[s-cars] urS Rejuvenation (long)

[bill mahoney]

Folks,
SO, well then, as some may know, yes my sister is perhaps the only
original '92 urS owner left and surely one of the few women.
She keeps it as her main driver if you can believe that because she
loves the car.  And;  yes she is whay older than me and yes again, a
true gheezer... cept she doesn't think she is.  I mean how many XX
year old women are bombing around in and old stick shift urS's?  I
think the answer is uhm m well... her.  And yes indeed this IS thee
car that turned me on to the cursed audi gods and the urS.
Anywaze, of late she has mostly stored the car whilst world travelling
and after returning home once again and after driving various and
sundry world rental vehicles of vanilla flavoring, she has decided and
though on occasion she has tried to sell it, the Audi gods have
apparently deemed that she rejuvenate this black beast.  What a
surprise, she really loves driving it and after considering and
driving some new Q cars, still thinks it best.  Apparently old and
unique cars are cool now, not to mention low, if any state personal
property tax and ridiculously low insurance.   I butofcourse have a
few ideas of improvements myself but turn to the list almighty for the
tedium ad nausea with all due respect.
It really has no major issues, she had an awesome paint job just  a
few years ago and the only issue I know of is a flaky intermittent oil
light.  IME the '92's hold a high and unwatered down place as the
first US "S" car.  GREAT suspension out of the box, boost gauge,
firmest seats, funky wood interior and Quattro rear window script.
Perhaps we will all arrive at this juncture someday where it's a
question of dumping the old pig for an "empty beer can" (muwhaha! ..
pardon.) or taking a crap shoot and rejuvenationland.
This particular car was an impulse purchase off the showroom floor of
Pray Audi in Greenwich by my car nut late bro in law, god rest his
soul.  I never heard him say and don't believe he chipped it prior to
his untimely demise, but I would not have put it past him.  The car is
smooth quiet and fast... could be stock but the carpet is cut.
So, really for sister's purposes, she thinks it plenty fast enough.
Keep in mind she can do NO mods herself and must rely on her
mechanic..  Main emphasis would be to make near six sigma reliable or
improved if not too costly.   Car has about 148k on it IIRC.  Here's
what I think should be done and let's start at the front ($$ are ball
park:)
Cheap and good mod... clear corners.    $35
Headlights...  would be nice to throw in some new eurospec, but that's
a lot of dough no?
Maybe some new super halogen bulbs of some sort?   $30
Hoses... I'd say red Samco's but blue looks pretty cool with black.  $300
New after run pump, T coolant connection and motor block coolant
connection.. uhmm $145
034 ignition coil set   $650
Check and replace coolant hoses if too soft?
Heater core and new blower two years ago.
Given the old girls level of driving and no track time, stock brakes
are okay IME, i.e. good for one panic stop.
Rear brakes I think are okay and can be replaced whenst worn out.
Stock clutch is working Aokay.
Interior could use a new three spoke wheel but I think is hard to find and fit?
Ignition switch is oem two years old.
Clutch master cylinder I think we'll wait for failure.
Let's go underneath.
Those precious '92 shocks and springs stay.
New snub mount    $75
CV joints repack and replace if necessary.
New 034 drive shaft bearing.  $100
New ebrake cables    $125
New control arms, tie rods, ball joints and bushings... All I think.   $$???
New rear subframe cross members, parts and bushings   $$?
Wheel bearings?
Keep in mind most of these items "we the list" may just continue on
with until failure, but for her, the $7k+  she may spend is still
cheap relative to a new car.  Given a renewed suspension, this beast
could have another 10 years life given it's winter time storage?
I am rather unfamiliar but learning too quickly about suspension /
driveline parts so any suggestions here are particularly appreciated.
I am inclined to just swap it all out but maybe that's not
necessary...??
I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff.
Let me know.
TIA
Bill~hardball urS content~M