New car... something bigger for change

[halik]

2007 S8. Will be selling the 911 come the spring. Unfortunately with the new house I've been making a ton of random home depot runs and the Porsche just doesn't cut it with the carrying capacity.

 

[phucheneh]

That's...big. If you've got the cash for 911's and [out of warranty] higher-end Audis, though...why not just drive what you want (911, I'd guess) and spend a fraction of the cash on a cheap truck or SUV?

Heck, you don't even have to go full-on 'truck.' You could buy a Matrix (or Vibe, more specifically) for dirt cheap. If you'd be willing to take the Pontiac version, <5k will get you a nice reliable little hauler.

 

[halik]

That's...big. If you've got the cash for 911's and [out of warranty] higher-end Audis, though...why not just drive what you want (911, I'd guess) and spend a fraction of the cash on a cheap truck or SUV?

Heck, you don't even have to go full-on 'truck.' You could buy a Matrix (or Vibe, more specifically) for dirt cheap. If you'd be willing to take the Pontiac version, <5k will get you a nice reliable little hauler.

We live like a mile off downtown Chicago, sadly don't have the space to keep a toy and a beater along with the gf's a4 cabrio (very lucky with a 2 car garage as is).

 

[rommelrommel]

S8 will be in the shop getting fixed half the time anyways so parking won't be an issue

 

[SandEagle]

nice car, i approve. :thumbsup:

 

[Fenixgoon]

niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

i've always wanted a 2005 A8L. still the most beautiful A8 IMO. but i hear they're prone to breaking (electricals mostly), and i'm not a mechanic...or an electrician

 

[gregulator]

Great choice! I have an 06 A8L and I love it. If you ever have issues there are a lot of helpful people on the audiworld forums. Even if you don't do your own repairs, buy a VCDS so you can at least scan the car, and read any faults. Enjoy!

 

[halik]

Great choice! I have an 06 A8L and I love it. If you ever have issues there are a lot of helpful people on the audiworld forums. Even if you don't do your own repairs, buy a VCDS so you can at least scan the car, and read any faults. Enjoy!

I've got the vagcom cable sitting around somewhere, this is the 5th audi I've bought in the last 15 years. I must say the quality is going up and up, especially compared to my old 96? A4

Interestingly enough, I've never owed a car with completely keyless entry/start. Wouldn't have thought so, but man is that convenient.

 

[T2urtle]

I've always wanted one of these or the 2.7t a6.

But I'm not secure with my wrenching abilities, vagcom is a must.

This thing is a blast on the highway at any speed.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Bahn burner. Very nice. I'd be scared taking it to home depot.....bags of cement or potting soil always seem to explode in my cars...... could have something to do with my driving habits.

 

[halik]

I've always wanted one of these or the 2.7t a6.

But I'm not secure with my wrenching abilities, vagcom is a must.

This thing is a blast on the highway at any speed.

I had a 2.7T A6 all through grad school, I think I put like 45K (bought at around 100K miles) on it over the course of 3.x years with minimal maintenance (resealed valve covers, replaced secondary air pump and kombi valves and got some new upper control arms, maybe $400 in total). Great car.

 

[Doppel]

Interestingly enough, I've never owed a car with completely keyless entry/start. Wouldn't have thought so, but man is that convenient.

It's amazing. I've had it on three cars but my most recent purchase didn't have it and that truly gave me pause in purchasing it. Most if not all Nissans now have it, as do a lot of other cars not particularly high end like the Prius.

 

[nerp]

It's amazing. I've had it on three cars but my most recent purchase didn't have it and that truly gave me pause in purchasing it. Most if not all Nissans now have it, as do a lot of other cars not particularly high end like the Prius.

Yeah. I love it too. And with push button start, it's nice being able to buckle my seatbelt as the car starts.

 

[jagec]

That's...big. If you've got the cash for 911's and [out of warranty] higher-end Audis, though...why not just drive what you want (911, I'd guess) and spend a fraction of the cash on a cheap truck or SUV?

Or put a class 1 tow hitch on the 911 and get a lightweight flatbed utility trailer. Easy to store upright in the garage when you're not using it, easier to load/unload than a truck or an SUV, no extra insurance, and very amusing for passersby as well.:biggrin:

 

[halik]

Just figured I'd throw this in as a reference point for maintenance - crazy IL weather killed one of the air shocks while I was on vacay, when we got back the car was sitting on bump stops on the left corner.

It cost $250 for a refurb air shock from CL, $70 for new upper control arm bushings and another $100 to get the bushings pressed out. I swapped it all this weekend (couple hours of work), for a net cost of $320 after selling the old shock to arnott to get it all fixed. Not terrible for a $100K + car.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Just figured I'd throw this in as a reference point for maintenance - crazy IL weather killed one of the air shocks while I was on vacay, when we got back the car was sitting on bump stops on the left corner.

It cost $250 for a refurb air shock from CL, $70 for new upper control arm bushings and another $100 to get the bushings pressed out. I swapped it all this weekend (couple hours of work), for a net cost of $320 after selling the old shock to arnott to get it all fixed. Not terrible for a $100K + car.

Sounds pretty reasonable. Except used/rebuilt parts and you worked on it yourself.

How much would it have cost if you went into a dealership or an Indy mech?

 

[halik]

Sounds pretty reasonable. Except used/rebuilt parts and you worked on it yourself.

How much would it have cost if you went into a dealership or an Indy mech?

The shock is $1600 at the dealer, $550 at Arnott with lifetime warranty. The one i got wasn't used, as a matter of fact it came with a fun oem wooden box

No idea what you'd pay to get it done, maybe 2 hours a side?

 

[Midwayman]

It's amazing. I've had it on three cars but my most recent purchase didn't have it and that truly gave me pause in purchasing it. Most if not all Nissans now have it, as do a lot of other cars not particularly high end like the Prius.

Keyless entry and start is one of those things that sounds so stupid, but I'll always want in the future now that I've had it. Its so nice to never have to fumble for keys again. Hands full? No problem. Got gloves on and its hard to get ahold of your keys in your jeans pocket? No problem.