2009 Cabriolet experience - my car has died...

[Pirate]

Just wanted to post my recent experience of my lovely A3 cabriolet 09-plate. I had odd noises coming from the gearbox when accelerating or slowing. There had been a slow oil leak for a few months before that. My local garage couldn't trace the oil leak as it was so filthy under the engine so they removed the plastic cover and let me drive tha car. Before I could get the car back to them, the oil leak continued and suddenly one morning the car came to a VERY sudden halt. I could engage the gears but the car refused to move. Turned off and back on again and it moved again. Went gingerly on for about 30 yards before the same sudden halt. Called the AA who diagnosed a hole in the gearbox with engine and transmission oil all over the road. Cost to repair, with a re-conditioned gearbox, new clutch, flywheel etc was going to be £3,500. I had also had a damp interior for a while and it smelled slightly damp so I took the decision to scrap it (got £250 which was a pleasant surprise). The rest of the car was in excellent condition but I feared for the turbo or something else expensive happening. Now replaced it with a 2015 A3 Cabriolet as I loved my previous one so much. A nice step up in gadgets and cheaper to run (much cheaper VED and many more mpg). Now moving forums but I still miss my old A3!

[cliffcoggin]

Odd noises and a persistant oil leak are never going to turn out well without some rapid intervention.