Fwd: Old Audi's worth keeping ? was:Dead Puppy

[Chris Dyer]

My parallel argument for keeping is this:

1. Only alternative in spending what the car's worth is another "headache"
car, and starting all over again.

2. I own it, so costs of repairs end up being my "payments." But these
payments are far less than financing another car.

3. I would only get rid of it if I had a major financial upswing, but even
then I'm buying a smaller, less luxurious car for 5-8 times what my car
costs. (actually, got my eye on a Mini Cooper S, and keeping my '87 5kcstq
as a beater...)


>From: "Livolsi, Stephane" <Stephane.Livolsi at investorsgroup.com>
>To: Audi Quattro List <quattro at audifans.com>
>Subject: Old Audi's worth keeping ? was:Dead Puppy
>Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 11:52:37 -0600
>
>Kent, you pose a very good question - being: are these cars worth keeping
>when they start costing a bunch of money?  As someone who has recently been
>seriously inconvenienced both timewise and financially by my 5KTQ, I am
>still solidly sold on this car and definitely plan to keep it until a
>catastrophic failure such as breaking in half due to metal fatigue.
>
>1.  I like working on vehicles - especially challenging ones.
>2.  While currently inconvenienced as my 5KTQ sits waiting a new fuel pump,
>I have had the opportunity to drive newer vehicles generously lent to me by
>friends.  Among them is a 2001 Ford Taurus and 99 or 00 Mazda 626 and 88
>Audi 90Q.  I can't wait to get back behind the wheel of my Audi.  Yes the
>new cars are nice, but they don't have the same comfortable 'feel' as my
>older Audi.  I feel that my 86 Audi is much better engineered and built
>than
>all these other cars (except the 88 90Q) and that may be the key.  My 86
>Audi was built as a luxury performance sedan by Europeans who have more of
>a
>passion for this- IMHO- YMMV. The newer cars are built strictly as
>transportation and the manufacturers are trying to entice buyers with add
>on
>gadgety features.
>3.  Cost.  I could buy or lease a new car and have a payment or pay cash
>and
>incur the opportunity cost (I am a financial planner - these things matter
>to me).  My opinion is that a new car would cost more than the cost of
>maintaining my Audi, because for the most part I budget for it.  The way I
>see it, I could have a $300/mo car payment, or I can budget $300/mo to
>maintain my Audi.  The latter gives me a car I like to drive.
>
>BTW, I don't look at my recent fuel pump problems in Bella Coola as an Audi
>problem.  It was a car problem and a chance that I knowingly took in
>driving
>an older vehicle.  Could have happened even if I was driving a notoriously
>reliable Toyota.
>
>.02
>
>Stephane
>
> > ----------
> > From: 	Kent McLean[SMTP:kentmclean at mindspring.com]
> > Sent: 	February 13, 2002 8:01 AM
> > To: 	quattro at audifans.com
> > Subject: 	Dead Puppy
> >
> > I just got a call from the mechanic regarding the fuel
> > leak in my 200 TQ. As mentioned by the list, the most
> > common problem is rusted out fuel lines. In my case,
> > it isn't so simple. The tank is rusted.
> >
> > To replace it, according to the mechanic, you have to
> > drop the rear end (10-12 hours labor), then you have
> > to source a tank (~$500 used, ~$750 new), maybe update
> > the fuel pump (which was replaced not long ago). His
> > estimate is $1500. As much as it pains me, I may have
> > to put her to sleep.
> >
> > Q. Is it worth $1500 to save a car that's worth maybe
> >     $3000? Except for this, the car is/was in great shape.
> >     I've put about $3000 into it over the last two years.
> >
> > This also puts a damper on my thought of a V8. Or maybe
> > it just forces the issue. I was hoping the sale of this
> > one would help toward the purchase of a V8, but it won't
> > help much.
> >
> > Heartbroken,
> > Kent
> > '89 200 TQ, "Dead Puppy"
> >




from chrisdyer at hotmail.com


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