What's the future, is there a future for my 2001 Quattro?

[Peter Wight]

Dear fellow Audi fans, I'm looking for advice, comment, ideas sensible or fanciful on the future of the A4 Quattro estate that has served us since 2005. All replies are welcome no matter how "imaginative". Feel free to refer to its value in parts; there are five well-shod 205mm wide wheels and a 2.8litre petrol engine, for example.

My wife and I sought a left hand drive car for our new life in Spain, bought this treasure in 2005 in Huddersfield and trundled south to Andalucia. We took a load of stuff (it's very capacious) and now that we've sold up and left El Andaluz, stuffed the car again and trundled back . To Manchester.

The car: Built in 1998, first registered in 2001 . Engine: six-cylinder (tho' has V5 written on it) 2.8 litres. Automatic transmission (with manual option). A sharp press on the pedal adjusts the gearing to 'sporty'.   Mileage: 145,500 (not kilometres, this and the speedo' is in miles.) Please note; it has spent 6 of every 12 months in our garage in Spain (we in England), and consequently 19 years on roads not treated with winter's salt. Obviously a thirsty engine but motorway cruising is at very low revs. Then safely you overtake. Quickly.

However, don't miss the special sleeve for your wet skis when you're fresh from the piste.

As the song says, "You always hurt the one you love": we are ashamed of the dents and scratches on our faithful, so reliable servant. The sunburn on the paint is a virtual melanoma, and the wider part of the rear backrest can no longer be folded flat. Main repairs over the years are a new exhaust, new coils (1 per 2 cyilnders), cylinder head gaskets and a tensioning gadget (plus belt) for the power steering pump. Its Spanish MOT equivalent expires April '25.

Yours hopefully and with thanks in anticipation, Peter.

p.s. Photos soon available, meanwhile imagine pale leather upholstery.

[Magnet]

Welcome Peter,

What are you asking us to comment on/advise? 
Do you (in caps) want to keep the car or not? If yes, simply look after it until it expires - of course with the limiting factor of LHD.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[cliffcoggin]

As a 23 year old, scratched & dented, sun burnt car with damaged rear seat I reckon its resale value as a working car is just about zero. You would be better off dismantling it and selling any useful parts on eBay, though that would leave a large heap of scrap metal to be got rid of.

[Peter Wight]

Thank you Gareth, I ought to have made clear that we do want to say goodbye to it. I have an injury to my right foot such that driving is not possible otherwise simply enjoying it indefinitely would have been attractive. Thank you Clifford for your no-nonsense reply. It could be however that a fellow Kentish person would fork out a few hundred for a car in which to nip frequently across the channel. Keep brainstorming folks!.  Regards, Peter 

[Stevey Y]

11 minutes ago, Peter Wight said:

Thank you Gareth, I ought to have made clear that we do want to say goodbye to it. I have an injury to my right foot such that driving is not possible otherwise simply enjoying it indefinitely would have been attractive. Thank you Clifford for your no-nonsense reply. It could be however that a fellow Kentish person would fork out a few hundred for a car in which to nip frequently across the channel. Keep brainstorming folks!.  Regards, Peter 

Hi I think its a bit harsh to condemn the car out of hand, everything has a value and leather can always be re-dyed and paint can be refinished if the basic structure is still good and the mechanicals are in order what's the problem, someone will love it, if it wasn't for these people we would be devoid of anything to gaze at when you visit classic car shows.

Steve.

[cliffcoggin]

5 hours ago, Stevey Y said:

Hi I think its a bit harsh to condemn the car out of hand, everything has a value and leather can always be re-dyed and paint can be refinished if the basic structure is still good and the mechanicals are in order what's the problem, someone will love it, if it wasn't for these people we would be devoid of anything to gaze at when you visit classic car shows.

Steve.

Maybe so, but sentimental liking for a car does not increase its resale value. Having said that, perhaps Peter is not asking about its value. In fact it is not clear to me exactly what he is asking.

[Peter Wight]

Once again, thanks for your replies. I've been deliberately inexact in my post and accordingly have enjoyed a broad range of comment. Also I learn from an unrelated post by Dave L Rust, about selling his car, that a few hundred pounds would be a generous offer for it.  I must post it for sale here in the club and meanwhile see if there are specialist scrap dealers. Bye4now, Peter.

[spartacus 68]

To be honest there’s zero value in it. It’s worth more to you than what’s it’s physically worth. I used to have B5 2.5TDI Quattro Sport Avant, and took it to 175k miles. The B5 shape is attractive, especially in avant form. I still search for mine on UK MOT check and sadly its MOT was never renewed after Jan 2024 at 222k miles.

You do see these cars from time to time, especially in southern Europe where they haven’t been ravaged by our winter road salt. The V6 diesel version is fairly bullet proof. 

If it were me, and depending on budget, it would be an interesting project car to completely strip and rebuild. There was something on a different forum with a B5 in Hibiscus Red. However if you’re not spanner savvy, then costs will run away with you. VCDS software is very useful too.

Subframe front and rear would probably need to be dropped, new bushes and powder coated. New Meyle HD multi link suspension all round, probably new dampers, brakes overhauled. Interior wise, should be easier. The matrix dash used to be problematic but can be fixed, plus unsightly scratched interior controls where the rubberised paint has worn off.

Then there’s the small matter of a new paint job. Madness, probably, but if it’s part of the family, keep it.

 

Edited December 28, 2024 by spartacus 68

[Peter Wight]

Dear Spartacus, many thanks for your detailed and sympathetic letter. The reference to southern Europe is significant: until our departure from Spain about three months ago, this car was one of those sometimes seen. A mechanic there remarked on the unusual scars underneath. Salt damage, said I. Its early life had been in Germany. Also I agree with everything you said.

I have failed to find a picture of the B5 body shape to which you refer. I must submit a photo to confirm or not that our car has one, arguably in the "restrained good taste" category. There are two rubber strips needing re-attachment to doors on both sides and postponing that task has postponed the photo-shoot. But for now, bye-for now, Peter  

[spartacus 68]

This was mine Peter - 2001 2.5 TDI (V6) Quattro Sport. Old technology now, but a good car.

[Peter Wight]

Dear Spartacus, thanks for

submitting the photos: our car must have looked almost that good when we bought it in 2005. I lavished lots of wax polish on it, but we lived down a dirt road so it was seldom not dusty. I attach a snap of one such moment 2019, plus one from it's repair in Somerset on the way home and one frosted up this morn. As I've suggested elsewhere, to me that body oozes simple good taste (or boringly dull utility to those who favour the dramatic lines of later times). Happy new year, P