Accident damaged 4kq - Advice and Opinions welcomed

[Aaron Sherrick]

I wrecked my near perfect 4kq five years ago when it probably only had about
50k on it.  I slid on some black ice and hit a big tree.  It was my first
and only accident.  At the time I didn't realize how special the car was.
Thankfully my dad did and had the car fixed.  He made sure it went to a good
body shop and had it fixed right.  The car was basically totaled as the
estimate was $3,000.  However, by the time it was all said and done the
final bill was over $5,000!!!  Too bad I didn't have collision insurance.
Anyway, in the end I'm glad the car was fixed.  The car looks and drives
just as well as it did before the accident, and it's probably one of the
nicest 4kq's on the road (or so I'd like to think).  Over the years I've
really come to appreciate the car and become an Audi enthusiast (hence the
reason I'm on this list).  I'm still a HUGE newbie when it comes to all
things mechanical, but I know one thing for certain: I love my car.  If that
car hadn't been repaired I would have never found one anywhere near as nice.
I have no regrets.

Aaron
'86 4kq
www.lehigh.edu/~amsk

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Schott" <Schott at abam.com>
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 3:58 PM
Subject: Accident damaged 4kq - Advice and Opinions welcomed


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> Greetings Listers:
> Sorry for the length of this post, but I have some processing/grieving
> to do...
>
> Unfortunately my 84 4kq was damaged in an accident recently (don't ask!)
> and I'm having  a hard time accepting that I may have personally turned
> it into a "parts" car.
>
> The damage:
> Right front fender, hood, core support, lower valence and headlight
> assembly are crunched (need to be replaced to fix it right.)
> Bumper, energy absorber and support are pushed down.  Bumper may be
> bent. Top bumper trim and grill crunched.
> Top-notch body shop says it needs to be put on the rack, smaller shop
> guy I know says he can get it 'pretty close' without a rack ($1100 body
> and paint labor to have it done in the shop).
>
> Before the accident:
> 175k miles.  Aside from the AC and a missing window switch pretty much
> everything on the car is complete and operational.
> Car is all original except Stebro exhaust, ATE power disc rotors and
> tire size.
> Interior is near perfect with one small hole in  driver's seat
> (cigarette burn from previous owner?), crack in speaker grill and broken
> plastic trim on seat runner rail.
> All exterior trim is intact, including black plastic windshield trim,
> except rear door handle trim and 3 of the black plastic center caps for
> the wheels..
> It is due for a tune, needs bushings in the rear and for the shift
> linkage and has a crack in the windshield (have used replacement).  Tiny
> bit of rust at paint chips (3 or 4 places.)
> Everyone says the accident is such a shame since it was in such "nice
> shape" otherwise.  Of course as the proud owner I cannot more fully
> agree!
>
> Should I fix it?
> If I sell it as-is would someone else fix it? or part it out?
> Anyone venture a guess how much I could get for it as-is?
>
> If I fix it, I need to know:
> Anyone have a parts donor car?
> I expect hood can come from any 4k?
> Core support and valence need to come from any 5cyl 4k?
> Bumper, fender and headlight parts could come from any pre 85 4k?
> Grill is 84 4kq only?
> Is $300 a good ball park for the used parts?
>
> On the other hand, I have the opportunity to buy a nice '94 90CS.  It
> has 65K dealer-maintained miles and has been "babied" by my
> sister-in-law since it was new.
> I'm told it is in excellent condition but will not know until next week
> when I go to CA to check it out.
> I have some concerns that I will be disappointed with the auto trans,
> non-Quattro and less of the "old Audi" feel than my '84.  Forget the
> A4's, a 94 seems like a "new" Audi to me, having moved from a 78 Fox to
> an 84 4k in 1984 and then to this 84 4kq about 5 years ago.
>
> Maybe it's not as big of a change as I imagine.
>
> It'll be hard to let go of the 84.
> No more:
> "It has FIVE cylinders?"   Or "you really want to buy 5 (spark plugs)?"
> "Why are the back windows manual and the front electric?"
> "Wow, they had all-wheel drive in 1984"
> "This car is almost 20 years old?"
>
> Though I won't miss hearing my 3 year old ask:  "Why does Mama call your
> car 'cracky'?"
>
> She just doesn't get it son.
>
>
>
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>
>