memories

[Dan Simoes <dans@ans.net>]

A trip down memory lane...

It was because of rec.autos.vw that I bought my first VW.
It was amazing, I could pull down information via a Telebit PEP
modem over UUCP and learn how to fix my car.  Cool.

I decided to get a better VW for my wife, so I looked at Audi,
since I had always liked them.  Watching Michelle Mouton coming
120kph at you around a corner at 4AM on a dirt road has that 
effect, you know. :)

When I first joined this list, I was a member like you, hoping
to get some info about my 1988 Audi 90 5sp.  It was a great car,
and I sold it at 120k or so (having bought it at 88k).
I then took over the list, and felt the need to have a quattro.
So...

1984 Audi 4000sq.  Worst car I've ever owned.  Not because of the car,
but because of its dubious history.  I don't want to count how
much money I sank into that piece of crap, but suffice to say that
it made urq maintenance look cheap in comparison.
I finally got it into good shape, after a head transplant, then
engine transplant, then clutch slave replacement which required
dropping the tranny on a gravel driveway in winter.
I sold it in perfect running order, then got stiffed on part of 
the check.  John Rowles, hope the prop shaft or something
expensive has died on you by now.

Fast forward.  I learned a lot about the 4kq, and repairs in general
from that little red car.  I bought a pretty blue 85 4kq from the
original owner, via the list, sight unseen, in Boston.
My wife thought I was crazy, but the car was great.
Put about 30k miles on it, some regular maintenance got it
into perfect shape, then my Mom rolled the car as I described here
recently.  The car is still for sale by the way, and would make a 
great winter beater.

I bought a car from another lister, this time a 1990 CQ, and discovered
an owner as anal as I am, possibly worse in some areas.  It had 88k,
and I flew to Florida to get it.  My coworkers thought I was nuts, 
until they saw the car.  Today, no one believes it has 104k on it
and is almost 9 years old.  It too had some problems, but it's a 
solid car.

Finally, the latest addition, ironically bought the week before the
4kq rolled, and probably the reason it did (I left the 4kq at
Mom's and took the train to Boston to get this car).
I felt compelled to rescue a 1987.5 Coupe GT, in white, suffering from
a leaky heater core and a few other maladies.  I didn't need the
car, but I figured some family member would want it, or I could
always resell it.

I drove it into work today, after replacing the heater core and
radiator.  What a great car, even though it's "not a quattro."

What's up next?  Dunno.  My wife is not as tolerant of my habit as
say John Karaski's or Glen Powell's, so it's 2 cars at a time.
My wife has the new car bug, probably a Passat sedan or maybe an
A4 Avant ("only if we're going to have kids") so I'm not sure.
Jeff Donnely's 380hp 91 200tqw sounds very tempting, as does a 
nice used S4.  There's always something else.

Not sure why I decided to write this, but I guess after getting
thanked yesterday by Bruce, I felt the need to thank you in 
return and reminisce.  It's because of the list that I know so much
about Audis (and cars in general), and although I enable the
exchange of information, it is your information, your willingness
to share with others, that makes the list what it is.

I have grand visions of what I'd like the list/website to become,
and I'll do some of that to the extent that a full time job,
part time MBA program, and owning a house allow.  Again, without
your help, we can't succeed.

It's obvious that Audi doesn't give a rat's ass that we exist.
We're trouble, we buy and fix old cars, perhaps buying new ones,
but then we shun the overpriced dealers for parts and service,
propagate information about new models and changes, etc.
Sad, isn't it?  I hope this attitude will change one day,
but I'm not holding my breath.

Thanks again everyone.

| Dan |
-- 
Dan Simoes                                dans@ans.net
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