Hi, azmodela. I usually try to travel in-cognito but you blew my cover. I'm one of those paranoid mechanical engineers who just has to be tinkering with (and admiring) machines. And what better machine could there be to tinker with than the A?
It may be too frequent by some folks' standards (or by the A service manuals) but I want to see what's going on inside those drums after a season of driving. I just feel better getting all the dust blown/vacuumed out, inspect and rough up the linings, repack or re-distribute the squeezed-out grease in the bearings, etc. I was a pilot and I worked in the aircraft industry so maybe I'm applying aircraft service and maintenance standards to my relatively simple roadster - but I love doing it and feel better when I drive it.
It does make me feel better to hear experienced A owners repeat how tough and reliable these cars are and that they are perfectly happy with way less attention than I give her. But it's my in-the-blood hobby in my retirement. Besides, if I weren't out here in the garage, I'd be in the house as a prime target for honey-list stuff.
I drive the A about 500 - 1000 miles a year depending on the number and distances of tours, shows, ice-cream safaris with grandkids in the rumble, etc. "easy", gentle, paranoid driving style (max 45 mph). Isn't that the way all engineers care for their equipment!?
My modern car is in a trusted dealership's shop every time the scheduled service mileage rolls around per the maint. manuals. All my 4-wheeled friends pay me back with extremely reliable, zero-trouble, happy-driving miles. Is there any other way to own a car?
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