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

[Ameer Antar]

that maybe yer experience, but I've had plenty of weekends w/ the 5k where 
I didn't need to do anything, and I put 30k mi. it in 1 yr! The car 
definitely has it's problems, but if you keep up w/ things, you'll be 
fixing the 'unimportant' stuff most of the time. Cars that are almost 17 
yrs old need lots of work...Audi or not...it usually depends on the example 
you get. If the po changed lots of stuff in there, you have less work, but 
if not and it was run down...that's yer problem right there. I just think 
the experiences w/ these cars vary widely...so it's a little tough to say 
these are terrible cars. BTW, my '84 5kT has a relay on the defroster, and 
I've never seen a car w/ relays on headlamps unless the owner put em in...

-ameer


At 10:31 PM 2/15/2001 , you wrote:
>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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