Owning an Older 5ktq (Was Audi Gods hate me)

[Christopher Ritchie]

Face it.  These are terrible cars.  When was the last time you didn't spend 
a weekend fixing it?  How many seemingly good examples have you seen in 
junkyards?  We only bought them because they were cheap, German, good 
looking, and we can do most of the repair work on them.  What's the first 
piece of advice given to a new owner?  Buy the Bentley, even though it costs 
~$150.  What's the second and third?  Join this list and cultivate sources 
of parts other than the dealer.  I've never owned a car that broke so much.  
And I've had '50s British sports cars, '60s Japanese cars, Fiats, and '70s 
Chevys.

I mean c'mon.  Headlights, radios, door handles, climate control, ISV, 
battery cable connections, 60K mile water pumps, 2 year average life 
expectancy of the coolant temperature sender, power window switches, 
electrical grounds, impossible wheel alignment, plastic radiator necks, 
power steering pumps, the "bomb", burned out interior lights, seat heaters, 
automatic transmissions, and it is woefully underpowered.  The car has 10s 
of relays, but none on the rear window defroster or the headlights.  What 
did I forget?  This stuff is basic.  I understand Audi finally got it 
together with the A4 and A6.  Yes, the engine lasts 300K miles; the quattro 
system is useful and bullet proof; and, the galvanized body doesn't rust 
(except by the chrome trim where the rear bumper meets the body).  But it is 
a constant battle to keep them running.

Sorry for the rant.  I like the car and total cost of ownership.  I just get 
so sick sometimes of constantly fixing it.
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