My 1997 Audi A6 Avant

[CrazyRussian540]

Heres my car. Hopefully its only temporary while I try to find a 95 S6 Avant in decent condition (and save enough money to be able to afford it).

I'm no pro photographer, but I'd like to get better at taking photos of cars. If anyone can give me pointers they'd be much appreciated.
(btw. these pics were taken with a Canon Digital Rebel XT)

Here's the car










And making sure none of the pistons smashed the valves after my timing belt craped out on me.

[Shawn]

It's a good looking body, just needs bigger wheels.

[mautzel]

Originally Posted by CrazyRussian540

Heres my car. Hopefully its only temporary while I try to find a 95 S6 Avant in decent condition (and save enough money to be able to afford it).

I'm no pro photographer, but I'd like to get better at taking photos of cars. If anyone can give me pointers they'd be much appreciated.
(btw. these pics were taken with a Canon Digital Rebel XT)

Great car, must be one of the last one in that shape considering it's a 1997 model. And you could easily improve the photos by washing and drying your car before taking pictures of it!

[jayhawk]

Originally Posted by CrazyRussian540

I'm no pro photographer, but I'd like to get better at taking photos of cars. If anyone can give me pointers they'd be much appreciated.
(btw. these pics were taken with a Canon Digital Rebel XT)

Firstly, you want to wash the damn car! After it is all cleaned up, you want to find an area with minimum clutter as to not distract from the subject, because my eyes keep wandering off to look at the houses, the Hyundai....

Car shots look best when either taken at dawn or dusk, when it is either clear or partly cloudy outside. The oblique lighting sets off the curves of the car, and the light reflected gives more drama. Pictures taken when cloudy just makes the cars color and curves look flat.

When taking a picture of the entire vehicle, move as far away as you can from it, then zoom in as much as you can filling the entire car into the frame. Unless there is something really interesting in the background to compliment the vehicle, I don't want to see it.

Check these threads for ideas:
http://forums.finalgear.com/photography/an-introduction-and-photos-22645/
http://forums.finalgear.com/photography/my-photothread-shots-from-norway-20758/

[Adunaphel]

Nice car! Those 2.8 V6s are very nice, i've driven one on numerous occasions when my parents had one in the last model Audi 100. Very smooth, very quiet, although a bit lacking in low-end torque (i was used to driving the 2.2l I5 torque monster from Audi my parents owned before the V6), but it really sings at the top end of the rev counter. Now get some springs that'll lower it at least 5 cm, you can smuggle an entire Chinese family (including grandparents) in those gaps

[CrazyRussian540]

Sorry for digging up this thread from a [not so] shallow grave, but I probably should explain why my side box says "Nothing anymore" under car.







Long story short: It was the morning after a snow storm in April, less than two miles from my home. I was going down a 30mph two lane road at about 20mph approaching a blind hill/curve. The snow man screwed up cleaning the road, and only cleaned 3/4ths of the road, and piled the rest of the snow on the last 1/4, on my side. So I'm already kinda in the middle since half my lane had 2+ feet of snow on it. When I get to the crest of the hill, I see a giant white Lexus LX barreling down at me at around 50mph. Not feeling like being killed, I tried to get out of the way, at which point my passenger side front wheel hit the 2+ feet of snow, and I went sideways, hitting a light pole. The airbags didn't go off. Pissed, I got out of my car, threw my cellphone against my car, and started running down to the street trying to get the guy to stop, (he didn't). I got back to my car and the airbag had gone off in the mean time. I also noticed that one of my brand new winter tires (rear-drivers side - had them mounted a few days earlier), has come off the wheel. When the officer got there, he say I had a non-working phone, and probably guessed I didn't have a camera, he told me that I could possibly get back at the town for improperly cleaning the snow. By the time I went home and got a camera, the snow plow obviously came by. And the other officer just started laughing. Asking why, he said that he saw the for sale signs in my windows and "guessed I wouldn't be selling that anymore." Then he told me that he had almost called me about the car a few days earlier. Then I remembered that a few days earlier a cruiser followed me all the way to the gym, and while I was in there, he looked at my signs. But he thanked me for the service because he "saw similar accidents with Honda Civics, and those got completely destroyed," I essentially took down the pole - and that he would "buy a C4 Audi for his kids for sure."

