so long vw

[nostatic]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Whatever else you decide, this is incorrect. Black shows almost everything. All the vehicles you've had and none in black yet


Silvers and grays.

interior, Len....*interior*

[the]

All right, you've struggled enough, here's your car.

[trekkor]

In 2005 we bought a "top of the line" 2003 Nissan Altima 3.5 instead of a new one. 60k miles

We got the factory warranty. Motor ate it and they replaced it.

Nice and powerful, four door, leather, sunroof, Bose...

Drive one.


KT

[nostatic]

well, deed is done (sorry the...you was too late). The boy and I did a road trip on the train down to SD and picked up this:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=223829378&dealer_id=444255&car_year=2006&search_type=both&num_records=25&keywordsfyc=&make=AUDI&transmission=&model=A3&distance=200&make2=&address=90025&default_sort=priceDESC&advanced=&certified=&max_mileage=&max_price=&sort_type=priceDESC&min_price=&body_code=128&end_year=2006&keywordsrep=&color=&start_year=1981&drive=&engine=&body_style=WAGON&fuel=&doors=&style_flag=2&cardist=110



Paid a lot less than the "red tag" price, 13K miles, transferable CPO warranty until 2012. Car is *very* clean, carfax is clean. Only niggle I've found is the cut of the sport seats hits my shoulder blade a bit odd. It's no S4 Avant, but it also is way cheaper on all fronts. Money better put towards the track car...

[trekkor]

Was it fun to drive?

Looks like a very practical car.
Also looks fast...


KT

[nostatic]

Quite practical (I love hatchbacks), and replatively quick. The 2.0T engine is a great lump. Handling is fairly taught with the sport package. A fair amount of road noise, but it is wearing all season radials so I think that is part of it. Not anything close to the S4 though...that thing was sick. Never should have driven it

[trekkor]

The Goodyear Response Edge tires are really good.



KT

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by nostatic
interior, Len....*interior*

Ahh, sorry. Even still a dark interior shows dust terribly. After our Audi (charcoal interior) the wife says no more dark interiors.

Good looking car though.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally posted by 87911jon
Hey guys, I just sold my TT last week and picked up a nice well cared for 951. The bottom line reason? The TT is really too tight for hauling kids around in the back seat. Very tight front to back and very little head room. A child set would fit, but you fast realize it's a small car. It has a cocoon feels to it. Unless you're really short, in a normal driving position the driver's seat comes close to touching the front of the back seat. Not to mention a myriad of electronic warning lights popping on. I bought a hand held OBD reader and would check/turn off the lights while sitting at a light. Anyway, I'm pleased with my choice to go to a lower tech 20 year old car. Thought about the A3. Nice car. We're thinking about buying one when we trade in our A4 5speed Avant... which is a great car.

Coming from someone that has actually put a child seat in the back of a 951, you are nuts. Not to say that the TT is any bigger, but unless you're married to a midget, whoever sits in front of that child seat aint gonna be happy.

A3, nice choice.

[87911jon]

Did my wife tell you to write that?!!! I'm not crazy, just a little deranged. Good choice on the A3.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally posted by 87911jon
Did my wife tell you to write that?!!! I'm not crazy, just a little deranged. Good choice on the A3.

Hey, justify the purchase to her however you want. God knows I've tried more creative excuses than that.

[the]

Originally posted by nostatic
well, deed is done (sorry the...you was too late).

Can Nostatic find true Front Wheel Drive Happiness?

Or in a Golf in Wolf's Clothing?

[nostatic]

find out in the next exciting episode...of as the wheel turns.

And actually the GTI would be a Golf in Wolf(sburg) clothing. The A3 is more of a Golf that has been Ingolstadted.

Minor gripe #3: Boogie boards won't fit sideways in the back. The horror....THE HORROR!!!

I wonder how much they'll give me in trade towards that S4 Avant

[the]

I don't think the car is quite "you." But it'll be interesting to see what you think in the next 3, 6, 12 months.

[nostatic]

well, life is one big experiment, right?

Right now the driver's seat is driving me nuts. I gotta find a way to pad it or something. It's funny the things you don't notice on a short test drive but that crop up after a half hour or so of driving.

The S4Avant sold yesterday anyway. And the BMW wagons have never really done it for me visually. I like the Subies a lot more from the outside. Ehn...who knows. At least with this one someone else has taken the first chunk of the depreciation hit and it's warrantied for a zillion years. Time will tell...

[JavaBrewer]

I'm surprised you never gave a used BMW a serious look/drive. Lots of room, decent mpg, very very german feeling car, arguably better built than the Audi. Something like this will be my next ride sometime in '08. It will carry my kids if needed and still stir the soul.

[nostatic]

Part of me likes BWMs, another part of me hates them. I don't know that I'll ever own a sedan...I just am too enamored with hatchbacks. That limits me to wagons (or an X-series...umm...no) with the BWM, and the 3-series just don't do it for me.

I think there are BWM people and Audi people. I'm more on the Audi side of things. I always loved the original Quattro and the URS4. If I had gobs of money there is one sedan I would consider...an RS4. That thing is sick. Or maybe an RS6 Avant.

[JavaBrewer]

I'm with you on the mixed feelings about BMW. They are like cockroaches here in Cali and are the de facto yuppie (insert current phase here) car. But once you drive one some of that stuff falls away. They really are THAT nice - sedate one minute and accomplished athlete the next.

Moving to a sedan is my small way of acknowledging that I am a parent. It will be my mini-van...with benefits

Its a nice car Todd. I almost bought it. I figured with the new business and all the expenses I went with a new civicex and a new maxda3 (fiance)for the same price as a loaded A3.

[epbrown]

Originally posted by dmoolenaar
I'm with you on the mixed feelings about BMW. They are like cockroaches here in Cali and are the de facto yuppie (insert current phase here) car. But once you drive one some of that stuff falls away. They really are THAT nice - sedate one minute and accomplished athlete the next.

Moving to a sedan is my small way of acknowledging that I am a parent. It will be my mini-van...with benefits

Yep, the worst thing about the 3-series is that a lot of people driving them should be driving C-classes - they're less concerned with the "ultimate driving machine" bit and more concerned with the badge. Funny how so many people claim BMW owner's think they're hot stuff, when the things are as common as dirt in any decent-sized city. In my 3-series sedan, I'm invisible - no one notices these them unless the driver's screwing up.

They are fun to drive, though. I looked at the Audi A4, too, because it's gorgeous inside and out - much better looking than the 3-series - but everyone I knew that actually owned one groused about the reliability, and none of them drive Audis any more. My 325i and Z4 have been dead reliable the last couple of years. My current plan is to get an M Roadster in the next 12 months, and a 5-series twin turbo a couple of years after that.