A couple of months back I decided It's kind of a pain walking my daughter to school 1.2km then rushing 0.5km to the train then walking 1km to work when I'm paying for a car park opposite work. And I sold the old Mazda 626, and Project Rusty is fighting me on being ready and will likely break down and will be hard work in traffic. So we decided a second (third) car was required.
I set a budget and started looking. The sheer number of incredibly tedious, mundane Japanese s**tboxes is impressive, but in between them are some interesting cars. My criteria were: something interesting, preferably manual, probably not Japanese, not silver. SWMBO's choices were sensible, economical, preferably auto so she could drive it. A compromise was required 
We test drove a bright blue manual Mini Cooper S, looked at some MX-5s, briefly considered a TT convertible. All very hairdresser.
Next was a Skoda Superb, BMW 330i, Volvo V70.

In the end we went to a warehouse place and wandered around. I liked a few non-sensible cars, SWMBO didn't like them 
We liked a blue Passat wagon (4x4 V6 with lots of toys) but it had some broken trims and a few things to fix. I went back to an Audi we'd looked at earlier. Silver  But 3.2 V6 quattro  Leather, dual climate, stereo with sub (and tape deck) and really solid, nothing obviously broken. So I bought it.

It sounds awesome, goes well (188kW/255bhp), is comfy and sensible. And auto, which I admit is the sensible choice for commuting. It does have flappy paddles though.
The wheels were seriously kerbed and tyres worn out. They fitted 4 new tyres, which turned out to be the cheapest crap available (Cratos Roadfors).

 

 

 

SWMBO has decreed that there will be no mods to this one. Except wheels. See pics for why!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decoded the sticker codes

N0K = Leather seat covering
E0A = No special edition
7A0 = Without CD changer/CD player
4UF = Drivers and front passenger air bag with front passenger air bag deactivation
6XL = Exterior mirrors: with memory function, automatically dimming, electrically foldable/adjustable/heated
5SJ = Left exterior mirror: convex
6TQ = Right exterior mirror: flat, large viewing field
1KW = Disc brakes, rear
J0R = Battery 380 A (80 Ah)
1LA = Disc brakes, front
1BA = Standard suspension/shock absorption
3FA = Without roof insert (standard roof)
5MG = Decorative inserts, burr-walnut
7X1 = Park distance control
4R4 = Power windows with comfort operation andcircuit breaker
F0A = No special purpose vehicle, standard equipment
8GR = Alternator 150 A
0G7 = Tiptronic
0YL = Weight range 11 installation control only, no requirement forecast
0JL = Weight category front axle weight range 11
T14 = 6-cylinder gasoline engine 3.2 L Unit 06E.A (ALU)
3NZ = Rear seat bench unsplit, backrest split folding
8BF = Halogen headlight for driving on the left
U1A = Instrument insert with km/h speedometer,clock, tachometer and trip odometer
X8N = National sales program New Zealand
1N3 = Speed-related variable steering assist (Servotronic)
2ZS = Leather trimmed multi-function steering wheel with Tiptronic
8Q1 = Headlight-range adjustment
9Q2 = Multi-function display/on-board computerwith check control
8Z5 = Not hot country
D2G = 6-cyl. gasoline eng. 3.2 L/188 kW (24V) FSI, homogeneous base engine is T14
7Q0 = Without navigation device
C8F = Cast alloy wheels 7.5J x 17
7K0 = Without tire pressure warning light
4X4 = Side air bag, front and rear with curtain air bag
2K1 = Reinforced bumpers
3L4 = Electric seat adjustment for both front seats, drivers seat with memory system
4KC = Side and rear windows in heat-insulatingglass
3Y0 = Without roll-up sun screen
4K4 = Radio remote controlled central locking
5D1 = Carrier frequency 433.92 MHz-434.42 Mhz
1SA = Without additional front underbody guard
0GG = Emission standard EU4
01A = Gross vehicle weight rating
4GF = Windshield in heat-insulating glass

First job was fluids and filters.

 

 

 

I got my favourite garage to do the trans oil and brake fluid.

Fitted some bag hooks.

 

Key cover, and ODB2 thingy for Torque Pro

 

 

 

 

Then this happened. How could I resist for 30 quid delivered and painted.

 

 

 

 

 

I also de-badged the rear.

 

I was leaving the kerbed wheels and cheap tyres alone for a while then I had a bit of a moment when pulling out of a junction where the car almost understeered into a kerb. Not all that fast, but cold road and cold tyres. But it highlighted how bad they were.

 

So this happened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rotiform SPF 18x8.5", 35mm offset, with 235/40R18 Pirelli Dragon Sport tyres. Much better.

 

And no I don't intend to lower it. I like the ride, I like the way it doesn't scrape on NZ's silly cambers on driveways. Now I need to leave it alone.

 

I'm loving the car, the spec, the noise it makes, the ride quality, the excellent stereo (despite having to burn CDs like it's 1999).

Looks like I over-filled the blinker fluid.

That explains the rust inside this light.

I'm sure the sat nav will need updating in a month or 2?

 

And are those Ultrasofts on the new wheels?

11 hours ago, KenONeill said:

I'm sure the sat nav will need updating in a month or 2?

 

And are those Ultrasofts on the new wheels?

 

Sat nav? It has a tape deck!

The tyres are Pirelli Dragon Sports, which they assure me are grippy but long-lasting. We'll see!

They are certainly much more grippy than $75 (40 quid) Chinese tyres.

The way the rear lights fit so flush into the body curves on the A4 (B7?)  is one of my favourite all time car features  how sad am I? Don't answer that! 

50 minutes ago, Lady Elanore said:

The way the rear lights fit so flush into the body curves on the A4 (B7?)  is one of my favourite all time car features  how sad am I? Don't answer that! 

 

That's so weird because that's one of the main features I noticed about the B7 when I first saw one.

And when I realised I'd bought the one with those lights it gave me a little thrill. Who's sad now?

Edited 27 March, 20188 yr by RobClubley

great minds think alike they say. 

11 hours ago, RobClubley said:

 

Sat nav? It has a tape deck!

The tyres are Pirelli Dragon Sports, which they assure me are grippy but long-lasting. We'll see!

They are certainly much more grippy than $75 (40 quid) Chinese tyres.

"updating the sat nav" => remap 

My Octy has a tape deck; it also has a CD stacker.

The tyre thing was a joke about F1 tyre identity colours.

Haha that went right over my head

This explains why it's full of water. But my Ebay replacement is a fail.

 

 

Edited 3 April, 20188 yr by RobClubley

Last post piccies not working for me Rob.

5 minutes ago, kentphil1 said:

Last post piccies not working for me Rob.

 

Weird, links from Facebook - sometimes work, sometimes don't.

Working now - thanks Rob

Is the car propped up at the front to drain the water out Rob? 

1 hour ago, Lady Elanore said:

Is the car propped up at the front to drain the water out Rob? 

 

No I thought I might need to take the bumper off to get to the lights.

Ah, "it might be parked in the car-port, but it's looking at the stars"

That might not be the famous quote I thought it was  

@Lady Elanore - Well, the original was "We're all in the gutter, but some of us ... stars". I recognised it, but can't remember who it's a quote from.