[V8] RE: car shopping

[Ed Kellock]

I'm a little confused by the comments regarding quattro being extra complexity and expense.  It has been my experience that quattro is essentially transparent, even regarding maintenance.  Ok, there's an extra diff and in the case of the 5k, there are the vacuum operated controls to lock the diffs, but even if those fail, the car is still completely driveable and the rear diff is essentially non-existent when it comes to maintenance excepting fluid maintenance once in a blue moon.  In some models quattro also offers 4 wheel independent suspension with the associated add'l bushings, etc.  But still, I don't see that maintenance of the quattro system should be a deciding factor.  The real issue regarding quattro is the driving conditions that may be expected and what advantages quattro would offer over fwd and if those are desirable.  If so, then any concern over add'l complexity and expense should be mostly moot.

The 5k would likely be the most costly in the long term in regard to maintenance with the sole exception being the failure of the automatic in the '94.  

If the decision must not be made in the short term, then I might suggest waiting to find an '89 or '90 quattro wagon.  Also, you could locate a '92 or later quattro Avant.

I don't really see the V8 as a player given the basic motivation for the decision.

Just thinking out loud...

============================================================
From: "P.Dooley" <pdooley at gte.net>
Date: 2004/06/16 Wed PM 05:08:19 MDT
To: "'Kent McLean'" <kentmclean at mindspring.com>, 
	<quattro at audifans.com>,  <v8 at audifans.com>
Subject: RE: car shopping

The V8 is out of the question since it's no bigger than what you have
with worse gas mileage and higher maintenance costs.

It is between the wagons.  The question is, where will you be driving?
The auto would be nice if you will be in rush hour, stop and go traffic.
The Q would be good for northern snowy climates.
The auto would most likely fail before the manual, but the Quattro does
add complication and expense.

I would probably go with the older car because the I5 is a better motor
IMO.

-----Original Message-----
From: quattro-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-bounces at audifans.com]
On Behalf Of Kent McLean
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 5:34 PM
To: quattro at audifans.com; v8 at audifans.com
Subject: car shopping

Gentlepeople,

I'm taking a job as a traveling sales person. My '89 200,
with 237K miles on her, isn't big enough to hold all the
samples, so I need a wagon.  Since it's a commission-only
job, and I won't see a paycheck for 3 months, I'm bottom
feeding. I was shopping for a mid-90s Passat wagon, but
here's what I found:

1 - 1994 Audi 100 Avant, V6, auto, FWD, 138K miles, needs minor
work. Will probably trade for my Miata for it. Good: newer Audi,
clean.  Bad: FWD. Questionable: the automatic.

2 - 1987 Audi 5K Avant. Quattro, 5-speed, MC-1. 128K miles.
Good: Dirt cheap. Fairly low miles. I keep my 200 as a parts
car (the Eur lights fit). Bad: Older than my '89, mechanical
condition unknown.

3 - The dark horse: 1992 Audi V8, Pearl and black. 173K miles.
Needs some work. Good: it's my lust car. Bad: not a wagon, high
miles, and poor gas mileage.

I'm leaning towards the '94 100 as it's newer and without
the complication of quattro. The 5K avant would work, and
if it broke, I could walk away from it.  The V8 is a crazy
idea that I could be talked in to.

So, start talking.  Should I go for the "reliability" of
the '94 100?  Take a chance on an old 5K Avant?  Or be
stupid and pop for the V8, space-for-samples be damned?
I'm looking for opinions as to "what would you do" given
a) the need for a reliable vehicle, b) that can put a lot
of miles on it, c) with gas at $2.50/gallon, and d) the
need for samples space.

Kent
'89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy"
_______________________________________________
quattro mailing list
quattro at audifans.com
http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro


_______________________________________________
quattro mailing list
quattro at audifans.com
http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro
============================================================