Not a SEAT but a stablemate:)

[StuPDi]

having had use of an Ibiza FR, it was time to bin the trusty old workhorse 406 for something a little bit more fun

i have an 8yr old daughter, so had to be 4-door, big boot for camping (i have a detached two-bedroom tent with porch ) and economical due to my mileage

originally looking for a Leon Cupra or Golf GTi (diesel) i went to a garage in Tonbridge that had 1 of each on the forecourt and intended testing and comparing the 2 cars back to back.

however........the Leon was a dog, and although the Golf was v nice (GTi 150 in black) it seemed to lack something

Decided for a laugh to have a look at and test drive an Audi A4 (TDi sport 130)

this was the point where my mind was made up, the Leon and Golf are both substantial cars, but the A4 seemed to have everything i wanted and something else

The dealer was an ar$e, so i thanked him for his time and set about sourcing a similar A4 sub £10k

the majority of B6 versions were going for around £10-12k, but with diesel, i wasn't over bothered about mileage.

couple of weeks later (after being offered numerous passat's that i didn't want) i found a v nice silver example, 52plate, 80k on the clock £8500 (same price as a brand new Ibiza 1.2)

off i went for a test drive, the guy was very pleasant and arranged the trade in of my rather beaten and battered 2000 Peugeot 406 HDi

meet BERTIE, so named coz he wasn't clean on the forecourt so straight away he got called "DIRTY BERTIE"

 

[StuPDi]

with any new car, have to take some pics

this was April last year

^^^^^^^
that number plate cost me £30 fine for having the "audi"logo on the euro flag!!!!!!!!

added 4-ring logo grafix to lower rear doors (got the idea from the 80's coupe quattro)

then took him camping

 

[StuPDi]

had an 80mile a day round trip to work, so 100k came round quite quickly!!

bit disappointed about the quality of the interior

very worn door handle and switches

flaking of the buttons on climate and radio

with that kind of mileage, these are a must have!!

 

[StuPDi]

then came time to start playing

from the lowly 130 it was chipped to 155 (however it has never bin RR'd so going only by the advertised figures)

then came "MONARO" style rear lights
BMW M3 spoiler (strange how similar it is to the Audi S-LINE one)
and Sebring exhaust (wanted something that looked good, sounded a bit deeper without being too "in-yer-face)

(better pic of the offending number plates (only put on for the benefit of the picture ))

 

[StuPDi]

upgraded to Halfords extreme bulbs

Soo want HID's!! they are on the list and coming soon

 

[StuPDi]

then came winter!! GRRRR!!

salty roads, sports exhaust and diesel don't go very well together

bertie became very dirty, very quickly!!!

i lost count of how many times i had to clean the lights and number plates!!

 

[StuPDi]

winter means Christmas

along came a Harman/Kardon icelink to run my i-pod

already had the dashmount pod for my last phone cradle. decided to use the bluetooth option, bin the cradle and use the mount for the remote and display

took a while to get him booked in, but also as a christmas pressie, Kirsty arranged for my windows to be tinted

here he is, straight out of the workshop at "SHADEZ"
had to go back as both front windows started to peel (something to do with the weather strips being a c*nt to get out on Audi's) but the lads worked v hard, and re-tinted all 4 windows for me
had no probs since, and can highly recommend these guys (based near Basildon)

 

[StuPDi]

with the winter out the way, decided to give him a proper wash, claybar and polish

i added a black coachline, but soon removed it coz i didn't like it !

i love the last pic, something about B+W that makes it so different

 

[StuPDi]

played around with some grafix at my friends workshop,
ended up with red reflective for the rear window

will eventually get round to de-badging and replacing with the same relective vinyl when i get the chance

 

[StuPDi]

took him to Lydden for the rallycross at easter, 1 year of ownership
the snow had melted by the time i took this pic (yes, snow at easter )

mudflaps fitted (i know, not everyone's cuppa tea, but i like them)

 

[StuPDi]

then came my birthday
bertie got new rims
needed new tyres, so it was prime opportunity to upgrade,

looked at a number of options,
S4's
RS4's
new RS4's
S8's
even R8's !!!!!!!!

eventually decided on S-LINE's (originally found on the RS6) really wanted to keep the OE look

also added TDi badges to the front flanks below the indicators, bit confusing coz the side badges are TDi and the bootlid is TDi these lil details bother me, must have an OCD!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ktulumike]

Mate, love your style. What a fab story, really enjoyed it. The car looks good too. Keep up the good work

 

[T. Spark]

Thats alot of work mate! Great pics, liking the rear light mod with audi rings etc.

 

[StuPDi]

went out today and took a few random pic's

getting to that time of year when he won't be clean very much!!!!!!

think i might have to go live in the channel islands, i quite like him with black number plates!!!

 

[StuPDi]

oh how i wish he was this low

 

[StuPDi]

love these pics

so wish there was a location nearby to get those kind of "catalogue shots"

 

[StuPDi]

Mate, love your style. What a fab story, really enjoyed it. The car looks good too. Keep up the good work

much appreciated i like to be that lil bit different

Thats alot of work mate! Great pics, liking the rear light mod with audi rings etc.

:notices avatar:

Nowhere near as much work as yours Mark ( tips hat in respect)

each to their own i say, you gone for power mods, i started with cosmetics!!

eventually i'll have brake and suspension upgrade, then i can go for re-map, induction and front mount!!

by then i think i'll have spent enough and will be saving for a replacement

Bertie won't be up for sale though, he'll be stripped out and used as a toy for the track

don't think he'll ever be as quick as my last toy though

0-60 in 4.2secs and a standing qtr in 11.9!!!!!!!!!!

 

[StuPDi]

been so busy with Bertie's "this is your life story" focusing on all the things i've done with him, i forgot to mention the bad things


about 6 months ago my fuel guage packed up.
pulled into the garage with computer reading 25miles range, put £70 in, drove off the forecourt with computer reading 25miles range

phoned RAC as i was concerned that there was a problem, (and had a 40mile drive home)

he checked what he could, followed me to the nearest garage and we managed to put another 2litres in!!

both convinced i had a full tank, it was a call to Audi.

they said the guage sender is attached to the fuel pump etc, and quoted me nearly £500 to replace it

duly booked in (with a brand new A3 S-LINE as a courtesy car waiting) they told me to bring it in with about 1/2 a tank.

had done 400miles so decided to whack £20 in before taking to East Kent Audi with what i believed to be about 1/2 tank.

pulled off the forecourt ready to go to Audi and hey presto, miracles happen

the gauge read 1/2 tank and the computer said range 375 miles!!

so, phone call to audi cancelling the courtesy car and not had problem since

was a bit scary when i took the range down to 0miles and carried on driving for a week!!!!

still sh1t myself everytime i re-fuel in case the same happens again

Every penny i've spent on the car is beacause i've chosen to. The tyres needed changing, which was why i deceided on new rims at the time.

last week was the first time i had to dig my hand in my pocket to spend on maintenance,
went to go to work last wednesday and he wouldn't start

jumped him off our KA and decided a new battery would be a good idea, particularly given where i work and that winter is coming!!

 

[Ad-mk2Ibiza]

one thing that would transform the front end is a debadged grill i saw one on that car it looks really nice

 

[StuPDi]

funny you should say that,

i like the back more than the front!!

i think the front looks bland and boring, whereas the back has character (no need for ar$e jokes, i aint gay!!!!)

i've looked at the ABT badgeless grille and dont like it what i am tempted with is the chrome grilles, bonnet and lowers. will try find a link - seen them on ebay, about £40