The BMW UUC Digest Volume 3 : Issue 494 : "text" Format Messages in this Issue: Re: <OT> Beware "CPO" (Audi Doodie) New race track in Northern Indiana Alternate Audi Universes Re: Alternate Audi Universes Re: Alternate Audi Universes Re: Alternate Audi Universes Re: Alternate Audi Universes
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 14:57:07 -0700 (PDT) From: david kroth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: <OT> Beware "CPO" (Audi Doodie) Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Mark wrote: > 2) Think twice, no three times before buying an Audi > product. I know > the front shafts do a lot of work, but every VW/audi > I've ever owned > seems to treat boots as consumables. My departed '96 A6 Quattro wagon blew a front CV joint seal. I replaced it myself with a factory part at a cost of about $30 and a weekend of leisurely wrenching. Unfortunately, the drivetrain started to "tick" a few months after that I figured the joint had gone dry and damaged itself. I called around and found a brand new Audi factory half shaft at NAPA for $120. Yes, a factory Audi part - four rings, part numbers, "Made in Germany" cast in various places. Another half-weekend of leisurely wrenching (I was quicker the second time around) and ... the ticking wasn't fixed. Shortly after that the thing started leaking ATF, engine oil and coolant all at the same time so I traded it on a Honda Odyssey a few days later. Recent carfax check reveals its still on the road somewhere in CT. David Kroth [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:45:55 -0500 From: neil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: New race track in Northern Indiana Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Good news for those of us who, in an ironic twist, live near the alleged "motorsports capital of the world", yet have no place to play cars without driving 3 hours one way. http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=23436&ts=true Track site: http://www.prairiehillsmc.com/ Neil ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 22:55:06 -0700 From: "Chris Blumenthal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Subject: Alternate Audi Universes Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I realize this information is only anecdotal, and is hardly statistically relevant given that I have only had three Audis, but I would like to provide an alternate viewpoint to the Audi bashing sometimes found on BMW forums. As a point of reference, I am a dyed-in-the-wool BMW guy. My first new car was a 1972 2002, and I have had 7 since then (my credentials). Our first Audi was a 1988 turbo Quattro, picked up for a pittance due to the "unintended acceleration" hoax. This was a wonderful car in most aspects. After I upgraded the wastegate spring and increased the boost to 1.2 bar, the car had ample power. I did not address the handling of the car... it was a bit of a boat. But otherwise, the car was very comfortable and roomy, quite reliable (to >150K miles), and absolutely incredible in the snow. We traded that car in on a '92 touring. This was a beautiful car, but a total POS, reliability wise. It had numerous electrical problems- stranded my wife a half-dozen times. Audi could not (or would not) fix the car. We swore we would never have another Audi. Last year, my wife decided that she wanted an AWD car, because we live in a rural area where the roads are difficult in the winter (CA, in a no-snow area). We looked at the 330xi and the A4 3.0 Quattro, and decided that the feature set, comfort and space in the A4 made it the best choice. We were willing to reconsider an Audi because the Audi rep improved significantly during the last decade. After a year of having the Audi, I would say that I am very impressed with the drivetrain and the chassis, both of which are stout. The trunk is huge, and the back seat is markedly roomier than that of the E46. The handling is not up to BMW standards, but could be fixed (not my car...). The Achilles heel of this car is certain aspects of the interior. The seats, headliner, carpeting, and dash are first rate. However, the quality of the switchgear and console is appalling. The plastic coating on many of the switches is peeling off; likewise with the coating on the console and door panels. Unbelievably, the coating on the plastic surfaces of the console seems to be _painted_ on, and peels off with any abrasion. My wife hates this. Seems somewhat trivial to me, but wholly inappropriate in a car of this price range. Otherwise, the car has been rock-steady reliable, going on 70K miles. It has a long way to go, to prove itself in that respect. Chris Blumenthal '73 2002 (~300K miles) '91 325i (247K miles '91 325ix (157k miles '97 M3/4 (144K miles) '03 A4 (67K miles) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2007 05:47:46 -0700 From: John Bolhuis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Alternate Audi Universes Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> On Fri, Jun 01, 2007 at 10:55:06PM -0700, Chris Blumenthal wrote: > many of the switches is peeling off; likewise with the coating on the > console and door panels. Unbelievably, the coating on the plastic > surfaces of the console seems to be _painted_ on, and peels off with > any abrasion. I've been used car shopping lately, and the worst example of this that I've seen was on a Cadillac. The buttons on the steering wheel were rubbed almost bare in just a few years. Then again, sometimes the white markings on BMW buttons will wear off too. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2007 09:28:13 -0400 From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "John Bolhuis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Alternate Audi Universes Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Women who use lots of hand cream do this to buttons, steering wheels and computer keyboards. Gary Derian > I've been used car shopping lately, and the worst example of this that > I've seen was on a Cadillac. The buttons on the steering wheel were > rubbed almost bare in just a few years. > Then again, sometimes the white markings on BMW buttons will wear off > too. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2007 07:01:15 -0700 From: John Bolhuis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Alternate Audi Universes Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> On Sat, Jun 02, 2007 at 09:28:13AM -0400, Gary Derian wrote: > Women who use lots of hand cream do this to buttons, steering wheels and > computer keyboards. Also now that I'm remembering, Vinylex will wipe the white letters off buttons & turn signal stalks too if you get too ambitious with the cleaning. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2007 06:39:05 -0700 (PDT) From: Phil Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: uuc <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Alternate Audi Universes Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Apples and Oranges - both BMW and Audi have good and bad. Where Audi could take lessons from BMW is in dealer service - Audi dealers are not of the quality or standards of most BMW dealers. I have a 98 A8 Quattro over 100k and its been fine, but I have SERVICED it like I would any BMW. Problems I see with most Audis that have been dealer serviced is - it hasn't been serviced! I know of customers asking for trans fluid changes and the dealer says it never needs it. SURE Oil changes every 7500 and filters every 15k? with conventional oil? NO THANK YOU! Or the A4's with turbos - shipped with synthetic - then Audi won't pay for synthetic when the oil is changed? This doesn't fit in my thoughts of proper vehicle maintenance. But all anyone talks about today is the fact that their vehicles don't require maintenance - SURE but you will require a new car at 100k. On the c/v boots - yep they seem to be hard on them or maybe the boots are poor quality, I look at mine with every oil change - if they are cracking - they get replaced and the joints repacked. Have never had an axle or joint failure. Boot kits are $30 or less. IMHO you can drive most any car 200k+ with proper maintenance. But I'm old and so are my vehicles. Phil Davis ____________________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links. http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC ------------------------------ End of [bmwuucdigest] digest(7 messages) **********
