Voices of reason... (long)

[ggthack@swansea.ac.uk (Graham Thackrah)]

I spent the morning on the phone tracking down replacement shocks and springs 
for my 84 80 quattro. I have (definately) broken a front right and (possibly)
rear right spring. I thought I'd replace the shocks, springs and, whilst I was
taking all the struts off, the wheel bearings, to save me time in the long run 
and cos I thought it was generally a good idea (126k miles and I like 
roundabouts).

Just for the crack, here are VAG prices for a set of springs:- 423 gbp (inc 
vat). Total for everything at VAG comes to 1147 (inc vat), shocks, springs, 
strut mounts, wheel bearings and bumpstops. HO HO HO. Ho.

Well. I knew it would be a lot so i started ringing round other places first to
see what could be done with non Audi bits. Worst spring prices were 217 gbp for 
a set of 4 H+R springs (inc vat). The cost of the rest of the stuff (except the
shocks, I had quotes both higher and lower than the 293 inc vat VAG price) also
came down plenty.

I then phoned BRMotorsport. Now, I had been reluctant to go down the aftermarket
spring route (honestly, I really had) as I really don't want to lower the car
at all. I have read bits about suspension set up and plenty of opinions as to 
the reasons to stick with the original geometry of the car as it exited the 
factory. The person at BRM was very, how shall we say... definate in their view
regarding aftermarket springs, _especially_ with quattros. I have phoned most of
the well known quattro places in the country and this was the _only_ place to 
even mention reluctance in fitting non Audi springs to quattros, let alone the 
distinct "I've just scraped you off the bottom of my shoe" tone of voice used
to convey their opinion of the suggestion. I took it well I think:) Hey, I like
to use VAG parts where I don't mind paying a little more for peace of mind
(cam belt, head bolts and head gasket spring to mind) what I am objecting to is
unreasonable costing of parts due to reasons other that quality. I guess it 
really is my fault for choosing a comparatively rare older car etc.

Anyway, for once, I don't know what to do. I don't want to use aftermarket 
springs that lower the car. I could ask someone to make me some custom springs
but I don't know what that would cost and I don't know if they can match the
rating and height of the Audi OE ones. I really don't want to pay out for an
OE spring that costs the same for one that some makes cost for a full set.
There simply is not that much differnce in quality, please, tell me there isn't.

I even phoned Audi customer service to ask them about it and got the response 
that, "Audi have lots to consider in their costing for a part." Really. 
Paraphrasing a little, they also said that it was a German manufacturer and as
such I should expect to pay more in the UK. Fine. That explains clearly why 
Eibach, H+R etc manage to charge about half VAG for springs. I then phoned Audi 
Europe in my pidgeon Deutsch, "Ich spreche nur ein bi<esset thingy>chen Deutsch,
sprechen sie English bitte." Painful, I know. They couldn't help me as they 
don't carry dealer prices so they kindly supplied me with the numbers of 
dealers in Munich and Cologne, it was there that I thought I'd spent enough 
time and also didn't fancy trying to explain my predicament in what remained of
my german vocabulary.

I'm gonna sulk for a bit and decide what to do after Christmas.

Cheers for listening whoever made it this far!

Graham.