Re: Seems like a lotta 86-89 5000 - 100/200 problems?

[Alexei M Voloshin <Alexei.M.Voloshin-1@tc.umn.edu>]

My understanding is that these cars were built beyond the limits of the 
technology of their times.

All-Wheel Drive
Turbo Engine with a lot of power for it's time
All accesories that are seldomly found on $50k cars today..
Sports-Sedan suspesion in stock form rivaling that of any sports sedans 
now-days... very smooth ride too!
Bullet-proof sructure ( I really don't appreciate the tin-foil sheet 
metal of todays econo-boxes)
Amazing safety even by todays standards
Oh yeah -> they also don't rust in 99% of the cases!

No wonder that things wear out more quickly than on other cars that 
do not offer performance envelope of the 5000/100/200 series. But at 
least all the work and money you put in gives you a driving enjoyment 
very few cars can give even today!

I'm sure that many peope here agree at least with some points that I made.

Alex

> In a message dated 97-03-20 22:49:57 EST, you write:
> 
> << << 
>   Now that I've been on the list for about a month, I've noticed an
>   inordinate amount of problems cropping up for the 86-89 5000/100/200
>   sedans. This is such a general question, but is this due to the age and
>   mileage of the vehicles, or was it just that body style that represented
>   less than optimal build quality and reliability?
>   
>   Sean Ford
>   sean@nwh.org >> >>
> 
> Sean,
> 
> Here's a resend of a response to someone who sent a similar message a few
> weeks ago asking about frequency of repair and repair cost compared to 
> other more common and plentiful cars...
> 
> "My current vehicle is an 1986 5000 Turbo Quattro sedan. 
> It has 153,000 miles on it. Someday when the weather warms I'm
> going to do something about the damn wires in the drivers door jam.  I might
> even lube the sunroof cables and tracks this summer before the blasted thing 
> jumps into the tilt & bind mode. I'm going to take the Rothenberg radio out
> and have it shot. The stinking shift boot won't stay on the console and under
> no
> circumstances will I go through another winter with the heated seats inop, 
> my ass must be comfy. I curse "Art" (of enginering) every time I wash the 
> car and wish he could have put up with a little less stop, and a lot less 
> noise and brake dust. 
> 
> Notice something...
> 
> Here I have an eleven year old car that is driven daily. No mention of "I
> hope it's
> not a rod knock" kinda stuff.  When I cruise at highway speeds, there are no 
> squeaks, no rattles, no wind noise, no water leaks. It starts every day and 
> it is awfully hard to keep in the garage when it snows. Down deep, I hate
> snow. 
> My Quattro makes me want to play in the snow. Every night I go to sleep and 
> say a little prayer that when I wake the Weather Channel will have white
> splotches 
> all over my state.  
> 
> It's not fair for me to talk to intensly about repair costs,  I'm an Audi
> Parts Manager.
> If the shop foreman wants the right parts for his car he's going to make sure
> mine 
> runs just fine. I have a vested interest in everyone out there keeping their
> Audi's 
> running.  I would lack all credibility if I were to sugest that it's cheaper
> to make 
> a part for an eleven year old car than it is for a new car, it isn't.  And
> when even in
> the best of years Audi sold far less than 80,000 cars here in the US, well,
> you 
> understand that economy of scale stuff don't you. " 
> 
> Vince Lyons
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