Re: questions about buying a 1993 90S (high mileage story)

[Ed Skladany <eds@njcc.com>]

Paul Wilson wrote:
> 
> 510k miles and it STARTING to get tired!  Holy crap.
> 
> How about a little story on how you got this kind of mileage?

Well, Paul, it's a long story.  (-:

But the shortened version is that I worked in Paoli, PA for 18 years
while living here in Hopewell, NJ (close to Princeton).  Paoli is south
of Valley Forge, which made it a 65 mile commute, 600 commute miles a week.
I bought the 4000S new in April 1984, and put about 34000 miles on it for
15 years.  They were mostly highway miles, the normal speed on the PA Tpk
is about 75, bumper to bumper.  I got between 30-34 mpg year round, A/C
or not.

Most of the mechanicals have been replaced, of course, but the interesting
ones are the original pieces; A/C system (except for one Schrader valve),
5-speed box, all the power windows (but failing), power locks, and the entire 
power steering system.   The fuel pump and fuel distributor made it past 
the 400K mark and I got lucky and found a fuel distributor in a junkyard
on a Rabbit for $75, much better than the $600 new.  It had different piping,
but it was the same distributor.  I got smart with the exhaust and bought
a Midas system ($450) at 160K miles, and never bought a muffler again, 
they put on five complete systems over the years and I only paid $62 
for a center pipe once.

Tires would last about 80K, brakes usually 100K.  I rebuilt the engine
first at 160K, but it was still running fine, I just got nervous; how
long could it last?  This rebuild died hard at 240K when the oil pump 
failed.  It hadn't been replaced, big mistake.  I bought a factory longblock 
rebuild from my friendly Audi dealer for $1300, and my buddy and I 
installed it. (Stefan's Garage in Lambertville, NJ - a good mechanic).  
Then I found how long these engines would last.  It went 225K before it
started drinking a quart a week, so I replaced it again while it was 
running strong.  Another factory rebuild again installed by Stefan and I
and this one still has half a life to go.  I never had these engines apart,
except for replacing the timing belts, but that doesn't count.  Most parts
came cheap care of Linda at Carlsen Audi. Thanks Linda!

I did all the maintenance myself, save the things I don't have the
equipment for, or when it was too damn cold in the driveway.  (-:
This car has only left me stranded three times; two were shorted
batteries, one was the fuel pump.  It did give me plenty of warning
by singing to me for three years before dying.  The first battery
that shorted happened at night on said PA Tpk at 70MPH.  I hit the 
highbeams to signal the guy ahead to move over, and everything went
stone dead and black, instantly.  Whoa!  I did make it to the side OK.

There's plenty more detail to tell, but I said I'd shorten it.  It's
been an incredible ride and I don't like to part with it.  It just feels
old now, with a harsh ride.  I don't want to spend a grand or more for a 
suspension rebuild so I'm going to find it a home.  I haven't decided
what to do with it yet.

Thanks for asking, Paul.  It's an interesting story that always amazes
people who think foreign cars are junk.  Little do they know.  And we
haven't even mentioned how the thing ran and drove!  I drove it hard
because it was a blast to drive it that way.  It's a sleeper.

Ed Skladany

> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-quattro@audifans.com [mailto:owner-quattro@audifans.com]On
> > Behalf Of Ed Skladany
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 9:01 PM
> > To: quattro@audifans.com
> > Subject: questions about buying a 1993 90S
> >
> > I've decided to part with my venerable one-owner 1984 4000S with
> > 510K miles (that's not a typo) because it's just getting tired,
> > I don't feel like rebushing the suspension again, and the drivers
> > seat is shot.  What an amazing car this has been.  The sable metallic
> > body still looks damn good, only one little rust spot.  I still commute
> > in it every damn day.

[ questions on 90S deleted]
-- 
Ed Skladany
Hopewell, NJ
eds@njcc.com