Re: Checked out '88 80q today

[Richard Beels <beels@technologist.com>]

> -fuel pump noisy
Expected.  I'm replacing mine when parts arrive.  Since all the fuel
lines/banjo bolts/etc..  are one huge rusted mass, I'm replacing the whole
shot.  FP is about $150, Accum is $70, Filter is $10.  Fuel lines, sealing
washers and banjo bolts add maybe another $50-60.  If it's just a low hum,
that's normal.  What's not normal is the change in volume.  Mine's getting
louder and last week we had the "fuel pump gets hot and the car starts
bucking" syndrome.

> -paint on hood in poor condition (car is Zermatt silver metallic),
overall paint condition fair
Told you so....  ;-(  Mine is ZS as well.  It's the paint and clearcoat
seperating.  Every car of this vintage has it.  AoA denies all knowledge of
any problems.  So far, it's just cosmetic and the paint isn't falling off
the cars, but it does look kinda crummy.

> -cracked fog lamp lens
Normal.  You have to replace the whole assy.  Something like $150.  Very,
very, very rare in junkyards.

> -lousy 185 75 14 Pirelli P6 tires (wrong size? and almost no tread left)
Stock is 195/60-14, 14x6, 45mm offset, 4x108 bolt pattern.

> -exhaust system rusty (mid-muffler and rear muffler had outer shells
perforated with rust, but not all the way through yet)
I think my FIL paid $150-$200 for a catback system (Ansa) last year.  I'm
going to need one in the spring.  Mine's starting to bloat at the seams.

Add up the above stuff: 300 + 150 + 300-450 (tires) + 200 = 950-1100 and
deduct that from the $3500 and see what he says.  Hit the web: www.kbb.com
and www.edmunds.com and see how the car prices and use that for your base.
Abovie figures are for parts only, labor and installation extra.  So if he
starts to pull funny number games, throw mechanics fees back at him.

Good luck... 

Cheers,
	Richard
	88 90Q "Hannu" - K+N, new vac hoses, still 0.0 bar....
	88 Golf GTi - PRO Rally