Never found that Lexus, but the officer did list him in the police report. I was quoted $1500 to fix the body and mechanics. Then another $2500 to fix the interior. Considering I paid $4000 for the car, I decided not to fix it.



I sure do miss her.

[prizrak]

NOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you can get that S6 now or maybe the RS6

[NooDle]

whoa, that seems like a big hit. glad to hear you're OK.
It's VERY weird that the airbags went off so late though

[CrazyRussian540]

Originally Posted by prizrak

NOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you can get that S6 now or maybe the RS6

A 1995 S6 would be awesome, but I've got my eye on a Volvo 850 T5-R.

[LeVeL]

Mike, I still don't understand the story, to be honest. Quattro + winter tires should not spin out of control like that, especially at 20mph. Still sucks that its gone though, that thing was a tank!

[CrazyRussian540]

Originally Posted by LeVeL

Mike, I still don't understand the story, to be honest. Quattro + winter tires should not spin out of control like that, especially at 20mph. Still sucks that its gone though, that thing was a tank!

When the tire came off the rim, I lost traction in back, and that was the end for me.

[Der Stig]

That's a shame to hear. Good luck with finding the Volvo!

[gaasc]

Oh damn, that makes my mitsu loss look pale in comparison.

[Mark355]

Sorry to hear about the accident. Best of luck with your next ride.

[CrazyRussian540]

Well, I assessed my financial situation, and talked to my parents. The Volvo will have to wait at least until the summer (assuming I get an internship).

Meanwhile, someone on here wanna buy it for me and keep it warm for me? I have a feeling I won't be finding a yellow 850 T5-R wagon for sale for a long time after this one sells. As compensation, I will love you forever and ever.
Please.


Heres the beast.

Originally Posted by The_Finn

or get this 850 T5-R wagon in VT

[LeVeL]

Why? Why on earth would you want a fairly slow, huge, heavy, automatic, FWD boat that will be outhandled and outbraked by... oh, I don't know, a tumbleweed? I honestly fail to see how that Volvo can possibly be fun to drive.

[thevictor390]

Because the entire driving experience is nothing but speed, handling, and braking...

That Volvo looks epic, but high mileage is a bit of a worry. All i can be sure of is, whatever you end up with, it will be interesting.

[CrazyRussian540]

Originally Posted by LeVeL

Why? Why on earth would you want a fairly slow, huge, heavy, automatic, FWD boat that will be outhandled and outbraked by... oh, I don't know, a tumbleweed? I honestly fail to see how that Volvo can possibly be fun to drive.

People do have personal tastes you know. I for instance cannot see why on earth you would want a Miata, but you don't see me dissing your choice. Maybe I am looking for a fairly slow, heavy, automatic FWD boat thats boring to drive.

Personally, I'm not looking for a track day car. I want something unique (very limited edition + yellow - check), practical (Volvo box - check), good looking (in my opinion, its very good looking - check), not slow (0-60 in the low 6s - check), and reliable (Volvo - check). I don't care if it can be outhandled and outbraked by a Miata, its a completely different vehicle.

And from everything I've heard, the T5-R wagon is a blast to drive. I've also test driven the sedan T5-R and it was a great time. I've also driven both the sedan and wagon versions of the 850 Turbo, and the wagon is not that far off from the sedan, so I assume the T5-R wagon won't be that far off from the sedan I drove.

Also, the T5-R has its roots in motorsport, so I'm sure it doesn't handle that poorly.

(Third time in 2 days I post this picture on FG)

Volvo joined forces with the famous and very successful Tom Walkinshaw Racing team (TWR) in 1994 to build an 850 Estate touring car to compete in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Despite much criticism, the 850 Estate performed well, with a best placed finish of fifth, and a best qualifying spot of third. It was driven by Rickard Rydell and Jan Lammers and Volvo finished sixth in manufacturers' standings in the 1994 season.

So please, lay off the Volvo hate.

[LeVeL]

I'm not dissing your choice/taste, I was just trying to figure out why you want a Volvo. You are more than welcome to ask me why I want a Miata. To each his own.