Re: '82 tqc (a wee bit long)

["Mike Hopton" <mike@genesis-microchip.on.ca>]

     For 14K US you should get an excellent condition car. The body work and 
     interior should be original and perfect. But, more importantly mechanically 
     it should be sound. I honestly believe Audi's and in my experience ur-qs do 
     better the more often they're driven. Leave the car for any length of time 
     and something will go wrong, just to spite you!
     
     Get a mechanic you trust to look the car over, Look at the tie rods, wheel 
     bearings, control arm bushings, sub-frame bushings, engine mounts 
     (particularly the one near the exhaust manifold), tansmission mounts, rear 
     diff mounts. If none of these look like they've been replaced recently it's 
     a good bargaining tool. You should probably get an alignment and there's no 
     point doing that if there are worn bushings. Check the tyres does it have 
     new tyres, this is not always a selling feature they could have been 
     changed to hide uneven wear on the old set BTDT.
     
     Pull the dip stick out and the engine should stutter but not die, remove 
     the oil cap and it should stall. If not, it probably has a vaccuum leak, or 
     several. Check the diff locks and electric windows work. Make sure the 
     diffs actually lock and that the bulbs haven't just been wired to come on 
     BTDT. Try and get to the car before it's been warmed up, when it's first 
     started, listen carefully for clicking sounds could be either exhaust studs 
     broken or worn valve seats.
     
     Look carefully at the fuse box, located under the dash board on the drivers 
     side. The pre '83 cars have a reputation for very poor wiring. Look for 
     melted fuse holders relays missing etc. Check the correct warning lights 
     come on before you start it, battery, temp and oil. Examine the engine bay 
     closely particularly the vaccuum lines fuel lines and electric cables not 
     to mention the AC plumbing.
     
     I've heard of other other ur-qs with blown head gaskets. According to Frank 
     Sprongl it's only a matter of time - that makes me sleep well at night!
     
     If it has euro lights and bumpers, that would be worth about 2K to me 
     anyway. Pricing an ur-q is really tough in North America there are so many 
     factors involved and no two cars are alike. My advice, for what it's worth, 
     is buy the best car you can buy for your money. i.e. your better to buy a 
     car at 12K which needs no work done than a car at 5K that needs 4K of work 
     done, because that's 4K today and who knows how much next week..... 
     
     By the way I ignored all of the above when I bought my '83 ur-q and in 
     hindsight I'd do it again, no question!
     
     Good Luck, Mike
     
     p.s. Check it has a catalytic converter, remember it's an early euro car.