Re: 1983 Audi Quattro

[AVAHIFI@aol.com]

My only toy is a 1983 Audi Quattro I purchased new in the fall of 1982.  It
is still in near showroom condition - one very small door ding (stored indoor
and stored winters, driven only for fun - mostly long out west vacation
trips, never driven to work, and never abused or raced).  It has a European
Audi full instrumentation dashboard (adds oil pressure, water temp,
voItmeter) purchased at ABT in Germany during a trip there in 1985, European
black tail lights and blende (got them at ABT too).  I had the dealer convert
the diff. locks to the 1984/85 two stage configuration so the middle and rear
diffs can be locked separately depending on road conditions. Its Gobi Sand
paint is near perfect as is the dark brown leather interior. It runs like new
too.  Repairs have been exhaust (now has lifetime warranty VW/Audi
replacements), exhaust manifold gasket and upgraded bolts, and power
steering/brake pump seals.  It just turned over 70,000 miles.  I wonder what
it is worth now?

Two  observations.  I have kept the Quattro polished with Blue Poly from Blue
Coral since it was new and have found that stone chips do not develop surface
rust with this treatment.  I have thus used it on my other mundane cars and
no rust on them either even though they (not the Quattro) have to suffer with
Minnesota winters.

On my Audi service department's recommendation (Carousel Audi of Minneapolis
- perhaps the best service department in the USA - at least in my book) have
used Mobil One Delvac 5-40 synthetic truck oil in the Quattro since it was
new.  The turbo bearings are still perfect and the engine sounds and runs
like new - no oil consumption and no internal troubles ever. Mobil One Delvac
has since gone in my work cars too with equal results - no problems and it
makes for easy winter starting.

Every year I go out and drive the latest and greatest jelly bean from all the
pretenders.  I have yet to find anything that is even remotely close to the
combination of overall security in driving feel, ride, comfort, handling,
quiet, and workmanship detail as my 83 Quattro and certainly nothing that
will carry four large people as comfortably for long distances. I am pushing
60 and Minneapolis to Central City (nearly 1000 miles) is still an easy
summer day's drive with the Quattro - without disturbing other drivers on the
road or the highway patrol.