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Comments
'02 appearance revisions aren't significant. Expect an entirely new model for model year '04.
The installation date is September 25th.
I have been told I will get the new rotors and new front pads installed at that time -- all paid for, of course by AoA. Due to the attack, there had been some delay -- I had expected the rotors to be installed on September 12th. We all know the terrible circumstances that happened -- under the circumstances my purring rotos seemed rather insignificant and I am now pleased that the new ones are at the dealership and I have an appointment.
I was wondering, at 15,000 miles should I "suggest" or request new rear pads or anything? I have no reason to suspect the rear brakes, it is just a question.
Anyway, I have been monitoring the board, but have not had anything to report or information to share that has not been well covered by many of you fine Audi fans and owners.
I shall report as soon as I have had the new rotors installed. My only concern is that the dealer seemed somewhat disappointed that the rotors were regular Audi rotors that had been cross drilled, rather than after market rotors as we had thought (or hoped).
That's all for now -- I'm off to Cincinnati's Oktoberfest for another fine German product. Liquid bread.
Mark
The only element I would be concerned with is the installation of a different vendor's pads on the front, as opposed to the originals on the rear. While not a safety issue, I wonder what the effect will be upon braking sensation.
vty
Michael
My reaction is "pull the trigger, please."
My business is IT consulting, and we have been hammered in 2001 by a soft economy -- September 11th has only worsened the situation -- United Airlines was a client -- they terminated us, not for performance reasons mind you, for -- unfortunately -- obvious reasons, due to the attack on America.
Now, my company and my wallet are hurt -- twice in one year. Yet, as I watched our President deliver a speech I didn't think he had in him and listen to Rudy's plea to his fellow New Yorker's, I have decided that A way, not the only way, but A way to defeat economic uncertainty is to keep on doing whatever you would do "as if it didn't happen." Now I do not think you should buy an A6 4.2 if you don't want one or if it is beyond your budget -- not at all. But holding off purchasing something (because of a terrorist attack) will, if we all act that way, hurt the economy.
Way back in the 70's when I was in college I took a course about a Sociologist named C Wright Mills -- who wrote the Sociological Imagniation -- net net -- your behavior is representative of many. The compounding of behavior is what makes things move forward -- or not.
No matter your political bent, it is likely that all of Alan Greenspan's cuts, plus all of our great government's "stimulus" packages aren't a even a tiny bit as powerful as the "Consumer" -- and that means consumers in American, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Japan, etc etc etc -- we can turn things around just by doing our jobs as consumers -- buy things.
My wife and I listened to the Radio Speech of the Mayor of New York on Friday -- and although we felt it would be more economical to cook and eat at home -- well, we went out to dinner. Then, Saturday night, amidst some cautionary tales on the media, we went to Cincinnati's Oktoberfest, a big crowd in a small area, and dropped more money.
If we don't buy those new Audi's and do the other things we would normally do, we won't be able to afford new Audi's any more.
The global economy is led by America and Europe -- spend some money, turn this thing around.
If you like, want and could afford the 4.2 before Sept 11, do us all a favor and buy it.
End of soapbox.
As to the 3.0 comments: I have no experience with the grinding noise. However, the engine idle sounds irregular. Audi's have had, especially over the last several years, among the most refined V6's. The 3.0 has balance shafts. Is it possible that your sample was not properly prepped?
My A6's (two), had air conditioning that was quite satisfactory. The only difficulty we ever experienced was when we, early in our ownership days, would leave the sun roof shade open on warm, sunny days.
As to the "Bose"; I concur. It is adequate; Bose products are not high end audio. However, if one wishes to spend significant $'s, after market upgrades are available.
which!) awaiting pricing. It's aging along with my gray hair! So Eager!!
jk
However, losing a great deal of money in the market (relatively speaking) has admittedly caused some concern, that's all. And I do not wish to be mistaken--I do not take Mark's comments as criticisms, and I, too, hope we as a nation are not frightened into recession. So much for my two cents...somebody please convince me, with facts/personal experiences, to buy/lease the 4.2, as my guy just called me to advise 2 more vehicles had hit their lot, and are going to be let go for invoice + $250.!!
