To Repair 1990 Audi 100 vs Change Cars (Einhorn Hofmann) (rob)

Tue May 17 06:51:44 PDT 2016

Just got the phonecall on the estimate for the transmission rebuild.
Originally the owner of the shop was saying it might be just a clutch, and
the total cost might be under $1500.  After getting it apart he says its
much worse than he thought, and he even wants me to come by to see how bad
it is (no time for that).  He explained that the gears on the planetary
system started breaking and that's in turn caused a lot of other damage.
Estimate is about $1000 in parts, and adding labour we've got a $2400 job.
The other alternative he can offer which he doesn't recommend is finding a
used transmission which might be 400 less for the full job.

I'm kind of done.  I could maybe justify $1500 as my limit, but a $2400
expense just goes against my judgement.

Can I ask, in what way would it be a really bad mistake to go for a TT such
as this instead:
http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Audi/TT/Mascouche/Quebec/5_27644145_20091026115434464/?pnbar=1

I'd like something newer and sportier.  Its got a manual, so no potential
costly automatic repairs.
or something like even this:
http://montreal.craigslist.ca/cto/5587433898.html?lang=en&cc=us
(sorry its in French).  Seems well maintained.

If neither of those are good options, I might just go car-free for a while
till I find something worth getting.  I live downtown, work downtown, and
for me a car is just a luxury to take on a fun drive on a weekend with a
shopping trip on the way back.

I guess the meat of my question: Are used TT's all-round a bad idea?

Thanks
MC

On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 4:59 PM, Peter Elias <peter at pcelias.com> wrote:

> Yup, I agree ... for so many years, cars here in the USA suffered from
> horrible "sealed beam" headlamps, including Audi's back in the 1970's...
> But, my 1973 Audi 100GL had "Cibie" halogen high beams that would light up
> a mile of road (and for which other drivers complained!)
>
> My wife currently has a 2014 VW Passat TDI, that gets about 45+ miles per
> (US) gallon, certainly much better than the 23 mpg that my 2003 Audi A6
> Avant manages on the highway!    Granted, we bought the Passat prior to
> "Diesel Gate", but we're happy with it (potential emissions not
> withstanding...)
>
> Given that I live in the USA, we don't get to see Peugeot's often, and
> Citroen's generally never.  But, in 2010 and 2013, I did have a chance to
> drive a Citroen C5 Diesel (very nice!) and also a Peugeot 5008 Diesel.
>  So, for now, my opinion of French cars is very good!    I have a brief
> video of one of these cars on my YouTube channel at:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tYkH3Ue9f8
>
> Regards,
> Peter
> 3x Audi's!
>
>
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 11 May 2016 23:26:39 +0100
> From: "rob" <rob3 at hod3.fsnet.co.uk>
> To: <quattro at audifans.com>
> Subject: RE: To Repair 1990 Audi 100 vs Change Cars (Einhorn Hofmann)
> Message-ID: <002501d1abd4$2fe8afd0$8fba0f70$@fsnet.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
>
>
> Rob: Thanks for the perspective.  You have quite a few cars, and bad luck
>> with quite a few of those door locks.  I'm surprised its not the Peugeot
>> giving you the most trouble with the reputation they have in North
>> America:-)
>>
>
> Interesting!, The French are very patriotic when it comes to car
> ownership, so of course tons of them in France, and of course also in any
> of their former territories, e.g. Algeria etc etc.
>
> Peugeot are regarded as a 'value' brand in the UK, similar to Ford, and
> some past models were regarded as poor, but the 504 was *the* bush Taxi in
> parts of Africa, and the 205 was considered very stylish in its time (the
> 80's). The Hdi (High pressure Direct injection Turbo diesel) is a very well
> regarded engine. My car is a 406 Hdi Estate, which I simply inherited when
> my Father died, up till then the Audi was my daily car.
>
> The 406 (introduced mid 90's) was well regarded for appearance, handling
> and overall package, one thing you usually get with a French car is
> excellent ride quality, other than that it's a just a standard automobile,
> with in my case a meagre 90bhp, but decent torque. It is in no way
> outstanding, but good family transport and it was my Dads so I'll use it
> till it falls apart and I fit in like a local when I'm in France. I've put
> 50 000 miles on it with no problems (apart from key fob disintegrating!),
> so whatever used to be the cause of Peugeot having a bad name is not
> apparent in this car. I think the N American auto industry is very
> self-protective and loves to create barriers to entry (those DOT approved
> headlights?!), or else have the media do it for them, e.g. Unintended
> acceleration... or now the ridiculous hoo-haa about diesel emissions..
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Subject: Digest Footer
>
> _______________________________________________
> quattro mailing list
> quattro at audifans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of quattro Digest, Vol 151, Issue 8
> ***************************************
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2016.0.7597 / Virus Database: 4568/12215 - Release Date: 05/12/16
> _______________________________________________
> quattro mailing list
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro
> http://www.audifans.com/kb/List_information