Bob Vernon - Seattle, WA

[BobV]

7/12/09 - Fresh coat of S100 wax yesterday and new window tint last week:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/BobV/DSC01268b.jpg

I know... No mods. BUT - I factory ordered my A3 with EXACTLY what I would have added as mods to a lesser car. It's got sport suspension, 18" wheels/tires, sport seats, etc.

12/29/08: NEW AUDI A3 DELIVERED !!!!
:lol: :D :lol: :D :lol: :D :lol: :D :lol: :D :lol: :D :lol:

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp285/2_Squirrelly/DSC01160c.jpg

Meteor Grey/Black Leather
2.0TFSI/DSG S-Tronic/Quattro
Premium Pkg
Convenience Pkg
18" Magnetic Ride/Sport Pkg


12/19/08: ***** S_O_L_D___S_O_L_D___S_O_L_D *****

Went to a good home.... :)

The end of the 10 year Passat era for me :cry:

I'll be picking up my new factory ordered (way back in September) 2009 A3 2.0TFSI DSG Quattro this week! :lol:
Meteor Grey/Black Leather, 18" 5-Spokes, Magnetic Ride Sport Suspension, Sport Seats, Premium pkg, Convenience pkg, NO Sky Roof

The salesman was puzzled :confused:, he says they ALWAYS order Sky Roof for their stock and I noted that only 1 out of 10 in their inventory was without the roof. I would have liked a conventional sun roof but this Sky Roof is just a gimmick - I'm in no way a sun worshiper and you can't even block out the sun, the "Sun Screen" is just a mesh! The roof also makes the car top heavy and limits headroom considerably.

BTW - This is how GOOD my 10 year old 1999 Passat still looked when I sold it on 12/19/2008:

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp285/2_Squirrelly/DSC01113.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp285/2_Squirrelly/DSC01112.jpg

12/11/08 UPDATE

!!!!!!!!! ATTENTION - SEATTLE AREA ENTHUSIASTS !!!!!!!!!

MY 1999 PASSAT FOR SALE - SEE SPECS BELOW - 117,xxx VERY WELL MAINTINED MILES

It's on CraigsList/Seattle for $4999 but I'll consider lower offers from any friends of PassatWorld interested ???

Located in Bothell, at work in Mill Creek.

10/27/08 UPDATE
I just ordered a new 2009 Audi A3 2.0TFSI DSG Quattro:

- Meteor Grey/Black Leather
- Premium Package
- Convenience Package
- 18" Sport Package w/Mag Ride
- CostCo deal @ Invoice+$750

*NO* Sky Roof - That's the principal reason why I had to custom order. The dealer said they always order Sky Roof along with Premium for their stock. Delivery date projected Dec. 22nd !

2/17/06 - BMW SOLD - Too big and too slow! Back to driving the trusty B5.

6/14/03 - Newest thoroughbred in my stable:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/BobV/DSCF0059.jpg
2003 BMW 525ia, Sterling Gray/Black Leather, Xenons, Sport Package, 17x8 alloys, 235/45 Michelins.

Old reliable:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/BobV/Dig.jpg
- 1999 Colorado Red GLS 1.8T Tiptronic purchased new 11/98
- Neuspeed 1.0 VBL Chip & 5 bar Fuel Pressure Regulator
- Audi TT DV
- K&N Air Filter
- 16x7 MiM Audi A4 Replica Alloys
- 205/55-VR16 Goodyear Eagle ResponsEdge
- Bilstein HD Shocks
- H&R "OE" Sport Springs
- Brembo Slotted Front Rotors
- Mintex Red Box Brake Pads
- 1.8T & 20V Trunk Emblems
- Nakamichi CD45Z CD/Receiver Head Unit
- MB Quart Speakers
- H7 70 watt Bulbs
- H4 100 watt Astra "Gold" (yellow) bulbs
- Second brake light mod

Previously owned Euro sedans:
- Audi: '89 100S, '93 100S
- VW: '88 Jetta, '89 Golf, '91 Passat
- Volvo: '68 122S, '70 142S, '74 144GL
- Mercedes: '83 190
- Lancia: '90 Y-10
- German Ford: '79 Fiesta

Dinosaur V8s owned in ancient eras:
- Chevrolet: '58 Impala, '63 Nova, '68 Chevelle

(Formerly from San Diego)

[schmove]

nice to see one of the original club b5 members again http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif

[BobV]

