[urq] I've -- gulp! -- joined the Dark Side...

[Jeffrey Goggin]

... and purchased my first non-german car!  After coming oh-so-close to
buying a 2001 S4 that turned up locally at a decent price (circa $19k w/57k
and a few modifications), I've instead purchased a 2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R
Spec V that I stumbled upon for less than 2/3rds the price of the S4.
Although it's much ruder-and-cruder than the S4, as befits its price and
econo-car heritage, it's also a blast to drive and from what I can tell,
will prove to be a much less expensive car on which to rack-up what is now
20k/year worth of commuting mileage.  Best of all, it has a warranty, which
means that for the next 18 to 20 months, I won't have to do anything to it
except wash it every other week and change the oil every two or three
months!  I wish I could have found a used late-model Audi in comparable
condition for less than $20k (my self-imposed upper limit), but around here,
a significant majority of the A4s are FWD with slushboxes and S4s usually
start in the mid-20s.  Besides, it's eligible for the SCCA's Showroom Stock
Class B should my itch to go roadracing need to be scratched
semi-inexpensively and in a few year's time, it will no doubt be added to
the their Improved Touring classes as well...

Fear not, though: While I've already parted with my scruffy '87 5kw (no room
for it on the driveway of our new house), and will soon be parting with my
'91 100 (it's got 195k on it and has an automatic tranny ... need I say
more?) and the '88 90 parts car I have stashed at my parent's house, it's
not yet clear whether I will be parting with my '89 200q and there's no
chance that I will part with my '85 UrQ.  I will, however, be using this as
an opportunity to thin my Audi parts stash over the next few months so if
you're looking for anything in particular -- I still have a lot of
performance-oriented goodies on shelves in the garage! -- drop me a note.
(And if all of the above doesn't make you believe I'm absolutely, completely
crazy, I've also found a 2003 Sentra SE-R for even less money that I'm very
likely going to buy for Paula since commuting to her new job will rack-up
20k/year, too!)

Jeffrey Goggin
Chandler, AZ