Replacing my 87 5ktq

[james accordino]

How about another much lower mileage type 44?  They're
very cheap lately.  My 89 is at 223K and I think I'll
also keep it until at least 300K.  If situations stay
the same, I'll probably be in the market for another
"baby" 200 with 100K something miles.

Jim Accordino

--- "Doyt W. Echelberger" <Doyt at buckeye-express.com>
wrote:
> No, it's not gone yet, but it is getting pretty old.
>  My 87 5ktq is turning
> 250k miles this year and I am thinking about what my
> next car will
> be.....around the time the 87 hits 300k. Candidates
> certainly are the 91
> 200q and those that followed in the "S" series, or
> maybe one of the new
> VW's that share some Audi engines.
>
> The local VW store asked me to help do a dealer
> trade that involved moving
> a 2002 Jetta GLS 1.8t automatic 250 miles (about 5
> hours drive) and driving
> a 2002 Passat GLS 1.8t automatic on the return trip.
> The 500 mile circle
> provided an adequate evaluation of both cars. I
> accepted and did the trade,
> and have formed some opinions about how these
> mid-$20k new cars stack up
> against my old mid-$2k 1987 5ktq. Each is 10 times
> as costly to buy on
> today's market.
>
> Both new cars had steering characteristics that were
> numb and a little
> vague.....the Passat more than the Jetta. My 87 5ktq
> beats both cars by
> 500% in this category. The Jetta steering wheel was
> rather small and
> positioned at a slight angle to the driver seat. I
> couldn't get directly
> behind it, as it was about an inch to the right of
> the driver seat.  The
> Passat had a larger steering wheel that was centered
> on the driver seat,
> but it shared the vague numb feeling of the Jetta. I
> was reminded of a
> similar steering feel in a Tauras a few years ago.
> The Jetta held a straight line better than the
> Passat, which was a little
> boaty over the bumps.
>
> The  4 cylinder 1.8t engine with automatic was a
> much better choice for the
> Jetta than the Passat. Neither car matched the
> whoosh-push-you-back-in-the-seat of the 5 cylinder
> chipped 2.2t in my old
> 5ktq. But the Jetta was a fun drive.
>
> Unfortunately, the Jetta cabin felt cramped and
> crammed for both driver and
> front seat passenger. My knees had about an inch
> clearance everywhere and
> rested against the console or the door at the sides.
> The Passat provided
> adequate knee space for the driver and front seat
> passenger. I didn't like
> the blue light illumination in the dash of the
> Passat, and I couldn't turn
> the intensity down to zero when I wanted the cabin
> dark.  Can't comment on
> the dash lights of the Jetta 'cause I only drove it
> in daylight.   87 5ktq
> cabin lighting wins, plus it has a dash computer
> that displays many more
> categories of information.
>
> The Jetta seats were only marginally supportive in
> the right places, but
> the Passat gave adequate support and comfort for a
> long trip. Neither came
> close to the 875ktq seating, which included electric
> seat controls and full
> leather. Both new cars had heated seats, which was a
> surprise.
>
> I was annoyed during the entire trip in the Passat
> by the 3 rear headrests,
> which blocked my rearview mirror by about 40% where
> it counted.  Make them
> go away.  Neither new car allowed me the peripheral
> vision of the 87 5ktq.
>
> When it comes time to move out of the 87 5ktq, I
> will not be ending up in
> either of the cars mentioned. And the $25,000
> difference in cost has
> nothing to do with that. I think I'll end up in a
> used "S" car.  This 87
> 5ktq has spoiled me beyond any car I ever owned, and
> I appreciate it more
> every day.
>
> Doyt Echelberger
> Ohio  USA
>
>
>
>


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