Thanks!
A little trip down nostalgia lane...
My first car, 1958 Impala with a 348 inch V8, purchased in 1966, I also owned a 1963 Chevy II Nova bastardized with an earlier 283 V8 dropped into it and a 1968 Chevy Malibu V8:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/BobV/58.jpg
My first Euro sedan:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/BobV/5.jpg
1970 Volvo 142S 2.0 purchased new that year when I got out of the Army

Modified over a 13 year period of ownership to include:
- Bilstein shocks
- IPD front & rear anti-sway bars
- Ronal alloys
- Pirelli P6 tires
- SuperSprint exhaust system
- Carello headlights with 100 watt H1 Quartz bulbs
- Repaint (Mustang Forest Green metallic)
- Re-upholstered

Engine rebuild after about 140K miles:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/BobV/2.jpg
- 2.0 Engine over-bored to 2.2 liters with IPD kit
- High compression big valve 1971 Volvo F.I. head
- Lightened lifters
- Short apron racing pistons
- Balanced
- Isky street performance cam
- High pressure oil pump spring
- IPD exhaust headers
- 1966 pre-smog SU carbs, rich needles
- low restriction foam air cleaners
- Lightened Flywheel
- Competition clutch
- OEM 118 HP, rebuild estimated 150+ HP

The car would no way pass a California smog test :( so in 1983 I had to sell it to a Cal grad student from Nevada! :D

[glxpassat]

Hey Bob, I thought I would repost a comment about your car. Looks great and I love your nostalgic Euro http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif How are things in Seattle anyhow? Again looks good.

[Salty D]

shamless post for the PNW Dub-B-Q (http://clubb5.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=23858) http://www.clubb5.com/images_forum/angel.gif

[vw18t]

bump for a CO Red Owner! Love that Volvo you used to have! :thumbup!

[Zero4875]

Free bump for a fellow Washington member! Washington Rulez! http://www.clubb5.com/images_forum/biglaugh.gif

Oh, and nice car, BTW. http://www.clubb5.com/images_forum/biglaugh.gif

[DanielFromTtown]

Washington RULES! http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/star.gif http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/star.gif http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/star.gif http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/star.gif http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif Nice cars

[BobV]

Bump - Renewed & added pics.

[The GREEK]

planning any road trips down south anytime soon Bob?!?!

[BobV]

GREEK - We plan to visit old friends in San Diego sometime this year but will likely fly. Long drive from Seattle!

[kingbc]

I spotted a CO Red B5 in the Silver Platters parking lot today (4/30), was that you?

[Zero4875]

Shameless bump for the GTG this weekend in Bellingham: Photoshoot/GTG. IM for details.

Also, check this site for GTGs/Events in Western Washington: VW CLUB OF WESTERN WASHINGTON (VCW) (http://bhamdub.proboards18.com/)

[BobV]

kingbc: Yep - I was at Silver Platters around noon the other day. :)

Wish I could attend the GTG but my 1st granddaughter is being baptized in Portland this weekend! :D

[BobV]

NO LONGER FOR SALE - STILL IN THE FAMILY!

[Der Meister]

Bob, sorry to hear that you're selling her.
I'm sure this must be one of the nicest and best taken care of '99 Passats out there.
Good luck. :thumbup:

[BobV]

Didn't sell the car after all... ended up keeping it!

It's a long story but the short version is last weekend we went looking for a new A6 and were insulted by what an Audi dealer offered for my Passat in trade ($7500) so I tried to sell it this past week. I had a couple of nibbles but on the way to looking at at another Audi dealer plus a stop by the BMW dealer this morning, we decided my Passat was so nice that we really should keep it. By the end of the day, we had a shiny new Sterling Gray/Black leather with sport package BMW 525ia in our driveway! My wife's son will take her 5 yr old but barely driven Mazda Protege off to college this fall and she'll use the Passat for day to day. I'll still get to drive and enjoy my beloved B5 often. I've hardly driven the new BMWyet, the rest of our day was spent cleaning and reorganizing our garage to get 3 cars parked.

I'll post pics of the new thoroughbred in my stable soon. :D

[randomact]

you are only kidding youself to think you would be able to get 12,800 for your car anyways. The way the measure your vehicles worth is to give you .80 cents on the mile. so in a sense they were giving you a good deal on there part. But in the privat community you could of sold it most likely for 8-9k. You are better off keeping your current vechile. #1 no payment #2 get more for what you pay for #3 you dont feel like you got to ripped off. Anyways congrats on your decision.

