I am looking at buying a 1990 audi v8 quattro with 145,000 miles on it for my son to drive. The owner is asking $1,400 and says that everything is great except that there is a problem with a reverse sensor in the transmission that causes it to operate in “limp home” mode unless he goes through a convoluted procedure each time he shifts from park to drive. If I was buying the car for myself this wouldn’t be a big problem, I just wouldn’t use park, but since it is for my son, I would need to either fix it myself or pay someone to do it. I appreciate all the advice on this board, and even though this is not a benz question, I would be interested in your thoughts, both on the transmission problem and on this vintage audi v8. Thanks.

I love Audis old and new. Had several over the years. That V8 Quattro for that price is a very fair deal. Worse case scenario is to fix the trans. I dont think it would cost more that 1,000 to 1,500 bucks. Go for it !

Ok, my Dad bought a 1991 Audi 100 new in 1991 and it was a great car...it did have quite a few repairs, but still a good car. In fact, my sister had a Audi 100 and one night we were in a serious car accident. All I can say is that we should have died from the accident, but we walked away w/ minor injuries. From the safety standpoint...go for it. Oh...one thing I remember...my Dad's 100 had like 3 water pumps in 60k miles...one in the first month of ownership.

Ok, my Dad bought a 1990 Audi 100 and it was a great car...it did have quite a few repairs, but still a good car. In fact, my sister had a Audi 100 and one night we were in a serious car accident. All I can say is that we should have died from the accident, but we walked away w/ minor injuries. From the safety standpoint...go for it. Oh...one thing I remember...my Dad's 100 had like 3 water pumps in 60k miles...one in the first month of ownership.

I only recently learned that when someone says "it's a good car" you have to determine what their parameters are.

To some, if it drives good, it's a good car. To others, if it looks good it's a good car.

To ME, a GOOD car is one that keeps on running with minimal necessary repairs. Audi's drive good, look good but are known for an inordinate number of repairs at high mileage.

My $0.02,

Well, I get the feeling that most of you are not audi enthusiasts. I guess I won’t buy the 1990 V8 quattro after all. My wife wants me to buy an old Volvo. What are your opinions on the late 1980s Volvos?

'cuz if you need a rebuilt for one of those larger quattro transaxles, it's gunna be at least $6000., not $1500., according to what I've read over on audiworld.com (which would be a good site for you to visit for information and inspiration). Audi motors have had high points and low points, but the longevity of the V8 motor seems to be excellent, like that of the V6 which was cloned from it, as long as timing belts are given their due attention -- I've got to change it on my daughter's '93 90S (for sale) soon, since she's past 181,000 miles now.

A '73 100S??? They almost all cracked their heads before 100,000 miles, and that motor was Daimler-Benz design!

I think the late 80's Volvos are among the best, longest lasting cars built. Period. But only their four cylinders.
Look for a 240 or a 740. My relatives have an 86 740 GLE that as of Christmas last year was just shy of 400,000 miles. Original engine. at around 350,000 miles he finally put some money in it - a/c, rebuilt front suspension, tranny rebuild, valve job. Virtually nothing has gone wrong.

I do know definitively that Volvo's are the longest lasting cars on the road. This is measured I think by Polk, which determines the longevity of a car by vehicle registrations. This is also the same service where Ford (or Chevy?) makes the claim that their trucks are the longest lasting trucks out there.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

My family run a whole load of Audi's.. I'm the black sheep having a Merc!

We have: '97 A8 4.2 Quattro Tiptronic 25,000m - this is the same engine as in the V8, but with more power. It's not as torquey low-down as some Mercs, but makes up in mid and top end, with a lovely growling V8. Ride not as good as MBs, but it's silver and makes you feel like you're in the film 'Ronin'. Quattro makes it very desirable.

'94 A6 2.5 TDI with 235,000m - no problems except leaks a little water, only had it 8 months, but full Audi dealer service history. Only ever had service items, not even new suspension, rides like 80,000m

'87 80 Quattro 1.8 injection 120,000m - doesn't quite compare with a 190E, but nice enough for an '80s car, fundamentally reliable.

'97 A4 1.9 TDi (110 bhp) 105,000m - excellent, reliable, but not the quality and desirability of a Mercedes.


