K Bourke

1999 A6 Avant was the best damn car I couldn't afford to maintain ... did I
mention I'm a PHYSICIAN????

Superbly competent in ALL weather conditions, and at *most* speeds, the A6
Avant will carry a surprising amount of gear in/on it. Brilliantly
over-engineered mechanicals, as one would expect in the Germanic tradition,
but when the self-dimming rear-view mirror didn't any more, the part was
$CDN450 alone, and $CDN for the driver's side when it succumbed at 110,000km
(less than 70k miles).

After four (4) control arms were replaced under warranty (yes, they were
groaning and needed swapping out, not just a warranty grab by the dealer..),
I decided I couldn't afford it for the longer run. Traded at the dealer
(for another marque), and they still can't move the car 15 mos later,
despite being in immaculate shape, and having a fully new tranny under the
last month of warranty, as neither they nor ZF could solve the "clunk" into
gear that it had developed....not at all a safety problem, they said, but
"it really shouldn't *do* that".. so they popped in a reconditioned tranny
to the tune of $CDN12,500 FOR THE PART !!!

Your mileage may vary, as they say, but these vehicles are more like 767's
than Toyotas or Hondas... Best of Luck

K.
<gcmschemist@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1113350497.401784.158210@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Randy Browning wrote:
>> Thanks Dale. Sounds like solid advice. I just hope I have the sense
> to
>> follow it. I'm looking at some newer ones that are 'warrantable'
> without
>> going over $16,000. Unfortunately I'm only interested in the a6
> wagon.
>> Realistically I should start shopping for something else... like a
> Chevy
>> Cavalier..
>
> It is true that some Audis are like that. Not all. I have a sedan
> that has over 200k miles, and an Avant with 185k miles. Maintenance
> and repairs have worked out to about $250/year of ownership, each.
> This includes wear items like brakes and tires. When you start getting
> high up in miles (70k ain't hardly even broken in yet, LOL), stuff like
> fuel pumps and radiators and alternators begin to show up as repair
> items. Like my own recent fuel pump adventure. But I expect a
> 200k+ mile car to have some hassles every now and again.
>
> The key is to pick a car that has FULL SERVICE RECORDS. (Important
> enough to shout.) And those records should show all sorts of timely
> service, for all sorts of things. If it doesn't have records, and you
> don't know anything about, oh, say the last timing belt change (it's
> due for the conservative Audi owner somewhere near 70k), then you could
> be in for a huge bill for engine repair when it lets go. Maybe that's
> why it's being sold - the current owner looks at the mechanic and says,
> "$650 for what? Screw that."
>
> Even if it has all the records, I'd take it to your local independent
> shop that knows Audi inside and out, and ask them to do a pre-purchase
> inspection.
>
> Saying that an Audi *will* cost a whole load of dough, or that it'll be
> unreliable is just not true. While the odds are higher than with Honda
> or Toyota, you can also get fantastic cars at reasonable prices. But
> if $12k is at the high end of your range, I'd stay away, especially if
> the records aren't there, or the pre-inspection comes back with any
> problems, OR if the records do not indicate a recent timing belt
> change.
>
> HTH,
>
> E.P.
>

K Bourke

1999 A6 Avant was the best damn car I couldn't afford to maintain ... did I
mention I'm a PHYSICIAN????

Superbly competent in ALL weather conditions, and at *most* speeds, the A6
Avant will carry a surprising amount of gear in/on it. Brilliantly
over-engineered mechanicals, as one would expect in the Germanic tradition,
but when the self-dimming rear-view mirror didn't any more, the part was
$CDN450 alone, and $CDN for the driver's side when it succumbed at 110,000km
(less than 70k miles).

After four (4) control arms were replaced under warranty (yes, they were
groaning and needed swapping out, not just a warranty grab by the dealer..),
I decided I couldn't afford it for the longer run. Traded at the dealer
(for another marque), and they still can't move the car 15 mos later,
despite being in immaculate shape, and having a fully new tranny under the
last month of warranty, as neither they nor ZF could solve the "clunk" into
gear that it had developed....not at all a safety problem, they said, but
"it really shouldn't *do* that".. so they popped in a reconditioned tranny
to the tune of $CDN12,500 FOR THE PART !!!

