REVIEW (long): Audi FS in Metro DC Area..

[Chris Maresca <ckm@eainet.com>]

At 12:58 PM -0500 1/9/98, Reed Hitchcock wrote:
>     Just a few interesting ones from today's  Washington Post...  
> Standard disclaimers apply..  
[snip -- audis] 

> '91 CQ Blk/blk lthr, 102K, loaded.  "A  fine example of a very rare car" 
> Asking $9500/obo. (703) 803-6848  

I went to see this car, here is my assesment

NOTE: I am not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV.  This is just what I
saw & think, if it's wrong, you're on your own.

Audi Coupe Quattro Black/Black
1991 Model Year #4209
VIN: WAUGE58BOMA004209
101,920 miles

History
=======

The car is owned by a management consultant working for AMS in Fairfax, VA.
It was bought a few weeks ago as a temporary car while in wait for an A4.
Owner claims that he has a friend in PA who owns dealership and got him the
car.  PA tags (forgot to record #).  No other records of maintenance.
Owner believes he is the third owner.

Condition
=========

Body
----
The body in in good shape with little rust. The paint appears to be
original, and the car does not seem to have been in an accident.  However,
there are a lot of scratches in the paint, part. around the door handle
area.  Also, the hood of the car, as well as the front bumper have the
"sandblast" effect from high-speed sand on highways. Underside has little
rust, looks very clean.  The car has aftermarket wheels and 50-series tires
(more latter).  Overall, the car looks good from far, but trashed up close.
It also has a cheesy strip along the side (those ones the dealer charges
you $300 for...).

Interior
--------
The dash and front seats are in fair shape.  The wood panel around the
three gauges in the center panel has some chips in it around the center
gauge.  Wood in this car was lacquered. One of the dummy switches has been
drilled to accomodate a very ugly alarm LED.  The radio is aftermarket with
removable faceplate (did not use or see faceplate...).  There are some
aftermarket tweeters mounted in the dash (in what look like factory
holes??), it's well done, but ugly (they stick-up 3/4"...)  All lights, and
gadgets seem to work.  The glass sunroof worked fine. Front carpets and
seats were all in good shape.  The rear seat, however, was a different
story.  It's obvious that however had the car last had a dog, and that the
dog rode in the trunk, from the looks of it with the trunk cover on the
trunk floor.  The back side of the seat is totally scratched and
unrecoverable.  The front of the backseat (i.e. the sitting part) is OK,
however. The trunk has CD player holder, and a cellphone unit bracket.
Most of the tools seem to be there.  There is a leak in the pass. rear
light.

Mechanicals
===========

Engine
------
The engine pulls strongly, seems in decent shape.  No idea about the timing
belt/water pump thing.  The cooling system, however, is in dire need of
repair.  The front aux. radiator is totally corroded and falling apart.  I
suspect that the main radiator is also leaking.  Hoses, however seem in
good shape.  The hydraulic system, however, is not in good shape.  The bomb
is shot, and there seem to be leaks in the system, but the steering rack
looked OK.  Pentosin was very dirty. The car also has a new battery.  Oil
was marginal.  Exhaust was good, but hangers are almost gone.

Drivetrain
----------
Looked over this carefully.  The diff. lock seemed to work, although it's a
little hard to tell.  ABS OFF light came on as expected.  The CV joints
seemed in pretty good shape, although I could not see inner rears.  The
front diff. seems OK, but the rear diff. looked like it had been leaking
oil.  The tranny seems to have problems.  Although the clutch feels OK
(maybe a little strange because of bad bomb??), downshifting into second
caused bad sounds.  Maybe the syncromesh gear is bad?  The first time it
happened, I thought it was me, but the second time, no way.

Brakes
------
As noted above, bomb is bad.  Also, all four rotors are way passed their
prime and will have to be replaced. Also, it seems that the parking brake
thingys on the rear calipers have gone south.

Suspension & Tires
------------------
As a '91, this car has the rear sway bar, which seems to be an improvement.
It also seems to have aftermarket shocks, at the very least.  Ride was
noticeably harsher, stiffer, and the car did not wallow as much around
corners as my '90.  Perhaps it has aftermarket springs as well, it did seem
a little lower.  Tires are shot, and will have to be replaced.  They are
205/50VR15, did not note brand/type.  The rubber bits in front suspension
seem to be stressed, and in need replacement.

Climate Control, Wipers & other stuff
-------------------------------------
The heat modules (and seat heaters) seem to work, although the AC is gone.
The hoses show leaks in several places, and the control unit shows an error
code of 01.

Front wipers work fine, but the rear stutters.  The pass. headlight washer
thingy is missing (not the whole thing, just the spray bit) and the pass.
side headlight is cracked.  Both fogs are fine.  Rear hatch did not sqeak
at all.


Overall Assement and Opinion
============================

At $9600, the price is a bit steep, despite the '91 improvements which seem
to be as follows:
Glass Sunroof w/ rotory switch
Better suspension
Larger front door pockets
Tweeters in dash?
Varnished instead of dull wood.

The car probably requires $3000 to $4000 (parts & labor [@ $60/hr]) of work
to make it even roadworthy.  This would included:

New rotors/pads all around
New bomb
New tires
New radiators
New pass. headlight

In addition, it needs an AC overhaul, new hangers on the rear muffler,
fixed rear wiper & front headlight washers, new rubber susp. bits, and
perhaps tranny work ($$$$$$$).  It could also use a paint job.

I think this car has been badly abused, and is probably worth in the $5000
to $7000, although the owner will probably sell it to an unsuspecting buyer
for close to what he wants...

As a counter point, the car handles much, much better than my '90.  Maybe
it's the '91 suspension, or some aftermarket mods, I don't know...

Summary
=======

Needs
-----
rotors/pads all around
bomb
tires
radiators
pass. headlight
AC overhaul
rear wiper motor?
front pass. headlight washer
rubber susp. bits
muffler hangers
tranny work??
TLC on rear seat
tailight gasket
paint job

Has
---
Better handling
Glass sunroof
Varnished wood

Recomendation
-------------
Buy only if you get a deal, have deep pockets and patience.  There are
probably more things wrong with this car.

Chris.
ckm@eainet.com
'90 CQ red (looking for '91 CQ Dark Color, low mileage)
'87 RX7 Tii (for sale soon)