All are fundamentally reliable, though occasional problems can occur (as with any car), it's never anything big (problem areas: central locking, electric windows - make sure you check these). The family runs an independant garage, and we wouldn't have Audis if they weren't reliable!


later,

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
190E's:
2.5-16v 1990 90,000m Astral Silver
2.0E 8v 1986 107,000m Black 2nd owner
http://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall.jpghttp://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall2.jpg

I don't think it would be a good car for a young person...safe , yes, but a money pit to maintain...he'd be better off in a Golf GTi 16V or like a subaru awd type of car...and look cooler too. At that mileage on a Audi (upscale VW) most everything will need attention very soon and be pricey...a sweet car though...in its day. They were close to like 60 grand weren't they, new?

__________________
Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

I'm a big fan of Subaru's as well. I know they don't have the prestige of MB and Volvo, but they are incredibly durable cars. I have cousins in Anaheim who drive nothing but Subaru's. They have 3 of the old GL wagons. He bought one brand new, and purchased two that were wrecked, and built one good one. So he has two drivers and one parts car. Both of them have in the 250,000 mile range and continue to run even though he abuses them (in my opinion). My dad, who was one of the best mechanics I ever met, before he died, sold his MB 380 SE with 399,000 miles and bought an 86 Cadillac Fleetwood (rear wheel drive). He borrowed one of the Subaru for a couple of months in between cars. Because he was such a fanatic about cars running properly, he did some work on it and felt that it was better engineered than his MB. Meaning that it was less complicated and durable.
Also, they are crashworthy. I posted a loooong post in a thread titled Saabs? in the open Discussion forum. Check it out.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Oh, yeah, I just noticed you're also in Minnesota. All Subaru's are AWD. You have snow, so it would be practical.
I also know that their AWD system is very reliable, as opposed to MB's 4-matics.
If you travel a lot like I do, and go to places where there is snow, like the Northwest, Denver, New England, Subaru's are ubiquitous.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Subarus aren't all AWB, even if they may only sell AWDs in the USA. Also, we are comparing with Audi's Quattro system not MBs 4matic... to describe Quattro as reliable is to suggest it can go wrong. Put simply, it doesn't, and won't.


later,

Russ

__________________
190E's:
2.5-16v 1990 90,000m Astral Silver
2.0E 8v 1986 107,000m Black 2nd owner
http://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall.jpghttp://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall2.jpg

O.K. fine, I'll take your word for it that Subaru sells non-AWD vehicles somewhere in the world, just not in the U.S. or Japan. But for all practical purposes, the fellow in question lives in the U.S. so every Subaru he will find will be AWD.

My statement that Subaru's AWD systems are durable is not to suggest that they'll never break. It also doesn't imply that therefore every other AWD system is unreliable.

While this discussion started at as an Audi Quattro topic, it devolved into a discussion on Audi's in general, not the quattro system. It then devolved into mentions of Volvo, VW, and Subaru.

The comment about MB's 4-matic system was just a freebie. No charge to the reader.

Last, I'm afraid I'm not quite sure what you mean by "...to describe quattro as reliable is to suggest it can go wrong. Put simply, it doesn't, and won't." When people suggest that something is reliable, it doesn't mean that it will never break.

I really don't have any personal experience with Audi Quattro's and have never spoken to anyone who has owned one. The reputation that they have is that the system is highly regarded and is quite reliable (no implication that it will last forever without breaking).

Have a great day.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Not true many many until fairly recently were sold here as front wheel drive. my neighbor has a front wheel drive legacy here in New York that I think is in the US. It has only been until the last few years that they are "all" all wheel drive. I have even seen some that have all wheel drive on them that are in fact front wheel drive in some used car lots. So be careful. Most of them are reliable though. This is important especially since given the price range he will be looking at older ones (80's-early 90's), you know the really ugly ones.

__________________
Currently
1991 Mazda Miata 174000
1991 Subaru 189,000 Winter beater

got rid of:
1984 VW Vanagon 195,000
1976 350SE Euro 185,000 KM
1973 280SE 4.5 (boy do I regret that)
1980 280SE European W126 4 speed manual (miss it)
1989 BMW 735iL 119000 (good riddance)