Friday 24th July 2009

SOTW: Audi 80 Sport

Another German saloon, but this one is no barge.

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I’m back in the SOTW chair looking for something reassuringly German as per usual, but something different caught my eye today. I have resisted simply going for a large capacity barge and instead I’ve opted for compact good looks in the form of a 1984 Audi 80 1.8 Sport.

This car was tested by Autocar in July 1985, and they commented on the cars size by saying that the then new Audi 80 had become a rather large car for the class. It measured in at 4406mm long and 1682mm wide, that’s 300mm shorter than the current A4 and 300mm narrower than a new Fiesta, which just goes to show how big cars have become these days.

In my eyes the mid '80s 80 looks fantastically solid, desirable, fast and strangely modern - and that’s no mean feat for a car that’s 25 years old. I deserve to lose a few shed points for the low power offered by the 1.8 110 bhp engine from the Golf GTI giving a fairly leisurely 0-60 time of 9.3 seconds and a top speed of 118 mph, but that’s not too far behind the lighter Golf of the time. Handling was decent enough though, and it was a perfect choice for the thrusting executive with it’s ’80 Sport’ graphic on the rear window (still present on the shed), discreet front and rear spoilers, five speed ‘box and £8995 price tag.

I reckon this SOTW would cut it as respectable transport even today, with genuine Audi style devoid of the pedestrian safety bumpers, daytime running lights and huge alloy wheels of the current models. This car has only covered 75,000 miles and apparently has no rust to speak of, the interior is reported to be in good shape too. It has an MOT until April 2010 and comes with a stack of receipts for work done, but you will need to pop to the Post Office to tax it before taking it home. Best of all, the owner will put the standard wheels back onto the car before the new owner collects it, and that only increases it’s desirability in my opinion.

I’ll finish with a quote lifted from the previously mentioned Autocar road test as it sums it up perfectly in a slightly sexist and old- fashioned way, 'It isn't cheap, but it does seem to be well put together, and will understandably attract the man who doesn’t like hatchbacks, but who wants efficient performance'.

Vorsprung Durch Shed, as we say in the PH office.

Advert says: Audi 80 Sport MK2 1.8 DZ 1984, 75,000 miles. WITH 75K GENUINE. IN FANTASTIC CONDITION mot till april 2010 ,no tax, LOADS OF RECEIPTS, NO HOLES IN SEATS OR RUSTY BITS VERY ORIGINAL CONDITION, USED DAILY AT THE MOMENT, VALUED AT £1500 POUNDS ON CLASSIC INSURANCE, MUST BE SEEN TO BE APRECIATED. THE WHEELS IN THE PICTURES WILL NOT BE ON THE CAR THE GENUINE SPORT RONALS WILL BE ON WITH VERY GOOD TYRES. £1,000.

[Harry Flashman]

Funny how trendy these have become! My Pa used to work for VAG Group in the 80's and had a white one of thee as a company car before graduating onto UR Quattros.

That white 80 sport would be almost unbearably cool in on Shoreditch Huigh Street today.