Protecting your Audi - Advice sought
 

Hi all. New owner here. In fact, I'm new to owning any kind of a nice car - I've always driven beaters previously. I'm very happy with my 06 TT, and I'd like to make some investments early on to help keep my new baby in good shape for as long as possible. Here are some of the things I'm considering:

-rust proofing
-3M paint protection
-professional repaint/touch-up
-winter tires/rims

I'm feeling a bit muddled. So, I thought I'd ask for advice opinions:

-how would you prioritize this list?
-anything that shouldn't be there?
-anything you would add to the list?
-any places you would avise having the work done? (I'm in Edmononton, AB)

Cheers! :)

Re: Protecting your Audi - Advice sought
 

Definitely get the 3M done, it will protect the paint on your front end. Also winter tires and rims are a must.

Re: Protecting your Audi - Advice sought
 

If I'm not mistaken the Rust proofing is not something that should be done with a car of that age. I know that with my '09 Jetta wagon (wife's car) rust proofing voids the warranty. As for as the 3M treatment. I'm looking to get it done on mine in the spring after I get all the dings and paint chips fixed.
Winters are a good Idea. Even though the Quattro makes it seam as if you don't need it.
I don't live near you so I can't comment on that.

Post a picture. An Orange TT must look really cool.

Re: Protecting your Audi - Advice sought
 

Winter tyres will turn your Quattro from a great car to an "Unstoppable Force" in the winter!!! Given that you don't treat it like a truck and drive up 4ft. snow banks and all. And yes, please post a photo of the 8J TT! Show us you car and your mug by posting it on the Faces and Cars Thread! ;)

Re: Protecting your Audi - Advice sought
 

rust proofing? Audi has a 12 year paint and rust warranty

Re: Protecting your Audi - Advice sought
 

As an addition, I've never been impressed with Ziebart or similar services. If you can't sleep at night then I suppose you could pay them your money and get the "protection" they offer. Zinc Chromate is what's applied under paint at the factory, and anything Audi left as unpainted iron/steel should be OK to rust. Warranties are long enough these days that they can't afford not to protect vehicle finishes to a reasonable degree. There's not much of it anymore anyway. Plastic and aluminum prevail these days over steel and iron.

It's only thin areas that you have to really worry about, iron oxide (aka "rust") is an excellent corrosion barrier by itself on thicker metal parts. All body panels should already be coated with a corrosion resisting primer or layer. In order to get at hidden areas to rustproof, they have to drill holes; if coverage is not 100% then you now have a hole allowing moisture into an area that used to be more airtight. You can't see inside those areas to check the coverage (otherwise they wouldn't have to drill holes in the first place for access). Salt is going to attack stainless steel and aluminum, but rustproofing won't normally cover those areas.

I suppose you have to ask yourself how long this car will last. Sure you can keep the body clean from rust for 30+ years, but what about the rest of it? My husband's buddy in Waterloo just sent his 1994 VW Jetta to the wreckers last week due to rust. The body didn't rust away, but the power steering lines did and to replace the lines would have cost $1200+ or triple the worth of the car. My '96 A4 only has rust spots on the hood (or what appears to be rust) where stones were kicked up and took off the paint. Protect the nose of the car and it should be fine. All in all, you're better off keeping the car clean, dry and waxing the painted surfaces. If you don't do that, I don't believe rustproofing will help much anyway, and if you do those things, you probably don't need it.