AVANT FTW

**Turbwhistle** · 07-17-2012 07:19 PM

I actually got tied up, and won't be able to get to epl until next week, and i am going to pick up a nikon d5100 tomorrow on my way up to vt. I also have a canon xs in my possession until next week.

**A3 Guy** · 07-17-2012 07:58 PM

Keep the Canon!!!! You'll do fine with the Nikon I'm sure though.

**Turbwhistle** · 07-17-2012 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by A3 Guy

Keep the Canon!!!! You'll do fine with the Nikon I'm sure though.

Canon isn't mine, so the nikon will be mine. I looked at the t3i and the d5100 in person, and i liked the d5100 more.

**A3 Guy** · 07-18-2012 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Turbwhistle

Canon isn't mine, so the nikon will be mine. I looked at the t3i and the d5100 in person, and i liked the d5100 more.

I can understand this, I've always thought Nikons (especially in entry level DSLRs) feel more solid and more durable.

**Gdlaszako** · 07-19-2012 05:57 AM

I'm more of a Nikon guy, just because they seem more sturdy.

**Turbwhistle** · 07-20-2012 10:45 PM

I just got back today, i picked up the nikon wednesday, and am loving it. I may pick up a 50 1.8 lens soon. Brennan, i will probably send you the album of some of my shots so you can tell me what you think.

On another note, tomorrow is waterfest, and i am pretty excited. I may pick up some spacers while i am there, but i am not sure yet. We will see. I should have a ton of pictures to post soon.

**A3 Guy** · 07-21-2012 10:42 AM

Feel free to send me whatever and have fun at waterfest!

**Turbwhistle** · 07-24-2012 05:34 AM

So waterfest wasn't bad, but i only took like 3 pictures of my car with my new fancy camera. I was thinking of finding a spot to take few pictures. But we'll see.

**Turbwhistle** · 07-24-2012 08:22 PM

Moar pictars from today! Enjoying my camera, and messing around with it a bit.

Untitled by turbwhistle1994, on Flickr

**A3 Guy** · 07-24-2012 08:57 PM

Now THAT is what I'm talking about! Nice work Chris.

**Turbwhistle** · 07-24-2012 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by A3 Guy

Now THAT is what I'm talking about! Nice work Chris.

Sometimes even a blind mouse finds the cheese.

**Gdlaszako** · 07-25-2012 06:28 AM

That picture is awesome.

**Turbwhistle** · 07-25-2012 06:54 AM

Thanks!

**Turbwhistle** · 08-16-2012 10:19 PM

So i just did my front brakes, they send the wrong rear rotors, so i am waiting for the new ones to come in.

I am seriously toying with the idea of selling the avant for a f350, or a s4. The f350 would meet all my needs work wise, and the s4 would meet all my needs fun wise. I think i am done with this car. I don't have the ambition to take it any further, and just would like to flip the page and start with something new. The s4 scares me maintenance and mod wise, i feel like i can get swept away very quick, and i feel like i may be giving up a car that has, and had almost no issues in the time i have owned it. The truck would be perfect for me, i can carry all my tools/lumber/ and what ever else i need any where. And, the 7.3 power stroke has a crazy amount of potential.

I feel like which ever way i go i will be happy, yet i am leaning toward the truck.

A for sale ad should be in the classifieds in a few days to a week or two. Just waiting to put one together.

**A3 Guy** · 08-17-2012 06:21 AM

Please don't get a truck. That is all.

**Turbwhistle** · 08-17-2012 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by A3 Guy

Please don't get a truck. That is all.

I need a truck though.

**A3 Guy** · 08-17-2012 07:53 AM

Nah, you need an Allroad.

**Turbwhistle** · 08-17-2012 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by A3 Guy

Nah, you need an Allroad.

To small.

**moyenecorniche** · 08-17-2012 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Turbwhistle

So i just did my front brakes, they send the wrong rear rotors, so i am waiting for the new ones to come in.

I am seriously toying with the idea of selling the avant for a f350, or a s4. The f350 would meet all my needs work wise, and the s4 would meet all my needs fun wise. I think i am done with this car. I don't have the ambition to take it any further, and just would like to flip the page and start with something new. The s4 scares me maintenance and mod wise, i feel like i can get swept away very quick, and i feel like i may be giving up a car that has, and had almost no issues in the time i have owned it. The truck would be perfect for me, i can carry all my tools/lumber/ and what ever else i need any where. And, the 7.3 power stroke has a crazy amount of potential.

I feel like which ever way i go i will be happy, yet i am leaning toward the truck.

A for sale ad should be in the classifieds in a few days to a week or two. Just waiting to put one together.

I think I can voice in here a bit.....NO NO NO NO !!!!!

