83 URQ for daly driver

[urq]

... and it appears I will be one of them ...

I would recommend an urq over just about any other Audi from the '80s as a
daily driver ... especially as the cars age.  Why?  Because the urquattro
actually is a very simple car.  If you were looking at a type 44 from the
same vintage you would have all kinds of bells and whistles to attend to ...
the urquattro just doesn't have any of them.  Granted that there are some
electrical issues that urq owners deal with, but they can usually be easily
handled and you are back on the road.  Perhaps the issue with an urq is
fighting the temptation to upgrade, but if you found a car that is
relatively stock and has been cared for respectably you would have a unique
daily driver that you would enjoy.  Since you have an '86 4kQ you would
already be pretty familiar with a good many subsystems of the car too.

The comment about unique parts is not correct either ... remember that the
urquattro was to be a showcase for the AWD system ... Audi did rob the parts
bin for a lot of things.  The bodywork is based onn the Coupe, so there are
a lot of parts in common there.  While the WX engine is unique to the ury,
it does have a good many components which are used by other models.  While
I've used mine on lolng trips, the urq does not have a lot of trunk space,
but IME it does have a good amount of room in the passenger compartment ...
perhaps even more than the CQ.

Chris, you may want to pose your questions to a group who has BTDT over on
the urq list.  You need to sub to be able to post, but there you will get
some informed feedback from those who do use their urys as daily drivers ...

HTH!
Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)


> Chris:
> I'm sure others will disagree, but I wouldn't look at a Urq as regular
daily
> transportation.  If I'm not mistaken, some parts are hard to come by which
> could make it expensive to maintain, not to mention the mileage factor -
> although the car should be good for many more if it is well maintained.
> In addition, my experience with Audi's made before about 1984 indicates
that
> the electrical systems are particularly fragile especially as they age,
and
> chasing electrical gremlins in a daily driver is never fun.
> Just my .02.
> -Mark Rice
>
>
> Howdy list,
>
>     Ok, here's the situation, I had decided on buying a 90 coupe quattro
for
> my new daly driver (time to upgrade from the 86 4000q) then I saw a 83 Urq
> in good shape for about the same money.   The car has some miles on it at
> 150,000 but is in good shape.    So now I'm considering it as my next car.
>   Now for the questions.    First part availability.   Are Urq parts hard
to
> find or are they universally the same parts found in other audis of that
> era?     Second, dependability.   Is a high mileage urq going to be a
giant
> headache as a daily driver?    Am I going to be constantly having
problems?
>   Granted, I realize that a high mileage car from the 80's is going to
have
> problems and require work but is it going to be any less reliable than
other
> audi's from the 80's, for example my 86 4000q.   Any opinions or comments
> would be greatly appreciated as I am really torn trying to make a
decision.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Chris
> ~86 4000q
>
>
>