re: urq (or any audi) costs per year

[John Karasaki <johkar@teleport.com>]

The previous (original) owner of our urq spent close to $30,000 on
maintenance/modifications over the 13 years he owned it.

We have spent a couple thousand this year alone.  This includes doing alot
of the wrenching myself.  (Almost) everything under the hood is extremely
difficult to work on due to limited access.  I really don't like working
under that hood!

Everything in the urq suspension (early at least) is unique to that car and
expensive even through the discount channels.

With the exception of only the PS pump and a couple of hoses, the hydraulic
system is specific to that car as well.  The only saving grace is that the
bomb has a BMW part equivalent that can be had for $40-$50 vs. any of the
type 44 ones at $200+.

The early urq's had crappy electrical wiring and systems in general.  Again
access is limited, so it has to really be a nagging problem before I ask a
good friend who also happens to be an excellent Audi mechanic to torture
himself working on it!

Don't get me wrong; I love the car.  It handles well, stops quick (now) and
goes like stink (now), but even still it is a 17 year old car that requires
regular maintenance -- even more maintenance if you let it sit in the
garage and don't drive it regularly!

Michael Williams won't have to spend much over the next few years
maintaining his urq because now from the dash forward, his car is basically
a 5000CS turbo abet in a much smaller compartment.  He also had the
foresight to have his fuse box upgraded.  Those items alone will save him
$$$ and much angst over the coming years of ownership.

Preaching mode off... ;)



At 12:36 PM 12/14/98 EST, C1J1Miller@aol.com wrote:
<snip>
>As these posts go into the archives, I think it is good to deal realistically
>with the appropriate costs of ownership.  I've been watching the market (like
>most of us) for several years, and don't own an urq because of the
anticipated
>costs for using it as a daily driver.  I'm not comparing the costs of my
>current car; however, it's newer, and many of the above costs will be further
>down the line.
>Feel free to disagree/counter my asumptions; I don't own an urq after all...
>chris miller, windham nh, c1j1miller@aol.com
>
>
Best Regards,

John Karasaki
Portland, OR