Got the inside scoop on a red 5-speed 88 5000S quattro (cheap). I've always prefereed the smaller lighter body of the 4000's. If you had a choice which would you get and why, a 4kq or 5kq?

But I'd hold out for a 5000 CD quat, then U get turbo.
Personally if you can find a 4kq, go that route instead. Depends how cheap the 5kq is.

4000 = more reliable, lighter, not a "fridge"

The 4000's are less problematic IMHO. The 5000's power steering systems arent as reliable, and they have more electrical gremlins. The 5000 will of course be a larger sedan, I feel the 4000 is more "tossable".

Mike

Plus, like AudiSport indicated no brake "bomb" / steering rack issues. The 5K is bigger and has a lot more room for people and stuff, however.

Bill
87 4KQT

The 4000 is much simpler and easier to work on. The 5000 is more problematic, but once you get it sorted out it is a much more refined luxury cruiser. However, while the 5000 handles extremely well for a car that size, the handling of a 4000Q will leave you smiling.

I say if the 5000Q has little or no issues go ahead and grab it.

Hope that helps,

Wilson.

both cars, as they share the same generation wiring, door handles, lighting quality, interior quality, etc.

Steering rack leaks happen on all 1st and 2nd gen quattro's, same type of rack. Biggest difference is in the operating pressures and pump design. Newer 5k's have a lower system pressure, and less problems.

The '87 and '88 5kq's are probably the best NA type44 built, period. The best would be a 5kq's driveline (NF/016 based) in a 100 shell ("NG"/01A based).

5k will definately hold the most stuff, and have plenty of fuel capacity.

...loved ripping thru the backroads in the 4kq, so light and not much power to get in to trouble with. My 5kqt is so comfy to drive and plenty of power (for a heavy car with only 161hp it ain't bad). My Urq bridges that gap. Awesome power, light and sticky to the road.

...but the 4kq like what was in my wallet as well. Knocking on wood as I say this but I've yet to have an electrical problem with my 5kqt. My 4kq had a rear window reg. die and I replaced the passenger's side rear taillight assembly 3 times due to corrosion. Me personally I bitch and moan like everyone else when something happens but in the end I enjoy driving them.

I was well over 30mpg on the highway in the '86 before I pulled the engine for my project.

and a '86 5ks. Both were very reliable. The '86 was a bit slow, but still a nice car. Unfortunately, I wrecked it - that was over 10 years ago. After that I got the '87 turbo quattro - that thing was fast!! And it got awesome gas mileage. Didn't really have any problems with it until it developed some electrical problem which even my experienced mechanic couldn't figure out - and I certainly didn't know enough about the car then either. So I sold it :( Over all I think, the 4ks are a lot more fun to drive, though.

They are known for being costly to keep in shape. Problems with the electrics, leaking liquid gold (Pentosin), boost proplems (usually sensor or vacuum problems). From what I've heard (ver owned one), if you do all your own renching, it's not too bad, but if you have to pay for labor....

door handle failure, electrical problems (LCD inst. cluster, bad grounds for tail lamps, MFTS, blower motors, etc)?

I mean come on...The biggest difference between the two is the hydraulic system, seals get old and leak, so what? I've heard more 4k owners have clutch master/slave problems than 5k owners (and I've had the master fail on my 5kq, slave fail on my CQ, Mike's had both go on his 4kq IIRC, moot point if you ask me).

Cars get old, sh!t breaks or goes bad. It happens! If anyone that owns a Type44/4A, type81/85, or type89/8A/8B/8C can't do their own work, they are destined to spend a LOT of money on repairs!

As some others have said, it really just depends on what you want as a daily driver. I prefer the interior of the 5k over that of the 4k, more room by far. Can easily fit 5 people and all their stuff in the trunk (trunk is HUGE).

The NF motor is nice (remove the warm air inlet control box and pick up some hp and it runs to redline w/out dying). I've had the 5kq to 115-120 pretty easily, with some left in it (though the CQ will hit that in 4th w/out breathing hard). Easy engine bay to work on compared to the more crowded B-chassis cars.

The 5k is also fully galvanized, so there shouldn't be rust on an un-wrecked example (the under carriage of my 5kq is pretty darn rust-free).

...and it will be either NLA, $$$, or hard to find. Plus at the end of 1985 type 44 set the tone of how cars were gonna look like in the future (hey the 4000 end up that way in 89) much the way all new cars today look like a 1996 A4. In the end both cars have their problems and both cars have their fans me personally I like them both, because they were built for two different customers, they should never compete with each other. Oh and one more thing I just thought of, If it wasn't for the early 80's 5000 Turbo Desil we'd all be driving Volkswagons Rabbits right now.

It really depends as far as your driving goes. If you take long highway trips often 5kq is the way to go ! Especially with a turbo. If you tool around town and take short fun trips 4kq is the way to go. Although you can also have fun with a 5ktq around town ;) it just likes the highway a lot more than a 4k. I like it because more room and feels safer to drive. And you get very presistant with driving when driving a bigger car around

Trust me...I make the 5kq do what I want it to. Pushing bigger cars hard, and having them not bite you in the butt, is satisfying. Got the '87 into some light oversteer Friday afternoon actually...We have an on-ramp lovingly known as "The Skidpad" ;-)

and I have yet to hear of that from a type44. But I've never owned one, this is all based on reputation and what I hear on the q-list...

That's the kind of stuff I like to do in full sized American RWD V8 sedans (like my Impala). Maybe I need to test drive the ultimate type44....the V8q?~!

Hello, is this thing on? Myself and others haven't had issues for long intervals, and I've said so in here before.

Besides gas, oil changes (DIY), a (finally?) broken rear door handle (had a spare), blower motor (had a spare), and e-brake mech. trouble, I haven't put a dime into the 5kq to keep it running for the past six years (had it 7 years). The first year I owned it, I had to replace the steering rack and clutch master. The rack and MC problems afflict other Audis as well.

Only things wrong with it now are a sagging sunroof headliner, rear shocks/bushings are still original, and needs lifters and a VCG.

5k's are just as easy to work on as a 4k. There are some things about 5ks/200's I prefer to the 4k, like the way you can change out the front struts in the type 44's.

And when you get to interior quality and look, it's impossible to top a nicely kept 200.

Chris