Re: Opinions sought about '93 V8q

[Kneale Brownson <knotnook@traverse.com>]

First, let me say I'm sorry about your loss and real pain, Dan.  Hopefully,
all that will go away in a bit.  I once ran my head into a four-place
chairlift seat while skiing, and I had a headache for a week.

That rust that looks like it's on the chromed strip is a reflection of the
rust in the body.  I think ALL type 44's eventually rust where the
galvanized is perforated for the fasteners that hold that strip on.
Virtually every one I've ever been able to examine up close either has that
rust or has been repainted.  

My '87 5kcstq was showing what looked like discoloration on the chrome when
I bought it in '94.  Now there are big, ugly bubbles under the paint at
each of those holes.  I'd have done something about it a while ago, but
body shops wanted half what I could get for the car just to fix those spots
and match the paint above it, and about that same time I discovered
radiating lines of rust around the windshield, an obvious case of earlier
windshield replacement by fools who didn't have the patience required
because of the way the glass is glued into position.

Given that there soon will be a bunch of V8/turbo sedans available from
Audi with some real horsepower, I'd guess that  many of  the predecessors
to the A8 will be on the market at much lower prices than the $22k asked
for your subject car.   Considering that Audi engines seem to last well if
just treated half decently (regular oil and filter changes, mainly), I
couldn't see paying a big premium to get a car with 38k miles as opposed to
three times that, especially if it's going to need several thousands of
dollars worth of rust repairs.  I see '90's and 91's available already for
under $8k.  A '93 shouldn't be worth any more than $15k.  "Book" means
nothing because so few of these cars change hands publicly.

Regards, Kneale Brownson




At 05:20 PM 8/31/99 -0400, Hall, Dan wrote:
>Now that I'm in the market for a car, I'm learning about models
>of Audis that I've only peripherally known about.  One is the V8.
>
>I saw and drove a 1993 Quattro V8.  What it lacks in sportiness,
>it certainly makes up for in opulence.  This one is almost perfect,
>only 38K miles, pearl white, always garaged and looks it.  It's got
>some minor problems:  the glove box latch is busted, the tool kit,
>first aid kit and rear cigarette lighter are missing and, most disturbing
>of all, there's rust between the rear bumper and body.  However,
>it appears that it's the fasteners on the thin chrome strip there that
>are rusting, not the body (which I believe is galvanized).  I think that
>it's the unseen fasteners because the rust spots are almost symetrically
>spaced about 6 inches apart on the chrome strip and some has bled
>onto the pearl white body.
>
>It books for $22-24K but I could probably get it for around $20K
>if I play the Audi enthusiast angle.  The owner is very wealthy, and
>wouldn't miss the $2K or so if he got a good story to go with it.  He's
>already sympathetic to my loss (see my other recent post about my
>poor '89 90q).  He's the friend of a friend who called me the day
>after my accident.  The V8 owner had just offered it for sale the
>day before.
>
>I've searched the archives, and there's very little there to be found.
>What is there is, surprisingly, negative.  My sometimes mechanic also
>didn't have much good to say.  I'd love opinions from my fellow list
>members.
>
>-Dan
> daniel.r.hall@compaq.com
>
>
>