Probably moving on from my C5 soon...

[vlangs]

Where to begin?!

First and foremost thanks to the C5 guys! I've made some really great friends through here, and I look forward to continuing those relationships. Special thanks to FOURINGS for being just the best and really helping me out with my car and giving me a totally new appreciation for it when I really lost all of it. We'll wrench on the new one together :)

I've owned my C5 for more than 10 years at this point, my pops bought it brand new in 04 and gave it to me after his lease was up. It's weird having owned the same car for so long, I know all of its nuances and truly do love it. But alas we're approaching 200k on the badboy and it's lived a hard life to say the least. The problems are now mounting up way more than it's worth and there's not a prayer in hell it'll pass state inspection this year so it's time to move on.

Issues:
Power Steering - failed. the pump's out I think? or maybe it's dying because after about 45 minutes of driving it does eventually start doing its job, but sufficed to say I have fairly large Bis and Tris
Brakes - the front pads are worn down and the discs could use resurfacing for sure
Wheels - Years and Years of running rubber band tires have finally given these poor D2 Avus wheels the crack. I've welded them back and they work but they have some major flatspots. I drove to cleveland the other day and boy was that interesting

But most importantly - The cat has a hole in it. a new cat is roughly 3k and my car is optimistically worth 5k so it's hard to really justify fixing it. Especially since it doesn't really affect the drive at all, but doesn't help the mpg I'm sure.

I've maintained my car pretty gosh darn well over the years, it still looks a million bucks inside and out and the engine has a long life left in it. I'm just in a stage in my life where a bit more reliability while still be extremely fun is more important. Could I replace the wheels and the pads and take a look at the PS? Of course, and had I had a bit more freetime in life right now I'm sure I would. It's still a massive head turner! Seriously people still ask me if my car is new all the time (I have 4R to thank for that! ) but knowing that it's not going to pass state inspection in december is really making it hard to justify keeping it. And frankly, I'm getting bored with the car. I want drama and excitement when I drive, but because the drive is exhilarating not because things are breaking.

So what, you may ask, am I getting? There's really only one car in the reasonably affordable genre that is semi-practical while also buckets of fun and that's the Fiesta ST. It's not as luxurious as my car, I know that's obvious. But it has the essentials I want, a tuner engine, a turbo, low end grunt, 6 speed and (imo) good looks. So October is probably going to be my last month (unless things really change) but the incentives on 2016 models will be at their wits end by then and hopefully I can snag a pretty one with the Recaro seats and navigation for around 22k, if I can get 5k for my car then I'll be very happy.

I won't be gone! But happy trails on your C5s everyone. When I'm done with my training and have more space I will be back in a 6spd allroad so I better see some major progress in the coming year!

[moyenecorniche]

Not to be too negative, but you are not going to get 5K for an allroad with 200,000 on it. Even if everything was flawless. The mileage is the #1. bad wheels being #2. full brake jobs pads and rotors, we don't turn rotors. As for the cat, that is not a big deal, since spacers, a cat delete and code clearance will solve that minor issue. Power steering pump also.

The logic you use on current value, not worth fixing but 22K for a Ford Fiesta escapes my number crunching. You are in training also which means income is not as high as expected...
The allroad will still be more cost effective than a brand new 22K car that you either finance or pay cash for....

But good luck and I would suggest revising your numbers on this since you have not taken new car depreciation and monthly costs concerning insurance ( which on a financed vehicle has to be full coverage ) 22K Plus Interest on the note and ....

[vlangs]

It's an A6 and that's what the dealer is offering, I wasn't truly expecting that either tbh. And I should probably preface that it's not that I absolutely need to trade the car to afford the new one (more of a logistical thing living in chicago, if I could park it for free I wouldn't get rid of it) or can't afford to fix the problems with the car as they crop up, it's that the problems are more expensive than the car is worth and it's only going to continue to get worse here on out. Obviously the car you currently own is cheaper than buying a new car but at some point the car you own fails to be worth owning. I get maybe 15mpg in the city and since I have full collision and what not the insurance is going to come out to about a wash. And I have pretty exceptional credit and Ford is running 0% apr right now...

But the two major reasons outside of the repairs are 1) I keep coming back to the car and it having new small things to fix. I'm a wrencher, so I have no issue fixing things but as I'm entering the final year of my residency my patience to deal with these things is starting to wear thin. It's no fun coming out of the hospital at 4am and the oils leaked or a spark plug is bad or a flat tire. Sure calamities happen to every car, but the frequency is increasing at an alarming rate. and 2) and much more importantly I really freaking want that car lol. I'm sure y'all can understand that sentiment but I've driven a few of them now on the street and autoX and man it's just so much GD fun to drive. I'm waiting for the exact orange one I want to pop up, but I've been salivating about this car now for a few months.

I totally appreciate your concern though! I LOVE Audis and nothing about my ownership has soured my love of these older beasts, but like a true love you sometimes gotta explore new options before you find yourself back.

[SteelyS6]

If I were you, take the $5000 from the dealer and run! You have had a good run of ten years and In a few years you can always come back to owning an Audi. I will be selling one of my C5's shortly. I just don't have the time to wrench and desire anymore to maintain two of them with being busy at work and having two young kids at home.

