+1

I think that has kind of gone back the other way. These days systems and sensors have been either consolidated or miniaturized and many engine bays are quite uncluttered. The 90's were the worst IMHO.

You are absolutely right. Other than cars with "10 lbs. in a 5 lb. bag", (like the new M3 w/ a V-8 in a 3-series body), most new cars are much cleaner under the hood than cars in the past 20 years or so. Some of the worst engine bays ever were in the '70s w/ air pumps and 10,000 vacuum lines going everywhere. Absolute garbage.

My 996 is possibly the easiest car I have ever worked on, but then nothing ever breaks so it's just brakes and adjusting suspension, etc... :cool:

Yup, they're all junk .... wanna race? :D

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LOL!!

I hand mine back to the dealership on Saturday and will never own one again for as long as I live for 2 reasons.

1. The car had more electrical gremlins than any car I have owned to date.

2. Audi treated me like crap through this entire deal.

I now own a 7 year old BMW with 70K mile son the clock, I am expecting problems, its a used, older car, what I did not expect was problems from a brand new $55K car.

So, do not worry, my Audi is gone on Saturday, and now I just get to smirk and smile as others torment in the torture of owning one.

Tims wife echoed my wife, she no longer trusted the Audi and did not want to drive it anymore. Nothing like paying $600 a month to lease a car your afraid to drive.

That's a nice car, one of the few Audis more than 10 years old that anyone would have any interest in.

I'd rather have your M3, though!

Curt - I am interested in your Quattro in a sadistic, self-hating kind of way. These were my favorite car during the 80s, and watching youTube vids of it and hearing that engine doesn't help me.

How hard is it to own/maintain? Honestly!

Short of an early 911, it's the most fun car I've ever driven. I had it out on some hard-pack twisty gravel roads yesterday doing my best Walter Rohrl impression and it makes you feel absolutely invincible. It's just totally in its element in those conditions. BTW: I've got the CAT hollowed out so its just running the little rear muffler - GREAT sounds :D

The 5-cylinder turbo motors are reliable. CIS injection much like Porsche's. Once it's setup right, you're pretty much good to go.

BTW: my 06 A4 has been dead-nuts reliable (50,000 miles). Same can't be said about my e46 M3 - lots of weird electrical gremlins that left me stranded in 2 instances.

I'm in a world of hurt if you believe everything you read...

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David, it looks like you take very good care of your cars, however if you plan to rack up lots of miles out of warranty on the Audi...... Good Luck and I hope you are a hardcore DIY type or you will rack up some hefty maintenance and repair bills once your control arms wear out, CV boots tear etc.

Against my advice my brother-in-law who is a doctor and is non mechanically inclined bought an A4 for my sister which was very reliable until recently since the warranty expired and the mileage has crept up..... He has had quite a few $1500 trips to the dealer for service. Unfortunately he also bought a new Q7 which while still under warranty, has been in the shop quite a few times already.

He is looking at BMW's now.

The problem I have witnessed is not so much how may problems the Audis have, but how difficult (if DIY) or expensive (if done at the dealer) they are to repair. As stated earlier, I love how our A6 drives, especially with the Eibach suspension kit.

Well, that's a long story. I assume you refer to the cars I listed above. I'll break it down. Some are ordinary, other not so...

The Audis:

'83 turbo quattro coupe - 53k miles, euro lights, bumpers, some engine upgrades, essentially flawless, easily one of the nicest left in the U.S.
'90 V8 quattro - kid's car (16 yr old boy)
'03 RS6 - neat car, why not have one
'03 S8 - my daily driver
'04 A8L - wife's daily driver

BMWs:

'88 M3 - Henna/black early car
'88 M3 - future track car, or Sport Evo copy, waiting on me to find time to build it
'90 325iS - bought as a gift for the wife, long story here
'91 M3 - last one sold in Tulsa, owned since new
'95 M3 CSL - has 3.2 Euro motor

The last Benz;

'94 320 SL - Everybody needs at least one convertible

There are others, more fun oriented. I'm actually in a mood to thin the herd somewhat. I'll probably sell the quattro coupe, the 325iS and both '88 M3s.

JR

Tim, yep I'm a DIY...I recently fixed the oil leak on the Disco. Check it out ;)

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I agree that proper/scheduled maintenance is key. I don't put a lot of miles on my cars, the Audi TT is a 2001 with 56K. Nearing the timing belt replacement but I still have yet to read the mail I got from Audi about extending the warranty. Other than oil changes and minor bits I don't think many/any newer cars are DIY friendly these days - at least they aren't engineered to be so.

I thought of this thread today as i swapped the starter in my LeBaron convertible in about 20 minutes flat. It gave me quite a good chuckle.

FWIW I have a 2000 S4 and really love it. Yes, it has started getting expensive to maintain/repair but prior to this year it was not really excessive IMO. Now it is approaching 115K and stuff is starting to let go. I wail the crap out of this car 50 miles a day and it still looks practically new, is plenty fast, and comfortable. I had a 97 M3 before this and the build quality and reliability were not as good. Can't say much about the newer Bimmers -- I think they're fugly and I'd be more likely to buy another Audi or an AMG Benz than a BMW at this point.

Try a Saab 900SE Turbo. I had to replace an alternator on it last year. No problem, should be a 30-45 minute job. 1st problem: couldn't find it! 2nd problem: once found, couldn't figure out how to access it. Problem solved: took it to mechanic who removed the front suspension just to swap out the friggin' alternator. 5 hours later, it was ready to roll :eek:

But then again most people here can change out a caster wheel on a shopping cart in about 20 minutes or less. At the end of the day you're still cruising in a Lebaron.

Is that Jon Voight's car?

A) There is no such thing as an uncool convertible.
B) When it breaks i can fix it with a pair of pliers and some duct tape
C) At the end of my life i will have saved enough money on repairs to have bought a couple brand new Audis...not that i ever would.
D) I also have a Porsche
E) You drive an evolved VW bug.

Any other comments?

Yeah. Life is a leeetle too short to drive a LeBaron.

But not too short to drive an obsolete, high maintenance, wildly overpriced VW Beetle derivative?

Not too short to waste all kinds of time with tows and visits to the mechanic to fork over thousands of dollars to fix your German ulber-wagon?

I think my Lebaron is a great little daily driver. Anyone who doesn't like it is free to kiss my heiney. :D