Timing Belt woes - 91 V8 5sp.

["Jim Longo"<jim.longo@bender.com>]

     Folks,
     
     About a year ago several of you were nice enough to confirm that I got 
     a good deal on 1991 V8 5 Speed. You were also *WISE* enough to 
     recommend that I change the timing belt as a precaution, since the car 
     had 72k miles on it. Well, I listened to the used car salesmanger who 
     told me to ignore your good words since "timing belts are good for 
     120k". 
     
     They are not. Mine snapped on the freeway this week with 77k on the 
     odometer. It is sitting at an Audi dealer (not the same one that sold 
     it to me) in New Jersey at this very moment. Initial damage repairs 
     are estimated at $5000. They haven't pulled the head yet, so they 
     can't be sure. The car is paid for and there is no warranty coverage. 
     Everything on the car is in perfect condition
     
     My options as I see them are:
     
     - Spend the $5,000 and let the dealer repair the car and continue to 
     enjoy the best in German engineering until I or the car expire.
     
     - Locate another V8 engine and drop it in - estimated repair $3,500 to 
     $5,000
     
     - Sell the car to the dealer for "something under $10k".
     
     - Fix the car and sell it- I would like to get something under 
     warranty.
     
     Any thoughts ????
     
     
     Jim
     
     
     
     
     Jim.Longo@bender.com