Re: OPINION WANTED : Audi as a "consumer" vehicle (long)

[MSV96@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/28/98 Pcarselle <pcarselle@worldnet.att.net> writes:

<< Please consider:
Turbo oil pressure hoses
Turbo cooling pump & injector cooling fan etc
Additional rear drive shafts, boots, bearings, CV's
Center drive shaft &  bearing, Universal joint
Center and rear differentials, locks, vacuum actuators, senders &
harness, etc...
Vacuum lines trobleshooting & repair
Rear Trapezoidal arms, tie rods, bushings.
Rear sub-frame & bushings
Four wheel alignment 
I estimate the difference in maintenace costs between a FWD and the AWD
Quattro to be around $ 5000 >>

I'm not sure I 100% agree here. To make a fair comparison one would have to
compare the type 44 turbo quattro vs. the type 44 turbo fwd car.

I agree that the type 44 chassis cars in general should not be considered as a
"consumer car" though perhaps the plain vanilla 5000/100 with 5spd *might* be
okay. Let's not forget the potentialy astronomical costs of running that
climate control system and the PS/brake booster hydraulics--same in both
quattro and fwd models of the bigger cars.

Given that the mid 80's 4kq was a Consumer Reports "used car best buy" back
then, combined with my own personal experience with three of them, I would say
that as a "consumer car" the 4kq or CGT is a vastly lower cost per mile car
than any type 44 chassis car over the long haul. Also there is the extra
depreceation cuz the big chassis cars cost so much more new, and the that very
few non-quattro type 44 chassis cars from the mid to late '80's are even worth
keeping alive where IMO many of the quattros still are. Many cosmetically okay
non-q type 44 cars get junked these days because they are too expensive to
repair or have too many problems--the CGTs and 4kqs of that era will live on
because they are reasonable to keep on the road. Only the best of the 5ktq's
will last much longer, and the majority of those in the loving hands of us
enthusiasts who wear the "green badge of courage" ;-) 

I think the best bets for an Audi as a "consumer vehicle" would be a brand
spanking new A4 or for used options a CGT or 4kq (or 4k no-q)....and maybe a
80/90 series car. One thing to keep in mind is all cars break at one point or
another, and that none are perfectly reliable over the long haul.

Mike Veglia
87 5kcstq