I have recently noticed an occasional 2 consecutive "beeps" in a row that recur every 6 -8 seconds from the speaker that is between the front and rear passenger doors on the driver's side (at the top of the pillar - above the airbag). The way I seem to be able to shut it off is to open and shut the driver's door, or to put the car in park and then back into drive. It has occurred while in drive and while in park. It has happened 3 times in the last month and I can't figure out why. Are those speakers on the B pillar for the navigation system? The beeps don't happen when the navigation system is being used, so they don't seem to be related. What else are the speakers used for? In advance, thanks for your help.
Thanks.
It is so painful to have taken enough college economics to understand the "circular flow of income." That is, to actually watch people hold on to a dollar today that yesterday they would not have "worried" about. You know of course when we hold on to that dollar what can happen -- someone gets laid off. Then, when that person gets laid off he/she tells friends and neighbors and they get cautious and they hold onto a dollar and this great economic machine begins to grind to a halt. We have been watching it here in Ohio for over 11 months in a "true" manufacturing and IT recession. Not to belabor the point, we call this the IT Depression of 2001.
But, this too shall pass -- damn terrorists have great timing, we were so close to a turnaround -- well from my point of view, we are still close to a turnaround, maybe it has been postponed by a couple of months.
So I do not have any further reasons to encourage you to buy that A6 4.2 -- other than to say again, you will love this car, and you ARE getting a bargain.
Your paper losses in the market have been somewhat recovered today -- as my broker says, buy and hold.
Things go down up down up down etc -- I'm willing to bet that we're "just about due" for a pretty good uptick -- that will stick!
About that $250.00 over invoice. I, too, am dubious. However, if you want the vehicle, that is a sensational price.
list on car I saw with this deal 54,000+
This really is a good deal.
The 1500 can be rolled into lease which rasies payment a little bit.
end of report
(Are the 2001 4.2 still that abundant?!?)
My idea is to take the moey from the sale of the Acura and plop it into a money market to use toward the purchase of the single family home my wife so desires, and to lease the Audi either through the business, or personally, and then lease it back to the firm at a small profit (thereby making a couple of extra dollars and "avoiding" payroll taxes.
And you are right timcar, as I have driven the vehicle, love it, and will make the decision regardless of input from others. I guess I am simply looking for further irrational convincing...BTW, it is an incredible deal. My understanding from my sales guy is that the dealer inherited these vehicles (3) from another dealer, and being 2001s, they are willing to let them go for invoice plus "a couple hundred dollars," which I expect to be $250. I am supposed to be getting the invoices for these vehicles faxed to my office today.
I'm still getting my 2.7t at the end of the month, although not the '02 I wanted. (Can't wait that long)Believe it or not, Valley Imports in Fargo, ND has an '01 equipped the way I want in the color I want, at approximately $4300 off sticker.
I'll let you know how the ride home is...
Kurt
I am watching this board as a microcosm of our total economy and it seems that buying decisions are being postponed. I visited my Audi dealer today (to drop my 4.2 off for my new rotors) -- and they said Saturday before last you could fire a cannon off in the lot and have a better chance hitting a salesperson than a customer, but they said this most recent Saturday the customers were "almost" back to normal -- but they suggested it was that it was because the inventory was at such low prices. When I saw that A6 4.2 for effectively 38 payments of about $630 a month with no money down -- I cringed, my payments are hundreds more for essentialy the same car.
No I am not whining -- I have had my car for 10 months on a 30 month lease, and life will go on. I liked getting the car early that I ordered. Although the one on the showroom floor was identical to mine except it did not have the sport package -- so in effect I could lease the car I almost want today for a couple hundred a month less for 9 months longer. Which to me means I am still pleased with what I got and how much I am paying.
But, if I was a first time Audi buyer and looking at several options from BMW, Volvo, Lexus, etc.,well -- an A6 4.2 with Navigation, premium, phone, extra airbags, CD changer -- etc. for this much money -- I mean it puts a whole new class of automobile within reach.
