should I sell my 20v? please help.

[The Loves]

My 90 20V has not cost me all that much $$ over the last 3 years but I have
only put about 5k mi a year on it in fear of major probs to show when I
least expect them.
I tell my wife that it is kind of like having a BMW Tii and some day it will
be worth something and will be fun to take on weekend trips (with plenty of
tools) to meet up with other fellow owners of these things.
Give me the 10v anyday when it comes to reliability and ease of maintenance.
I would say that unless you have a substantial allowance to care and repair
this car as a daily driver, I'd move on to something else.
On a good note though, I have found a good mechanic who did the t-belt,
pump, idler, seals, all belts, flush the radiator, cap and rotor plus tidy
up everthing loose or missing under the hood for $430 total on the 20V.
Did a super job too. Says he will do the cluthch on my 4kq for $500 max!
My only issues now are suspension and that really is common to any car if
you like to keep things tight and proper.
Good luck in you decisions.
----- Original Message -----
From: <WAUFX at aol.com>
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2002 9:16 PM
Subject: should I sell my 20v? please help.


> Listers, I need some advice.
>
> I've been thinking a lot lately about selling my 1990 90q20v, with 160k
> miles. The reasons I want to sell it are as follows:
>
> 1. I no longer deliver pizza, therefore I won't be making the $20/hr I was
> making doing that. This drastically reduces the amount of money I can
spend
> on car parts. However, I also know that since I won't be using my car for
> pizza delivery, it will break less often (in theory). I also know that the
> car I am driving now is in way better shape than my old 4kq that I was
using
> for pizza delivery. Hmm...
>
> 2. Cost of fixing it. Although it needs nothing right now, as we all know,
> cars break, and my gut is telling me that when my 20v breaks, it's going
to
> break my bank account as well. I've been mulling over the prices of some
> replacement parts for my car, and they are astronomical in price.
>
> rear muffler-450
> injectors-166 ea.
> ignition wire set-130
> the while distributor mess-300 for a new one, or risk screwing it up
myself
> (probable) doing the alternative (group buy tool kit)
> front rotors-OEM 120 ea, bendix 80 ea. (ive had the bendixes on there
about
> 2-3k miles, and they are already warping---any idea on this one?)
>
> 3. The need to simplify my life. The other day, the power steering belt
was
> so old, it just snapped. I had a new one and couldn't for the life of my
get
> it on myself. I tried everything. If I could, I'd kick myself dead square
in
> the butt for being so dumb. I paid my mechanic $24 to put a damn belt on,
> something I should definitely be able to do myself. I realized after that
had
> I obtained a very long screwdriver, that would have probably done it.
> Mechanic said that the belt went right on...
>
> This is 2 days after having to fabricate a tool to change the oil due to a
14
> mm allen head drain plug....on the oil pan.
>
> The 20v is way more complicated and jam packed under the hood space-wise
than
> any other Audi I've owned and worked on, and I think I may have bitten off
> more than I can chew on this one....
>
> I've been looking at some VWs, and a 16v GTI  up to model year 1992 is
> looking pretty darn good right now. 130 hp, 4 wheel discs, and cheap parts
> (save for the ignition wire set and alternator).
>
> Don't get me wrong, I love this car to pieces. It's fast, it's fun, it's
> pretty and oh those heated seats... : )
>
> But I just don't know if it's right to keep owning it...who wants to tell
me
> 20v nightmares to further convince me to sell this car? Or who wants to
tell
> me 20v dreams to make me keep it? I can't decide what to do.
>
> Opinions, heckling, and BTDT all appreciated. I would also like to hear
about
> anyone's experience with both 8v and 16v GTIs up to model year 1992.
>
> Thanks...
>
> Megan
>
> PS-Anyone have a 16v GTI for sale?