The benefit of a convertible like today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe S4 is its adaptability to the weather. That’s not the case with this one though, as the top mechanism is said to not function. Let’s find out if it might then still come with a functional price.
Fancified pickup trucks have been a thing for decades. The first one is generally considered to be Chevrolet’s 3124-series Cameo Carrier. That was an edition of the Task Force trucks introduced in 1955 and carried, among other unique facets, a fleet side bed with fiberglass fenders and fins. This was a full three model years before the step side was joined by the fleet side in the general market. That year, 1958, also saw the end of Cameo Carrier production. A little over 10,000 were built over its four model years before then, however.
Yesterday’s 2002 Lincoln Blackwood was one of that decade’s attempts at a resurgent luxury truck. With just a single model year run, and less than 3,500 produced, the Blackwood proved far less successful than its Chevy predecessor. Its ominous safety and mechanical issues—sketchy tires and a misfire CEL—it didn’t help it prove any more popular in the present day. Those issues, and a general “meh” attitude that has hung around these trucks like a stagnant sweatpants-captured fart, conspired to roil both negative comments and a 76-percent Crack Pipe vote for its $7,999 price tag.
We often ask ourselves “what price perfection?” Well I mean, I don’t. I usually just ask, “is that good enough?” while my work collapses or catches fire behind me. But I’m sure you all are different and all have certain expectations for what you would pay for perfection, and what sort of concession may be necessary to address any imperfection.
That was just the case with yesterday’s Lincoln, and it will prove a factor in the decision on today’s 2004 Audi S4 cabriolet as well. Let’s see what you might pay for this car that has “some assembly required.”
We should all be pretty familiar with the B7 S4. The cars are well known as one of Audi’s big-engine in a little car hot rods. The particulars are a 340 horsepower 4.2-litre V8, available six-speed Getrag gearbox, and Quattro AWD all wrapped in the killer B-body.
This particular S4 comes with the stick and is a cabriolet. That might mean that all the fancy stuff down where the action happens may just be muted a bit by the less rigid body up above.
That’s okay. I think many of us might trade off a few tenths in performance for the opportunity to be shit on by birds while at stop lights. No seriously, I love convertibles, I own two of them!
I don’t have an Audi S4 convertible however, although I might give this one serious consideration should I be in the market. The ad notes that the 13-year old car comes with a but a meager 120,000 miles on the clock. Not only that but it benefits from a new clutch, plus timing chain work completed at a recent 100K.
The bodywork seems straight, although it does appear that the car could stand a good cleaning. The six spoke factory alloys are especially grungy and could benefit from some major attention. The other issue on the outside is a missing grille on the curbside fog light surround. That’s likely a good day’s hunt at the Pick-A-Part yard.
The interior looks to be in decent shape, with no holes or tears in the leather sport seats, nor cracks or banana brand stickers on the dash. I should note that should you be looking for a car with commodious cup holders, aughts Audi’s will not be your jam. The twee little cup holders in the marque’s offerings from the decade past aren’t ever going to grab your Big Gulp.
The ad claims the car to be “a beast,” and to “run excellent no problem.” Yes, reading the ad is a bit confusing due to the seller’s innovative punctuation usage and aversion to proper capitalization, but if you can make it through you will glean that not everything is all schnitzels and cream with this clean titled German Cab.
It’s that top that apparently is the problem. The seller says that it’s stuck down due to “a faulty sensor.” Not only that but the back window glass is cracked and needs replacement. Nice of him to mention that since you’d never know seeing as it’s inaccessible due to the faulty top. Of course, this means that the car is, at present, not all-weather ready.
This is what I was talking about when I mentioned that the car was imperfect, and hence might command a discount up front to address those flaws. In fact, the seller notes this Audi to rock a KBB valuation of $6,300 and, due to the issues with the top and the desire for a quick sale, is asking $5,600.
Now, I don’t hold much esteem for KBB when appraising individual cars, but I do appreciate their valuations when considering a category or just models in general.
No, I think we have a much more accurate method of determining the value of a single, specific car, and that’s the NPOCP vote below. It’s scientifically proven!
With that in mind, what’s your take on this S4 and that $5,200 price? Does that seem like a fair deal even with the necessary top work looming in its immediate future? Or, is this a hot Audi with a price that won’t weather the storm?
You decide!
Los Angeles, CA Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Windadvisory for the hookup!
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