RE: Advice needed: Quattro Hiatus Options

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

Hello Osman,

Yes, it is difficult to know whether or not the car will be a continual
money pit at times.  My advice to you would be to take careful stock of what
you have done, and the way it has been done to determine if the cash outflow
will continue or not.  I am in the middle of the same sort of thing on my
'88 5kCSQA, but since I do my own work it only cost me parts and the
extended down time.  I don't have any direct experience on the Type 44, but
I can say that on my QTC, which is infamously considered a money pit by
some, I spent a good bit of time and money getting the car straightened out
after I bought it ... but since then it served me quite well and cost free
(other than gas ... :) as a daily driver for several years.  Now that I have
had the car 12 years it is starting to show signs that I may have to go
through another round ...

It seems to me that you have fixed many of the weak points on the car
already.  If you have recently done a blower motor, clutch, steering rack,
bomb, brakes and suspension (I don't remember what all you've done) you may
be over the hump.  It would be a shame to have to part with a car that
you've spent so much effort to get sorted out, but sometime you have no
choice.  

Good luck with your tough decision!

Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)

> ----------
> From: 	Osman Parvez[SMTP:oparvez1@nycap.rr.com]
> Sent: 	Thursday, November 12, 1998 9:16 AM
> To: 	Quattro
> Subject: 	Advice needed: Quattro Hiatus Options
> 
> Hi Folks,
>    I need some advice. Here is the situation: My 89 200q, 176K miles, is
> now costing me more time and money than I can truly afford. With never
> increasing pressure from my financial backer (I'm in grad school), I
> have been forced to consider alternatives to keeping my 200q. 
>    So, a couple of things I need to consider:
> 1. Keep or Sell. If I keep it, the 200q goes into a somewhat damp musty
> barn for the next 1.5 years. I will probably have a chance to go home
> and drive it seldomly. I'm rather suspicious that putting the car in
> storage, especially in a barn, will be the equivalent of nailing the lid
> on a coffin. My last experience with not driving my 200q regularly for
> an extended period of time (6 months) was that the car was very unhappy
> with me. 
> If I sell the car, I think that I am unlikely to recover even what I
> have put into it in the last two years. The list of replaced/replenished
> parts is quite substantial.
> 
> 2. What vehicle to Lease/Buy while I am in graduate school. My choices
> are very limited. The vehicle must have low mileage, or be brand new. It
> also has to be in the mid 15's range for purchase, a bit more for
> leasing. 
> My #1 choice is the Passat, which is outside of the range of
> affordability right now. The Financial Backer (my old man of course) is
> pushing for a nice Toyota Corolla or Camry, i.e. an appliance on wheels. 
> 
> This is a very painful process for me right now as I am certainly
> emotionally attached to this 200q. I have replaced many major components
> of the car, including the entire Hydraulic system (clutch MC, Clutch SC,
> Bomb, Rack, Pump) as well as the Clutch, the suspension, and now
> recently (thanks to Igor's help) my brakes. I have Eurolights (still
> without harness) and am running Hak 1's in the winter. I also replaced
> the stock stereo head unit with a Cd player. The Oil cooler lines were
> replaces as well as the Fuel Lines. The starter and alternator were also
> replaced recently. I think I have hit every major failure mode except
> for the EM and the LIfters. 
> 
> My ideal solution is keeping the car as my daily driver and getting my
> money's worth out of it. Howerver, I need to be able to justify this on
> paper over a cheapie Corolla lease (2K down, 168/month). However, I must
> also give serious consideration to the alternatives. 
> 
> IF someone reading this is interested in purchasing my 200q, please drop
> me a line. Although it isn't officially up for sale, You will be the
> first ones to know when it is. The car is Pearl White, Sport Seats,
> Black Interior. It has the usual wear and tear on the body and interior
> of a car with 176K miles, including a few dings. If the car goes
> offically on the market, I will probably put together a simple site with
> photos..and details. Please consider that I am trying to get at least
> what I have invested back out.
> 
> Any and all comments greatly appreciated. Most appreciated are BTDT's on
> owning a 5000csq,200q past 176K mile marker, in regard to cost.
> 
> Thanks ppl.
> -Osman Parvez
> 89 200q (waiting for more brake parts from TPC)
> 91 Golf (on loan)
> Albany NY
>