u/krakends

Hi everyone, looking for some advice on a potential car purchase. I am currently looking at a private party sale for a single-owner 2017 Audi Q5 with 117,000 miles.

The Vehicle Details:

• Price: Asking $9,500 (seller is very open to negotiation).
• History: Clean service history, Carfax Homegrown status. The seller had an Audi dealership contract up to 100k miles and followed the recommended 10k-mile service intervals.
• Maintenance: They also did mid-interval synthetic oil changes every 5k–7k miles, which matches the Carfax entries.
• Usage: Daily driver with occasional road trips. Always driven in economy mode (not sport), though it has been driven in a quite hilly area of the PNW.
• Condition: It drives really nicely. The seller is very open to a PPI at a garage of my choice and understands that it's an older vehicle that could have unknown issues.

The Main Carfax Note: One item stood out: "Engine timing/front cover gasket replaced." The owner explained that he noticed the oil levels falling faster than expected, so the dealership recommended this $4,000 repair. They haven't seen any issues since.

I've seen plenty of comments online characterizing these vehicles as potential money pits at this stage of their life, so I want to get the community's take.

What I need advice on:

• PPI Checklist: We are absolutely getting a PPI done. What specific Audi-specific components or hidden problem areas should I explicitly ask the mechanic to look at?
• Next 30k Miles: What major components are likely going to need replacement between 117k and 150k miles?
• Longevity vs. Risk: If I maintain this vehicle just as well as the previous owner, can I realistically expect to get another 80,000 to 100,000 miles out of it? Or should I avoid this car outright due to common issues that pop up past 150k miles?
• The Alternative: Our other option is a single-owner, Carfax Homegrown 2017 Subaru Impreza with 80k miles. The seller is asking $14,300, but I think they will negotiate down to $13,000.

USONA Institute also posted their first job posting in nearly a year last week. Chuck Raison is now listed as primary contact on the clinical trials page. Tanya Ramey confirmed that PSIL-301 is advancing through a rolling submission.

The car has 83,068 miles on it. Carfax mentions a minor accident, a sideswipe collision (minor fender bender). Clean title. My local dealership is quoting $17,000 before taxes. It has the convenience package.

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This is my first car ever. I know the pre 2018 X3's have their issues with the N20 engine but I have read good things from the later generation. Is this a good deal at this price? Is there room to negotiate here? Should I just stick with a simpler car instead for a first car.

I know this is a long shot but I was hoping to get some pointed feedback from current or former owners regarding the building's financial health and physical upkeep.

1. Reserves: What is the exact current reserve funding percentage?
2. Assessments: Are there any unfunded major capital expenditures or looming special assessments currently being discussed by the board?
3. Exterior Upkeep: Has the HOA recently replaced the flat roof membrane or the exterior elastomeric window and siding sealants?
4. Water Intrusion: Have there been any historical issues with water damage originating from failing fiberglass window seals or chronic fire sprinkler/plumbing leaks?
5. Insurance: If water damage has occurred in the past, was the remediation handled smoothly through the HOA's master insurance policy?
6. HOA Management: I understand the building's management recently transitioned from Morris Management to VIS Group. I have seen some pretty bad reviews about Morris Management. I was wondering how the experience has been with property management in this building.

Thanks in advance for any insights!