Audi A1 Quattro: Spotted

There were 19 for the UK and three are in the classifieds!

It's worth stating from the off that it's difficult to make a logical case for the Audi A1 Quattro. Not only thanks to the price, but also because the mechanically very similar S1 is available. You don't have to have white, and it's less money.

Audi knows how to do aesthetics

Not every car purchase has to be logical though. So while the Quattro is more money than an S1, there are reasons why the premium could possibly be justified. The first is how it looks. The wheels, the spoiler and the exhausts give it an almost rally car vibe, certainly imitated with the S1 but not carried off with quite so much attitude. Secondly, it was a limited edition, which will always appeal to a few. Very limited in the UK in fact, with just 19 cars allocated. According to this ad for another Quattro, just 12 remain in the UK. Finally, and perhaps most tenuously, it was left-hand drive only. And think of the other cars made in LHD-only format: BMW E30 M3, Lancia Delta Integrale, Mercedes 190 Evo, Ferrari F40. It joins an elite group, basically. Which is kind of cool.

The A1 Quattro also introduced some really significant engineering changes that would eventually make their way to the S1. The torsion beam was ditched in favour of a multi-link rear suspension set up, and the fuel tank redesigned to make way for the propshaft. In fact, over 600 alterations were made from standard A1 to Quattro.

Don't kerb those alloys!

It's easy to forget too that both this car and the S1 are very good little hot hatches. The speed is a given, but if the Quattro is like the S1 on the road then there's also a well controlled ride and surprising agility to consider too. The manual gearbox is even quite good.

There is still no escaping the fact that £33,950 is an awful lot of money for an Audi A1, even if it is the cheapest of the three for sale on PH. Especially when an S1 with similar mileage is £10K less. In the Quattro's defence, not only does it have additional subjective appeal over the series production car, it's worth considering the values of similar cars. Particularly fast, rare or hardcore (sometimes all three!) hot hatches are seemingly in demand at the moment, with cars like the Focus RS Mk2, Megane R26.R and Mini GP Mk2 all enjoying fairly minimal depreciation. If the same happens for the Quattro, then that asking price might not look so ridiculous after all.

AUDI A1 QUATTRO
Engine: 1,998cc, turbocharged in-line four
Transmission: 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 256@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 258@2,500rpm
MPG: 33.2 (NEDC combined)
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2013
Recorded mileage: 2,000
Price new: £39,930
Yours for: £33,950