New Car!!
- Thread starter 1X83Z
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Unlike in Europe, we American human beings can drive before being too old to even achieve sexual arousal.
MINOR UPDATE: Tomorrow the car goes in for some maintenance issues. Those are:
1. The LED screen on the dashboard fades slightly after driving the vehicle in warm temperatures.
2. The heater controls are sticky and probably need to be replaced.
3. The cam tensioner seals need to be replaced.
4. The headlights don't project far enough down the road and must be adjusted.
5. The vehicle needs an oil change.
I am also having them (McDonald Automotive, my local Audi dealer) check fluid levels and the strength of the battery. Tires will be purchased at Sears in one or two weeks. The timing belt must be changed at, recommends Audi, 60,000 miles; I plan on changing it before it hits 50,000 just to make sure nothing bad happens.
I have driven the vehicle 1,000 miles since purchase two weeks ago.
The mechanic talked me into doing the timing belt while they're doing the cam tensioner seals, because they'll be working in the same part of the car. He told me I can save $150 that way. So I'm doing everything described above plus the timing belt.
This service will cost about a third of the purchase price of the vehicle, I believe. However, after I finish it and get tires, I should be free of major services for as long as I own the vehicle. I hope that's true...
This service will cost about a third of the purchase price of the vehicle, I believe. However, after I finish it and get tires, I should be free of major services for as long as I own the vehicle. I hope that's true...
Duke
Nearby.
I'm expensive
Just got the first service bill back. Ouch.
However, I got just about everything that needed changing changed, aside from the tires, which come next week. That fading LCD screen was a $900 job, and those air-con buttons cost me $850 to get fixed. Add the cam tensioner seals and the timing belt - plus the 'belly plate,' which protects the drivetrain of the vehicle and was completely missing - and you're looking at a damn expensive repair. Once the tires are finished, though, it'll be like I'm driving an all-new car. That's good, since I've just about paid for another one...
And a final update on maintenance here, I have finally purchased tires...
Goodyear Assurance TripleTred, which are extremely highly rated on TireRack. More money than I wanted to spend, but the second the guy said '80,000 mile tire' I said 'sold.' Hopefully I won't ever have to purchase tires again for this vehicle...
The car is now in perfect condition. I got an incredible deal on the purchase price, but the maintenance getting it up to this shape has made my deal pretty fair. That said, this is one of the lowest mileage, nicest-condition 2001 A4s around now that everything is complete. I've never been so confident in a car I owned.
Goodyear Assurance TripleTred, which are extremely highly rated on TireRack. More money than I wanted to spend, but the second the guy said '80,000 mile tire' I said 'sold.' Hopefully I won't ever have to purchase tires again for this vehicle...
The car is now in perfect condition. I got an incredible deal on the purchase price, but the maintenance getting it up to this shape has made my deal pretty fair. That said, this is one of the lowest mileage, nicest-condition 2001 A4s around now that everything is complete. I've never been so confident in a car I owned.
Lots.
backspace
$900 to replace an LCD screen, and $850 to replace air conditioning buttons.
New parts are expensive, says the Audi dealer.
I just took the car out for a drive tonight - did about 150 miles; topped out at 90mph and took it on some windy mountain roads. The thing performs superbly, and the tires are absolutely fantastic.
The A4 and I just completed a 1,450 mile trip from Denver to Atlanta. It's holding up nicely though it's a little rough when I turn the wheel all the way to either side, which wasn't an issue before the trip. At this altitude it is noticeably faster and with Atlanta's curved roads it's so much fun.
Some trip photos:
This is what eastern Colorado, all of Kansas, and most of Missouri looks like
Rest stop
Ellis, Kansas
Kansas City
What is a 'Trfwy'?
Missouri River
St. Louis Gateway Arch
Mississippi River
Mile 1000 (somewhere in southern Illinois)
Semi Truck towing Tank
Metropolis, Illinois
Ohio River bridge from Illinois into Kentucky
The new Federal Highway Sign font - somewhere in Kentucky
Welcome to Tennessee (the rest of the state sign shots are in the DYSAGT thread)
Nashville
Tennessee
Atlanta!
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
Most of Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia are beautiful States to drive through. I haven't gone south by car in a long, long time (last was more than eight years ago). I'm glad the Audi held up well (no reason why it shouldn't have), as I do know they are great highway cruisers.
The last trip I made in the Jetta was to Chicago, and that was fun-ish. I may/may not be going to Detroit this weekend for the Grand Prix (depends on weather, if I feel like doing the three-hour drive), we'll see. I've got a busted front strut that needs replacement, and I really don't like the way it wallows down the highway right now...
The last trip I made in the Jetta was to Chicago, and that was fun-ish. I may/may not be going to Detroit this weekend for the Grand Prix (depends on weather, if I feel like doing the three-hour drive), we'll see. I've got a busted front strut that needs replacement, and I really don't like the way it wallows down the highway right now...
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