[BobV]

randomact: I knew $12.8K might have been overly optimistic for a private sale even though local dealers are asking up to $16K for similar "certified" 99 B5s. But... I really could have sold my Passat for $11K, one of the lookers offered me exactly that if it passed his mechanic's eye on Monday and I'm sure it would have.

[RAH]

Very nice colorado red :b5: , they look nice in that color :thumbup: . I do like your new thoroughbred too so :) . If you do GTG in WA, drop me a line, i am in Pierce county and i am always up for a drive in my 01 among other passats :bow: . Rah.

[RAH]

Hello Fellow B5er’s;



I am sending a quick reminder note to all of our B5er’s from the Northwest including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Colombia and some of North California, regarding our June 19th (Saturday) Get Together at Mount St Helens, Washington. I apologize to the ones that are already signed up; I cannot screen all the names while I send so many pm’s. Here is the link to sign up and all the information’s for that day. There will be free shirts for the first 20 to sign up, a raffle, picnic, cruise, Etc… Please view the link; it is going to be a lot of fun.

http://www.clubb5.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=76347

If you have any other questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Lurkertom, SeattleReign or myself Rah, or reply to me thru this PM. If you need, here is my E-mail Address as well sssrah@msn.com

Sign up!!!! B5’s, fun, food, and great people to meet……Regards……Rah.

[BobV]

Still hanging on to the Passat! We went into a local VW dealer recently to trade the Colorado Red in on a Golf for my wife to run around in and they really low-balled us on the trade value so we walked. We'll keep it another year or two and get our money's worth out of it. Other than some oil use, she runs great! I just rubbed out the paint and waxed it with Pinnacle Carnuba - it still looks brand new, people are amazed it's a '99!

[mdtoney]

Very nice car(s)! All of them! :thumbup:

[RAH]

PNW bump :thumbup:

[BobV]

The 525i was just too big and too slow! Looking at maybe getting an Audi 2.0T S-Line in a couple of months. Driving the trusty Colorado Red 1999 1.8T daily!

[RAH]

The 525i was just too big and too slow! Looking at maybe getting an Audi 2.0T S-Line in a couple of months. Driving the trusty Colorado Red 1999 1.8T daily!

Nice, glad to see the old trusty is still doing it's job! . Let's see some pics of the :b5: and the new one once you get it ;) .

[joeandkaty]

new car looks good... neighborhood does not look like seattle though... eastside maybe?

[BobV]

I just ordered a new 2009 Audi A3 2.0TFSI DSG Quattro:

- Meteor Grey/Black Leather
- Premium Package
- Convenience Package
- 18" Sport Package w/Mag Ride
- CostCo deal @ Invoice+$750

*NO* Sky Roof - That's the principal reason why I had to custom order. The dealer said they always order Sky Roof along with Premium for their stock. Delivery date projected January 5, 2009.

[BobV]

ATTENTION - SEATTLE AREA ENTHUSIASTS !!!!!!!!!

MY PAMPERED 1999 PASSAT FOR SALE - SEE SPECS ABOVE - 117,xxx VERY WELL MAINTINED MILES

It's on CraigsList/Seattle for $4999 but I'll consider lower offers from any friends of PassatWorld interested ???

[BobV]

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[JETninja]

Can't say it's good but it had to happen someday. Hope it went to a good home Bob. Look forward to seeing pics of the A3. And next time you get an E39, make it a 540/6sp or M5 FTW!!!! :D

I'm actually sorta looking at used B5's and A4TQ's for my commute, my M3 had no OD and I get just under 25mpg with it which is better then most. 2nd car would be nice though....

Good Luck!

[BobV]

I looked at BMW briefly, the 3 series AWD coupe, it's the only model I liked in the recent re-designs of the BMW lines. But I need a little more utility - 4 doors. Also, the no spare with runflat tires with the BMW sorta freaks me out!

[JETninja]

You don't need AWD in Seattle, just a 335i Sedan with a 2nd set of wheels for the snowy days. (spent a winter there, had an Acura and had no problems getting to the Boeing plant unlike many RWD cars without snow tires!)

Had many front wheel drive cars in a row, getting my M3 has been more fun then you can imagine. 50/50 weight distribution and only 3100lbs it comes out of the most insane speed corners like you wouldn't believe!

[BobV]

NEW AUDI A3 DELIVERED !!!
(See updated first post for pic)

[glxpassat]

Hey there, nice looking car. Sad however to see you sold your beloved B5.

[BobV]

Bump - Waxed the new A3! :lol: