[s-cars] DIY Neophyte - Needs Encouragement

[Thomas Rodriguez]

We all have our story, right?  Mine features a '95 S6, though you'll
need to read a bit to get to that part.

In my teens I restored a 1965 Ford Mustang GT.  With encouragement and
help from some friends I rebuilt the engine, exhaust, transmission,
brakes, suspension, steering and interior.  It was sweet.  In 1978 my
brother totalled it while drag racing a Toyota Corona(!) on a public
road, drunk, on his birthday.

In my late 20s I began restoring a 1960 Triumph TR3A. I rebuilt the
engine and carbs, and started on the bodywork. In 1992 my first son
was born and the Triumph went to the back of the garage. Last year my
son started college and I've resumed the restoration, overhauling the
brake system and exhaust, and starting on the front suspension.  Body
work will be next.  This car is just like me, 52 with some dents and
rusty joints, but with a few hours of attention each week it can be
back in shape before I know it and out there runnin' with the best of
them.

At age 39 I bought a used 1995 Audi S6 with 70K miles.  My first
"grown up" car, and a bitchin' fast hot rod.  Turbo, Quattro, 5-speed
manual, black with black leather, Bose stereo, heated seats, sunroof.
Ten CDs in the trunk-mounted CD changer could take me to the Jersey
Shore and back faster than Captain Kirk could say "Beam me up".  With
a set of snow tires, winter became a big white playground; I looked
for reasons to go out driving in the snow: "Oh we're out of milk, no
problem!  I'll just drive over to the Wawa."  Who cares that the
streets haven't been plowed since the blizzard?  All the better,
right?  And who doesn't enjoy having warm dry skis when you arrive at
the slopes?

Professionally serviced since new, my 17-year old S6 has 232 thousand
miles on it and driving it still thrills me like the day I bought it.
My wife is jealous, though she doesn't need to be.

Of course you know where I'm going with this. After all it's why were
all here on the s-car-list, right?  I love my S6 and I want to grow
old with it, but the cost of ongoing professional service and repairs
is getting unmanageable.  First it was the AC, then the Bose, then the
electical gremlins took up residence and many of the luxury features
of the car now work only intermittently.  Over the past 18 months I've
had to repair leaking brake fluid, leaking coolant, and now leaking
hydraulic fluid.  It's like living with an aging athlete that's become
incontinent.  I can feel and hear that it needs new front struts and
probably suspension bushings and ball joints.  Wheel bearings may be
next.  At 232K miles I have to wonder... have I gotten the full
lifespan out of this car?  Is it time to give it up?

Or.... If I can rebuilt a Mustang and a TR3, should I try to service
and maintain my S6 in my own garage?  I must admit, I look under the
hood of the S6 and my head spins.  The Mustang and TR3 are so simple
by comparison, they're like models.  But I'm willing to give it a try
if it means I can keep the car without breaking the bank.  I'm willing
to invest in a paperback copy of the Bently repair manual, and I've
become familiar with several of the parts websites through my
involvement in the s-car-list.

Well, if you've read this far you get what I'm saying.  You may even
have an opinion as to how I should proceed, and I'd love to hear it.
I know that if I'm going to do this I could benefit from some
encouragement, preferable face-to-face, over a beer or two. Anyone out
there live in the Philadelphia area?  I'm in Wayne, PA in the western
suburbs, close to Valley Forge Park and King of Prussia.  Thanks for
listening.

Tom
'95 S6 (232K)