u/Clean-Barracuda1520

Warning about AutoBahn Motors in Belmont — my experience buying a used Audi SQ5

I’m posting this so anyone considering buying a car from AutoBahn Motors in Belmont knows exactly what to watch out for.

I bought a 2018 Audi SQ5 from them in cash. Before buying, I specifically asked what work had been done on the car. Here is what I was told versus what I experienced afterward:

1. They told me the brakes were new. That did not match what I later found through my mechanic, This created a serious safety issue. After I bought the car and had it inspected by a mechanic, I was told the brakes were nearly gone and unsafe. This was not some small cosmetic issue - this is a basic safety issue.
2. They told me they had replaced multiple undercarriage/suspension-related parts. After purchase, the car started making snapping/cracking noises and my mechanic found issues that made the car feel unsafe to drive. Based on what I saw afterward, I do not believe the car was represented accurately. I already spent $2k and may need to spend additional money to make this car driveable.
3. They showed me an iPacket/history-style presentation claiming significant work was done on the car. Based on what my mechanic found afterward, I do not believe this presentation accurately reflected the condition of the car. Salespeople, pushed the story hard and made it sound like the car had been carefully checked and reconditioned "by Autobahn motors master engineers". My experience after purchase was very different.
4. The finance experience was terrible. The finance manager was rude, tense, and talked to me in an extremely disrespectful way while I was signing documents. The whole process felt rushed, pressured, and unprofessional. She told me that they will not run my credit score hard inquiry since I refused to sign, but they still did it.
5. Most importantly: they ran a hard inquiry on my credit even though I was buying in cash. I specifically told them I was paying cash and did not authorize a hard pull. They still ran a hard inquiry, and my credit score dropped afterward! I contacted them about it and gave them time to resolve it, but they I waited weeks, but the issue was not resolved. I am now formally disputing the AutoBahn Motors inquiry with Experian as unauthorized.

Based on my experience, I would not rely on their verbal claims without written proof. They told me the brakes were new. They told me the car was safe. They represented that thousands of dollars had been spent preparing the car. They made it sound like the vehicle had been thoroughly inspected and was ready to go.

After buying it, I found the opposite.

Also, be very careful during the viewing. In my case, the car was shown dirty, which made it harder to see scratches and cosmetic issues. It was also parked in the sun, and the engine was already hot, which makes it harder to hear cold-start noises or identify mechanical problems.

My advice: do not buy from AutoBahn Motors in Belmont without an independent inspection, a cold start, written proof of every repair they claim, and confirmation in writing that they will not run your credit if you are paying cash. Do not rely on verbal claims.

I trusted what they told me and regretted it. Hopefully this helps someone else avoid the same mistake.