Your mileage may vary, as they say, but these vehicles are more like 767's
than Toyotas or Hondas... Best of Luck

K.
<gcmschemist@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1113350497.401784.158210@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Randy Browning wrote:
>> Thanks Dale. Sounds like solid advice. I just hope I have the sense
> to
>> follow it. I'm looking at some newer ones that are 'warrantable'
> without
>> going over $16,000. Unfortunately I'm only interested in the a6
> wagon.
>> Realistically I should start shopping for something else... like a
> Chevy
>> Cavalier..
>
> It is true that some Audis are like that. Not all. I have a sedan
> that has over 200k miles, and an Avant with 185k miles. Maintenance
> and repairs have worked out to about $250/year of ownership, each.
> This includes wear items like brakes and tires. When you start getting
> high up in miles (70k ain't hardly even broken in yet, LOL), stuff like
> fuel pumps and radiators and alternators begin to show up as repair
> items. Like my own recent fuel pump adventure. But I expect a
> 200k+ mile car to have some hassles every now and again.
>
> The key is to pick a car that has FULL SERVICE RECORDS. (Important
> enough to shout.) And those records should show all sorts of timely
> service, for all sorts of things. If it doesn't have records, and you
> don't know anything about, oh, say the last timing belt change (it's
> due for the conservative Audi owner somewhere near 70k), then you could
> be in for a huge bill for engine repair when it lets go. Maybe that's
> why it's being sold - the current owner looks at the mechanic and says,
> "$650 for what? Screw that."
>
> Even if it has all the records, I'd take it to your local independent
> shop that knows Audi inside and out, and ask them to do a pre-purchase
> inspection.
>
> Saying that an Audi *will* cost a whole load of dough, or that it'll be
> unreliable is just not true. While the odds are higher than with Honda
> or Toyota, you can also get fantastic cars at reasonable prices. But
> if $12k is at the high end of your range, I'd stay away, especially if
> the records aren't there, or the pre-inspection comes back with any
> problems, OR if the records do not indicate a recent timing belt
> change.
>
> HTH,
>
> E.P.
>

K Bourke

1999 A6 Avant was the best damn car I couldn't afford to maintain ... did I
mention I'm a PHYSICIAN????

Superbly competent in ALL weather conditions, and at *most* speeds, the A6
Avant will carry a surprising amount of gear in/on it. Brilliantly
over-engineered mechanicals, as one would expect in the Germanic tradition,
but when the self-dimming rear-view mirror didn't any more, the part was
$CDN450 alone, and $CDN for the driver's side when it succumbed at 110,000km
(less than 70k miles).

After four (4) control arms were replaced under warranty (yes, they were
groaning and needed swapping out, not just a warranty grab by the dealer..),
I decided I couldn't afford it for the longer run. Traded at the dealer
(for another marque), and they still can't move the car 15 mos later,
despite being in immaculate shape, and having a fully new tranny under the
last month of warranty, as neither they nor ZF could solve the "clunk" into
gear that it had developed....not at all a safety problem, they said, but
"it really shouldn't *do* that".. so they popped in a reconditioned tranny
to the tune of $CDN12,500 FOR THE PART !!!

Your mileage may vary, as they say, but these vehicles are more like 767's
than Toyotas or Hondas... Best of Luck

K.
<gcmschemist@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1113350497.401784.158210@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Randy Browning wrote:
>> Thanks Dale. Sounds like solid advice. I just hope I have the sense
> to
>> follow it. I'm looking at some newer ones that are 'warrantable'
> without
>> going over $16,000. Unfortunately I'm only interested in the a6
> wagon.
>> Realistically I should start shopping for something else... like a
> Chevy
>> Cavalier..
>
> It is true that some Audis are like that. Not all. I have a sedan
> that has over 200k miles, and an Avant with 185k miles. Maintenance
> and repairs have worked out to about $250/year of ownership, each.
> This includes wear items like brakes and tires. When you start getting
> high up in miles (70k ain't hardly even broken in yet, LOL), stuff like
> fuel pumps and radiators and alternators begin to show up as repair
> items. Like my own recent fuel pump adventure. But I expect a
> 200k+ mile car to have some hassles every now and again.
>
> The key is to pick a car that has FULL SERVICE RECORDS. (Important
> enough to shout.) And those records should show all sorts of timely
> service, for all sorts of things. If it doesn't have records, and you
> don't know anything about, oh, say the last timing belt change (it's
> due for the conservative Audi owner somewhere near 70k), then you could
> be in for a huge bill for engine repair when it lets go. Maybe that's
> why it's being sold - the current owner looks at the mechanic and says,
> "$650 for what? Screw that."
>
> Even if it has all the records, I'd take it to your local independent
> shop that knows Audi inside and out, and ask them to do a pre-purchase
> inspection.
>
> Saying that an Audi *will* cost a whole load of dough, or that it'll be
> unreliable is just not true. While the odds are higher than with Honda
> or Toyota, you can also get fantastic cars at reasonable prices. But
> if $12k is at the high end of your range, I'd stay away, especially if
> the records aren't there, or the pre-inspection comes back with any
> problems, OR if the records do not indicate a recent timing belt
> change.
>
> HTH,
>
> E.P.
>

