'00 Silver Quattro Coupe: New Timing Belt, Clutch; Runs Good, 5 Speed on 2040-cars

[Please read the entire description. I know it runs long, but to a good purpose: my own experience on ebay leads me err on the side of inclusion; more information is better, for both buyer and seller. I want the potential buyer to know as much about the car as possible--good, bad or indifferent. The car should sell itself, and I'll try to be as transparent as possible in my description and pictures. Also, please note, how I rate the car is on a relative scale, i.e. adjusted to reflect age and mileage and price of the car.] 

In a nutshell. Sure, high miles, but a pretty sound car, with a lot of recent high-value mechanical work done recently (timing belt, clutch, water pump, instrument cluster), stuff normally wanting in a car of this price range--in fact, pretty close to $3000 spent on essential maintenance in the past year. Yes, a few dents and dings, but overall a clean, functional machine, and in my opinion, a car that is pretty good value for the money.

I bought the car this past summer. I've not owned the car long, but in that time I've driven the car daily, taken a lot of time and effort to fix 'little things' in and around it, and know it reasonably well (bearing in mind I'm not mechanical genius). My own first impressions of this car (likewise I'm not an Audi guy, have no history with them) were the aesthetics and the design of this car are stunning--no other word for it. The interior in particular is world class; nothing else looks like it. I'd admired this car for years, big fan of the Bauhaus/art deco/30s modern design ethos of the thing. Driving the thing, first thing that struck me was that for a relatively small car, it's a great highway cruiser: firm, solid, relaxed feel doing 75. Why am I selling? I'll be moving soon, leaving the snow of Utah behind; I'm a vintage car guy, always have been, I'll be looking for a 912 or early seventies BMW 3.0, but that's a different story...

Version. This is the Quattro 180hp 5-speed version of the car. Extras (or at least I think they were extras on this car) include Xenon headlamps, heated seats, Bose stereo (head unit I've replaced).

Mechanicals, and recent work. Including the stuff I've done, pretty close to $3000 done in recent work (previously owner had spent around $2500 just before selling the car). Done 5K and less miles ago, it's good, relevant stuff: the timing belt (including water pump) was done at 166K, and if you know TTs you know that's the most important thing on the car to stay on top of. The clutch (and all relevant components) was redone at 168K. I have the receipts (see pics) for both. Previous owner had also recently replaced O2 sensor, battery, and I believe the windshield. 

On my relatively brief watch I've done a few things. I: sent out the instrument cluster for repair (needles weren't resting in their proper place, leading to incorrect readings, common TT complaint; LCD screens are fine); fixed the glove box latch (common complaint); replaced the driver's seat bottom (torn beyond repair); replaced driver's side door lock mechanism; replaced passenger side window motor/regulator; did one of the front tie rod ends and a front end alignment; put a new JVC ipod/bluetooth stereo (NB: it is a cd delete model, and is running, as far as I know, the original amp and speakers); replaced shifter boot; found a couple of original style floor mats (car didn't have any when I bought it)...

No warning/engine lights on (see discussion below on ABS light). I've put around 5K on the car (reminds me, coming due for an oil change, synthetic). Nothing really strikes me as needing replacement, work, etc. Car doesn't really drive like a machine with 170K--starts, stops, shifts like a car half its mileage. Everything works: a/c, lights, keyless entry, alarm system, heated seats. Doesn't leak any fluids, and in around the last 5K I've gone through maybe a quart of oil? (Excellent for a car with this many miles.) The only thing that really strikes me mechanically as the car showing its age is the suspension does have a slightly older feel to it--nothing I can really put my finger on and say, Yes, this needs to be replaced, but just a general impression. Shocks etc are probably midway through their life cycle, and usually things like bushings tend to be original on a car like this. Driving with the radio off you hear some creaks and groans going over bumps; with the radio on they're forgotten... Car tracks straight and true, steering sits at dead center. I'd been out of town a couple of weeks recently, when I came back it was 10 degrees outside, and the car was covered with a foot of snow; started right up and drove away...

