A beater to drive to work

[steeltoe]

My boss has a 1990 Audi hatch back looking car with 89,000 miles on it. It's a stick with the five cylinder motor in it. The only trouble with it is a small leak on the front driverside dash that lets rain water in. He's had new brakes, alt., and tie rod ends put on it. What ya'll think?

 

[Donald]

At least with a stick the most (??) that can go is a clutch unless he grinds the gears or other ugly habbits.

Is he the kind of guy that takes decent care of the car as far as prev. maint?

Look at the exhaust pipe and see the color. Also look at the exhaust. Black is running rich and blue is burning oil. Also can have someone follow you and while your driving take foot off the gas (high vacuum which will try and pull in oil) then after a few seconds press foot down on the gas, if they see smoke, then the rings may be a little shot. This can be tested with a compression test (recommened) also.

 

[eljefino]

If you're into "those cars" that makes a world of difference, as can your mechanical ability.

That would be not fun in the wallet to keep taking to the dealer or preppy euro white-lab-coat center.

See if you can edit the thread title to include "audi" as there are some audi junkies on this board (myself excluded) who can tell you what to look out for.

 

[steeltoe]

Yeah, the whole "nickel and Dime ya to death" has crossed my mind. As far as I know his son drove it for about 2 months before he got tired of it. I believe the gas milage was 15 city 24 highway.