Too bad I can't dump out of this one -- they have a fully loaded silver/silver S8 on the showroom floor, with an incredible deal on it too. Not now -- I'll go for the 2003 A6 2.9T, 4.2 or the S4 or S6 saloon if one becomes available.
Anyone hear about a 2.9T A6 version? At this point it just seems to be an unsubstantiated rumour.
Save the economy spend money just like you would have before 9/11.
$250 is wonderful. If you like the specific car, I'd jump on it.
Regarding all the debate and hand wringing over a purchase of a vehicle: either buy the car and enjoy it or, in the alternative, get a Chevy Impala (a good value) and rejoice in your frugality. No offense, but we can only beat this dead horse so long. Collectively, we have far more serious problems to contend with.
If you have another car in your household this is a bit easier. For example, lease payment $800. Auto allowance 70% not to exceed $600. Company writes a check for $560 to Audi Financial you write a check to Audi Financial for $240.00.
Clean, neat -- oh yes and you pay for the gas, plates, insurance and maintenance.
Zyrus
Nothing down -- no sec dep first mo payments made by AoA.
I called this past Monday for an appointment for tire rotation, balancing and alignment check prior to a long trip and the first day they could get me in was 10/12; later than that if I needed a loaner, which I don't.
As for parts: no experience. The few things that I've needed were obviously in stock because I was never "back ordered" or told that we would have to wait for parts.
My dealer is University in Seattle.
Parts have generally been readily available, unless there is a major recall; then, they are scarce.
I took it in (ok, I should have check here first) and the dealer told me that it wasn't supposed to come on.
I assume this is the case, but I just wanted to hear it from fellow A6 owners. And if not, why have it at all?
Thanks.
You are very generous with your time and knowledge. If you would not mind explaining your understanding in greater detail I would be very appreciative.
I had planned to buy my next car outright, but after reading this board for the last few months I'm considering leasing. This morning you posted some lease suggestions. Maybe I can follow the path you've taken, but I'd like to understand a few points a little better.
The company is on the hook for a fixed monthly cost, based on a percentage of the monthly lease payment. The individual is on the hook for the remaining percentage of the monthly lease payment, plus all of the variable costs - gas, tires, maintenance, insurance, etc.
Do you set the company percentage based on a strict accounting of business vs personal miles, or does this percentage take into account the variable costs the individual picks up? For instance, if you put on 600 business miles and 400 personal miles each month, would you set the percentage at 60%, or bump it up to 70% to defray the variable costs?
You also state it is important that you are in an equity position in the company. The reason is not apparent to me. If we wanted to have the same policy for owners and employees, we should not use your method?
Also, why is it easier if you have another car in the household? Is it because you can put most of your personal miles on the second car?
From a tax standpoint, none of the monthly lease payment paid by the company is considered to be compensation, right? Do you need to record all business miles to support the 70/30 split (or a more appropriate ratio)?
We are not a big company and I put on a lot more miles than the other owners. So, if I decide I want to go in this direction I'll need to convince myself and then the others. Using the example of another small business will probably be helpful.
Thanks very much and I hope this brake fix does it for you.
I am not a CPA nor a lawyer -- I have a CPA on staff and my wife is a lawyer. All I know is that owners are treated differently than employees. Hence when my CPA firm (and my internal employee concurred) made the suggestion to have the company pick up a portion of my auto lease (and they suggested a maximum of 80% of the lease payment and they also suggested capping the allowance at $600), I followed their advice. The "partners" in my CPA firm handle their automobiles in just this way.
The check from the company and the personal check are both made out to Audi financial, rather than a company check paid to me. You are always responsible if audited to have what are called contemporaneous logs to back up your percentage claim. Hence, if you drive 15,000 miles a year and can demonstrate that 12,000 were for business you can figure out a percentage. Moreover, if you do not have a second car in the household, it is very difficult to get the percentage of use "up there."
I keep a log book in my car, and I have been audited once and I was glad to have had the book.
BTW the new Audi option TELEMATICS offers the option of keeping your driving log in a computer that is built into the car.
