Dead Puppy

[Michael L. Riebs]

----- Original Message -----
From: "josh Wyte" <josh_wyte at yahoo.com>
> I plan on selling my 97 A4 when it hits 95k miles or
> so.  Once I turn it over 100k, the resale value will
> drop by about $2000,

Please! Let me know when you plan to sell your "high mileage" (by US
standards) "expensive to repair" (or so perceived) luxury German cruiser,
which one would assume at that time would be paid off. NO CAR NOTE!!!!  :-))

> and shortly after that it'll need
> the timing belt changed again ($600) and a clutch done
> ($1000).  As much as I enjoy the car, it's not worth
> it to me to have close to another $4000 invested in it.

I'd take a loan for the $4000 and have payments for 365 months of about 130
/ month. Where cab I get a late-model, luxury German sports sedan, loaded
with everything, for ownership after 3 years, at $130 per month? A car that
will last another 11K miles and more? Unbelieveable!

> I'd rather pick up another low mileage used, Audi
> Assured Audi instead.  That warranty has been very
> useful, I've claimed over $2000 in repairs!  Mostly
> stuff that happens to all A4's, but better Audi's
> nickel than mine...

Yeah, I just (March 2001) bought our first "next generation" Audi for my
wife - the '98 A6 Quattro Avant, with 57K on the clock for $21.5K, and a
warranty to follow, from www.warrantybynet.com, for an additional $1100. Now
the water pump is gone - will be fixed under warranty - and at the same time
we will take the opportunity to have the T-belt done - for an additional
$200 in parts - no extra labor cost.

Meanwhile my '90 (built 2/89) V8 Quattro dumped an O2 sensor. Well, that was
a brand new O2 sensor, so there's some other thing wrong - but I am
completely convinced that it's not much. Anyway, Bruce
(www.audiconnection.com) gave me a 6 month warranty on the car in November
when I bought it - parts only outside VA, or parts and labor if I drag it
out to VA. No problem, I'll do a little wrenching myself on the little
stuff, and if anything else goes wrong - which it probably won't - I'll
either take a nice ride to VA, or pay the shop labor rate, and have Bruce
send me a few parts.

I'd never dream of buying a *brand new* car - of any sort! The drive from
the dealership parking lot to the street is the most expensive 6' you'll
ever drive! Even a "dealer used (certified)" car is a rip-off, compared to a
reputable "Audi specialist", such as Van Kalker motors used to be here in
Grand Rapids, or www.audiconnection.com in Virginia, or many, many others
around the nation. These people are many times enthusiasts themselves, and
just take allot of pleasure in seeing these cars on the road - and then they
have found a way to capitalize on this, and make it a living. The dealer
could care less! It's just another franchise. Here in GR, Audi is sold
alongside Porsche, Subaru, Acura and Nissan. There's someone who is really
into German luxury performance vehicles...  And they don't even want to
wrench on the older Audis anymore. Nope - take them elsewhere!

¢2

Michael Riebs
Grand Rapids, MI
'90 V8Q
'98 A6QA

www.1stchoicegranite.com