Is my car worth keeping?
#11
04-17-2009, 01:53 PM
Hello,
I bought a 2001 A6 2.7t about 8 months ago for 8,900. The car had 96,000 miles on it.
Currently, it has 122,500 miles. Since purchasing, I have: Replaced the alternator, serpintine belt and belt tensioner, p/s pump, and auxillary water pump. These fixits plus some other randoms comes out to about 2,000 dollars worth of repairs.
To make matters worse, right now, I have to take care of the following repairs: Replace passangers side Catalytic converter ($900), the valve cover gaskets and a cam seal ($1200) as well as an o2 sensor ($100).
My question to the older and experienced members...
Is it worth keeping this car (hate to even say it) and paying these fee's... or just "band-aiding" it up and getting out now.
Id really appreciate some hard thought feedback... the responses will definatly infuence my decision.
Thanks,
TwinTurboSixer
I bought a 2001 A6 2.7t about 8 months ago for 8,900. The car had 96,000 miles on it.
Currently, it has 122,500 miles. Since purchasing, I have: Replaced the alternator, serpintine belt and belt tensioner, p/s pump, and auxillary water pump. These fixits plus some other randoms comes out to about 2,000 dollars worth of repairs.
To make matters worse, right now, I have to take care of the following repairs: Replace passangers side Catalytic converter ($900), the valve cover gaskets and a cam seal ($1200) as well as an o2 sensor ($100).
My question to the older and experienced members...
Is it worth keeping this car (hate to even say it) and paying these fee's... or just "band-aiding" it up and getting out now.
Id really appreciate some hard thought feedback... the responses will definatly infuence my decision.
Thanks,
TwinTurboSixer
A shop with all the tools probably doesn't need more than 2 hrs to replace a cat.
Prices at "RockAutoParts" for cats:
2001 AUDI A6 QUATTRO 2.7L 2671cc V6 FI Turbo (D) [APB] : Exhaust :
Catalytic Converter
-
WALKER Part # 54525 {Direct Fit}
LH; Fed. & Calif. Emiss. Models. Not legal for use on OBDII vehicles licensed in the state of California.
Price........ Core....... Total
$356.79.... $0.00 ......$356.79
__________________________________________________ ______
WALKER Part # 55388 {Direct Fit}
RH; Fed. & Calif. Emiss. Models. Not legal for use on OBDII vehicles licensed in the state of California.
$367.79 $0.00 $367.79
__________________________________________________ ________
BOSAL Part # 0991229
Left
Right Side
$569.79 $0.00 $569.79
__________________________________________________ ___
BOSAL Part # 0991228
Right
Left Side
$569.79 $0.00 $569.79
__________________________________________________ ________
EASTERN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS Part # 40456 {{Part is for non-California emissions and cannot be shipped to CA}}
LEFT SIDE - WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - WITH TURBO; 49 STATE DIRECT FIT-LEFT
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 2 business days
$361.79 $0.00 $361.79
__________________________________________________ _________
EASTERN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS Part # 40457 {{Part is for non-California emissions and cannot be shipped to CA}}
RIGHT SIDE - WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - WITH TURBO; 49 STATE DIRECT FIT-RIGHT
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 2 business days
$378.79 $0.00 $378.79
Catalytic Converter
-
WALKER Part # 54525 {Direct Fit}
LH; Fed. & Calif. Emiss. Models. Not legal for use on OBDII vehicles licensed in the state of California.
Price........ Core....... Total
$356.79.... $0.00 ......$356.79
__________________________________________________ ______
WALKER Part # 55388 {Direct Fit}
RH; Fed. & Calif. Emiss. Models. Not legal for use on OBDII vehicles licensed in the state of California.
$367.79 $0.00 $367.79
__________________________________________________ ________
BOSAL Part # 0991229
Left
Right Side
$569.79 $0.00 $569.79
__________________________________________________ ___
BOSAL Part # 0991228
Right
Left Side
$569.79 $0.00 $569.79
__________________________________________________ ________
EASTERN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS Part # 40456 {{Part is for non-California emissions and cannot be shipped to CA}}
LEFT SIDE - WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - WITH TURBO; 49 STATE DIRECT FIT-LEFT
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 2 business days
$361.79 $0.00 $361.79
__________________________________________________ _________
EASTERN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS Part # 40457 {{Part is for non-California emissions and cannot be shipped to CA}}
RIGHT SIDE - WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - WITH TURBO; 49 STATE DIRECT FIT-RIGHT
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 2 business days
$378.79 $0.00 $378.79
I am pretty sure you can find in the same price range elsewhere for yours.
Buy yourself a "TB How to for 2.7T engine" video from JHMotorsports.com ($ 30). For the parts needed you can shop around to check individual prices, or as a kit.
All may run you around $ 400-500.
The gaskets, seals are really cheap nowadays.
The point is:
For around $ 1000, give it less (maybe), you can do the same work yourself, even in incremental steps: Cat first (if it is really bad), then later on the TB + valve cover gaskets + cam seal(s).
So you'd not need to shed all that cash (or credit) at one time.
If you can live without the car for several days at the time (depending on when and how fast/slow you can work on the car), go ahead and brave the mechanical challenge.
Is not at all as bad as you may think, even if you don't have any mechanical zest.
As someone said, all used cars come with quirks, bad this, bad that, etc.
People get rid of them mostly when they don't want to put up with fixing them anymore, just as in your case.
You made a $ 9,000 investment in this car. To me that represents a hefty sum of money. If you sell it, then probably you'll lose more money than even the $ 2000 that shop or dealer asks you to fix those listed problems.
Getting only 25,500 miles out of that big of an investment doesn't sound like it was worth it.
Anyway, it is your money after all, but I would man up and start repairing it myself if money are a problem or concern.
Last edited by chefro; 04-17-2009 at 01:56 PM.
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