[s-cars] I'm finally an S-car owner :)

[mswanson at sonitrol.net]

I've been toying with the idea of buying an UrS for almost 2 years.  Those
that read my post after driving Paul K.'s nicely modified S4 know that I
became _much_ more serious about finding one after just a few minutes of
driving time in his car.

The search ended with the purchase of Lee Levitt's 1995 S6 Avant (yep, I
bought a wagon!) which he posted on Ebay and I managed to snipe for the
winning bid.  I didn't originally picture myself buying an avant.. (in
fact, my GF actually started a mini panic attack thinking this was my way
of preparing for kids!), but I really like the utility of being able to
carry plenty of cargo.  And the stealth factor...  I'll never forget Dan
Simoes story from a few years back about being pulled over while playing
with a Porsche on the highway:  "I'm very sorry officer, but this Porsche
was right on my tail and I was just trying to get out of his way in my
family station wagon!".  No lie, the officer let him go ;)

I really have to appreciate Lee's attention to detail with the car, and
especially the modifications on it.  The remote mount v1 has the base unit
secured to the roof from the bracket that used to be used for the
mini-visor over the rear view mirror, the nokia cell phone mount which he
removed came out with no screw holes in the tranny tunnel (unlike the PO
did for him, so he replaced it with a used one), etc.  I really got what I
think was a great deal for a fantastic car.  I would have done many of the
mods Lee has done (especially the Porsche 996 brakes, lowering springs,
fat tires, and lights), so I feel like I came out way ahead versus paying
similar money for a car with no mods at all.  The only other thing I want
to do with the car is a chipped ECU (Hope that Mihnea session is still on
for SFest 2004!) and euro rear lenses (which I bought separately from Lee
as he picked them up via the GB but never installed them).

Tons of spares came with it too:  Hakka snow tires on A6 rims, replacement
wood trim from a parts car for a piece that has a very small crack on the
drivers door, stock springs/swaybar from the Eibach/HRSB upgrades the car
recieved, and more.  Amazing what you can fit in a wagon!

Lee's new car is a very sharp 2002 a6 avant which I drove him down to NY
to pick up from a dealer in Mamaroneck, NY.  The drive was mostly
uneventful, due mostly to a harsh power cutout on boost preventing me from
keeping my foot into it very much (which I'll be asking about in a
separate post).  Apparently the car has never had this problem even on his
trip down to my house in Simsbury.  I know how my luck goes so if it was
me selling a car that ran perfectly it would be the day I went to deliver
it to a new owner that a problem would crop up.  This must be in Murphy's
law book somewhere :)  He offered to pay for any repairs to correct the
problem so I guess this is a perfect time to blame it on the turbo and use
the money for a Garrett Hybrid upgrade (relax Lee, I'm kidding).

That's all for now.  I have a feeling I could get used to this car _real_
quick.

--
-Marc Swanson-
95.5 S6 Avant
87 4ktq
88 90q (For Sale!: http://www.mswanson.com/for_sale/audi_90/)
99 Suzuki Bandit 1200(Also for sale:
http://www.mswanson.com/for_sale/suzuki_bandit/)