(1) for work as I understand you work at a lumberyard...? (2) as far as carpentry is concerned I assume you are working for someone/contractor ?? Not on your own ? If that is the case and possibly why you want a truck then I say let the contractor supply the truck because you will be using your truck to run for supplies, you will inevitably incur major wear and tear and that contractor will not cover those expenses.
I know this because I destroyed my pick up doing the exact same thing when I was younger and working for a contractor...Screw that scenario.....

(3) If you are on your own than... " Yes " .... a pick-up is a necessity but....NOT A FRIGGEN F-350

.....Huge gas guzzling motor, tonnage capacity that you will not need.
Here is why...... All material suppliers deliver to a job site, if they don't then I find another supplier that does but I have not had to do this yet... So that huge payload capacity that you get with an F-350....

You will mayyybee use it 10% of the time if that.
In addition, there is no way that you can be cost effective ( meaning profits in your pocket ) if you are running around picking up materials. You should be on the jobsite getting it completed...
Trust me I've been there as a GC doing nothing but running around while back on the job site, things have spiraled to a negative productivity for that day....

(4) My work truck is a Ford...But it's a 2004 FX4-Ranger with extended cab, (4 doors, rear doors are suicide and two small banquette seats that fold down or up and out of the way. ) a bed liner, a fiberglass cap with vented screened windows both sides, I have used it for camping, ( didn't have the Avant then ) an access window from the cab to the inside of the truck ( again a necessity ) a set of heavy duty pipe racks bolted to the bed . I have loaded it with my aluminum pump jacks.

You can find an FX4 Ranger for anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the options and what you will need. Brand new I paid $25,000 for it but if you add in replacing the motor at 70,000 miles and all the extra costs of caps and racks then it's closer to $35,000....

It has a 6ft bed but you really don't need an 8ft bed truck, you don't need to bring that much to a jobsite and if you load it up that much, half your time will be spent unloading and reloading and trying to get something out that is behind or below something else...If you need that much space than get a trailer which can always be organized, left on a secure/safe worksite but at the end of the day if you need the truck then you just unhook the trailer at home...

Now You are going to need your Avant for DD to a work site, it's much more cost effective and I can fit both my 10" Bosch table saw with stand as well as my 10" Bosch compound miter with stand with the back seat down plus all the tools I need for the day.....Did I mention fuel Costs..???

Here is the set up.....

**Turbwhistle** · 08-17-2012 03:26 PM

I can't fit nearly what is needed in my car. I personally need the truck for side jobs, and soon to get to my job. I would pick an f350, because once i am out of school i plan on actually using the truck. My grandfather has a f350, and i have already pushed that to the max hauling bags of cement for one of my side jobs. Also, i am sick and tired of trying to find stuff in my car, my tools take up the hole interior, i have to pull damn near everything out to get to anything, i can't haul any lumber, i feel un-professional when i pull up to a job in a slammed car. At least with a truck i look some what professional when i show up.

To be honest, a truck is a much better tool to have then a car at this point in my life. Since i am just starting out, it will be nice to know i can run to the lumber yard and pick up damn near anything, have all my tools with me at all times, and still have room for other things. So far, the people i have worked for, the jobs have been either new construction, or a private condo's. So, for the new construction homes, i would either have to park on the street and walk in because my car wouldn't make it in the unpaved drive way, or with the condo's, the speed bumps are so large i scrap getting in to the place i would be working.

Gas wise, i already burn though gas because i drive like an ass, diesel is only slightly more, and personally(no offense) but if i am going to own a truck, the requirements are diesel and manual. Diesel motors last for ever, are torque monsters, and i grew up in a family where ever man drives a diesel pick up. My grandfather is a diesel mechanic/truck driver, my other is also a truck driver, my uncle owns a 2011 f350king rancher, and a 01 f350 with a utility body, both my grandfathers have 2000 f350's. Its just something i grew up with, and always wanted so i could be just like them. The only reason i got the a4 was because my buddy talked me out of getting a truck.

So, to be honest, i will try like hell for find a regular car f350/f250 7.3 powerstroke manual, or i will just pick up an s4 sedan. The avant just isn't meeting any of my needs. Its to small for work purposes, and its to slow for fun purposes.

**A3 Guy** · 08-17-2012 03:50 PM

Get the S4...

**Turbwhistle** · 08-18-2012 10:39 AM

F tree fiddy

**moyenecorniche** · 08-18-2012 11:38 AM

Just me but I think you are not crunching the right numbers here....Just my thoughts and not personal But....

A Truck... is a truck ... must be viewed as a tool which is really it's primary motive then it's great.
As a Daily Driver.....Let's momentarily shelve the " Ford " macho image for pragmatic reasoning if you will...

