New Car!!
- Thread starter 1X83Z
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- Lincoln
- Speedster502
Nice car M5 I have always wanted a Audi for some strange reason....
Roo
Premium
- 7,431
- Hampshire, UK
- GTP_Roo
Proud? He'd want to sleep with him.
Good car, good mileage, good colour. Have fun with her!
Edit:
Go on. Do it. Doitdoitdoit. You know you want too...
Thanks again to everyone for the kind words!!
Yes! I get to tell the story again.
February 2005, I see a silver Porsche Carrera GT driving around while I'm on a date. Later, I tell people. No one - no one - believes me. As a direct result of that, I purchased a digital camera to start photographing cars. Coincidentally, my very first spot - a Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale - came two years ago yesterday. Anyway - fast-forward to two months after that spot, July 15, 2005. I'm driving around in the northeast section of town and I get a call from a friend that there is a Carrera GT sitting on a corner near his home. I tell him I'm far away, but I'll be there as soon as I can and to stay with the car. He tells me he's about to go on his first date with someone and he can't; I tell him I couldn't care less and he needs to. Alas, he did, and they eventually dated for two years.
Anyway, I do the 30 minute drive to the area in about 18 minutes and sure enough, the Carrera GT. The very reason I purchased a digital camera. I'll never forget that night, as I was not only racing against his desire to go on the date but I was racing against the darkness; it got fully dark about ten minutes after I left the area. The car was parked on a not-busy street, near no busy streets, in front of a home which was worth, we all decided, nowhere near the value of the Porsche. Coincidentally, the home was listed for sale a few months ago at $430,000, which is $10,000 less than the value of the Carrera GT when new.
Conclusion: the car had Arizona plates, and I've never seen it again, nor do I have any idea why it was parked there in the first place. It's not my home, and my friend told me he's never gone that way before but he simply decided to that night for no particular reason. That's lucky.
And that's the Carrera GT in front of house story.
Good point - that's a fact which I hadn't considered until this very minute.
What's really comical is that I'm completely indifferent towards the M5. However, come on - how could you guys know me as anything other than M5Power?!
Yeah Duke - that's a fair point - although Quattro might actually benefit handling, since vehicles not equipped are front-drive. I think in the turning department I'd rather have Quattro that front-drive, although acceleration is marred a bit. However, if I had been going for a stoplight racer I could've had something better for the price - this is hopefully a better all-rounder.
Yes! I get to tell the story again.
February 2005, I see a silver Porsche Carrera GT driving around while I'm on a date. Later, I tell people. No one - no one - believes me. As a direct result of that, I purchased a digital camera to start photographing cars. Coincidentally, my very first spot - a Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale - came two years ago yesterday. Anyway - fast-forward to two months after that spot, July 15, 2005. I'm driving around in the northeast section of town and I get a call from a friend that there is a Carrera GT sitting on a corner near his home. I tell him I'm far away, but I'll be there as soon as I can and to stay with the car. He tells me he's about to go on his first date with someone and he can't; I tell him I couldn't care less and he needs to. Alas, he did, and they eventually dated for two years.
Anyway, I do the 30 minute drive to the area in about 18 minutes and sure enough, the Carrera GT. The very reason I purchased a digital camera. I'll never forget that night, as I was not only racing against his desire to go on the date but I was racing against the darkness; it got fully dark about ten minutes after I left the area. The car was parked on a not-busy street, near no busy streets, in front of a home which was worth, we all decided, nowhere near the value of the Porsche. Coincidentally, the home was listed for sale a few months ago at $430,000, which is $10,000 less than the value of the Carrera GT when new.
Conclusion: the car had Arizona plates, and I've never seen it again, nor do I have any idea why it was parked there in the first place. It's not my home, and my friend told me he's never gone that way before but he simply decided to that night for no particular reason. That's lucky.
And that's the Carrera GT in front of house story.
Mistah Kellah
Good point - that's a fact which I hadn't considered until this very minute.
Roo
Roo
What's really comical is that I'm completely indifferent towards the M5. However, come on - how could you guys know me as anything other than M5Power?!
Duke
Yeah Duke - that's a fair point - although Quattro might actually benefit handling, since vehicles not equipped are front-drive. I think in the turning department I'd rather have Quattro that front-drive, although acceleration is marred a bit. However, if I had been going for a stoplight racer I could've had something better for the price - this is hopefully a better all-rounder.
