npocp, i might actually go buy this edition

"Once_upon_a_pvt" (eagleruwe07) 01/29/2014 at 10:54 • Filed to: None

0

14

EDIT: Totally forgot to post the link. I'm a dumb... !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

So there's a 92 Audi 80 2.0E for sale an hour from me, and I need a car to get around my new home on top of a friggin mountain.

€500 for an Audi sounds cheap to me, but this is 1 of 2 for that price near me now.

The translation mentions a fuel pump, so I called and he said they have it in the garage to see why it stopped starting, would call when they find out.

Obviously I'm not buying a broken car, but is like 650 us dollars to much considering I'm in Germany, and these are everywhere? Assuming they fix the damn thing of course..

Side note, not the actual picture, real ones after the link. I was hoping to bait an owner or 2, and be clued in on what to look out for.

duurtlang > Once_upon_a_pvt 01/29/2014 at 11:01

1

Germany, or Western Europe as a whole for that matter, isn't like the US when it comes to cheap cars. You can get half decent old cars under €1000. And lots of junk as well. But if an Audi like that is €500 there's something wrong with it. The fuel pump issue is a clear problem with that car that justifies that €500 price. But in another car it might be something more benign, like ugly paint. Or an almost expired inspection or worn interior.

I bought a €500 1997 Subaru Legacy wagon a year and a half ago. The starter motor was said to be unreliable by the seller, the inspection had a month left and the distribution replacement was long overdue. This was all clear when we bought it, but we did it anyway as we needed the AWD. After fixing those issues it was fine.

davedave1111 > Once_upon_a_pvt 01/29/2014 at 11:02

0

At that price it might run, but it won't really be in what we'd think of as drivable condition. There'll almost certainly be lots of what we can politely call deferred maintenance to catch up on. But at that price it's hard to go too far wrong - it's not so much more than scrap value that you can lose much even as a worst-case.

CalzoneGolem > Once_upon_a_pvt 01/29/2014 at 11:02

0

Assuming they fox the damn thing of course..

You mean like this?

Once_upon_a_pvt > CalzoneGolem 01/29/2014 at 11:05

1

Lol damn autocorrect

Once_upon_a_pvt > duurtlang 01/29/2014 at 11:13

0

That's what I was thinking. There's a crapton of beaters for under 500 within 100k of me, and I filtered by current inspections. Supposedly it just stopped turning over recently, so if the fix it and it runs it seems worth the buy honestly.

Once_upon_a_pvt > davedave1111 01/29/2014 at 11:14

0

Yea the low costs means it's not a huge loss, but I've noticed the Europeans tend to keep up their cars a lot better then Americans, what with constant inspections.

505Turbeaux > Once_upon_a_pvt 01/29/2014 at 11:15

0

I bought my 20V quattro for $600. Same situation, stopped running on the previous owner. I had a feeling it was the fuel pump, and I went over to look. Dead relay. Took paper clip, bridged the relay, paid the guy, and drove home as quick as I could get out of his driveway.

webmonkees > duurtlang 01/29/2014 at 11:20

0

Yes, you have a timer ticking away, a standard to be maintained for renewal.

In the US certain states want your emissions to be within spec. Otherwise, maintenance is up to the owner and the noises the vehicle makes.

Otherwise, signals. They like signals, but well, daytime..

It would be hilarious to take my Jetta back to Europe and run a MOT series on it. They'd declare it unsafe.

davedave1111 > Once_upon_a_pvt 01/29/2014 at 11:24

0

Yeah, it's unusual to find anything that's been running around more than a year with stuff that's dangerous, since the inspections tend to be annual. It's a big red flag if it doesn't have a year, or the best part of one, left before the next inspection, because it usually means it's either failed, or is about to.

Even so, there's stuff that's immediately dangerous, and then stuff that any Jalop would consider not right. Badly worn steering or some such might still be reasonably safe as long as it's not really terrible, but not something you'd want to drive around with.

In my experience the badge premium on nicer cars tends not to drop below about £200-300, even on a car that cheap, so there's a good chance you're paying 50% more just because it has an Audi badge on. That would be market value, but would also mean the car's likely to be in worse condition than something like a €600 Honda or Toyota.

Once_upon_a_pvt > davedave1111 01/29/2014 at 11:42

0

Yea the badge premium still exists over here which kinda sucks lol. Hell being an American they probably won't call back, but being here a big ass army base, maybe they won't mind. I figure I good once over should bring up anything real bad, and the 4 of them in the local scrap yard should be of some help in fixing things.

Once_upon_a_pvt > 505Turbeaux 01/29/2014 at 11:43

1

I wish I could get that lucky...

Once_upon_a_pvt > webmonkees 01/29/2014 at 11:46

0

Shit I won't be suprised if my e90 has "problems" when it gets over here in like 4 months. It seems they don't give a damn about rust or how nice the seats are, but damnit can a 1.6 liter opel get up a hill over here.

duurtlang > webmonkees 01/29/2014 at 12:20

0

The inspection isn't about maintenance in general though. It's about emissions and safety.

webmonkees > duurtlang 01/29/2014 at 18:57

0

Right, or else vintage Jaguars would never be on the road. :P