Two Minnesota Audi Owners Celebrate 300,000 Miles Driven

“We’re so pleased that two Audi owners have enjoyed quality performance out of their Audi vehicles for more than a decade and over 300,000 miles,” said Joe Stifter, manager of Maplewood Audi.

Don deChambeau, a commercial printing salesman, is the owner of a silver 2001 Audi TT and has driven it for more than 346,193 miles. He bought it in 2001 after he enjoyed an Audi rental vehicle while on vacation with his family. For the past 10 years, deChambeau‘s daily commute from St. Cloud to St. Paul, Minn., has averaged more 150 miles a day.

“I drive the car year round. It’s a perfect car for Minnesota because of the quattro® feature and good gas mileage. It’s a car that’s made for this part of the world,” said deChambeau. “Out here in Minnesota we use a lot of road salt – but, there’s not a bit of rust on my TT. I’ve had other cars in the past where the bodies go before the engine does because of salt, but not the TT.”

A retired professional civil engineer, Don Nygaard was introduced to Audi cars in the late ‘90’s by a mechanical engineer in his neighborhood who owned an Audi and was an enthusiast.

“My neighbor was an Audi lover and took me for a few rides. He said, ‘you really need to try one – they are great in this Minnesota weather.’ Being an engineer myself, I related to the performance aspect of the vehicle and the quattro system; Audi is really a car for people who like to drive. In the Twin Cities, especially with the weather, the quattro is the way to go,” said Nygaard.

Nygaard owns a 1998 black A4 and has driven it for more than 301,600 miles. All servicing of the vehicle for the past 13 years has been done at the Maplewood Audi service shop. In his former job, Nygaard drove considerable distances frequently and never missed an appointment.

“The quattro is outstanding in the snow. That’s why I‘ve piled up so many miles on the car. I’ve never had an accident. I still have the original engine and original transmission. All those trips to Duluth – I never once not made it, no matter how bad the storm!” added Nygaard.

“The next magical mark is 400,000,” said deChambeau. “I’m going to find out if I can make it. Besides, my grandson wants to drive it once he gets his license. He says it’s ‘hot.’”