Owning an older 5ktq-longish

[Michael A. Carr]

And yet another 2¢ more anyone?
I own an 85 5kcs 5 Cylinder White w/ Dark blue interior( non turbo, non
quattro ) it has 228k on the clocker and drives and handles like a
giant sports car IMHO, I am by unanimous opinion of all my friends an
agggggresssive driver. ( my defence : I am in business for myself and
don't have time to sit behind someone ambivalent about getting to their
workplace, especially if there's an opening in the next lane)

I bought mine in 1993 for $3,200, with 84k on the clock, from a dealer
with all the documentation, Everything worked, except the power
mirrors. One month later the clutch went, they replaced it, no
grumbling; no-cost to me.

Happy and trouble free for three and a half years ; first the timing
belt $280, first thing in the morning and was late picking up my
girlfriend...(Yikes) A guy the tow guy recomended was done three hours
later. Girlfriend was sympathetic !

Then the rack four months later; my fault; apparently ya can't put
'regular' power steering fluid in the system; it eats up the seals ;
Duuuuh. I wasn't even amused that was a stuuuupid one ! BUT I says to
myself 'time to get the Bently !
I leaf thru the rack section and ten minutes later I say "alright I
take it on the chin" but ultimately for $800 I'm all set again not as
bad as I thought. I did shop around; initial quote was $1400.
Still great deal right ? Compared to mygirlfriend and many many friends
paying like 279 a month and up for Saabs, Bmw's, and MB's, new and like
new models.

Since then the water pump went tearing up it's belt and smoking up the
whole engine compartment before I even noticed....$220.

The brakes went out in the front last May, slowly doing this mysterious
seizing-up thing. New rotors, calipers and hoses $950.

Then in August the Blower motor would only blow in defrost and on right
hand turns and even then only on sharp right hand turns !

Even with the Bently I some how end up taking out the whole A/c to
access the blower motor and replace it, as apposed to taking off the
white box thing which I discovered was the proper approach on the
toilet about 3/4 the way thru ;-o Duuuuh! My mechanic is going to put
it all back forme for $450 or so !

I have deloused the window switches twice myself no biggie, installed a
power speaker cell phone system and mic; a PITA admittedly ; but again
my labor so no real Cost fluxed the rear defrost connection, and am
currently fussing with a blown fuse for the power door locks that just
keeps blowing and blowing and it's tooo cold to go out a open the
panels up and all that. And I have had that continuously intermitent &
annoying HMMMMM that I know is the fuel sender in the tank, for about a
year. My guy has warned me about it, but also never seems to wanna get
to it ! I've checked it out in the Bentley and I think I'm scared of
that one too so as soon as the weather warms up I'm gonna lean on my
guy for a price AND a DATE on that.

It's $30,000, 1985 car with 228,000 miles on it, and NO Rust. Reliable
HELL Yeah !

Best regards
Michael