Hey - I like the new models! And don't tell me the thing about Audi resale values after paying what I just did for this thing! After putting 200 miles on the car in the last two days, I realized that Audi ownership is probably something that'll stay with me for more than just this car. The workmanship is outstanding, and the attention to detail is on a level I am simply not used to. For instance:
- When the lights are on and you're not in Tiptronic, the Tiptronic lights (+/-) on the steering wheel are off. When you move it into Tiptronic, the lights on the wheel turn on.
- All windows are one-touch down, and if you're in the way when it shuts on your finger, it immediately retracts several inches without pinching you, so you can move back.
- You can have the air come out the vents, at your feet, or to the windshield, or any combination of the three. No more of that 'if it's coming to the windshield it can't come out the vents' crap from about 99% of automobiles on the road.
- I programmed my garage door opener into my sun visor. I no longer need a garage door opener, and now I can open both of my garages!
- Speaking of my sun visor, when I open the mirror, it lights up - and the light isn't even on the sun visor, it's mounted on the headliner, to better illuminate.
- The mirrors automatically dim when it gets dark (although, a bit too soon, if you ask me).
- Tiptronic is a lifesaver. I still have yet to use the regular automatic mode, except when I'm on the phone. Not only is shifting fun, but you can wring out intense midrange passing power by downshifting with Tiptronic. Unfortunately, it's a little slow to downshift two gears.
- When I open the glovebox at night, it's lit.
- The cigarette lighter and ashtray are hidden and require effort to become un-hidden. I've never smoked a day in my life and couldn't be happier about this.
- The dash lighting at night is unbelievably thoughtful - the edges of the CD slot are lit so you know where to put it, and even the wheels that control how much air comes out of the vents are lit.
- Between the speedometer and the tachometer, it displays how many miles until empty, what gear you're in, and, unbelievably, what you're listening to 'CD TR 01' shows up for 'CD track 1' and the artist's name and song title comes on if you're listening to the radio. In the gauge cluster!!!
Perhaps the most important bit is that I took a friend for a ride in it tonight and she asked me if it was new.
I could brag for much longer about this but I suspect most of you will question my sanity. These are minor things but I've just come from driving a Mazda, so minor things make a lot of difference. I've already begun to price recent S4s, planning for after college. If this vehicle stays reliable, Audi has won me over.
Yes to both. However I did about 45 highway miles tonight and realized that as poorly as I treated that Volvo and as much as I hated how often it broke down, the damn thing was quick. However, my altitude is one factor affecting the quickness of the Audi - I'm living at around 5,300 feet which affects the Audi's naturally-aspirated engine but does not affect the turbocharged engine in the Volvo. So hopefully the Audi will gain some quick when it moves to Atlanta, which is only about 900 feet, in August.
Thanks for the kind words, Toronado and VIPERGTSR01.
👍
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
...See, Volkswagen, I mean Audi, is all about the details! All of their products have those neat little touches to make your car seem a bit more unique than the average Civic or TL or whatever. My VW is a bit too old for the extensive stuff you speak of, but the Passat I nearly bought a few weeks back certainly had most of those...
Now that would have been an interesting race...
Now that would have been an interesting race...
- 24,344
- Midlantic Area
- GTP_Duke
Apparently you didn't used to think so. And shifting with 3 pedals and a lever is more fun still. in fact, I never drive the TSX in manumatic mode because the automatic does a great job of selecting the right gear all by itself and doesn't need me to poke a button telling it which way to look.
...or with a regular manual shifter.
Not in my car, it's not. I can drop 5th to 3rd in the same time it takes to go to 4th... and probably just as fast as your car drops one gear. And with heel/toe work I'm betting 5>3 is substantially smoother in my car, too.
Let us know how that works out for you.
See above. I thought I wanted an S4 in the worst way - until I really looked at one. But then again, you don't do any of your own maintenance (not that there's anything wrong with that) so looking under the S4 won't scare you as much as it scared me.
No! I don't want to use my foot! This is by far the best compromise, since I can slip it into automatic when I'm photo-taking or talking on the phone. I used to want an F1 transmission, but even that requires too much labor. Tiptronic is perfection. Tiptronic FTW!
