Scott's indecision (long)

[Tessie McMillan]

Hey Quatts (I liked that, so I'm using it too!),

One reason why Scott Fisher says he's not interested in off-topic cars is
because he already has them. Scott, when were you planning on telling the
listers that the reason you want R E L I A B L E transportation is because
your other cars are ALFAS? (As is one of mine, just so everyone knows I'm
not trying to trash you.) &:-)

I think this question about a car is one you need to answer on your own,
because your choice of a distance car is truly personal. I've had my '88 80
Quattro since... '90? and I love it, regardless of the fact that it is
pretty ugly even when clayed/polished/waxed (gray is not an exciting color
in rainy Seattle), I've had to park it outside ever since I bought my
convertible, and it wears the battle scars from driving the track and
driving Washington state roads (oh and parking in car-unfriendly lots). Oh,
and let's not even discuss how little horsepower that 5-cylinder engine has.

I've had a succession of friends over the years tell me to get rid of the
car and buy a newer one, so that I could have more horsepower, a better
suspension setup, and a cooler, more eye-catching car. Also, a car that
doesn't need dinking around on all the time because things are wearing out.
What?! ! Why, I'd be happy to drop a turbo engine in there, in spite of the
fact that the price of the engine would outweigh the (probable) current
resale value of my car! I just like the way it drives, and I like the fact
that it has been rock-solid from day one. It never was, and never will be a
lemon. So if I were planning on doing a lot of long-distance commuting, I
would spend my money on going through with a fine tooth comb and upgrading
this car because I know I'm starting with a reliable platform. I'm also not
the kind of person to throw money at a new car; I want somebody else to
spend the extra 30% to break the car in, be the early-adopter, so to speak.
Although... I'd love to have a TTQ *too*...

It seems to me that part of the allure of a new car is the eye-snapping
appeal. If that's what you want, then super! Go for it. I've heard that your
dealer in Portland is very good to work with. I wouldn't want to take a new
car under warranty to the dealers up here, though; I only know of two in
Seattle/Bellevue and I haven't been impressed with either of them. $98 for a
shop rate? Sheeeeeeeesh! And when you talk about a 'new' (2001) car vs. a
'newer' car (early 80s), what are you buying? More safety? More comfort?
More style? Can any of that be added to your current car? That would make
more sense because you could fork over the money on a more incremental,
voluntary basis, rather than laying out a huge payment and obliging yourself
to the monthly bills. I offer this same argument for the new 911s. I HATE
the water-cooled 911s! I don't WANT a cable-actuated shifter,
d*mn-plastic-doorhandles, additional horsepower or eye-snapping appeal. I
drove an '87 911 Carrera for five years and I was really happy with it
(unfortunately, it didn't belong to me!) I'd much rather do what you said in
your post: drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow.

So which are you, Scott: are you a driver, or are you a passenger? Are you
an early adopter, or do you stick with the solid-gold software? Do you like
to build your own machines, or would you rather buy a package? Do you have
kids, a mortgage, orthodontia bills and other monthly commitments that would
make upgrading your current car more attractive, or are you a dot-com
millionaire? (BTW, I'm kind of including an urQ in the same category as the
CGT -- it's a 'newer' car, not a 'new' car, with the added unknown that you
don't really know it's previous ownership history.)

You know, at least one neat thing about the Quattros is that they allow us
to make these kinds of decisions! And OK, so now as per usual a whole bunch
of guys will write to rebut my statements &:-))).

Tess
your Alfa buddy in Seattle, WA USA