Potential 200TQW Purchase

[Paul.Chang@ci.seattle.wa.us (DOM13.P1303:CHANG)]

      Date:  02/09/1998  03:20 pm  (Monday)
      From:  Paul Chang
        To:  Quattro@coimbar.ans.net,  Quattro@coimbra.ans.net
   Subject:  Potential 200TQW Purchase

Dear Listers,

I have never owned an Audi but have been lurking on the digest for the
last few months with the idea of eventually acquiring a Quattro.  Well, a
nice prospect came along and I have the following questions.  The car is a
1989 200TQW with 121k mi in what appears to be fairly nice condition. The
asking price is 7300. with an extra set of studs on Ronals.
1. The car spent the last few years (at least) in Utah.  Does any Utah
lister know if the roads are salted in the winter and how it affects the
longevity of the body?
2. The boost gauge has no light and is very difficult to read.  The seller
said that it is not equipped with a light.  Right or wrong?
3. With the engine off, I stepped on the brake pedal 35 or 40 times with
no change in feel.  Is the bomb supposed to last that many strokes or did
I do something wrong?
4. The steering rack and PS pump show no leaks nor emit any unusual
noises.  Yet at parking lot speed the steering feels heavier than all cars
(American, European or Japanese) I have driven in recent years.  Is this
normal?
5. The car idled at normal speed initially.  After a short run on the
freeway the idle climbed to 1200rpm.  The seller said that the car needs
an Oxygen sensor.  He said that disconnecting the sensor would drop the
idle to 700rpm.  Does this sound right?  If I buy the car the first thing
I have to do is to pass an emission test.  Any idle speed above 1100rpm is
an automatic fail.
6. Since the car had the studs on, I did not want to drive it hard on bare
pavement.  At half or three-quarter throttle, the car felt anemic compared
to normally aspirated engines that I am used to.  Does one have to floor
the throttle to get serious power out of the turbo engine?  The oil
pressure was 4 bar at cruising so that was good.

Any help or suggestion is greatly appreciated.  If you want to e-mail
privately please send to pmchang@worldnet.att.net, not the above address.
Better yet if a Seattle lister is willing to help me eyeball this car and
tell me if I should pursue it further I would be truly grateful.  Of
course I know that the car needs to be put on a lift and checked more
thoroughly.  But at this point I really want to know whether it is a dud
or the real thing.  My phone number is 206-522--0548.

TIA,
Paul Chang
Seattle, Wa.