The Merrit Parkway.....You cannot drive on it since you are in a commercial vehicle and even though plenty of people do it, if a trooper wants to pull you over and cite you they can. If loaded with tools and materials you are asking for trouble.
If the Avant is free and clear then keep it, you will not recoup the effort, time and expense you put in so it's a loss of revenues...
An S4....?? You are kidding I hope, starting out is not the time to be strapped for funds due to mechanical upkeep.... And you well know how expensive these cars can be to keep at top level.
Think about eventually owning your own house with at least a two port garage and enough property to build a workshop when the time comes, which on your own is optimally immediate or you have to rent space. Plan for the long term future, not what makes sense for just today or tomorrow only...

So evidently you are going to get a truck....Fine...But I garantee you the days when you have to go somewhere that is questionable as far as safety of truck contents are going to be often.
I used to work for a company that sent me all over the tri state area, Boston, Hartford, Providence and I use to hate having no choice in going somewhere but in my worktruck full of tools...Yep it got broken into and tools walked....
Not to mention insurance, but it's a whole separate aspect and expensive due to commercial status and the requirements of coverage on commercial or residential work sites.....

It's really your choice, but having been where you are at, my advice is honestly evaluate your decision and equate the downfalls of only having a truck.....Fuel costs are going to go back up and diesel is expensive and will be regardless of mileage which in a truck is not at all impressive.
If you desire to be successful in our industry, watching your expenditures and returns is critical. Most construction businesses fail within a two year span from launch time due to false expectations.

If I need to meet a client or potential customer, I always use the Avant, it's more practical and if I need to explain ( where's the truck ? ) it's simple...It's also the company car since it's logo'ed and if the client/customer has an issue because I'm driving an Audi wagon/avant/estate, then that to me is a red flag and I'm probably going to question wether they actually have the resources to fund their project.. That's about perceptions and was developed from working in Fairfield County, Boston suburbs, Rhode Island shoreline and inland.....Most of the customers I have worked for never took a second glance at what I was driving, wether it was the Vag, a Volvo or a Saab....If they do then those are customers which in most cases were problematical, meaning that the project and it's costs are/should be their primary focus not my life style.....

Apologies for being long winded but I have fallen flat on my face in this industry, got up, dusted myself off and here I am still today, it's a challenge but unless you are careful with decisions then you may regret them....
Just thoughts to consider from a friend and hopefully we''ll all get to do that drive in October....

Ciao...

**A3 Guy** · 08-18-2012 12:04 PM

^ I wish there was a like button sometimes.

**Turbwhistle** · 08-18-2012 02:12 PM

We'll see. I am loading my car up tonight, i will take a picture if the room i have. It just isn't going to cut it once i am out of school, and it won't even be every thing i need. I just don't know, and you guys are making my decision harder. I love being apart of audizine, and if i end up with a truck i will still lurk, and eventually be back. Or i could get the s4, and keep that as a dd then get a pick up next year once i am actually making money.

Trust me, if i had it my way, i would have a b5 s4 avant, and a the f350 i have been wanting, but it just wont happen for a while. We'll see though, i still haven't even had time to post my car up for sale yet, let alone find someone to buy it. So i most likely even be able to find someone for a while.

**A3 Guy** · 08-18-2012 02:29 PM

S4 avant and be done, please do yourself the favor and keep it in the family. All I've seen you write about for the past year or more is getting a B5 S4 avant, you'll regret it if you don't.

**Turbwhistle** · 08-18-2012 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by A3 Guy

S4 avant and be done, please do yourself the favor and keep it in the family. All I've seen you write about for the past year or more is getting a B5 S4 avant, you'll regret it if you don't.

S4 avant would be hard for me to find for the price.

**A3 Guy** · 08-18-2012 03:15 PM

Get a sedan in that case.

**Turbwhistle** · 08-18-2012 05:13 PM

New rotors.

Trunk full.

And i figured moyenecornichie (i can't believe i forgot your name) would appreciate this.

**moyenecorniche** · 08-18-2012 05:45 PM

Very nice, Law firm desktop...???

**Turbwhistle** · 08-18-2012 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by moyenecorniche

Very nice, Law firm desktop...???

Some guys island top, and the house makes it look small.

**moyenecorniche** · 08-19-2012 07:03 AM

I should have guessed, I'm visualizing the framework as greek revival, it's a lot of detail work, are you working in a complete kitchen remodel or just the countertops...?

**Turbwhistle** · 08-19-2012 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by moyenecorniche

I should have guessed, I'm visualizing the framework as greek revival, it's a lot of detail work, are you working in a complete kitchen remodel or just the countertops...?

He came to the shop i work at looking for just that built. Its an $8000 top.