RUNAWAY FAST. This is the automotive equivalent of dating Paris Hilton.
Hwy doc, are you saying you would turn down a date with paris? (I suppose that is why there is a triumph in my garage!)
I am curious about what minor kind of sensor problem requires a 3 grand fix.
The only Audi you should have is one with a bumper to bumper warranty.
Now VDC, I’ll have to disagree on the CELl. I have one that’s been on the Olds for a long long time. Its the EGR code. Took it to the shop and we put in a $500 electronic EGR valve. That didn’t do it. Took it to the dealer and spent some more money on it. They said if it came back, the tubes need to be cleaned out which on the Aurora, requires pulling the trans to get to it. Only drive it maybe 500 miles a year, runs fine, and has been well maintained, but there is no way I would spend more money on it.
No, it’s not an ‘Audi’ thing, it’s a ‘there’s something wrong’ thing. If you want a European luxury vehicle you need to be prepared to pay European luxury repair costs (think Euro=$$) and at least have somebody other than the QuickieLube mechanic look it over. The only way to reasonably own one of these cars is to fix it yourself, independent shops are few and far between unless you live in a big city. Even hooking the car up to computer will set you back $100 (and everything requires hooking the car up to computer), so forget every walking away from a service without a $600 bill.
Having said that, after my Chevy and Dodge vehicles, I now own an '02 Volvo with 182K miles and it’s running better (and more comfortable) than they ever did. But the only reason that is anywhere near feasible for me is because my mechanic is me.
Bing, I can see where that would work in your situation, but if you only drive the vehicle 500 miles a year, it is probably exempt from the emissions inspection requirement. If one lives in a state that requires emission inspection, the CEL has to be off or they will not even look at it.
I would buy a car with a current CEL only if I had checked to see what error was causing the CEL(s) and determined that I was willing to address them. Even then I would be concerned because any unresolved CEL is an indication of poor maintenance. A properly maintained car does not have an active CEL.
As for the make, I would not worry about that all that much.
Barkydog; the point is that I can’t AFFORD to date Paris Hilton.
You need to Google Paris Hilton, there may be a reason a smart man would not want to get too close to her.
He didn’t say he was going to marry her. There’s a great chasm between dating and marriage.
NEVER buy a car from a friend, if you want to stay that way. Take it as a gift only. An Audi only adds to that advice.
Down the street from where I live is a beautiful dark blue Jaguar sedan with a For Sale sign in the windshield. I said something to my wife about buying it for her and she could sell her 2003 Toyota 4Runner. She said “no way”. I then suggested that we could have the Jaguar as a third vehicle to replace the 1978 Oldsmobile I sold in November. My wife then said that we didn’t need another ornament sitting in the driveway as the old Oldsmobile did. I was able to keep the Oldsmobile running doing my own repairs, but I would probably not be able to maintain and repair the Jaguar. An Audi is in the same category as the Jaguar.
I had colleagues that owned Merecedes Benz and BMW automobiles. The nearest dealer is 60 miles away. It was a day shot just to have these cars serviced.
Triedaq, step away from the PC for a while so that the Mrs can weigh in. I need a good laugh today.
jt–I have no concern about Triedaq buying the Jaguar. I did have a problem convincing him to sell the Oldsmobile that he drove for 33 years. His colleagues made fun of him driving the old car to work which just egged him on to keep driving it. No matter what new object we purchase to replace something old and worn out, he always says “I liked the old one better”. When he finally retired last May, there was nobody to razz him about the old car, so he sold it. Nobody woud ride in the car with him (including me) because there was a spring poking up from the passenger’s seat.
I didn’t worry about him buying the Jaguar. His ideal car would have side curtains, a gearshift on the steering column and a bench seat. Triedaq goes for the “reverse status symbol”. A Mercedes Benz, a Jaguar, or an Audi just wouldn’t fit his image.
Mrs. Triedaq
“…he always says “I liked the old one better”.”
He’s no doubt got you in mind all the while, Mrs T.