Back to the dark side

[Pondrew]

I have just ordered a new (last of the line) Audi A4 avant 40 TFSi 'Black Edition' petrol.
It's on a lease, as the deal was extremely good for me, being self employed and VAT registered. I swore I would never have a new car again and also swore I would never lease a car again but I miss the 'new car' feeling and it makes financial sense. Old habits die hard.

I have been looking for an A4 avant (used) for a while as I really can't feel the love for my F31.

So I have a very, very good, low mileage 2016 (facelift) F31, 320i with 31k miles and the best service history ever for sale. It's a luxury spec and a manual gearbox. Rare as hen's teeth.

Melbourne red with ivory leather. I will put a for sale thread up soon.

 

[pvr]

That is a nice looking car. You sure you want to commit before the budget from the party of envy? Just in case they add NI to the employer side.

 

[Pondrew]

There are not many A4s left, as they have finished production. If I snooze I may lose.

I am not an employer (directly).

 

[bigwinn]

Unbelievable. Literally bought a new estate (to me) on Monday

I’d have snapped your hand off for a Melbourne touring

Sod’s Law

 

[Fred Smith]

Unbelievable. Literally bought a new estate (to me) on Monday

I’d have snapped your hand off for a Melbourne touring

Sod’s Law

It looks like a great car.

Is it me or is there a real correlation between Z4 owners and estate car owners? Like we're sensible enough to know what loads of others don;t - if you want a fun car get a fun car and if you want a practical one get a practical one... the stuff that is neither (saloons, big coupes), naaaah.

 

[Pondrew]

Unbelievable. Literally bought a new estate (to me) on Monday

I’d have snapped your hand off for a Melbourne touring

Sod’s Law

Any excuse. What did you get?

 

[bigwinn]

330d

A bit leggy but newer

 

[bigwinn]

Unbelievable. Literally bought a new estate (to me) on Monday

I’d have snapped your hand off for a Melbourne touring

Sod’s Law

It looks like a great car.

Is it me or is there a real correlation between Z4 owners and estate car owners? Like we're sensible enough to know what loads of others don;t - if you want a fun car get a fun car and if you want a practical one get a practical one... the stuff that is neither (saloons, big coupes), naaaah.

Estates are cool

Sleeper cars! Think RS4

 

[Fred Smith]

Unbelievable. Literally bought a new estate (to me) on Monday

I’d have snapped your hand off for a Melbourne touring

Sod’s Law

It looks like a great car.

Is it me or is there a real correlation between Z4 owners and estate car owners? Like we're sensible enough to know what loads of others don;t - if you want a fun car get a fun car and if you want a practical one get a practical one... the stuff that is neither (saloons, big coupes), naaaah.

Estates are cool

Sleeper cars! Think RS4

I have owned 7 cars in my life and before the Z4 the last three were all estates (one of which I still have).

I would genuinely love a Mitsubishi Evo Estate, basically my PoS run-around only with slightly sportier looks and massively better performance.

 

[buzyg]

Well you got the title right.. Enjoy.. Everyone needs a practical car it there life.. :wink:

 

[Fred Smith]

Well you got the title right.. Enjoy.. Everyone needs a practical car it there life.. :wink:

To be fair, aside from trivial things such as that the Z4 coupe is not ideal for trips to the dump, it's impossible to fit a bike in the back, and with my son in the front the other half has to stay home or go in the boot, the Z4 is precisely as practical as an estate.

 

[Pondrew]

I have owned 7 cars in my life

I have owned 10 cars in the last 2 years! :lol:
Since 2022:
1 x Alpina E92 B3 biturbo
1 x 440i F33
1 x 320i F31
2 x E89 Z4
1 x E36 Z3
1 x Honda Civic type R
1 x Focus ST estate
1 x Mazda3
1 x Mini Cooper R56 (daughter's but I paid for it so it counts)
Audi will make 11 (but not mine cos it's rented).

 

[Fred Smith]

320i F31

A quick search on ebay, and I think your F31 probably cost more than every car I have ever owned put together. And I've owned a car for most of the last 33 years.

My Z4 was a breakthrough as it meant that the most expensive car I have ever owned was more expensive than the most expensive push-bike I've ever owned.

I do like cars a lot... but they're a spectacular waste of money... if you have money invest it, if you have loose change buy a car.

 

[Fred Smith]

I have owned 7 cars in my life

I have owned 10 cars in the last 2 years! :lol:
Since 2022:
1 x Alpina E92 B3 biturbo
1 x 440i F33
1 x 320i F31
2 x E89 Z4
1 x E36 Z3
1 x Honda Civic type R
1 x Focus ST estate
1 x Mazda3
1 x Mini Cooper R56 (daughter's but I paid for it so it counts)
Audi will make 11 (but not mine cos it's rented).

What do you make of your Mazda btw? If my next car purchase is not some kind of 15 to 25 year old 3 series touring it may well be a 10-20 year old Mazda 6 estate

 

[Pondrew]

What do you make of your Mazda btw? If my next car purchase is not some kind of 15 to 25 year old 3 series touring it may well be a 10-20 year old Mazda 6 estate

I've had 2 Mazda6 estates (both top spec 180bhp oil burners). Both were leased from new; one was a 2010 the other a 2016. Good cars but I hear they can get expensive as they get older. The earlier one was a better car to drive. Lots of space; similar size to an A6 estate, or an E class Merc. Much more room inside than a 3 series (they are tiny).

 

[Fred Smith]

Much more room inside than a 3 series (they are tiny).

You know what, when I made my last post I forgot that I'd checked out the dimensions of old Mazda 6s and was shocked at how unnecessarily large they are. Similarly I did consider a 5 series for a while, but changed my mind.

20-30 year old 3 series touring is the perfect size for a large car (IMHO... but I'm someone who thinks that my E86 should, if anything, be a bit shorter, narrower and lower.

 

[buzyg]

Well you got the title right.. Enjoy.. Everyone needs a practical car it there life.. :wink:

To be fair, aside from trivial things such as that the Z4 coupe is not ideal for trips to the dump, it's impossible to fit a bike in the back, and with my son in the front the other half has to stay home or go in the boot, the Z4 is precisely as practical as an estate.

Ye..! that knocking sound from the boot can be a real downer. :lol: :rofl:

 

[Spriteracer]

I've always had estates - E39, E61, XC70. Just bought a 2017 A6 allroad. nearly 90PS more than the Volvo, bigger, and does 14mpg better and it is SO quiet. Does have a raft of very annoying chimes and messages. Never had an Audi before but quite impressed so far.

 

[Pondrew]

I've always had estates - E39, E61, XC70. Just bought a 2017 A6 allroad. nearly 90PS more than the Volvo, bigger, and does 14mpg better and it is SO quiet. Does have a raft of very annoying chimes and messages. Never had an Audi before but quite impressed so far.

I think Audi have the best interiors of all the Germans. Well laid out and give the impression of quality.

I had a 2019 Volvo V90 on lease for a while. It was massive! Had all the toys, quiet, comfortable but was just sooooooo boring to drive. That car had a nasty habit of the whole infotainment switching off about half a mile from a destination....the bit where you NEED the sat nav. When it fired back up it had forgotten the sat nav details. Very useful.

Covid got me out of it without too much financial penalty luckily.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I have been looking for an A4 avant (used) for a while as I really can't feel the love for my F31.

That's a shame as you seemed really pleased with it when you got it.

It's a fantastic colour combination too, so GLWTS.