Over the weekend, David Tracy wrote a steaming take that cars with timing belts aren’t as reliable as people say they are. Since then, readers have been pointing out perhaps countless German cars where a timing chain is somehow worse than having a timing belt. Today, Lewin published a story about what sounds like the worst possible way a timing chain engine could fall on its face. A reader’s Audi R8 V8’s engine decided to get all touchy feely with itself, generating a $50,000 repair quote in the process.
That story in itself was a wild ride. Prior to the engine blowing up, the car ate up about $100,000 in repair work after two seemingly minor incidents that looked like they shouldn’t have been that expensive to repair. Had the engine been repaired, that would have been $150,000 of work in less than 10 years on a car that stickered for $129,400 when new. Granted, two of those repairs weren’t the car’s fault, but still!
![Vidframe Min Top](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/vidframe_min_top1.png)
![Vidframe Min Bottom](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/vidframe_min_bottom1.png)
In the epilogue, we got to see the innards of the engine, and IRegertNothing, Esq. points out something:
I’m not an Audi tech, but I don’t think the top of the piston is supposed to look like some kind of metal oatmeal.
Then AlterId made a small, but funny edit:
Oatmetal
And V10omous drove it home:
Steel-cut.
This morning, Jason gave us a Cold Start where he showed off a VW-based kit car. But here’s the kicker: There’s a fake door decal on this thing! Sid Bridge knows who it’s for:
That door worked perfectly fine when the Road Runner got into the car. I don’t know what everybody else’s problem is.
Finally, let’s take a look at Thomas’ Morning Dump, which talked about car sales and interest rates. Despite the rough roads in recent times with high rates, there were still positive stories. From Pupmeow:
In late 2023 I bought a manual transmission GTI that I didn’t need at an interest rate higher than I would like to pay. Cue the scolds. It’s well within my means and I am having an absolute fucking blast driving it. NO REGERTS.
Love to hear it! Have a great evening, everyone.
Looks like I tallied a couple of assists today, not too shabby given that I was mostly focused on the dumpster fire that was work. My boss (who is genuinely wonderful) accidentally screwed things up for me by letting everyone I support know that I had to leave early. My usual 30 minute buffer between when I say I am leaving and when I actually leave wasn’t enough today.
Hahaha never ever reveal your plans, that was a rookie mistake
Kirk: Scotty, how long to fix the warp drive?
Scotty: Aye, Captain, she’ll need new plasma injectors. It’ll take at least two days!
(18 hours later)
Sulu: Captain, the warp drive is on line!
Kirk: Bless you Scotty, you’re a miracle worker!
Rolled oats?
Rolled right up on to that flatbed.
I bought this GTI and all I got was a COTD
COTD on COTD!
COTDception
hahaha I’m glad my questionable financial decisions have spread a little joy
It sounds like you’re not underwater on the loan and that you’re happy. Where’s the questionable?!