'88 5000S Auto FS; Any Buyer Beware?

[Doyt W. Echelberger]

I own and enjoy a 1987 Audi 5k turbo quattro but it is not my only car.  I 
drive it perhaps once a week, for fun. And in the winter it is emergency 
transportation when nothing else will travel. My mechanic has exactly the 
car you are considering, but a turbo model. He also has several other cars 
and considers his type 44 to be unreliable for long trips.

But that is not the strongest reason that I wouldn't choose it as the first 
car for my own teenage daughter.

If you check out this web site first: 
<http://www.rmiia.org/Auto/Teens/Teen_Driving_Statistics.htm> you will see 
that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for this age group.

And if you check out the 1988 Audi 5000 at CrashTest web 
site  <http://www.crashtest.com/default.htm> you will see that the 1988 
model 5000 carries the highest possible risk for driver injury in frontal 
crashes, although the front passenger would fair much better. It carries a 
marginal overall safety rating, and lacks air bags. Your young driver is a 
member of the highest risk group of drivers in America, and is almost 
certain to be involved in some kind of accident in the first few years of 
her driving experience. This is sufficient reason to choose some other car 
with a better safety rating.

If you want to give her an Audi, consider an 88-89 model 80 or 90. They 
carry the highest possible safety ratings for frontal crashes, and are 
available in a similar price range. Or spend some of the potential repair 
dollars and get her an A6 that CrashTest  rates in the lowest risk 
category. Other writers  to this list have made the same suggestion.

Additionally, and secondarily, the 1988 5k you are considering will have 
all the problems of the model, including those caused by road salt if it 
has lived in the salt belt.

The type 44's are a very sophisticated and marvelous accumulation of 
computerized electronic sensors and actuators, all 18 years old and thus 
very prone to component failure. At this age, it predictably requires 
frequent and expensive expert mechanical attention by mature and trained 
automotive specialists who are preferably talented and experienced in that 
particular vehicle. It is not going to be as reliable as you might want it 
to be, and it will be very expensive to maintain.

Some of the listed problems might cost as much or more than the original 
price of the car. I'll  asterisk those. And any three of the others could 
be significant financial burdens.



Marginal/feeble stock headlights and overloaded switching circuits prone to 
heat failure.
Multi-function switch on steering column fails about now....turn signals, 
headlights, etc.
Headliner sag, sunroof seal leakage and failure.
Electric window regulator failure, window switch failure, wiring cable 
breaks at door hinges, especially driver door.
Door handle failure
*Air conditioner/heat & ventilation control failure of many varieties, 
including blower motor replacement.
Need to switch to R-134a, from Freon.
Speedometer failure past 100k miles
Hydraulic accumulator & hose failure
*Steering rack seal failure and chronic leakage
Steering pump failure
Alternator failure
Timing belt replacement every 60-90k miles
Water pump and idler bearing replacement at same time
Fuel pump failure
*Corrosion and leakage of the brake and fuel lines, gas tank, fuel pressure 
accumulator
    and brake proportioning valve.
Corrosion and lock-up of the brake calipers
Swelling and blockage of the flexible hydraulic brake lines
*Corrosion and failure of the ABS sensor system/CV joint cogs
Microfracture of solder joints in the throttle switch
*Failure of all the rubber components of the cooling system and engine 
vacuum system
Idle stabilization valve fouling/failure
Fuel Injector varnish/tip wear with eventual spray pattern failure and leakage
Ignition wire electrical leakage
Oxygen sensor deterioration/failure associated with starting and runn9ing 
problems
Distributor cap contamination/misalignment/loose wires
Snapping of the attachments of the hood release cable/failure to open hood
*Age-related failure of engine timing/crank position sensors looking at 
flywheel pegs
*Unexplained and mysterious shut down of engine and failure to start and 
restart hot
*Complete replacement of entire exhaust system, especially in the salt belt.


Just the facts.

DWE

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At 12:48 AM 8/4/2006, you wrote:
>Car is pretty cherry, 140k, "new tranny"(whatever that means), fair rubber
>and no apparent rust.  Some overspray in left rear fender well.  Interior
>is immaculate.  Lady wants $1200 OBO.
>
>Is this about par for this model.  Thinking of getting it for my teenage
>daughter since she doesn't do clutch yet.  I'd drive it if it weren't that
>ugly gold color and of course, the auto.:
>
>All opinions welcome
>
>DM&FS