own choosing, be vary wary of this. This can mean that there is something significantly wrong with the Audi in question.

There Are Suspension Problems

Some Audi A4s are known for developing suspension problems within 50,000 miles, so if the A4 that you are looking at is near that point, chances are good that the car has or may soon develop those suspension problems. Often, if a car is well past 50,000 miles, that means either the problem was already dealt with, or that the car is not prone to developing it at all.

Transmissions May Be A Problem As Well

Some Audi A4 automatic transmissions can also develop problems far earlier than the service manual suggests. There are problems with high revving, hard shifts and other problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible, or the driver risks serious damage to the drive train of the Audi.