A '01-'02 S4 or the newer ones with the V8? Based on my major's average starting salary I think I should be able to easily slip into a V8 S4 (financed, of course, but with no worries) upon graduation, hopefully with few miles. However it's not number one on my list.
- 24,344
- Midlantic Area
- GTP_Duke
No, it was an '02 with the twin turbo V6. It pulled like a damn locomotive, and it felt like it held to the road by sheer force of Teutonic will, but looking under the hood scared me.
Nonetheless, 'German engineering' doesn't necessarily mean what their advertising departments would have you believe. My car is already showing all of the classic BMW minor flaws and I'm hoping none of the major wone show up. Audis are no different - I swear that every Audi made before 2000 left the factory with a random array of non-lighting, dim, and extra-bright taillights.
But still, you've got a nice car there, and I hope it serves you well.
Nonetheless, 'German engineering' doesn't necessarily mean what their advertising departments would have you believe. My car is already showing all of the classic BMW minor flaws and I'm hoping none of the major wone show up. Audis are no different - I swear that every Audi made before 2000 left the factory with a random array of non-lighting, dim, and extra-bright taillights.
But still, you've got a nice car there, and I hope it serves you well.
Those biturbo S4s are pretty crazy - I can only imagine how a V8 would feel. The biturbos were so quick with just 270 horsepower - the V8s had nearly thirty percent more.
It's relatively recent and low mileage, two factors which I'm hoping will work in my favor. We'll see what happens - I have faith in the car. I must admit owning new cars would be much more re-assuring, but I have a strong mental block about that prospect. For what I paid for this car I could've had a new Hyundai Accent - woo!
Keef
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- 25,066
- Dayton, OH
- GTP_KeefRacer
- GTP Keef
I don't know, Doug. I just drove my car for a bit and DOHC VTEC is pretty addicting...
Of course, I've yet to find anything "refined" about my car besides the fact that I've never actually felt my engine stall. And I've stalled it quite a few times.
Of course, I've yet to find anything "refined" about my car besides the fact that I've never actually felt my engine stall. And I've stalled it quite a few times.
Keef
Premium
- 25,066
- Dayton, OH
- GTP_KeefRacer
- GTP Keef
Ahem.
I thought "Audi" was a metaphor for "heavy thing"?
How about I trade you my VTEC for your Quattro? I do have to trudge through the snow and the going's lame with only 2500 pounds. I've never driven an AWD car in adverse conditions but I bet it's awesome!
I thought "Audi" was a metaphor for "heavy thing"?
How about I trade you my VTEC for your Quattro? I do have to trudge through the snow and the going's lame with only 2500 pounds. I've never driven an AWD car in adverse conditions but I bet it's awesome!
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
If my Jetta is any indication of how stupidly expensive parts can be, you may feel a slight pain when things start breaking. Generally speaking, most Volkswagens start to go when the miles get above 120K, but that being said, you either get a lemon or a soldier, and your A4 may be too young to tell for certain. I've read of oil issues and other minor things... And thats how most Vee-Dubs usually get you. There are lots of little things that will go wrong, and generally speaking they aren't offensive, but you get sick of it after a while...
Most cars like this are going to be expensive to fix no matter what, so its more or less about taking care of it.
I don't have the cash to deal with it for too long, so if it's really bad I'll toss it and go Tribute. But I really have faith in the car - it's so solid, it'll surprise me if too much goes wrong.YSSMAN
One thing that re-assures me is that this is a low-mileage example of the very last year of the product. So you'd think they'd have ironed out any problems with it by then. In fact, the engine was completely the same from 1998 to 2001, so I'm hoping all the quirks were done by 2001. Mostly the oil issues related to the turbocharged 4-cylinder model, which I love dearly as well but do not possess.
Time will tell what happens to this thing - I'm praying it stays reliable long enough to at least get me through the next three years and maybe be worth enough to serve as a good down payment after that.
Keef
That trade sucks (I again bring up 'power rating') however I would be more than happy to trade your mechanical reliability for my Quattro.
