RE: 5KTQ, 200TQ or V8...what do I do?

[Peter Henriksen <peterhe@microsoft.com>]

I'll preface this with the fact that like Greg, I have a 91 200q wagon,
so I'm not entirely unbiased.

Being the last of the breed, the 91 200 got everything Audi had thrown
at the 5000/100/200 model line up till then. The interior is, IMHO, much
nicer than the 5000, especially the curved elongated dash as opposed to
the squared off 5000/early 100/200 dash. The body is supposedly stiffer
(and the whole car definitely heavier at around 3700lbs. for mine) and
the suspension reworked some. It's the only year to carry 215/60-15
tires on a slightly different BBS wheel (it has a lip around the
outside, whereas the earlier models' BBSs have the "spokes' coming right
out to the edge - also, it's forged, not cast) and has room for more
with the flared fenders. The drawbacks are that they're significantly
more expensive than the other years and that they frequently have
inboard caliper front brakes (UFO brakes). The latter may not be a
problem, but if they warp you can't machine the rotors and consequently
are out around $1000 for a brake job. As for retrofitting the regular
200 brakes (which came on the 91 non-quattro 200s), it's about $1500
plus labour if you can find a front end or put the parts together
yourself, so that's expensive too.

As for the V8, I wouldn't mind having one, but I like the 200 better. As
Greg pointed out, the 200 is more of a sports sedan/wagon to the V8's
luxury. Not that the 200 isn't luxurious, but it feels more athletic
(never thought I'd say that of a 3700lbs car :-).

So there you have it. If you're in the neighborhood, come on over and
have a test drive. There's a 91 200q sedan here at Microsoft too and I'm
sure Mike won't mind showing it to you.

BTW, there were apparently 149 91 200qw sold in the States. I don't know
about the other models, but AoA may have the numbers.
- peter, peterhe@microsoft.com, issaquah, wa, usa
  91 200qw
  94 acura legend gs
  80 mazda 626


>-----Original Message-----
>From:	Warren Rheaume [SMTP:RheaW@foster.com]
>Sent:	Saturday, October 05, 1996 10:37 PM
>To:	'quattro@coimbra.ans.net'
>Subject:	5KTQ, 200TQ or V8...what do I do?
>
>I've been lurking on the list for the last few weeks, and mostly because
>of what I've learned here, I'm in the market for a quattro.  I live
>outside Seattle and want the snow and ice capabilities the quattro
>system provides.  I've also been know to drive, ahem, a little
>enthusiastically, but I'm not going racing.
>
>I've found good examples of late '80s 5KTQs, 200TQs and a couple of
>really nice V8Qs in the Seattle area.  Here's the deal: it's my money,
>but your choice.  What do I buy?  The 5Ks are in the $5-7K range, and
>the 200s and V8s are more in $13-16K land.  Mileage varies
>appropriately.  What guidance can the assembled wisdom on the List offer
>me?  All reasonable intelligent replies will earn my undying gratitude,
>and a latte upon reaching Seattle!
>
>Warren Rheaume
>rheaw@foster.com
>
>XXX Quattro XXXX (what the Xs say is up to you!)
>'86 MB 300E (Grey Poupon? Nah, but ya gotta beer?)
>'72 Toyota Landcruiser FJ60 (be afraid, be very afraid...)