Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I'm looking to sell my Viano, imported from Singapore and arrived 6 months ago, same spec as UK one apart from 3.5v6 petrol engine which I don't think they sold here?
Really clean underneath since it's not seen any UK winter/Salt on the roads. ULEZ compatible and £285 road tax due to being an import.
Let me know if anybody is interested, I'm hoping to get £12k but it's a hard one to price

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Oops. (Only 'grale I'll ever own) 😁

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I bought a leggy F31 330d a few months ago. Not Ulez compliant.
A car that's good at everything but not great at anything.
Spec is a nightmare with used F31s. The standard halogen lights pre LCI are dreadful.

Ah jeez, even the f31 330d isn’t ULEZ? That’s mad. Is the facelift ULEZ?

Can you do HID upgrade on these. My pre LCI E91 has had it done for the same reason.

The 330d LCI is Ulez and some of the pre LCI 335d!

On the endless list of things to do. Upgraded bulbs as a starter. No doubt will be an awful job.

If changing a smashed foglight lens on my F36 was anything to go by, you're fucked :-D

I used to prefer an RB over a JZ, but a few mates have had a lot issues with RBs recently so I'm feeling JZ reliability and strength.

Also, RWD is more fun than AWD.

Why my new car is currently a three wheeler

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That certainly doesn't look like it will polish out.. If it's any consolation I checked the fault codes on my Leaf this evening and it probably needs a brace of new water pumps.

Well, in conciliatory car stories. I have to spend $3000 to replace a failed airbag ECU in my 2015 Audi, just after spending $3000 on replacing the dual mass flywheel and front brakes.
Basically sucks up my car funds for doing anything fun.

Woah that is dark

Jeez i thought it was old cars that were going to be expensive..

I think the key thing is where you draw that line- for a car company 5 years makes it old and 10 years makes it out of support.

I have to spend $3000 to replace a failed airbag ECU

Is that for a new part? If the part is shared across a few Audi models you might get lucky at a breakers yard 🤞

Built in obsolescence innit. ‘It’s going to cost £6k to repair you car sir. Or just give us it as a deposit and you can PCP a nice new one for just £400 a month.’

This is why I only own knackered old cars. They make me miserable for other reasons than money.

To make me feel smug and put the kybosh on it, my SC430 has cost me nothing but servicing money in the last 3 years. Not a daily though. The headlights are grey all through the plastic, so won't polish out, a new pair is £1200. May treat it over the winter.

Sotto Zero 3- they’re runflats, anyone used them and know what they’re like comfort wise?

Unfortunately I have already tried a second hand unit, flashed to 'virgin' status but it wouldn't accept the new coding so a new Audi part is the only way. Being sent from Germany down here to Australia... 4 weeks.

On the plus side, I have been ragging my 308 around the south coast of NSW and enjoying some great roads. It's a bit noisy and harsh as a permanent family car, but damn it is fun.

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And to think, my old 306 cost about 2 grand to run for 5 years... Not one electrical component issue in a 20 year old French hatch. Old cars for the win.

I'm actually tempted to find an old 504 estate.

Everything's expensive.

I've got to get the DSG and Haldex serviced alongside the major service tomorrow, these were things I did consider when purchasing, but hadn't considered that all 3 would align at the same time.

Modern(ish) RWD with full auto rather than 4WD with auto dual clutch makes more sense from a "things to go wrong" and "cost to service" standpoint.

Every runflat I have driven on has been horrible, uncomfortable and has a tendency to tramline. This is particularly bad in lower tyre profiles. The oe tyres on my Z4 were especially nasty, replacing them with decent tyres made a night and day difference. Punctures are a comparatively rare occurrence.

Forgot to say; the grip on runflats tends to be shit due to reduced sidewall flex.

I suppose the tradeoff is that runflats might save your life if you have a blowout travelling in a straight line, normal tyres might save your life by not letting go on a bend. Which happens more, blowouts or bends?

dude would be awesome if you could find an old 504 estate. just never see them anymore on the road here. though see very few cars from that era.

I inherited the family's old 405 turbodiesel estate when in had 180k on the clock. Eventually the gearbox gave up at 210k miles but before then it was just so robust.

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