<br>How to be financially upside down in a car that is paid for. <p>How many of you people with old school Audis spend more/less than $3K a year on them (total mods repairs etc., no matter how many you own). Be honest.<p>Todd W<br>(can't keep the old one running the 4 months until I get a new one)

 

I've spent about $5K on the 90Q this year, but that includes $1200 for wheels and tires, $300 for snow tires, Front brake job (normal), and other regular maintenance such as plugs, lubes, belts, etc. Unexpecteds were a vaccuum pump ($500), fuel pump ($500), and clutch master cylinder ($300?). Regular maintenence includes synthetic oils and genuine filters, etc.<p>Any way you look at it though, quattro has nothing to do with any of it. The only extra that quattro has ever cost me was a rear diff. seal, and the oil the diff. carries. Probably $300 total for the life of the car for the quattro. <p>It's amazing how fast it adds up though!<p>General disclaimer crap:<p>Cost reflected does not include gas, registration fees, or insurance. Individual costs will vary from car to car and owner to owner. Cost of ownership is thereby affected by many different factors and this example is in no way meant to indicate a standard cost of ownership for the '89, Audi 90 Quattro. Your ownership experience may vary accordingly! :-)<p>Charles<br>

 

I would have ditched this car long ago if I didn't love quattro so much, and you would have to!!!

 

...then I probably would have bought a BMW or something, and I'd still be spending the money! I have sworn to myself I will never go back to the dark side (Japanese cars)! I also think I would still like my car very much without quattro. Having the option though made it a no brainer. :-) What am I gonna do if I get the TT? Tranverse engine (not a 5 banger at that!), and a TorSen"less" quattro system! I'm still having a hard time with that! It's pretty obvious that I'm "old school" if I'm so attached the the 5 cylinder motor and the TorSen based quattro system! :-)<p>Charles<br>

 

Therefore, I wouldn't be foolish enough to spend this much money on any car. I'd just get another truck. I may end up buying that 99 A4 Avant with 5K miles, if they give me any kind of deal. I just can't keep this heap running until the fall. It was such a great car until I hit that manhole. Now it'll cost me $3K to fix it, when I could probably only sell it for $2.5K running. If I fix it, then I can't afford a new one until next year. One stupid effing exhaust leak!!!<p>Todd W<br>FS: 86 5ktq, pearl/tan, 1.8 bar, Eibachs, 16" wheels, needs EM - $1.5K

 

You maight just have to go see KC down at JT's Ford and order up an F250 stepside 4X4 to drive the cattle on the ranch. <p>I admit that quattro was a HUGE selling factor when I bought my car. I fell in love with quattro in high school when two people I knew had them. One was a girl who drove a 4000 CS Quattro, and the other was this guy with a white UrQuattro. Needless to say, the Ur really made me drool! :-) <p>Had I never bought such a car, I would probably still be driving cheap cars and would be happy, but once you've done it, there's no going back.<p>A friend of mine offered me $8K for my car the other day. He wants to get rid of his '97 Passat GLX VR6, and has always like my car. He's about the fourth person to express interest in the past couple months. Maybe I should sell to the highest bidder and ride my bike until I can get a TT! :-) I'd be willing to bet that by next fall, I won't be able to pay someone to take it off my hands. <p>Speaking of this friend, did I ever tell you how I ended up with the 90Q? This same friend was buying a Condo, so he sold his '91 Honda Accord to help qualify for the loan. So, I was car shopping with him, trying to find a cheap car he could buy and drive until he got situated with his Condo. Anyway, as luck would have it, I was the one who ended up buying a car. I had driven a '91 earlier and decided it was too much, but then this car was staring right at me, so we drove it. THe next morning, I FAXed an offer to the dealership right before taking my '93 Civic in for warranty work. THey accepted my offer for the 90Q, gave me a very good trade-in offer on the Honda, and as soon as it was out of the shop, I drove it to the dealership and off I went in the 90Q. So, I traded in a two year old Honda with 25K miles for a five year old Quattro with 56K miles. Everyone called me crazy, but I knew it was the right thing to do. No regrets since!<p>Anyway, I better try and find something useful to do! Talk to you later!<p>Charles<br>

 

Sell yours, buy mine, fix cylinder head for $2K, drive until TT, sell mine for $4K (worth more in Seattle).<p>:-)

 

In unrelated news:<p>I was on the freeway today (in the A4), and I noticed a new Hibiscus red 1.8TQ with sport package to my left. What a great color! I usually don't go for the dark reds, but hibiscus is awesome! <p>Then, as I moved forward, there was a brand new Avant (still had temp sticker) with sport pack and in pearlescent about three cars ahead of the sedan. Don't see many pearlescent cars anymore, but it looked great! <p>Well, while I was distracted looking at those, my friend yelled to tell me that an S6 went by. Sure enough, I looked to the right and there was the back of a black S6 taking the offramp at a much better speed than I was able to attain in my lane.<p>I have to admit though that I was pretty taken with an M3 Lightweight that passed me also. I heard it before I saw it, as it had a custom exhaust with DTM tips, and sounded incredible on throttle lift and with throttle down, as well. I'm no pro, but I'm pretty sure it was the real deal. It was certainly atleast a real M3 2 door.<p>Anyhow, I just thought I'd share my experiences of the day! :-) Later!<p>Charles<br>

 

it just might have been a redneck, uh, lightweight.<p>All lightweights were white with the swath of squares on the right front corner, not that some haven't been repainted since then.<p>Looks like I'll be fixing the 5ktq and putting off getting an A4 until next year. Maybe the S4 Avant will come over next fall? :-) I also seem to be stuck with the UrQ, so I'll tinker with it too. I just won't go hog wild on it like I want to.<p>Todd W

 

It was white with the checker pattern stuff on the corner, and had a very aggressive stance. I think the side emblem was different too, but I'm not sure. Either way, it looked and sounded like a fun ride! :-)<p>No A4 this week, huh? I'll be waiting to hear next weeks plan! BTW, I thought you said you sold the UrQ. Somebody back out?<p>Later!<p>Charles<br>