[moyenecorniche]

Ah... Now I see your logic... Yeah if the dealer is giving you $$$$$ and I understand your feeling about the allroad. I've only owned mine for 4 months and currently having my 1st issue . One before but that was just the coolant sensor. Biggest headache there were those clips holding the MAF hose .. They belong on a Panzer..
Although last night and today, in the process of replacing driver side air shock, which of course 2 of the shock tower bolts snapped off ( PB blaster was present ) and also replacing the driveshaft as both of the boots are totally torn...

I bought mine from previous owner, she had it from day one off the dealer lot... No problems after 7,000 miles other than the aforementioned but thats just normal..
As for the unintentional slammed down mode .... How in the hell does anyone drive like that without worrying about ripping out the underside ??

Good Luck with the Fiesta, I hope they are as good today as the euro rally styled version was years ago ....
We'll see you back in the allroad fold in the future ...

Repairs ... then off to Avantoberfest in 10 days

[vlangs]

If I were you, take the $5000 from the dealer and run! You have had a good run of ten years and In a few years you can always come back to owning an Audi. I will be selling one of my C5's shortly. I just don't have the time to wrench and desire anymore to maintain two of them with being busy at work and having two young kids at home.

Thanks! Yeah it's been worth it because I love the car so much. But as problems pile up and time goes down the tube you know how it is haha

[vlangs]

Well it's official! The transmission grenaded today! Was just parallel parking when chunk chunk chunk, look underneath and the balls inside the transmission are all on the street.

Well it's not gonna be worth anything anymore so that's cool!

:(
:(

[Hambone101]

Damn, and I was going to say, if it's time, its time. My old 4.2 started showing signs of the trans going, and it was hard for me to move her. But now 4 years later and I'm back in another C5. Sometimes, it makes sense to move on to the next step. A new car would be more reliable for the day to day purposes. But for me, like others I imagine, you can't get over how the C5 treats you.

Sorry to hear about the trans, hopefully you can still salvage some monetary value from it.

[vlangs]

Thanks! Yeah I ended up donating it which is a shame but i really had no where to store it. I'm excited about my new car, I still got a really good deal even though I lost my trade in value and while I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with the C5 I don't think I'll be getting another one until I spring for someone's 6speed swapped S6 that's otherwise stock.

[vlangs]

So this happened...

I'm not sold on the color! There was an orange one without the leather seats that I really really liked but I thought the leather seats were worth it. But the dealer knows they aren't exactly moving these so he told me I can "test drive" it for a few days and if I'd rather get the orange I can bring it back.

Btw the prices on left over 2016s (which are exactly the same as 17s save for the new color on the 17) are insane. 6-7k off the msrp.

So ok this car is TINY compared to my old C5 and the C5 obviously has better fitment (being a 60k versus 25k car and all) but it's so much fun to drive. I had a 3.0 which is likely coloring my experience, every 2.7t I drove was super fun, but this thing is so much fun to flick about and all that. And like a grand or two and you can coax almost 300hp out of a car the size of an allroad trunk? I'm sold!

[vlangs]

Wowsers! so took back the blue one and got a black with black wheels.

whirlwind I tell ya! haha

[vlangs]

[carmudgeon]

Any particular reason you went with the Fiesta ST as opposed to the Focus ST? Both are on my short list if the S6 dies so just curious.

[vlangs]

the focus is closer to the size of an S6 than the fiesta, but I'm a single dude living in the city and I don't need it.

BUT more importantly, the fiesta is SO MUCH nicer to drive than the ST Focus (RS is lightyears better) it's tight and nimble and man it's just a joy, the FoST was a bit lumbering. It actually reminds me a lot of a C5! haha

Also not for nothing but I got an amazing price on the car, 17k out the door and if I wanted a Focus ST I would have to order one and it would be list price.

[carmudgeon]

That's kind of how I feel when I hop in the Miata for a couple of days and then get back in the S6. Night and day difference. There's an old aviation joke that the F4 Phantom was built around the premise that even a brick can fly if you put enough horsepower behind it. That's kind of how I feel about the S6.

[vlangs]

yeah the S6 wheelbase is 108inches and the Focus is 104

mind you the S6 is longer but wheelbase is more indicative of size and feel

The fiesta is 98 lol

But i think also of note is that the S6 is much heavier (4k v 3200) than the focus st and while the S6 also has more power the Focus is easily tuned.

And of course, the Focus RS exists and that probably spanks the S6 in every meaningful performance metric. The Audi is obviously more luxurious, but new fords are well made especially top trim models.

[vlangs]

won't leave you guys i promise! But I do love my FiST.

Already started the mod train, 20% tint, cobb accessport and intake on their way!

[carmudgeon]

That's how it starts, "i'll just retune it".

freeze your credit cards in a block of ice now ;)

[vlangs]

ughh i would but i know my card number off the top of my head :(

[vlangs]

https://www.copart.com/lot/37236236/...edLot=37236236

it's kinda sad seeing it like this :'(

[4rings2turbos]

Whaaaaaaaa

[vlangs]

yeah man if you need a blown transmission c5 I know a lead :)

But the engine is strong and the chassis straight, anyone with a spare transmission can have a cruiser up and running for a song (i'd estimate it sells for less than a grand)