[V8] I Gave Up

[Walter A. Hanks]

Hello again fellow Audi fans.  I have a confession to make.  While 
the list was down my V8Q continued its self destruction.  It started 
with the right rear caliper freezing up.  The mechanic showed me that 
both rotors needed replacing anyway, so the estimate was $1011.

But, as he was showing me the brakes, I noticed that several joints 
in the exhaust system were rotting out.  When I asked him what it 
would take to repair them, he just shook his head and said "you don't 
want to know."

Well, I don't have another $1K right now, so I took her home.  The 
next morning the transmission wouldn't go into gear, at least not in 
economy mode.  If I switched to sport mode, it worked, and I could 
switch it back to economy later and it would be fine.  But every 
morning, it was the same game.

So, I decided that enough was enough.  In the 4 months I owned this 
supposedly "well maintained" car, I had put $4K into repairs and 
still hadn't touched the electrical issues.  As much as I enjoyed the 
driving experience, I just couldn't justify keeping her.  So I traded 
her in on a '98 Chrysler Concorde.

Thus ends this roller-coaster ride known as my Audi V8Q experience. 
I may buy an Audi again some day, but it's going to be a while.  And 
I won't ever buy one as old as this one was.

However, I did want to thank everyone who tried to help me through 
this nightmare.  I especially want to thank Alan Kramer, who was a 
great local resource for me.  I hope you all continue to enjoy your 
Audi's, and that you all have better luck than I did.

Bye now!

Walt Hanks
Former V8Q owner