RE: Decision Continued woe or let it go?(long)

["Colin Barfoot" <Colin_Barfoot@msn.com>]

Michael,
I also have to give this thought frequently!
I bought my 86 5000 CD Quattro in 1990 with 126k on it from the dealership 
owner who had spend over $4kin th previous year fixing it.  Fortuneately I 
insisted on a used car warrantee.  I'm probably the only one who ever used it 
to the $5k limit ($5k warantee +$3.5k me) included things like power steering 
rack +pumps, rear diff rebuild, AC components, Alternator, starter,brakes both 
rear calipers 2x, etc,,, at that time I thought I'd keep it until the 3yr 
warantee expired.
After replacing all that I thought I must have taken care of wear out 
components, and was right so over the next 2 years, it only cost 1.5-2k/yr for 
exhaust,another steering rack, pump rebuild, brakes -rear caliper rebuild 
rotors etc.  This was great! Though after the motor mount wore through the 
$500 AC return line for the seond time I sacrificed the A/C.
This year $3k for broken front springs, rear shocks, front and rear rotors, 
suspension bushings, brake lines. The radio is out of service.T least withthe 
susoension I got 4 H&R plus Boge turbo front, hydraulic rear a new sport 
suspension (though I would have liked to try A STEADI system $$$).
My thinking has been ...
1. There is nothing out there new that could replace it, size, quattro, perf, 
handling, gas mileage, luxury for less than $50K cdn. i.e a new S6, or perhaps 
30v A6, the new Passat perhaps ($38k). Finance charges and depreciation for a 
new one will quickly reach my annual maintenance expenditures.
2. I've only get 290,000 km on mine and it should be good for another 200k km 
or so.
3. Rust protection...Audi's don't rust as long as you keep them touched up, I 
had to sell my '83 GTI with 330,000km, because the floor, and front frame, 
dooor, rear hath rust was getting so bad.
4. Another used Quattro (very few around) could easily go through an $8k 
maintenance year.
5.  I haven't fully explored the performance yet, Scrapnel Knobben (r) on the 
way.
6.  This is my tent trailer pulling car and my kids, 6,3 and 5 wks will likly 
enjoy it for another 10 yrs or so.
7.4WD Ski Car.
8. Unstoppable car pool car. One buddy can't walk up his glacier of a driveway 
and keeps his cars at the top all winter but I pick him up at the door.  I 
also get home 1/2 hr faster, driving in the 6"snow passing those single file 
in the track.
9. I love to drive my car... almost as fun as my 90 Corrado.
10. The Corrado won't take the whole family anymore.
11. When the Corrado was on PEI (inlaws) came first in class in the Autocross.
12. So far I have been blessed witg sufficint incometo afford the repairs and 
a wife understanding enough, she likes the car too.... but would probably 
settle for a Honda or Toyota.
13. I Feel safe with my family in adverse conditions.
14. buy most parts from the US aftermarket save > 30% on cost.
15. Quattro list yeah!!
16. Kanc/indy ... someday.
I hope this helps
Colin
86 5000CD Quattro(TQ) 290,000 km
90 Corrado 115,000 km

From: Michael Eck <meck@ptd.net>
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 19:33:54 -0800
Subject: MAJOR DECISION

Ok Q-Listers, The Big Question:

At what point would you give up your Quattro?

Reason for question: 86 5KCSTQ, 180K, spending big bucks to keep it
running, unsure what the future holds, but love the car madly.

Michael Eck
86 5KCSTQ
88 GTI 16V