'88 80 Quattro Oil Leak & dead A/C -- 2nd post

[Cory Brayton <cbrayton@bcm.tmc.edu>]

Thanks to the 1 person who re'd off list -- is this an inappropriate query
for this list?

I've taken the car to the new, recommended service place & am now carless
x2 days -- They did not start to look at it til evening of 1st day & did
not call to discuss till afternoon of 2nd day & can not complete repairs
for another day or 2 but they don't work weekends so make that sometime
next week -- this was after I made appt week in advance for day they
recommended/preferred, and I called the day before I came to make sure that
appt was set/OK -- I guess they're accustomed to multicar families where 1
missing car = only minor inconvenience.

Wrt
1) small oil leak x months -- they say it needs new oil pump for $700.+ --
does this make sense? 

Wrt
2) A/C died 7/15 -- they say it needs new Condenser ($1200+) + new
Evaporator ($1000+) & there is no financial or time savings in having it
all done at once -- does this make sense?

Wrt
Vibration while driving, they say that my Cooper Cobra's (<15K) have tread
separation & I need new tires & the best Cooper will do is give me $15.
discount off 2 of the tires -- does this sound reasonable?

Wrt 
Lawnmower engine sound -- 1 guy said it had to do with exhaust system
(which was replaced completely in 97 by the original Audi dealer) -- other
guy said it had to do with the timing -- last tune up (03/99) adjusted
timing & only made it sound like a racing lawn mower -- does either make sense?

In NYC I used a gentleman called Willie Bitterman (Autobahn is the name of
his business) -- really nice guy, who seemed to like my car, do good work &
charged more reasonably than anyplace else I'd tried in NYC or NE -- I'm
very frustrated, carless & $-depleted here in Houston.

Thanks in advance.

Cory B