When I had an "auto" allowance, I technically had to receive a 1099 at year end -- more red tape, more hassels, etc -- so the payments do not go to you (unless you're looking for income for whatever reason).
My business is small, too. Depending on demand for consulting services we have from 25 - 60 employees. I used to supply auto allowances to the managers -- one year my CPA firm told me that I would have to 1099 the people -- which meant they had to do more work from a tax perspective. I asked the employees if they wanted 1099's they said no -- so I gave the employees a $6000 raise and called it auto allowance -- they then do what they feel is appropriate to legally reduce their tax liabilities. If you have multiple owners and you drive more, you should have a higher percentage than the other owners (in an ideal world).
My assumption is that you may want an A6 4.2 and that your co owners may want something that would be either more or less than this. Pick a number that is defensible if you are audited. If the number is 80% not to exceed $600 -- so be it. If you lease a $600 car, you will have $480 a month paid by the company. If you lease a $1000/mo car your company will pay $600.
Please check with your tax professional -- my suggestion a CPA who is a lawyer or a lawyer who has a CPA. You will get the best advice from them, not me.
I used Grant Thornton to start out this process, then when the partner left the firm to form his own firm I went with him. I have been pleased with the suggestions made and so have my employees. We all want to reduce taxes, legally. Your tax professional probably knows why owners in Corporations are "different" than employees. I'll give you one last example, at year end I have to take my bonus by 12/31 -- yet my employees can have their bonuses reported but not paid until January for example. I do not know all the what's and why's -- I just know that there are tax consequences that effect me differently.
I hope this is of some small help.
Finally, my CPA says never ever ever buy a car. And, buying a car in a small company of course means that it must go on the balance sheet -- and since cars rapidly lose value, their worth as an asset is dubious.
Buy what appreciates, rent what depreciates and expense the rent payments. This is the gist of my accountant's message.
So, I lease my cars and I bougth the building my company is housed in. And, my building is company A and my services business is company B and B pays the rent to A.
And, on the brake issue -- two days not quite 100 miles and the brakes get better every time
I apply them. The real test will be when I get over 200 miles on them. They sure look cool with the holes drilled in them, though -- I must be a closet "motor head."
Thank you, once again, for being so generous. I did not want to use you as an unpaid accountant/tax advisor, but rather as an example I could present to our accounting firm. Since you have blazed a trail, I wanted to make sure our accountants would consider it.
I am aware of restrictions on "highly-paid" owners/officers concerning retirement accounts, etc. It is not obvious to me why each employee could not have a capped allowance just like an owner; I'll see if I can find out why. BTW, we have our fiscal year end Jan 31 so we can take bonuses on either side of Jan 1, depending on tax implications.
<< I hope this is of some small help>>
No, this is of GREAT help. Thank you.
<<Finally, my CPA says never ever ever buy a car.>>
I know some people who buy a 4 or 5 year old car and keep it for another 6+ years. They think this is the least expensive way to drive a car they like. Of course, you don't get the latest technology this way.
I happened to be going past an Audi dealer mid-morning today and decided to stop in. The salesman gave me a 2002 brochure that he says just came in yesterday. I was also able to see and sit in a 2002 3.0, one of two on the lot. No other 2002s on the lot. Disappointed to see the Cashmere Gray is not available for 2002, but I'm sure I can find another color.
Thanks so much,
Greg
I believe new technology makes cars safter, cleaner and "more fun" (better performing). One of my dearest friends used to say he'd never pay more than $1,500 for a car -- he has a '72 Buick LeSabre. He probably has a bigger bank account than I. You can't take it with you so I've heard. And, while we're into platitudes, "life's too short to drive boring cars" (or to drink cheap beer).
My mom always said "to each his (or her) own!"
Mark
I have it on my 2001 A6 4.2 -- I thought it was kinda hokey at first, but I wanted the sat nav and they came as a set -- now, especially in tight underground, dark parking garages, it is quite handy. I don't think I would reject a car without it, but I certainly would prefer having it over not.
It has "saved my bumper" at least twice in 10 months.