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02/05/1996
By EWAN KENNEDY
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The Audi 80 and 90 are fully imported small to mid-size German cars. In the European market they are regarded as being on par with BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the prestige stake. But in Australia they are still somewhat of a forgotten car. Which is strange because they are in the same league as the other two German make as far as engineering and build quality are concerned.
Audi has improved in public perception in Australia over the last few years but there is still some way to go. In the meantime used car buyers can get an excellent product selling for several thousand dollars less than it otherwise would. Resale value is not likely to be as good as for Mercedes-Benz and, to a lesser extent, BMW, but again, it is improving.
Though the Audi 80 has good interior space in the front, the back seat can be marginal if the front seats are set a long way rearwards.
These Audis, like all of the breed, are exceptionally pleasant to drive. They have a smooth engine that likes to rev, yet has good torque from mid-range engine revs.
Handling is sharp and precise with good turn in and a sophisticated feel that will appeal to the person who regards driving as more than simply a chore. At the limit the nose-heavy bias of the Audi makes it tend to fairly strong understeer. But that’s at cornering speeds that only make sense on the racetrack.
The Audi 80 and 90 share the same overall body, with the 90 being the sportier version. Official Australian imports didn’t begin until mid 1988. A major facelift in August 1992 saw marked improvements. Though it kept the same overall appearance, the later model can be quickly identified by its body-coloured bumpers. More legroom in the rear seat and a greater boot volume, allied to a better boot shape, make this the model to aspire to. The ‘90’ tag was dropped with the new shape and all models were called ‘80’. The 80 was discontinued in August 1995 to be replaced by the Audi A4.
Bodies are mainly four door sedans. A two-door Cabriolet, sold from late 1993, didn’t actually get the title of Audi 80, but is certainly one of the clan.
The Audi range is unusual in that it is sold with a choice of four, five and six-cylinder engines. The fours and fives are in-line units, the six (introduced in August 1992) is a V6. Engines are mounted north-south, that is they are in line with the car’s body. That’s all but unique to the marque as virtually every other front-drive car has an east-west engine.
Four-cylinder engine sizes are 1.8 and 2.0 litres. Confusingly, the 1.8-litre engine, with an actual capacity of 1.847 litres, is sometimes referred to as the Audi 80 1.9. The five has a displacement of 2.3 litres, the V6 coming as a 2.6 or a 2.8-litre. All engines are efficient units with a good life span, but can be expensive to overhaul.
Manual gearboxes all have five speeds. Automatic transmission use four. Normally drive is to the front wheels only but four-wheel drive is used in the sporty models - known as the Audi quattro. These are much loved by weekend competition drivers as they offer tremendous traction.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Rust is seldom a problem as Audi engineers go to a lot of trouble to make their vehicles corrosion-proof. That even extends to using many galvanised steel panels, particularly in later models. The only cars that may have troubles are those incorrectly repaired after a crash.
Mechanically the Audi is reliable, only cars which have been driven hard are likely to have problems. However, this marque is driven that way more often than most luxury cars so it’s wise to have it checked by an expert.
Four-wheel drive Audi quattro models are the most likely to have been raced or rallied. Look for signs of a roll-cage and trip computer having been removed, suspension that has been lowered, wider wheels and tyres, and car club stickers on the windows. Also look for repaired (or, of course, unrepaired) crash damage.
The area likely to give trouble first is the manual gearbox, fast downchanges from third gear to second that stick and crunch being the first sign. Differentials that are noisy or grab in their operation are another sign. An engine that is slow to start and doesn’t perform at its best, could be badly worn. Another engine trouble sign is a smoking exhaust, usually at its worst when the engine has been idling for a minute or so. Check also for signs of cracks in the windscreen or evidence that they have been repaired - if the repair is inaccurate the vision will be slightly distorted. |
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