Audi Q7 Problems

From memory, that model Audi Q7 had the option of rear window sunshades which are a great addition and should really be standard on any car sold in Australia. In this model, the shades were manually operated so you need to grab a small tab and pull the blind upwards to fix it in place. If the tabs are missing, the shade may be broken or may have been removed by a previous owner, leaving just the empty slot in the door trim.

Some cars also had electronically-operated shades, so a check of the owner’s manual may reveal where the relevant button is located. If the shades are missing, you may be able to find an aftermarket replacement that uses the same factory mounting points. There are lots of aftermarket choices online.

Even though the Q7 is larger than the Q8 and shares much of the same technology, Audi justifies a considerably price hike on the Q8 due to its more sport-focused powertrain options which boost performance. The Q8 is available in V6, V8 or full-electric guises, with the choice of petrol, diesel, hybrid and battery electric powertrains. The Q7 is only offered in petrol or diesel, the majority of which are in V6 guises with one V8 option. The top-spec SQ8 shares much of its underpinnings with the Lamborghini Urus.

It really depends on whether you feel uncertain about the car. The car is only three years old, it’s in the prime of its life, and really shouldn’t suffer any major meltdowns in the next two years. I wouldn’t buy extra warranty. If you want to buy it thoroughly check what the warranty covers and doesn’t cover.

The Q7 is well built and there are no serious issues that affect it, but that’s not to say that there won’t be any. After all any car can have problems and I don’t have a crystal ball that allows me to predict the future.

Your budget limits you to older models, such as 2008/2009, which will have done 120,000 to 180,000 km. I am loath to recommend buying one of these cars with such a mileage on them; you would be heading the period of pain when you are quite likely to face increasing and expensive repairs. If you were to choose to buy one I would go for the Discovery. I would also urge you to have the car you choose checked over by a specialist mechanic who knows the brand intimately. Instead of the European models you are considering I would suggest you also look at something like the Toyota Kluger, which would likely to be more reliable and less expensive going forward, and your budget would stretch to a later model.

There's nothing serious to be concerned about with the V8 model, but be aware that it will be expensive to service and repair should you need to do it. Before you hand over your cash talk to a specialist Audi mechanic and seek their advice on the things to look at. Using an independent mechanic will save you heaps on servicing, and they will generally be able to source cheaper parts if needed.

On seven-seaters, the Territory runs last, the Kluger is fine and reasonable value and the Audi is definitely the car to reward yourself, but the Q7 could get very expensive if anything goes wrong.