Audrey the Audi
Discussion
That's right. I name my cars. Can't help myself, and the new one is no exception. But this car is particularly special to me.
To say it has been a rough year is an understatement. On the day my boy turned two, my sister died. We're still waiting to find out exactly why, but it's probably linked to some long term health issues she had been facing. Nobody saw it coming, and due to covid and lockdowns I hadn't seen her for 18 months.
My dad had fairly recently found her a 'new car' - a 1.2 Corsa with go faster stripes (ironically, as she drove like an old lady!) The idea of selling it was painful to him and he offered it to me. Driving a beige focus with 80k on it, the idea of pretending to be 17 again appealed and I accepted, driving it home from Norfolk to Wales after the funeral (weeping most of the way!) Parked her up while I arranged to sell my car.
A week later, we had the awful news that my auntie, who thought she had an infection, actually had the big C, and had weeks left. She was 83 but a long time petrol head and had recently made the change from a long line of Mercs to an Audi A1. My uncle has taken over ownership of an r107 500Sl she bought as a retirement present to herself! We had always chatted about cars, and she offered me the Audi, which I accepted immediately (with more weeping of course).
I managed to get back home a few times over the next few weeks to see her and say our goodbyes. By this point she was very poorly and handed the car over (after a lesson from my uncle on how to drive an auto!) Too unwell to see me drive off, I gave the horn a good honk on my way down the drive. That was the last time I saw her. Another drive back to Wales and more weeping...The funeral was a few weeks ago. There must have been 130 people there - she was quite a lady!
Aside from rather sad, this left me with three cars. The focus was sold to a friend of my wife swiftly and without heartache. It had been a faithful steed but boring! I still didn't feel right selling my sister's Corsa, and the timing of my sister in law's argument with a wall in her car seemed a sign. I bought a little box and popped the key in, handing it over as a thank you for babysitting our son. She thought it was earrings!
So now I am the very proud owner of an Audi A1 1.4 tfsi (123) S line. Red with black roof and 17 inch alloys. Looks the nuts and not exactly the 'sensible little shopping car' my auntie called it! I LOVE it - and the private plate my auntie had added, indicating our shared surname.
Plans for the car? We'll I'm broke right now but next year I hope to have a few scratches fixed, a machine polish and a ceramic coating. Tempted by a remap (apparently they did a 180bhp version of this engine which could be easily achieved?) so any advice there would be welcome.
Thanks for reading. It may not be of great interest but has been helpful for me to write.
To say it has been a rough year is an understatement. On the day my boy turned two, my sister died. We're still waiting to find out exactly why, but it's probably linked to some long term health issues she had been facing. Nobody saw it coming, and due to covid and lockdowns I hadn't seen her for 18 months.
My dad had fairly recently found her a 'new car' - a 1.2 Corsa with go faster stripes (ironically, as she drove like an old lady!) The idea of selling it was painful to him and he offered it to me. Driving a beige focus with 80k on it, the idea of pretending to be 17 again appealed and I accepted, driving it home from Norfolk to Wales after the funeral (weeping most of the way!) Parked her up while I arranged to sell my car.
A week later, we had the awful news that my auntie, who thought she had an infection, actually had the big C, and had weeks left. She was 83 but a long time petrol head and had recently made the change from a long line of Mercs to an Audi A1. My uncle has taken over ownership of an r107 500Sl she bought as a retirement present to herself! We had always chatted about cars, and she offered me the Audi, which I accepted immediately (with more weeping of course).
I managed to get back home a few times over the next few weeks to see her and say our goodbyes. By this point she was very poorly and handed the car over (after a lesson from my uncle on how to drive an auto!) Too unwell to see me drive off, I gave the horn a good honk on my way down the drive. That was the last time I saw her. Another drive back to Wales and more weeping...The funeral was a few weeks ago. There must have been 130 people there - she was quite a lady!
Aside from rather sad, this left me with three cars. The focus was sold to a friend of my wife swiftly and without heartache. It had been a faithful steed but boring! I still didn't feel right selling my sister's Corsa, and the timing of my sister in law's argument with a wall in her car seemed a sign. I bought a little box and popped the key in, handing it over as a thank you for babysitting our son. She thought it was earrings!
So now I am the very proud owner of an Audi A1 1.4 tfsi (123) S line. Red with black roof and 17 inch alloys. Looks the nuts and not exactly the 'sensible little shopping car' my auntie called it! I LOVE it - and the private plate my auntie had added, indicating our shared surname.
Plans for the car? We'll I'm broke right now but next year I hope to have a few scratches fixed, a machine polish and a ceramic coating. Tempted by a remap (apparently they did a 180bhp version of this engine which could be easily achieved?) so any advice there would be welcome.
Thanks for reading. It may not be of great interest but has been helpful for me to write.
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