Re: '85 Ur-Qs ... much ado about nothing?

[Anton Gaidos <anton_gaidos@mentorg.com>]

I'm sure glad to hear I'm not the only guy out here worrying through all this.
Jeff's statement about bringing our 85's up to euro specs is a good one.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't that be a cam, wastegate and a different
computer? Does this equal something like 220bhp?
 I do have a question for you particularly Jeff. If you choose not to install
the 2.5L motor and stay closer to stock would you still replace your turbo with
a w/c version?
Thanks
Anton

Jeffrey J. Goggin wrote:

> >But again comes the question of the cars future collectability.
> >Considering it is just a car I have been grieving over these very
> >thoughts for sometime. I need to do something with my turbo in the next
> >seven weeks but I just can't come to a decision-factory original or wc.
>
> I've been having the same problem myself with regard to MY '85 ... although
> I own the car and it's mine to do with as I please, part of me feels a
> responsibility to preserve it for the future, especially since most Ur-Q
> owners have modified their cars by now.  On the other hand, another part of
> me thinks "Wow, what a great car! Just imagine how much MORE fun it would be
> to drive with TWICE the power and better brakes."
>
> For a while, I thought I'd resolved this issue and decided that so long as I
> limit myself to reversible mods, everything would be cool, that I could eat
> my cake and have it, too.  However, I'm not sure this is realistic in the
> long run since lots of little parts (clips, brackets, screws) will disappear
> over the years and I know that my ability to document exactly what they are
> and where they go isn't adequate enough to guarantee that I can properly
> return the car to stock form five, ten or even twenty years from now.
>
> >With only 73 cars like mine in the world I have to weigh these thoughts
> >heavily.
>
> Although Ur-Q owners elsewhere in the world are probably chuckling at the
> idea that someone's concerned about preserving the originality of an '85,
> this is as good as they ever got in the US.  While it might be possible to
> import a 20v and license it here in the US, I dare say that few people will
> consider this option given the potential headaches involved let alone the
> additional cost over-and-above that of the car.  As such, our '85s presently
> are (and will likely remain) the Ur-Qs of choice for most enthusiasts...
>
> Frankly, I don't know where to draw the line here.  Personally, I'm about
> $1,500 into assembling a 2.5L motor for my '85 Ur-Q and I've started having
> second thoughts ... were it an '83 or even an '85 that wasn't in such good
> condition, I wouldn't think twice about it.  I mean, selling them with only
> 160 hp in this country was a joke and the "Ur-Q experience" that I'm so
> concerned about preserving is already diluted quite a bit as it is ... in
> fact, I think a compelling case could be made that returning the cars to
> their european origins is not only acceptable, it's essential if one wants
> the true "quattro experience."  IMHO, this one's a tough call...
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
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>    / |      _| o    | \       _| o  Jeffrey Goggin
>   /__| | | / | | __ |  | | | / | |  audidudi@mindspring.com
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