What to look for when buying used quattros

[Darringer, Chris]

> From: Zummr2 at aol.com
 > I'm going to test drive a 1993 90 Quattro CS with 165k miles. What do I
need
> to look for while I inspect it?  Are these vehicles reliable?  I'm
concerned

At this mileage, I would recommend looking at the covers on the CV joints.
Make sure they are not broken or leaking grease.  Replacing CV joints is not
a problem, but if they are in bad condition you can use this to negotiate a
few hundred dollars off the price.

This vehicle will be reliable if the basic maintenance has been performed at
a respectable shop.  Insist on seeing the service records.  One simple test:
pull the dipstick and make sure (1) there is enough oil (2) the oil looks
like it has been changed within a reasonable amount of time.  Unscrew the
oil fill cap and make sure there is no white frothy buildup, which may
indicate a blown gasket or crack in the block.  If this last test fails, I
would forget it.

Good luck,
Chris Darringer
'90 80q