Ok guys need you opinion.

I am considering selling my A6 after a somewhat disappointing ownership experience. Don’t get me wrong when the car is working correctly it is a joy to drive and I like the spec and the way it handles on winter roads. However since buying the car a year and 7000 miles ago here is my litany of faults:
Maintenance performed:
1. 5 new tires ($700 plus fitting)
2. T belt and W pump ($500)
3. Spark plug replace (100+)
4. 2 oil changes ($50 for both)
5. Drivers door lock greased as it started sticking.

Faults I have fixed:
1.Coolant tank replaced: $90 (did self cost of tank)
2.New rear view mirror ($150 eBay)
3.Atempt to correct a pull to the right $150 (two alignments one at a specialist another at a dealer still not really fixed)
4. ABS control module went bad (recondition and fitted 300+)
5. Rear window regulator prevented window from closing in the rain ($130+ labor)
6. Prop shaft seal replaced ($100)
7. Tires balanced twice due to **** PA roads)

Outstanding faults:
1. Radio refuses to tune in hot weather. (New head unit $300)
2. Safety switch prevents rear windows from being operated from the passenger doors($100)
3. Drivers seat frame/rail weld cracked ($1500 new seat frame told not dangerous by a dealer mechanic)
4. Stanger creaking from back end when going slowly over bumps in the cold ($unknown)
5. Dash screen going ($200 to remove and recondition)

So after all this in just a year of ownership I am considering getting rid of the car. It is fast becoming a money pit, the last straw was the seat rail which I asked Audi USA if they would cover under a good will repair given it only has covered 80K and my disappoint experience with the car and dealers. They refused. So far as I can see my options are those listed in the poll:

Other factors that could play into this are that my wife is wanting to go to school and I am considering buying a house. So if I don’t change the car before either of these happen I am likely to be stuck with the car given that these will take all my spare cash. Other side of the coin is that I wont have money to fix the constant parade of faults.

Thank you guys, please cast your votes
James

1. The cheapest car is one you already own live with the faults and drive till the wheels fall off. (As the drive train for the moment is strong)
2. Fix the seat and keep the car living with the rest of the faults.
3. Sell the car for $8-9K having paid 10K for it a year ago and go down to one car as I really don’t need two. (wife does not work as of now)
4. Trade the car (worth 5-6 as a trade) for a 2004 or newer E320 4matic with around 50K miles (or an AWD 5/3 series, Volvo AWD S60 or S80 similar years or mileage less and newer in the case of the Volvo)
5. Sell the car privately for no less than $8-9 and save the 15-20 needed for a 2004 or newer E320 4matic with around 50K miles (or a AWD 5 series or Volvo AWD S60 or S80 similar years or mileage less and newer in the case of the Volvo all having been through a CPO type inspection if CPO or not)
6. Sell the car privately/trade for no less than $8-9 in value for a soulless Japanese econobox 2 years old or less sacrificing all dignity, pride and self worth in the process.

 

I say sell the car and buy a Honda. Here I say this for 3 reasons. 1. MB E320 will give you just about the same issues. They are notorious for electrical faults. 2. Sounds like your money will be tight for next few years. You will need to pay to play with any european rigs. 3. Honda's are actually fun to drive, not to mention reliable. I drove one for many years, but I wanted a station wagon. I would seriously drive one if they had a station wagon.

 

Taking the whole "reading package" into consideration, I would definitely go with number 3 .

From options 4 and 5 I get the feeling that you would rather "keep up with the Joneses"... You should know in your mind what you rather have, a) professional wife - going to school + HOUSE, or b) a Mercedes or Volvo that you don't need anyway right now - you might as well go to Sotheby's and bid for some fancy paper weights.

 

Its not really a keep up with the Jones thing (if you saw when my rental apartment is you would know). It is just that my car is my hobby and I like to drive a nice one. I am also a Brit living in the Staes so i dont know what American cars are like to run and work, also enuropean ones are in my opinion better quality. I have selected the makes I have because my family has hand a Mercedes cars for 20+ years with little problems outside rutene maintaniance. Also I had a volvo that I took to 6 fugure milages without any real problems.

 

I am not sure I fully understand your question- then I'm just a dumb guy from NH that drives Audis.

There is nothing special in your "Maintenance Performed" list and your "faults fixed" list is somewhat normal for an eight year old vehicle.

The "Outstanding fault" list has the possibility of some inexpensive fixes. -- i.e. re-weld the seat rail, used radio, etc. -

The real questions are -- Can you expect an 8 year old vehicle to be reliable? How many little problems are you willing to live with? and How much time are you willing to spend playing with your Audi?

We can't answer that for you!

I personally own a 97 Avant with 200K miles. I enjoy driving it and drive 100 miles each day in New England . There are a few things that I'd like to fix but don't have time, and I'm willing to take on some big projects-fixes if needed. Previously I got to 350K miles on an Audi 200 QT before giving up and finding a good cheep A6. I gave up because there were too many little things to deal with but now wish I had it back.

My vote is for you keep it and suffer with the rest of us!

 

Shame you dont live in Europ we have them there. Both Accords and Civic's

 

I was content to live with the little fault and fix a few of them when the summer and warmer weather comes along. however when the seat rail broke it started to consider my options. Mainly on the grounds of wondering what else could go wrong. I would be perfectly happy to keep the car but it is not or never if it comes to changing it give the factors I have outlined and that at this moment in time it is still worth something.

 

Option 3 - it's recession time for god's sake => get the money you can and live in peace.
Consider simple Subaru (AWD) - boring to own as there are no issues to deal with, but you'll have better family life.

 

Well, I didn't intend to mock your 4 and 5 poll choices!

It is a high chance most would agree that unless we talk about Corvettes, high-end Mustangs, Cadillacs, Lincolns, Hummers, or big guzzling SUVs, most American cars are much cheaper than the imports.
2004 -newer and 50,000 miles-or less for a Mercedes/Volvo translate here (in the US) in a high ticket car, more along the "high status" lines. My perception and rationale of course could be flawd.
Nevertheless, I personally would not consider spending a lot of money on a newer/new "hobby" car, especially when a) I don't need two cars, b) My wife has high-education aspirations (tuition costs money), and c) I want to buy a house.
That's why your consideration of purchasing a 2004-newer Mercedes/Volvo appeared (falsly, as I get it now) as more of a "status" sort of thing.

If money is of no object to you (as a couple/family), then you should definitely keep up with your hobby. Who needs a house when you can live your entire life renting, anyway?

 

I agree with hxgaser and NH_USA 100%.