Body. For the car's age and mileage, and price range, I think it's actually decent, but there are some things I need to mention. The Autocheck reports notes some kind of 'Minor' incident in '07, with no details. Even if that didn't show on the report, I would've mentioned it anyway, or at least what I surmise. As the pics show, the poor front bumper cover has seen better days, that thing has taken a beating. Believe it or not it looks way better now than when I got the car (it was missing the corner grill, and a hunk of plastic right in front). Yeah, my 'repair' isn't so hot (I used the 3M bumper cover flexible 'bondo'; good stuff, but very expensive and not very sander friendly--and I ran out of it on a cold day, just had to settle with what I'd done...). At some point a new bumper cover will be nice, but for the time being it's OK...

The other thing is that sections of the car have been repainted, from what I can tell: the passenger door and passenger side quarter panel (and it looks like the passenger door maybe had a spot repair later on, paint is kind of hazy in the center of the door), and the driver's side door 'arch'. The repair paint looks like a pretty decent job, color is a perfect match, but there is a little bit of flaking going on at the edges of the repair (see pic). 

There are a few dings, etc. Pics tell the story better than I can, in particular the driver's fender has a ding, and I think the driver's quarterpanel has one as well. There's a strange crease-like 'dent' (points outward, not in) on the roof, luckily it's doesn't really show itself unless you really look for it; I tried, but it didn't show up in the picture I took (see above), but I want to make sure it's known. The passenger side rocker panel (see pic) likewise has seen better days, but the good news: in a stroke of design brilliance, Audi fitted the rocker as a bolt on/off part (i.e. you can replace it yourself); you can find a color matching used one on ebay for $100-200 shipped.

Interior. Stunning, love the design, and the quality and fit and finish is excellent. Everything works. Non smoker car. Radio is ipod and bluetooth (for your phone) compatible. Seats are very comfortable. Speakers are the original Bose (I think) and for a car this age, sound pretty good (with the bass and volume turned up, there's a little bit of vibration coming from what I first thought was the driver's door speaker, but after playing around I realized it's just something in the door panel that's loose.)

What else? Some et cetera thoughts, anything needing attention, and in no particular order: no warning lights on, but if you come out of a turn quickly, or do a sudden acceleration, the ABS light will come on; ABS, so far as I can tell, works fine, I think it's just a loose wire, bad sensor, etc... the wheels I've painted with Plasti-Dip (actually been fairly robust, I go through the auto carwash), so if you don't like the black look you can peel the paint off... the engine bay plastic cover moldings, they're all there, but most of them are loose, either missing fasteners, cracked with age...the windows are factory tinted, and the rear lid has (I think) some after market tint as well... new Bosch wiper blades... the passenger side inside door handle has been acting goofy lately, sometimes works, sometimes not, maybe just the cable has loosed itself?... also, passenger side door position sensor need replacing (turns the dome light on when you open that door, and also responsible for lowering window .5" when door opens)... the tires are no name, but with decent tread left, except for one in the back I noticed recently (I'm kicking myself for not noticing sooner), has uneven wear, which explains the tie rod end I had done as soon as I bought the car; before the car sells I'll try to have that tire addressed... for those of you with sharp eyes, the little antenna-ette is missing, actually happened last week, cleaning snow off the roof; likewise I'll try to address that (probably lying on the street underneath the snow)... the heated seats (awesome in a cold climate, I've never had them before) work fine (or at least the driver's, only one I've used), but there is a little glitch: they don't stay on, in the sense that next time you turn on the car, even though the switch is still in the 'On' position and stays lit, you have to turn it off and back on again to work... I bought an extra key for the car (used) but I haven't gotten round to having the blade cut or programing it... the outside temp reading not terribly accurate, always reads high--from reading the boards, it's apparently a fairly common Audi/TT problem of this era... Of course, clear UT title, in my name...

Well, I warned you it'd read long. Hopefully I've covered everything, if not, check back, I'll update. As far as shipping, if it goes that route it's up to the buyer to arrange, but of course I'll try to be as helpful as I can.

The Fine Print. Please, please remember this an older, high mileage car. I've tried to describe the car as best I can, but I'm no mechanical, Audi, or TT expert. Please ask questions if anything is unclear, I'll do my best to answer. A $500 deposit is due within two days; balance is due within 7 days, whether car has been picked up or not. If any potential bidder has issue with terms or payment, I kindly ask they consider carefully... Thanks