to buy or not to buy...

[WAUFX at aol.com]

Well listers...

I have found an 85 4kq for sale. Asking price is $500. 180K with a working 
odo. However, I went to see it today and it was in a sad, sad state of 
affairs. A gas leak which is a drip when the car is off progresses into a 
trickle when the car is on, coming from the line between the fuel pump and 
the front of the car. Car has NO brakes and will consequently have to be 
towed to my house, was not drivable due to needing pads/rotors all around and 
at least rear calipers  possibly front ones as well. Didn't check, but I 
assume it will need e-brake cables as well. Entire underbody/suspension is a 
lovely shade of cancerous rust orange. Yum! LF fender is smashed, but I think 
it's mostly cosmetic, as long as it passes inpsection I don't care. Surface 
rust on left doors, otherwise body seems to be in pretty decent shape. Needs 
door handles all around. Oil spill in truck was remedied by a coat of kitty 
litter which still resides in trunk. Two front springs are rusted badly and 
consequently broken. The whole suspension seems semi-sketchy, cracked boots 
at the tie rod ends and ball joints, rust everywhere. Valve cover gasket 
leaks like a drunk in an alley, oil all over power steering pump and all down 
sides of engine, an awful, awful mess. Fuel lines into distributor are rusted 
where they connect. Despite owner's claim of new battery and alternator, 
voltmeter on diff lock panel read no more than 12 volts. Idles at about 1400, 
is this a sign timing is off or....? 

However, this car does have some good points.

Miraculously, diff locks work. He said so, didn't test them. Sunroof slides 
open. Hood pins are in place for easy access. Engine runs seemingly 
perfectly, started up after about 5 turns and started pretty smoothly. No 
ticking, knocking or anything! Sounded very nice. No really obvious leaks, 
owner said he didn't think it leaks. Reportedly new timing belt. Clutch pedal 
pushed in smoothly and returned without protest and did not stick. Radiator 
seemed fine, fan came on after some idling. Brand new light switch. Had those 
nice black quattro script seats in the front, cloth in the rear. Exhaust 
seems a bit rusty but owner said it was new 2 years ago and is quiet. Oh, and 
it's silver, something I've wanted for a while. And finally, this could be a 
great learning experience in either restoring a beloved Audi or learning how 
to tear one apart, which is kind of the main point of my looking into this. 

Hmm....

So what should I do? The absolute most I could fathom spending on it for 
purchase price is $200, I think it's worth $100. Give me advice guys and 
girls. Buy it and part it? Buy it and restore it? Buy it and take one of my 
other 4kq's and combine them? Run like hell and don't look back? Anyone got 
some used calipers? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated, I can't thank 
this list enough for all of the help you have provided me.


Looking forward to some responses,

Megan