Re: S4 vs. V8

[TACE96A@prodigy.com ( NED BENNETT)]

Eliot Lin writes at 4:58 AM:

>..let those who own the car relate the *facts*.

My dearest Eliot....:-)

Can I get you a cup of coffee?

I completely agree with your note of 11/19 where you argue well the
hypothesis that the V8 is a better deal while the S4 is a better car (and
the 200 s/b kept in service)....and I have no doubt that the V8 is capable
of 300k.  As a matter of fact we service a '90 w/ 160k that is doing fine.

I just think that the service experience over time will be much more
expensive for the V8.  Briefly, some of my specific concerns are the alloy
block, three cats instead of one, two distributors instead of DIS, two
heads w/ 4 cams & 32 valves instead of 1, 2, & 20 if a timing belt goes,
and a transmission that isn't allowed internal warranty repairs at the
dealership level. Come to think of it, the V8 w/ 160k came to us after the
dealership charged $1600 to service the transmission...routine service.
Now I know this dealership well, used to work for them, still hang with the
techs some, and they aren't inexpensive...but they aren't crooked either.

Granted, these cars work wonderfully for the most part but eventually
service will become a factor. And that's probably part of the reason for
trading the 200 I would think.

ned [dark roast] bennett