Talk me into/out of this car

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by javadog

Funny, an '01 A8 doesn't have an expensive strut on the back. It has a spring and a shock. You can buy the shocks for under $50, ea.

Another useful anecdote...

JR

his i believe in a 2006 ... maybe one generation newer?

point remains, weird stuff is gonna cost a **** ton to fix.

[javadog]

More like 1.5 generations newer. Probably no parts shared with the car in question in this thread.... So, not a useful point of info. Weird stuff is only gonna cost a **** ton to fix, if the car actually has it, which it doesn't. The thing about that generation of A8 is that they hadn't made the transition to the modern era. It has pretty normal parts, a normal wiring harness, lots of little parts shared with other models, etc. I also have an A8 of the next generation and it's a completely different car. Not that it's sitting in the garage broke down, either...

JR

[gacook]

Thanks for all the info, guys.

As far as Mercedes go, I just don't like the way they look. My optimal choices (for a sedan) are between Audi, BMW and Jaguar. I will not buy a domestic; simply don't like the styling of any of them (I'd buy another Kia before I bought domestic).

I'm going this afternoon to look at the car. The guy (used import dealership) also has a BMW on the lot that I like, so I'm sure I'll be bringing one of those cars home today; just not sure which one I'm leaning toward the Audi because I like the styling better, and I've heard a lot more bad things mechanically about BMWs of that era than I have about Audis...but we'll see. If neither of the cars is "right," I'll be coming home empty handed to continue my search. The thing that sucks is I live in a small town, and gotta drive an hour+ just to have any real options to look at for vehicles.

Again, thanks for the input.

[javadog]

Take a real hard look at both cars. By the time they trickle down to a used car lot they often have been in a wreck, or have some other issue. I'd also encourage a thorough PPI. A dealer will be able to access the car's service history, or a good chunk of it.

Carfax isn't infallible but it can be useful as well. Ask the dealer if he has reports pulled on the cars. He might have an account.

JR

[nostatic]

My ex had an A8. Spectacular car - bought it used CPO (was a '98 I think). Even after it started having stuff go wrong with it around 100K and was expensive to fix, she couldn't bring herself to sell it. She bought an Acura and *still* kept the A8 around even though she wasn't driving it.

My A3 was very well behaved. If Audi made a smaller SUV than the Q5 I would have likely bought that instead of the X1. So far I love my X1 though the adaptive headlights have already died (at 8K miles). Warranty is a good thing...

[NY65912]

I'm happy as can be with my '10 Q5. I've had it since new, 0 issues, drives like a sports car. Luv it.

[gatotom]

I am on my third Audi, a new 2013 A4 with sport suspension and 2.0T engine. Last one was a 2006 A4 and before that 2000 A4. At 80-90K timing belt needs replacing, the new one is I think 110K. My experience has been just basic maintainance, keep cars to 140-170K with changed wheel bearing, brakes, the 00 was having heater core issues when I got rid of it.

Definitely like the stiffer suspension otherwise it feels like a chevy. Where I live like the all wheel drive but have summer and winter tires and rims. I guess its all about the luck of the draw on any car. The bean counters have cars to a science now, whether you are making payments or not, it will cost you yearly to drive that car, some more some less but it will cost you.

[Tim Hancock]

I'd vote for the BMW any day of the week and twice on Sunday...

Blown coolant line.....Another reason to HATE @#$%$# Audis

[onewhippedpuppy]

Since many seem to have no idea what we're talking about, this is the bodystyle of A8 in question:



It's no Camry, but I'd take it over a comparable full size Mercedes or BMW any day.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Since many seem to have no idea what we're talking about, this is the bodystyle of A8 in question:



It's no Camry, but I'd take it over a comparable full size Mercedes or BMW any day.

Yup, absolutely gorgeous car, but I want a black one. Cars.com shows a black one at this dealership, but when I called him, he said it's actually a navy blue (guess they used a stock photo on the website?). I'm not sure if that's going to be a deal breaker for me; will have to see the car first, but I really had my heart set on black...

[javadog]

Black cars are a pain in the ass. Blue is a little better.

Some of the Audi blues are pretty dark.

JR

[javadog]

Ming Blue '03 S8:

[gacook]

Originally Posted by javadog

Black cars are a pain in the ass. Blue is a little better.

Some of the Audi blues are pretty dark.

JR

Especially here in dusty, hot Arizona I've wanted an Audi for a long time...and the car in my mind's eye has always been black, which I find funny because I typically avoid black cars like the plague.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by javadog

Ming Blue '03 S8:

That's certainly a blue I could live with...damn near looks black (in the photo, at least).

[gacook]

Speaking of black cars being a pain...my buddy has a black Camaro. He washes it about every 6 months and waxes it every couple years. He waxed it last weekend and did such a horrible job, I told him I'm fixing it this weekend because it makes me cringe every time I see it, lol.

[javadog]

If I lived in Arizona, I'd be looking for a white or silver car...

JR

[gacook]

You'd be amazed what good tint and sun shades can do for interior temperatures...

Also, I live in the mountains, so we're not QUITE as hot as Phoenix or Tucson (generally about 10-15 degrees cooler).

I lived in Qatar for 2 years; we had to turn the cars on (trying to touch as little as possible) and let them cool off for 15-20 minutes before getting in to drive anywhere. Arizona really isn't THAT hot compared to that

[javadog]

If you're looking at the one in Tuscon, it looks like it's Ming Blue. The guy's a little high on price. The tires don't match (aren't the best either) so look at it carefully. Do a PPI if you get serious. Make him pull a Carfax.

JR

[gacook]

I am looking at the one in Tucson...and I agree he's a little high, but not a lot for an "L" (KBB actually has them about $200 more than he's asking). If I like it, I figure cash talks, so...yeah. The tires don't bother me; they can be replaced.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

My father drives his Q7 clear across the country every 6 months. He loves it, except for the cost of tires.