Syncro:-1 Bambi:-1 A4:+1 (long)

[Derek Daily]

I most assuredly pissed on the audi god(s) wheaties...

Many of you know me.  I've owned one car my entire life.  1986.5 VW
quantum syncro wagon.  I talked the wife into a 1990 Coupe Quattro
almost three years ago.  CARKLR proceeded to overheat the poor thing on
multiple occassions, give or take a stall or two for other reasons on a
13 cross-bay bridge (San Mateo).  It's a great looking, great driving
car.  But after the last minor o-heat fiasco of the month (replaced
t-stat, coolant flush, MFTS) "we" decided it was time to let her go.
Luckily, I talked CARKLR into staying and the CQ was put up FS instead.

After "advertising" the sale of the CQ on Sat night, Bambi decided to
look for some warmth smack in the middle of the busiest, most populated
area in the sillycon valley...Hwy 101 (Redwood City for those in the
area).  Bambi didn't make it.  Looks like the syncro may not either.
Thing is, I just spent $1400 for a brand new tranny and clutch (master e
slave) on thursday.  Felt great...for three days.

So I did what any other sane person would do after getting up at 5:30am
to play hockey and went to my game anyway.  Driving the CQ back to the
accident scene sometime later it developed extreme rpm oscillation.  Was
able to keep revs up by handbraking and go pedalling before the car
completely cut-out at home some 10 miles away.  At this point I'm
thinking "oh s--t."  Actually, I was thinking "oh s--t, I have NO
cars."  The local daewoo rental shop gratefully provided a scooter for
$30 a day.

Next day I discovered a ruptured rubber elbow below the air mass sensor
on the CQ.  Some help from my friendly shop and the car is now running
better than when a bought it.  So I got that going for me.  But still
short a car.

This also considering my personal devient attempts to procure a 2001 S4
Avant as a syncro replacement this winter.  A crappy and stressful
weekend.

Broke down last night and picked up a black/black (black/black/black et
al) 1998 A4 2.8q seedan for CARKLR's devouring.  Cushy ride.  Silly
slush box thang.  But a world of difference between this thing and A -
180+k mile CQ or B - 300k+ mile syncro.  Nice feel.  Doesn't appear that
team doorhandle has retired yet.  This sub 3 yr old vehicle already has
dash lighting glitches (trip computer LEDs are fading a bit).

Bit o bandwidth there, but figured this would be cathartic...

That is why we're here isn't it?

Derek Daily
90 CQ FS $5499obo (Feb delivery...due to S4 Avant incoming...and story
above)
98 A42.8q
86 VW syncro RIP? :-(