Investing in a 200TQW

[Grant Lenahan]

Barry,

Once a car hits, oh, around 80k+ miles, I tend to find that they 
require $700-1000 per year to keep going ( at my rate of 18-20,000 
miles/yr).  Struts, tires, exhausts, timing belts, etc can contribute 
significantly to this floor cost.  This assumes you don;t inherit a 
bad case of deferred maintenance.  Then you add $2000 up front :-(

Is that a lot?  Its $60-$80/mo., or around $0.05 mile, plus 
depreciation.  That's cheap, in my book.  And inconvenient, 
admittedly.

That's my experience.  Cars like a 200tq may be a bit higher - as 
their parts cost more.

Grant

>I recently bought a 1990 200 Quattro Wagon with 175K mi. for $2,300. 
>I love the car!  I have now put about $700 more into it.  In the 
>next year it will need all struts (quotes of $250 front; $350 back) 
>and tires (around $320)  That's about $4,000 so far.  It will likely 
>need other typical maintenance items, which on the Audi cost a bit 
>more than other cars.
>
>My question is this:  When is it time to stop investing in a car 
>like this?  I am not a mechanic so doing my own repairs is not an 
>option.  I understand people pay $400/mo. for new car payments and 
>I've never done it, but I'm beginning to wonder where the buy/sell 
>points are that make sense.
>
>Buy at 60,000 mi. and sell at 150,000?
>Buy at 100,000 mi. and sell at 170,000?
-- 


-----------------------
Grant Lenahan
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gfl at alum.MIT.edu (MIT)
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