Re: Test drove a new BMW......and AC

[four.rings@MCIONE.com]

Oleg and Elliott both made some interesting observations on Audi's reliability:

I noticed this when we got the '93 90; it was in every few weeks because
something or other was broken.[...] 
So far, this hasn't been the case with mother's new A4.
It's happened on and off; our first Fox was constantly broken, then the
second Fox was pretty reliable, then the 4000 never had a single
problem, then the 90 is constantly broken, now the A4 (so far) has no
problems.  Seems like the luck of the draw, like which one they decided
to check at the factory.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

My experience correlates with yours, fellows:

'82 TransAm - perpetually broken, it went trough alternators, starters and brake
master cylinders like locust through wheat.

'82 320i - no troubles except for a brake MC which I rebuilt using a factory
repair kit (the beemer unlike the Audi had an MC which could be disassembled).
OTOH I only had the car for a coupla mos and finally gotten rid of it - could
not force myself to live with an automatic transmission.

'85 5000s - a friggin' nightmare. Broke every other day, one thing or another.
The only traditional Audi part that did not brake on that car was an automatic
transmission. Perhaps only because it did not have one :-) I loved the car
dearly never the less. Fixed everything, it ran like a clockwork. Sold it to a
friend more than four years ago with 135kmi on the clock, since then he has put
another 100kmi of so without a single breakdown. Pisses me off :-)

'89 Mirage - wife's first car, a tin can on wheels, automatic. Wife hated it. It
blew the head gasket at only 90kmi. Hmmm, here goes the myth about the Japanese
reliability. On the bright side - I took the head off in about half an hour,
alone (must have weight 5kg if not less :-).

'88 VW Fox - wife's second car, crude, nothing was power assisted in that car;
the steering designed for a hand wrestler; 4-speed manual; heavy, always
sticking cable clutch. Wife loved it. The car was absolutely bullet proof. I
serviced it only when had time, poured any oil that I had in the house (except
for only maybe olive oil), even mixed different brands in the crank case. Not a
single breakdown in four years. Clockwork. The car lasted only 2 hours after I
placed an advert in the paper, the very first guy grabbed it for the asking
price. Received yet 12 more calls on that car.

'89 200TQ - has been very good to me so far. I am knocking on my head ....mmmm I
meant wood.

'98 A4TQ - wife's third car. Not a slightest imperfection in 7 mos/10kmi.

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Igor Kessel
'89 200TQ -- 18psi (TAP)
'98 A4TQ -- mostly stock
Philadelphia, PA
USA
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/8949/homepage.html
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