banged-up 1988 90 quattro

[Joel A. Frahm]

My weekend didn't exactly go as planned.  I met some friends in Durango
Colorado, and we were caravaning to Woodland Park to go ice racing the
next day.  Unfortunately I slid on some ice and hit a rock on the shoulder
of the road.  This was a particularly sharp turn and a narrow spot in the
canyon.  We had slowed to perhaps 10 mph, but the right front wheel took a
lot of the impact and the steering/suspension seems broken.  The fender is
also damaged and the right foglamp is gone.  That side of the car was in
the snow so it was difficult to assess the damage.  I was able to drive
the car 50 feet to a wider spot and stuff it off the road, but the right
front wheel was wedged back against the wheel well and doesn't steer or
turn.

I had the car towed 2-3 miles to town, but the wrecker wasn't immediately
available so I wasn't around when they towed it.  I suspect due to the
distance involved (the car is 6-7 hours away from me) and the amount
of damage that it will become a parts car in some Western Slope junkyard.

Is is easy to disconnect the rear driveshaft and tow the car on a car
dolly?  It might be worth dragging to Durango or Grand Junction rather
than trying to get it picked up where it is.  I suppose it'd be possible
to repair, but I have no idea what all it would need (steering rack, tie
rod, control arm, sway bar, etc.)  Sporting some new body damage it'd be a
$500 car once I got it driveable again too, I suppose.  I'm probably in a
situation where I could walk away from it and have nothing, or try to get
it to a larger town and getting a couple hundred for it, which may not be
worth the time, trouble and aggravation.

I might have more details about the damage tomorrow, once the guy who
towed the car is back at work (he's off today.)  He probably assessed the
damage while the car was on the hook, as we were talking about maybe him
fixing it.

What fun.  At least my brother was there, and he's on a road trip that
took him through Boulder so I could get a ride home.

-Joel
--
Joel Frahm <frahm at jila.colorado.edu>
University of Colorado, JILA