Finally got a 5kcstq!

[Wallace White <whitew@leland.Stanford.EDU>]

Today I finally did it: I bought a 5kcstq. I ended up going with a 138k
car, rather than the 214k one my friend was selling. He wouldn't go below
$4k, even though it needed an A/C compressor and a wheel bearing, and the
#5 exhaust gasket was blowing out. I ended up calling another seller whose
car I'd seen earlier, and she accepted my offer of $3500 for her
fully-functional (except a dead bomb) quattro. (I've already ordered a
bomb from Blau for $279.) I'm very happy and relieved to finally have made
my purchase. It's definitely quicker and quieter than the 214k car was.

And from there... a question or two! The temperature gauge looks dead (or
maybe a radiator thermostat, but the needle's really low). Does it get its
signal from the multi-function temp sensor? If so, I'll see if I can
interpret the Bentley's instructions on diagnosing its state. 

Second, what do you recommend taking with the car on a long road trip? I'm
headed from California to Tennessee and New England, starting next week,
and I'll have the car checked out by the local shop soon. Just wondering
if I should definitely take some things like Pentosin and a steering rack
with me. :)

Thanks for all the advice I've gotten directly and indirectly from the
list--and TIA for all of it I'm sure I'll need once things start breaking.

- Wallace
  '87 5kcstq, 138k, pearl, at last