seeking honest opinions on cost of ownership

Tue Jul 9 11:47:03 EDT 2002

Well, unlike several (many?) other listers' experiences, I have had really
good luck with my 5K's. Here's my story:

'93: bought an '85 5K (non anything but 5K) - even swap with an owned since
new Nissan Pulsar (5K listed at $3,000). Kept it for 1 year, and replaced
during this time the following:
1) Alternator
2) Starter
3) Blower (for the fan for air inside the cabin)
4) Front shocks
5) CV-boot
6) Windshield (insurance)
Total bill for the year: About $700-$800 or so.

'94: Replaced the 5K (sold for $3,500) with a '87 5K Avant ($3,000) (Also
just FWD, non-T or anything else special). Fixed:
1) Alternator
2) Starter
3) Blower (Same one)
4) Front shocks
5) Battery
6) Windshield (insurance)
Total bill: Again under $800 for 18 months, but there were several things
that SHOULD have been fixed, had I kept the car, for about another $1,500 or
so.

'95: Bought a '89 90S FWD ($8,700). Fixed:
1) Alternator belt (broke the very first day of ownership. Wife got stuck
w/2YO baby in a snowstorm!!)
No cost!

'95: Replaced 5K Avant (sold for $2,800) with '90 100 ($7,000). Fixed:
1) Alternator
2) Starter
3) Blower (you guessed it)
4) Front shocks
5) 2 CV boots (Nothing to do with a Citroën)
6) Battery
7) Windshield (insurance)
8) 1 headlight (insurance)
9) Front & rear brake pads
Total bill: Under $1,000, and the car was flawless when I sold it, except a
few minor paint scratches.

'98: Replaced '89 90S (Sold for $4,800 in '99) with MB 300E ($21,000)
(Leased for $10,500)
Fixed:
1) Water pump ($450)
2) Front & rear brake pads ($100 or so)

'98: Replaced '90 100 (Sold for $4,300) with '90 V8Q (my first ever
Quattro!!!) $7,500.
Fixed:
1) Alternator
2) Battery
3) Alternator
4) Blower (yup!)
5) Front schocks
6) Front schocks
7) Windshield (insurance)
8) 2 headlights (insurance)
9) AC compressor, condenser & one other thing
10) Complete new dealer-installed stainless exhaust, including 1 of the
exhaust manifolds (insurance paid $3,800)
11) Many parts in the engine compartment after fire caused by missing
belly-pan allowing oil lines to hang out under car, ruptured by snow birm,
and pouring oil onto hot exhaust manifold. Insurance paid $3,400
12) Front & rear brake pads
Total bill: Something like $2,500 or so to me, and the rest to the
insurance.

2001: Replaced MB 300E (lease return) with '98 A6QA ($21,700) and a $1,100
3-year, 36K mile warranty
Fixed so far:
1) Windshield (insurance)
2) Windshield (insurance)
3) Water pump (warranty)
4) Timing belt (while we were in there) (warranty)
5) Thermostat (while we were in there)
6) Front brake pads
Cost so far: $58 (brakes), $118 ($50 warranty deductible, + thermostat)

2001: Totaled '90 V8Q. Received $10,200 from insurance for the car.

2001: Bought '90 V8Q from www.audiconnection.com for $8,500
Fixed so far:
1) O2 sensor. Was just replaced prior to purchase, but was defective
Need to fix:
1) All 4 shocks
Cost so far: $0

I have not listed the various oil changes, as these ought to be the same no
matter what vehicle you own. Hope this is of some help to you... Experience
through 7 Audis.

Like I said, I know that there are many on the list who have had much
different experiences with their 5Ks.

Perhaps God (not the "Audi gods") has been looking our for me, and keeping
my expenses down. Perhaps I have just been lucky in getting the few "good
ones", I don't know.

What I DO know, is that until BMW makes a serious 4WD 7-series, Audi is the
only car for me!!!

Michael L. Riebs
Grand Rapids, Michigan

'90 V8Q
'98 A6QA

www.1stchoicegranite.com

----- Original Message -----
From: <paanta at splatterfish.com>
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 10:30 PM
Subject: seeking honest opinions on cost of ownership

> I recently bought an '88 5000CSQ w/ 141K miles to compliment my '91
> 16v VW GTI.  The GTI is just too loud and harsh for long trips, and my
> wife needed a car to get to and from work.  Now we learn that her
> company isn't moving, and so she can continue to walk to work and
> doesn't need a car.  So I have one too many cars.
>
> What I really want is something reasonably cheap, quick, comfortable
> and fun to drive, safe, and reliable.  I'm trying to decided whether or
> not
> to sell both the GTI and the Audi and buy/lease a new VW 1.8T GTI or
> to keep the Audi and maintain it well.  As of right now it needs an A/C
> compressor and maybe a clutch MC/SC and possibly a bomb and a
> couple of other little things.
>
> I don't do all my own work.  I'll do oil changes, and brakes and ancilary
> components, but I don't have a garage so dealing with hydraulics and
> long, extended repairs are just too much of a hastle to be worth the
> time.  I'm mechanically apt, and can troubleshoot things just fine, but I
> don't want to lie on my back in the driveway all weekend.
>
> Are the repairs on a slighly-above-average condition 5KCSQ, done by
> professional mechanics ~ 50% of the time going to average out to more
> than a $250-350 car payment per month?  I'd certainly rather drive a
> nice, chipped 230hp 5KCSQ than a jetta.    How much are y'all
> spending per year on car repairs for your 5K's?  What's the cheapest (in
> terms of $/month) way to get a reliable, safe, fun car?  Anything in the <
> $20K range better than a VW?
>
> I know this is a broad topic, so feel free to narrow it down on your
> own.
>
> -Patrick
>
>