Re: Audi 100 (5000 ?) Prospective Purchase

[David Boyd <john@dboyd.demon.co.uk>]

I've been looking at a 1988 Audi 100 2.0E saloon, 5 speed manual gearbox,
which is for sale locally, with a view to replacing our older Audi 90, used
by my wife. It is very cheap (GBP 800 or less); the power steeering pump is
leaking very badly, but I have a spare one of those. The only thing which
worries me is a whine from the transmission - moderately loud but not really
intrusive, and quite low pitched, and seems constant with road speed rather
than depending on which gear is selected. The present owner has towed a
large caravan a lot, which no doubt has worked the transmission quite hard.

Can anyone offer any advice as to whether this is just wear and tear (it's
done 117,000 miles) and likely just to get worse gradually or is it
indicative of impending disaster ? I really can't make my mind up whether or
not to take the risk, but need to let the seller know very soon. The 90 is
quite well sorted now, but is worth only peanuts and will probably not be
worth spending a lot on future repairs, and it's also starting to rust a
little round the edges, whilst the fully galvanised 100 shell appeals for
the longer term.

(This saloon is exactly the same metallic grey colour and interior trim as
our '91 100 Avant, so if I buy it, we'll have a matching pair - how twee !)

Regards

David

Cumbria, UK