super (annoying) shopper

[jab86@cornell.edu]

okay, so for the second time now i have canceled an order for 
suspension, and it is all alan kramer's fault.  remember about three days 
ago when he posted something about GPR having inexpensive bushings?  
well, i decided to call them, as i (at that time) needed a control arm, 
bushings, front and rear strut mounts and front and rear bump stop/boots.

i had ordered springs and inserts from shox.com.  as you may recall, i 
was praising them for being inexpensive earlier this week.  they are 
inexpensive, but when i called gpr, i asked them to lookm into  springs 
and inserts.  to make a long story shorter, they include strut mounts and 
bearings in their strut packages, unlike every other place i've used./  
they were also able to hook me up with a set of h&r springs for my 80q - 
they are not made anymore, and drop the car less than the eibachs.  when 
i told him that i wanted a control arm, he said he could get me a pair 
new with the bushings installed for $159.  i told him that i could get a 
set of rebuilt arms from blau for 119.95/exchange and he countered by 
saying that he would drop the price down to $120 for a set of new oem 
arms with the bushings pressed in, and i didn't have to send my old arms 
in.  

with shipping, the springs and struts would have cost me $540 from 
shox.com - a very good deal, but i also would have had to spend $293.60 
at blau for the other parts _plus_ shipping and handling which i estimate 
at another $35, putting my grand total up to $868.60.  with shipping, i 
am paying $734, a savings of $134.60, and that's real money to me.

i conclusion, i have doneyour comparative shopping for you, and have come 
up with this conclusion:

if all you need are inserts and springs, i would go with shox.com, but if 
you are going to be getting a lot of stuff, call GPR, as they are willing 
to deal and have a great selection of audi, vw and porsche parts.  here 
is their info:

www.gprparts.com
800.321.5432 - talk to gabe, ext 510 and mention the quattro list.

hope that this helps.  i would like to thank alan kramer for putting me 
onto these guys.  you saved me a lot of money alan, thanks.

-joe
1990 80q - 138k, awaiting parts