Re: Checked out '88 80q today

[Robert A Strain <rstrain@wam.umd.edu>]

HEY CRAIG>>>ITS A GREAT PRICE!
	And don't worry , I'm not the guy selling it.  I have a 1988 80 Q
with 180, 000 lovely miles on it, and I love it!  

Let me dispell some of your worries:
-the tire size is correct, but everybody I know changes to a popular 14
60/205 tire and a not so popular wheel upgrade (15 inches or 16 for the
"bad boys")  I say not popular b/c of price.
-the noisy fuel pump is NORMAL, everybody's does that... mine's been
sounding like a cricket for thousands of trouble-free miles.  There is a
restrictor thingy near the pump that has been known to cause hard starts,
etc, but they are cheap.  It looks like a canister, if its all rusted, its
probably time to replace it.
-next, the unpainted bumpers could mean that you have a more valuable
"Euro" version of the 80 Q, they imported a bunch from Canada... look for
Canadian import reciepts/stickers/ what-ever.   Mine is a Canadian import.
-Last...the exhaust!   A common mis-nomer with these cars is that the
exhaust sytems are rusted out when the harmless HEAT SHIELDS are rusted
out!  These RARELY rust out to the pipes.  They cost about 900 for the
mufflers (ea) and for a reeason, they last longer than the cars.  Mine
looks like swiss cheese and sailed right through inspection... every two
years.

So, in short, make the guy a lower offer to keep you happy, but buy the
dang thing... you won't regret it!  I never do!

(Paid 3000 bucks for mine)
Write back and let me know if you need any help with anything-- I am a
certified Audi tech/ NUT!
Rob Strain
Certified Porsche/ Audi/ BMW/ VW Technician

On Wed, 9 Dec 1998, Craig D. Niederst wrote:

> Thanks to all who replied to my original post about what to look for on an
> 80q. I went to take a look at it today, and the car did not look too bad.
> The car ran great. Much more power than I expected out of a NA 5 cyl
> (especially one with 137k on the clock). Some of this may be repetitive, but
> here's the highs and lows.
> 
> Highs:
> -new timing belt and water pump
> -new plugs (tri-electrode), wires and distributor
> -interior in good condition
> -AC works
> -heated seats work
> -all windows and sunroof work
> -all switches work (needs some burnt out bulbs replaced, no big deal)
> -no rust
> -diff locks ok
> -clutch felt OK (caught low, so did not seem worn)
> 
> Lows:
> -fuel pump noisy
> -paint on hood in poor condition (car is Zermatt silver metallic), overall
> paint condition fair
> -unpainted bumpers
> -cracked fog lamp lens
> -lousy 185 75 14 Pirelli P6 tires (wrong size? and almost no tread left)
> -exhaust system rusty (mid-muffler and rear muffler had outer shells
> perforated with rust, but not all the
>  way through yet)
> 
> Overall I was impressed with the car. Price owner was asking of $3500 is
> definitely too high though for what needs replaced, in my opinion. Any
> 80/90q owners out there had to replace an exhaust system? How much am I
> looking at? How about the fuel pump? What is the proper size tire for the
> 80/90q? Anyone else with a car of this vintage have paint problems
> (peeling/fading)? From what I mentioned is wrong with the car, what is a
> fair offer for the car ($2500? $3000?)? Any other opinions are greatly
> appreciated. TIA.
> 
> Craig
> '92 100S (76k)
> 
> 
>