should I sell my 20v? please help.

Sun Jun 23 00:27:19 EDT 2002

Sounds like a fair topic for me top reply to: the driveway includes the
following: 1990 CoupeQ 20v, 1992 GTI 8v (1.8L), 1990 Jetta GLI 16v (2.0L).
As far as 20v parts, find a good vendor and stick with them.  Most of the
companies I order from give me at least a 10% discount now just because of
the relationship I have with them.  I personally recommend TPC and
Adirondack.  Also, the local dealer and I get along really well so I get
them to knock a few bucks off the parts.  Sure, some of it is terribly
expensive, but most of it is a one-time fix.  I have BTDT with the failure
of the accessories on my CQ and for the most part, I lived with it until I
could finally get it fixed, whether it was shot hydraulics or shattered
windows.
As far as the VWs go, the 8v is actually a great motor to drive.  If you are
looking for reliable transit that is not a total dog, that is the motor for
you.  The combination of light-weight car and a broad powerband makes it
pull pretty hard in 4th even at crawling city speeds.  So far, the only
maintenance has been oil, a starter, and a battery.

The 16v is a superb motor!  You actually get quite a hot performance coupe
with that motor - my example is one of utter durability.  Bought the car for
$800 from a guy I went to high school with - turns out he's a total junkie
and needed money for meth...anyway the car had been trashed beyond all
belief!  In the junkyards you will find nicer interiors and
better-maintained autos. It needed a lot of work, this I knew.  How much, I
had no idea.  First drive was...gross.  I was impressed how quick the car
was, actually. Faster than the CQ despite it's dilapidated (Sp) condition.
The interior got cleaned (too much resin on everything, also mold).
Engine needed rings bad.  Also, the water pump was held on by one
non-threaded stud...a single head-less bolt was holding it on and it was
merely spraying water on the side of the block to cool it.  The power
steering pump bracket was sheared (shorn?) and NONE of the accessories could
hold a belt.
Rear suspension: broken on the driver's side.
Brakes lights: out
Reverse Lights: out
Rear calipers: frozen
The car is a continuing project but the repairs have been dealer-parts-only
and dirt cheap at the same time.  Repairing the rear suspension was $40 in
parts for example.  The sheer abundance of these cars makes them cheap to
work on.
Also, if you can poke your way around a 20v engine bay, you can strech you
legs under the hood of a MkII.  The motor is easy to work on and everything
is accessible.  Actually, the whole car is fairly simple.  No fancy
electronic seats or powered heated rear view mirrors.  It is one of the
first cars I have ever had to dig into, and it is the first motor I ever had
to pull from a car.

I would say that if you ARE considering ditchin the 20v, the 16v MKII (GTI,
GLI, whatever) is a great choice for ease of work and parts availability.
You get a light, good handling package with decent brakes, suspension, and
of course, Recaro bucket seats. Also, even beat-to-crap, it was fast and
easy to drive.  I await the day it is finished because I know it will be
faster than the stock 20v ever was.  There is a great support group for MkII
VWs on vwvortex.com if you have any involved projects that you get stuck on.

Email me off list if you have any detailed questions!!

Richard
1990 CQ 203K
1990 GLI ????K
1992 GTI ~120K

>From: WAUFX at aol.com
>To: quattro at audifans.com
>Subject: should I sell my 20v? please help.
>Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2002 00:16:31 EDT
>
>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?

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