gcmschemist@gmail.com

K Bourke wrote:
>
> Your mileage may vary, as they say, but these vehicles are more like
767's
> than Toyotas or Hondas... Best of Luck
>

Sounds like you had a bit of a hassle. And were out C$450. Isn't that
about US$300? A whole heck of a lot for a mirror, I have to agree.

The control arms didn't cost you a penny, nor the tranny. I find it
hard to believe that the auto tx cost more than an entire 2.7TT motor
replacement. Even in CDN dollars. We're talking somewhere near
US$9500, right?

In any case, most Audi cars are advanced in comparison to most of the
contemporary cars. If absolute reliability is your goal, then Honda
(Acura) or Toyota (Lexus) would be the best choice. I have never found
any of those marques to be as a good a fit for me or my driving style.
And I think I'd buy your car - with a new tranny and a fixed mirror -
along with the replaces suspension bits - it sounds like you took care
of the depreciation for me (thanks for that,) and kept it up. I'll bet
the next folks that have it will get 100k+ miles out of it with no
hassle.

But I haven't had many unexpected problems over the 200k+ miles I've
driven my current Audi stable. (Tires, brakes, the odd
mechanical/electric part over a decade old, etc.) and I'm quite pleased
at how much luxury we were able to afford for the used car dollar
spent. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

E.P.

gcmschemist@gmail.com

K Bourke wrote:
>
> Your mileage may vary, as they say, but these vehicles are more like
767's
> than Toyotas or Hondas... Best of Luck
>

Sounds like you had a bit of a hassle. And were out C$450. Isn't that
about US$300? A whole heck of a lot for a mirror, I have to agree.

The control arms didn't cost you a penny, nor the tranny. I find it
hard to believe that the auto tx cost more than an entire 2.7TT motor
replacement. Even in CDN dollars. We're talking somewhere near
US$9500, right?

In any case, most Audi cars are advanced in comparison to most of the
contemporary cars. If absolute reliability is your goal, then Honda
(Acura) or Toyota (Lexus) would be the best choice. I have never found
any of those marques to be as a good a fit for me or my driving style.
And I think I'd buy your car - with a new tranny and a fixed mirror -
along with the replaces suspension bits - it sounds like you took care
of the depreciation for me (thanks for that,) and kept it up. I'll bet
the next folks that have it will get 100k+ miles out of it with no
hassle.

But I haven't had many unexpected problems over the 200k+ miles I've
driven my current Audi stable. (Tires, brakes, the odd
mechanical/electric part over a decade old, etc.) and I'm quite pleased
at how much luxury we were able to afford for the used car dollar
spent. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

E.P.

gcmschemist@gmail.com

K Bourke wrote:
>
> Your mileage may vary, as they say, but these vehicles are more like
767's
> than Toyotas or Hondas... Best of Luck
>

Sounds like you had a bit of a hassle. And were out C$450. Isn't that
about US$300? A whole heck of a lot for a mirror, I have to agree.

The control arms didn't cost you a penny, nor the tranny. I find it
hard to believe that the auto tx cost more than an entire 2.7TT motor
replacement. Even in CDN dollars. We're talking somewhere near
US$9500, right?

In any case, most Audi cars are advanced in comparison to most of the
contemporary cars. If absolute reliability is your goal, then Honda
(Acura) or Toyota (Lexus) would be the best choice. I have never found
any of those marques to be as a good a fit for me or my driving style.
And I think I'd buy your car - with a new tranny and a fixed mirror -
along with the replaces suspension bits - it sounds like you took care
of the depreciation for me (thanks for that,) and kept it up. I'll bet
the next folks that have it will get 100k+ miles out of it with no
hassle.

But I haven't had many unexpected problems over the 200k+ miles I've
driven my current Audi stable. (Tires, brakes, the odd
mechanical/electric part over a decade old, etc.) and I'm quite pleased
at how much luxury we were able to afford for the used car dollar
spent. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

E.P.