[V8] What's it worth?...was '93 V8 5-speed

[Roger M. Woodbury]

The thread about the relative value of the V8 with or without 4.2 engine, or five speed manual versus automatic is interesting.  I think the value is moot.  There seems to be a really limited market for these cars in almost any variation.  No matter, there really are few of these cars around anymore at all.  Here in northern New England I actually know of ONE that is on the road, and that sits in my garage.  There used to be one (looked kinda ratty the last time I saw it) in Bangor, and my mechanic in Lamoine used to work on one that lived there.  He hasn’t seen that car for several years now, and between the two of us, we are unsure if the owner is still driving.  So that is three in the mid-coast, downeast coast of Maine, and the last time I spoke with the dealer in Waterville, he knew of none, nor did the big dealer in Portland when I last spoke with the salesman I knew well there.  That salesman retired two years ago, and to his knowledge the dealership had seen none in two or three years either for sale of otherwise.  

Last fall a guy outside of Portland had a so-so car V8 for sale and he would have gladly taken $2500 for it according to the Craigslist ad.  I write to him, thinking “parts car”, and he had come down to $1800, then the ad disappeared.  I did not go to see the thing, as it was just another ‘90 V8 and more than I would have paid for one with north of “X” miles or worse, miles unknown.

My car just came back from the wrench’s with its new inspection sticker.  Here in Maine, the car must go up on the lift and everything is checked. While my wrench is liberal for my cars, there are certain things that must be done to pass and get that coveted sticker on the windshield.  In my case, there were tie rods in front, and the upper control arms in the rear that had made it through last year wouldn’t this year.  Worse still was the center muffler that was simply shot.  Trust me: you don’t even what to THINK of asking for an OEM muffler, although there may be one somewhere.  They are in the range of $700, IF a dealer has one to part with.  They are no longer available through the Audi parts channels here in the US.  I got a very nice one from Chris Semple at Force 5.  (Incidentally, I think I said this before:  if you need something for an Audi, as far as I could see when I was there, ANY Audi:  call or send an email to Chris Semple.  There is more stuff there than you can imagine, and to my experience the price is very right.).

So my car came back to me now with cruise control and ABS working properly. Both issues were minor although the trouble shooting process took some time. Both were fuse or relay related.  The car is inspected now, and runs exceedingly well.  

On Monday morning it goes to the body shop to get a new bumper and tail light corner installed, and the lower part of the body repainted.  I am also having a set of BBS wheels I picked up from Ron refinished and they will be put on where on my V8 will be as near to perfect as is reasonable for a driver to be.

Incidentally, I am still hoping to find a set of good, used European headlights to install.  When at the wrench’s, the headlights were relayed, both high and low beams, both sides, individually, so I am ready if I ever find a set.  so far, I have investigated some rumors but they appear to be just unavailable on the “good, used” market.  This year the budget will not support a set of new ones, dammit.  (Sorry about raising my voice there.  I just still hope for find a set by next week!).

So to return to the question of “how much is one worth”?  Well, I think they probably fetch $2-4000 at the very most.  I also do not think it has anything to do with how cheaply either an A8 or S8 might be because the cars aren’t very comparable.  I think a person who is bottom feeding for an S8 wouldn’t tumble for a nicer V8 at the same or slightly lower price. The cars don’t look alike, are not really much alike inside, and the V8 is OLDER, which means only a knowledgeable person would buy either one.  

In the end, it may come down to a question of which is a better value.  I personally do not want an S8 or A8.  I do not like the exterior styling of the newer more bulbous Audis over the V8’s rather subdued, blunt and squared off appearance.  For me, my V8 is just about 100%...I am trying to remember if any of the interior switches do not light now, and I know that the shift quadrant light is out, but other than that, I am not sure but everthing works.  At around 80,000 miles, I suspect the car will run for another five to ten years, and every mile the car covers, the value rises to me, and the cost of ownership drops, especially when comparing what it is, and what it does with anything else that I could buy for cheap dollars.

Roger

(Now, if I could just find a set of Euros......sigh)