[V8] Winter musings about the Type 44

[Roger M. Woodbury]

It has finally become cold enough here to allow some snow to fall.  This is
VERY unusual for eastern Maine in winter.  But all that we are getting is a
light flurry, and I don't think that we are going to see even the 2-4"
promised by the weatherman.  All of which has prompted me to think about my
Quattro Avants.

Last Monday I had to go to Portland, and I rolled out of here around 9:30 in
the morning.  It was raining very hard, and it was a wet trip...but the
aging 20Valve Avant didn't really notice, and I arrived in Portland on time
for my appointment.  The car is well into the 170,000 mile range and runs
far better than it looks.  

But the time is drawing nigh:  either plan on a LOT more work, or replace
it.  There is no middle ground as I have written before, so I have been
actively pursuing alternatives.  

Recently I have been following eBay auctions for a replacement vehicle.  The
logic that I have been following is that unless the car is exceptional in
every regard, the Type 44 that I have will not be replaced by another Type
44 of any stripe.  What would be "exceptional"?  Well, certainly the car
would at a minimum have to have less than 100,000 miles.  Preferably a one
owner with verifiable ownership history to day one, and ideally, a perfectly
unbroken folder of service records, especially in the last five years.  

Right now it doesn't seem possible.  Three weeks ago the Audi dealer in
Naples, Florida, sold a burgundy 20valve Avant for $4995.  The car had
80,000 miles.  I was too late to do more than wave bye-bye at the message on
my computer from the dealer saying that the car had just been sold.  

We are going to build a new home in another year, so an Avant isn't
mandatory....how about another V8?  

Well, ok.  Another V8.  My preference, actually.  Right now, in all the
world as far as I can tell, there is ONE V8 that might be of interest, and
that is in Ohio or someplace.  It has less than 115,000 miles, is a '93, and
could be of interest.  I have sent two emails to the dealer that has the car
and have zero response.  That is not encouraging.  In fact it about
eliminates my interest.  I could call the place, but if they are going to
put their ad, and business information in a classified ad on the Internet, I
want to receive an answer by email before I waste my time or theirs seeing
if they even HAVE a telephone.  

Then there is the very high mileage car in Indiana.  That is interesting,
actually, except it is simply too much money.  I have exchanged email with
the owner, but I KNOW that the car will require a LOT of work, so what's the
point.  I think that over 200,000 miles is probably just too many miles.

On the surface of it all, the best VALUE seems to be a 99-01 A6 Avant.  They
are pretty plentiful as Audi had made a big push to get those cars out on
leases.  A lot of them are in very nice condition with relatively low miles.
I watched a nice looking A6 in New Jersey go through the eBay auction
process three times, and it failed to meet reserve.  The reserve was set at
average retail value, and in the last auction, the car missed that by two
thousand dollars!  The final total was $5500.  80,000 miles.

There was an 02 A6 Avant that was being sold at auction by a Cadillac dealer
in Michigan.  It went for the mid teens, and had 31,000 miles.  That was a
couple of grand below retail and was probably a great buy.  A 3.0 litre.  

Yesterday I went through the ATM at my bank.  As I drove out from under the
roof with my window down, I could hear my 20Valve engine purring along.
Quiet, perfect, smooth, inexpensive to operate.....

Right now, I do NOT want an A6.  Of any kind.  I don't want the new body
style.  Of any variety.  

So I have asked the wrench to give me an estimate for replacing the UFO's,
replacing the rear struts and mounts and a few other things.  I will hold
that information in my back pocket against next summer's inspection time for
my car.

Maybe the enemy I know will be better than the enemy that I don't know.  

Do you think?

Roger