Re: V8 Quattro Newbie - maybe

[Bryan Kamerer <kamerer@concentric.net>]

At 11:44 PM 10/13/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Greetings 
>I have been looking for a V8 Quattro for some time. I finally found
>one-a 1991 with 80k miles, auto., all options, no CD, no LSD. Body in
snip
>
>1- How much should a car like this go for? (North East)
>2- What should I be leary of? I was told the V8 steering racks go.
>Certainly brakes (this one is on its fourth front pads, second rear). 
>3- Any particulars about the 91's? Negatives or positives.
>4- Any thing to worry about given the relatively high mileage on the
>car?
>5- What is a good aftermatket mail order place? 
>
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>
        1) In much thorough pricing over the last year, I have seen '91's
trade for:
        
        Auto                    5 spd.

        $12k - 14k               $17k to 23k

        That's a huge spread, and these are trades, not "asks."  I have done
this to a) document my car value in case of a theft/total, and b) out of
curiosity.  The trend has actually been firm/unchanged to up over the last
year as Audi's massive increase in consumer preference and perception has
firmed used values.

        2) Have never head a warning on the rack.  Major concerns are brakes
and auto tranny.  Enough reading about the original auto tranny can be
enought to scare you away unless receipts document major software or
hardware replacement by dealer.  (It scared me enough into holding out and
paying up a little for a 5spd and avoiding the auto altogehter).  Excellent
bulk e-mail on this subject and many others V8-wise was provided to me by
Eliot Lim, which I do not have digitally.  You can get it three ways - a)
perhaps Eliot can still forward it, b) do a search through the archives for
V8 and "brakes" and "trannsmission" - it will take lots of time to cross
reference all hits but will be worth it, or c) give me a fed ex number and I
will xerox it and send it to you (I kept it in hard copy).  You did not
mention if this car has UFO or altered brakes.  *Major* pros and cons *both*
ways.  A whole book can be written here, and has been on-line.

        Another issue which is annoying as hell is the radio.  You cannot
upgrade easily to an aftermarket unit as the self-powered speakers and
peculiar wiring stump most sound shops (i.e. - guys with 10th grade
educations).  You'll have to do a little homework here yourself.

        3) (Quoting Eliot here) '91 was little changed from '90.  Center
dash hazard light (minor +).  Voice activated phone (minor +).  Lined trunk
(ditto).   MUCH better looking BBS wheels instead of old-style disks (+).
Standard seats instead of deep sport (-).  Servotronic steering (-).  Higher
rear end ratio on auto model vs. '90 (-).  What do you get if you go up to
'92?  4.2l instead of 3.6l (40 more bhp).  No major probs with tranny or brakes.

        4)  That is not high mileage.  Lower examples can be found in this
car, though, as many of them have not been flogged.  80k is very average for
that year.  I have had absolutley no problems beyond the norm with my car,
though it has always been garaged and serviced well beyond the book.  How
well the owner took care of it and how he stored it is much more important
than mileage.  If it wasn' garaged I wouldn't buy it, and if it sat outside
in a work place parking lot, I'd keep looking, also ( I am picky, and you
can be with these cars as there are plenty for sale).  I see lots for sale
in WI, MI, and that area that look way clean and have low mileage.

        5) No experience - nothing breaks (genuflect) on mine.

        Bryan Kamerer