fool on the hill

Hello all - I've just joined the forum. Recently my '97 A4 108 got punched in the nose - right in the left front rim. Bumper damage, fender damage, wheel, upright, upper links, and axle were identified. If the hit broke the axle, the diff may be damaged. Lomg story short, the car is a total. At 185,000 mi that car was kept like new. as a long time Audi & Porsche employee it was maintained like a beloved pet. Oh well, it's really not smart to put $5000.00 in to fix a $3000.00 car. It's off to the big lot in the sky. So I'm telling my cousin, a long time Audi girl, about my car. Her response ... good! Some years ago her now departed husband was doing some work for a body shop in Denver. In the back of the shop was an S4 under a cover. it had been there for a decade or more. It seems a traffic accident had sent a truck careening onto a car lot where it was parked. It side swiped the S4, wiping the driver's side. The body shop owner who evaluated the car (a total) bought the car with the intention of fixing it up for himself. He never got around to it. Now he's retiring and needed to divest himself of the car. My cousin's husband bought it for her and had it put right. Well my cousin drove the car only occasionally. She loves it, but she lives in the mountains and she didn't want to tear it up. She decided to save the car for me. I just bought a 2000 B5 S4 6 speed, Imola yellow, wit 5600 ... not thousand - hundred ... miles for $1.00. It's on a truck now. Should arrive here in Maryland Monday.

fool on the hill

I'm still looking for the "edit" function to correct my typos. SO ... I'm looking for a good independent Audi specialist near Baltimore. I spoke with RAI Motorsports today and they seem on the ball. Any other suggestions??? I'm going to need a set of tires for the stock rims. I was pleased with the P Zero Nero's on the other car but again, any suggestions? As far as the mechanical steps to shake down the car, I'm covered. I've been with Audi & Porsche service for 30 years - even managed a race shop for a few years - so the plan is inspection, reset base settings to put out some warning lights. Drive for 300 miles. Then back to the shop with a laundry list, new belts including timing (belt only), change all fluids, ('03 RS6 oil). Replace plugs (hope they're not seized - they shouldn't be) & filters. Then drive and re assess. P.S. Absolutely not for sale at almost any price.