What do I look for on a 5000CS quattro?

[DeWitt Harrison]

The first thing to be on the lookout for is your wallet screaming
"Oh please, God! No!"

Unless the previous owner of either of these cars was _Extremely_
meticulous about maintenance, you will basically be needing to
completely rebuild the car piece by expensive piece. The purchase
price is insignificant by comparison if you have any notion of
bringing the car up to top shape. I assume others will have listed
some of the first items likely needing attention.

If you want to enjoy the Audi experience but don't want to make
a labor-of-love, project car kind of commitment, look for something
more current like a nice, low mileage used A4. It will be cheaper in
the long run. If you are still dead set on undertaking a 5000/200
career, the main thing to shoot for is a good body and interior.
Those areas are the most difficult to put right. And buy the very best
example you can afford, not the cheapest one you can find.

On the other hand, if you just want a beater, are handy with tools
and bargain hunt for parts, you can probably scrape by for a reasonable
annual sum; just don't take it very far from home. Then again, if you just
want a beater, why get involved in a car this complex in the first place?

DeWitt Harrison
Boulder, CO
88 5kcstq

On Mon, 15 Jan 2001 20:12:10 -0600, Kris Reijonen wrote:

 > Spied an '88 5000CS quattro (5 speed) on a car lot...he doesn't know =
 > what he's got, but then neither do I. I think he's asking $2400. Car has =
 > 150k miles and appears to be in decent, but not terrific shape...fairly =
 > presentable though.
 >
 > What do I look for in problem areas? Is there anything that really =
 > stands out as bad on this model? Hope some of you can share your likes =
 > and dislikes on this particular Audi. Same dealer has an '89 200 Turbo =
 > (non-quattro) that has 220k and is still presentable and near same =
 > price...any ideas on this one? Or any thoughts on preference between the =
 > two?