I can imagine however that would leave you turned off to the deal. You know, back in the 1980s Audi used to claim that, contrary to popular thought then and now, all-wheel drive actually helped fuel economy because all four drive wheels were turning, meaning you wouldn't have to deal with the dead weight of two wheels that were simply 'along for the ride' like on all other cars. So that shows you the basis of what we're dealing with here. I swear this story is true.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
The car is probably good for that. Surprisingly with these high gas prices my car has manged to float around in value at about the same price that I bought it for. Edmunds is pretty much pointing to $2000 being a safe bet (I bought it for $2500 back in 2005), however KBB has the car listed for $2800. Hmmm. That could turn into a decent down-payment on a new VW, or better yet, some kind of halfway-decent GM product.
...Still, that Audi should hold its value for a while. However, Gas prices are likely going to be the deciding factor there...
- 7,956
- BradleyH131
Oh, I'm keeping the VAG spare parts store in business. In the past year mine has:
- Lost the inner front guard (Not replaced, so water and rocks now litter my engine bar)
- Split an exhaust randomly (Straight road, constant speed, bang, oh **** my car sounds like a V10)
- Had to locks fall into the door (Meaning I had to wait 2 hours for someone to break into my car, before VW could take my car for 5 days and charge me $300 for a pair of door locks
- Sunroof no longer opens
- Fuel warning light comes on just after halfway
- Chair reclining bar thing haphazardly works
- 2 A/C vents have become very loose and move with the car...
- Most speaker grills fell off until I got pissed and replaced them
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
One word: Passat
I personally like the looks of the VW better, particularly the B5.5 models that came shortly thereafter. I found a 2000 Passat GLS Wagon 1.8T in my price range a few weeks ago, and I came pretty close to picking it up. It had nearly everything I wanted (stick!), but I just wasn't looking to have a car payment again, particularly when I just paid my car off.
My VW/Audi "Supplier" usually keeps a pretty good selection of cars on his lot, and rarely ever does he have models that go for over $15K. He does have a 1998 A4 1.8T there for $6500, but its not quite what I'd want.
In all seriousness, I'd be happy to pay the extra grand for a 2001 Passat GLX Wagon, but its a bit outside of my price range at the moment. Although, if I had a lot of money, I'd probably pick-up his 2002 W8 4MOTION just because I love them so much...
...I keep an eye on his inventory quite often. But having to pay for school all by myself, it isn't as though there is a lot of extra money floating around either. We'll see what happens. I've been trying to put my former car payment away every month to save-up, but that hasn't worked out well thus far. The Jetta needs some work (the retards at Discount Tire screwed up my alignment, I think. Plus, my exhaust is rattling after a mount broke on the primary exhaust...)
I still like my Jetta, but I'm still keeping an eye out for other things. If I could afford the payment on an Astra this fall, I'd go for it. Outside of that, with gas prices high and the new Camaro on the verge of dropping, prices for 4th Gens should drop like Rosie O's fat ass on her living-room couch.
We'll see.
Pretty much. Vee-Dubs will feel like they can go on forever, and then one day, they'll just give-out on you. Its just something you buy into I guess...
This is very interesting. Brad, I drove the Passat and I just walked away thinking there was no reason I should get a decontented A4. Everything about the Passat just serves to remind you that the A4 is sportier and the Passat is less geared towards the driver but towards the family man with slightly sporty ideas. For instance, you lose the thick 3-spoked steering wheel of the Audi (with its Tiptronic buttons!). And you lose the automatic gear lever which in the Audi is small and sporty but in the Passat is unwieldy (presumably you'd get a manual anyway). Plus the Passat is larger, the suspension isn't as sporty, and the body is less rigid. The interior isn't as luxurious, either. And you're telling me you'd rather a Passat?! I think the A4 is for the drivers, and the Passat is for the women.
That's just my opinion - both vehicles are better sedans than, say, a Camry. Or even an Accord. They're obviously more fun and the detail is better - but I just think the A4 is the better of the vehicles, and it's only marginally more expensive. And if you can afford the B5.5 Passat, then you can definitely afford a late B5 A4, like mine (although that price on that '01 Passat 1.8T wagon is nuts - then again, so is the mileage). And you'd get all-wheel drive, which is essentially standard on the Audi and quite rare on the Volkswagen.
Re-consider, Brad. Re-consider! Have another look at that '98 A4 1.8T!
EDIT: just saw your W8 4Motion mention - man - is that really what those are going for, or is that just a great deal?
On a slightly related note - Casio: what car do you drive?
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