Car news

[missroserose]

One of the many stressful things about this move has been the (not unanticipated, but still unwelcome) discovery that my poor little two-wheel-drive low-ground-clearance Mazda just isn't going to cut it for a winter car. It was fine while we were living in the Valley where things were plowed regularly, but now that we're way the heck out in North Douglas, it takes the plows a while to get to us. So anything more than a couple of inches overnight and we were pretty much screwed for transportation into work. (Our coworker David, who also lives in North Douglas, gave us a ride in his work van the last time it happened. We got there all right, but now I can honestly say I've ridden to work in a trash can, as said van had no middle seat.)

Additionally troublesome was the way the Mazda won't make it up the rather steep and long driveway that we now live atop while there's any ice on it. Not a huge deal, since it's a short (if strenuous) walk, but sort of annoying when you're carrying eighty-plus pounds of speaker shelves from Home Despot.

So, with reluctance, Brian got into the market for a good used four-wheel-drive car or truck. The most promising option was the BMW (Optimus Prime, sadly, had to decline due to the closing of our last Energon station here in town), but it was sitting at the dealership waiting for new brakes to be shipped from Düsseldörf or some equally umlaut-endowed German city. Fortunately, while we were waiting, someone traded in a 2002 Audi allroad quattro (capitalization theirs), which was Audi's entry into the luxury crossover SUV market. After getting it checked out and doing a bit of haggling, Brian decided to buy it.

So far it's been a pretty good investment. There are a couple parts that need replacing, so we've got those on order with our mechanic. And in the meantime I've got to say I'm pretty impressed - it's comfortable, it's quiet, and it made it through half a foot of snow this morning with no problems whatsoever. (I can see why everyone says Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system is one of the best on the market; I didn't lose traction once, despite the fact that neither our driveway, nor our street, nor most of North Douglas Highway had been plowed. And this was without snow tires.) Time will tell whether it ends up being a good investment or a money pit, but for now it's solved our snowy-weather transport problem pretty darn well.

So, now for the hard part - is anyone interested in a 2004 Mazda hatchback, low miles, newish brakes and tires, excellent mechanical shape with maintenance records, only a couple of minor blemishes on the bumper from when I backed into a snowbank? I hate to sell her, but as we really don't need two cars...

Comments

[dngrsone.livejournal.com]

If the Mazda is paid for and there is no significant penalty for maintaining it (ie- high registration fees), I'd recommend keeping it around-- you never know when one of you will be at work, say, and hte other must run out to town for something. Or, for that matter, as a backup in case the Audi haws to go into the shop for a day or two. ]

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I'd like to keep it around - usefulness aside, it's the first new(ish) car I've owned, and I really love it. Unfortunately, I've still got three years on the loan, and while registration in Alaska isn't too expensive, we don't really need two car payments - plus the extra cash would really come in handy as we're sort of strapped right now. However, if nobody bites through social contacts, I might just keep it - part of the joy of an Audi in Alaska is having to wait three weeks for new parts if something breaks. =)

[dngrsone.livejournal.com]

I hear you... just added a second car payment, myself. Not in the least fun.