[V8] Re: spiritual successor....

[William Gutierrez]

Spoken by someone who has not driven a a new A6 4.2 Quattro Sport!  :-)   
Just giving you good natured grief.

I love the ole V8 and it has its charm, but that new A6 even makes my A8L 
look and feel dated.  Just for a reference point, I had driven a Mercedes 
S500 and E55, Infinity M35, Jaguar XJR, BMW M5 and 540i A in the month or so 
prior to driving my bros new A6, and none of those cars gave me the urge to 
abandon my V8--the A6 4.2 did.  IMHO, it just is that good.  $60k good?  I 
don't know if I'ld say that about any car, but it was one of the most 
impressive cars I've driven in a while.

YMMV.

Bill G


>From: rmwoodbury at downeast.net
>To: urq at pacbell.net
>CC: V8 at audifans.com
>Subject: [V8] Re:  spiritual successor....
>Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 18:20:24 GMT
>
>I have been having a lot of thoughts about the V8Q now that mine has
>gone.  I can't think of anything that I would chose to replace it, as
>nothing combines all of the elements of that car in a package that
>actually can be serviced and kept operating without great pain and
>expense.  I doubt that I will have another, and will shortly be driving
>my refurbished '91 20Valve Avant, which will have the performance of the
>V8 with the added utility of the Avant body.  But if I did want another
>V8, here is my "spin" on the economics:
>
>I would buy a '93...forget about a '94, as there were so few, the chances
>of finding one are so long as to be nonexistent.
>
>The ideal car would have 150,000miles or less, and have been owned by not
>more than two people...one is preferable, but then, the odds are, etc,
>etc, etc.  This car should cost (in April, 05 dollars) around $5500.00.
>
>I would plan on a complete underpinning rebuilt, including shocks, and
>all bushings front and rear.  Budget amount:  $1200.00
>
>Naturally, a full tune up, including timing belt, tensioner, pullys and
>assorted other things....and front engine seal, as invariably it will be
>leaking, along with a lot of other gaskets, gizzies, grommets and other
>rubber things, like hoses and belts...probably the hydraulic pump because
>we will be "there" anyway.  Maybe headgaskets if they are seeping very
>much.  I would budget something on the order of $3500.00 for this part.
>
>Air conditioning.  Ah, yes.  Air conditioning....and hvac blower...maybe
>yes, and maybe not... but plan on another $1200 to be ready for this
>stuff.
>
>Body.  Well, it might be good to go over the body carefully, with a
>decent, "preservation" type refinishing.  Probably not more than $2,000,
>and if the car is a one owner and has impeccable maintenance history
>(figure the odds!), maybe do a real restoration of the exterior.  That
>could easily reach $6,000.
>
>Tires, Euro headlights, and maybe Big Reds and wheels....another $3,000.
>
>And, Voila!  "New" V8 Quattro.
>
>What I would have at the end of the day, would be a near perfect V8
>Quattro, for less than seventeen grand.  The advantage would be that the
>excise tax on this car would be at the very bottom of the scale in this
>state...about $160 per year, and the cost of insurance per year would be
>less than $700, even with collision and comprehensive.
>
>NO OTHER CAR on the road being sold as a four passenger car can be had
>for this kind of money, either before, during or after the purchase, and
>equal the performance and satisfaction of one of these.
>
>I am also assuming that the transmission is ok, and doens't need to be
>rebuilt yet, which isn't too much of a stretch.  But even if it does, how
>does that compare with the cost of a new A6?  And at the end of the day,
>is a new A6 V8 worth THREE TIMES what this refurbished V8 is worth?  For
>the benefit of an ego, perhaps, but I can't think of another reason.
>
>Roger
>
>Pondering the thought that maybe the best cars have already been
>built!
>
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