Tuesday 10th May 2016

Audi A1 Quattro: Spotted

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

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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.

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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

See the original advert here

[GranCab]

There's also one for auction at the forthcoming Silverstone Auction on 20th May

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/2012-audi-a1-t...

[Leins]

Interesting and quite cool IMO, but no way I would want one in preference to an R26R

[GranCab]

[Mr_Sukebe]

Being an Audi, shouldn't it come complete with a fine and 6 points on the license of the buyer, in anticipation of them driving like a complete pratt?

[Slippydiff]

3-4 up for sale ? And with good reason, they're utterly hopeless.
I considered buying one a couple of years ago. I drove it back to back with my 1M Coupe.
The Audi's gearbox was hopeless, the engine harsh (and sounded as much), the steering completely lacking in any feel or tactility, and the handling typically Audi front wheel drive/Haldex pretend 4WD.
Factor in the price and it was LHD only and the 1M beat it from EVERY perspective.

Epic fail I'm afraid Audi

0/10

[SlimJim16v]

The integrale, M3 etc sold despite LHD because they are simply amazing cars. Who in their right mind would buy a boring, hairdresser style car in LHD, when the better looking and cheaper version is available in RHD?

[rtz62]

I'm sorry, but having viewed one of these in the metal, it doesn't look right from any angle.
And personally I think Audi missed the target, and should have gone with lightweight race/semi-race seats, minimised interior trim (how about fabric straps to pull the doors too etc) and also by removing the next-to-useless rear seats.
A tad more power, and recall ration of the Haldex unit might, just might, then have made it a contender.
As it stands, and from a true Audi fan, albeit of the ur quattro era, this leaves me cold....

[Cheib]

Slippydiff said:

3-4 up for sale ? And with good reason, they're utterly hopeless.
I considered buying one a couple of years ago. I drove it back to back with my 1M Coupe.
The Audi's gearbox was hopeless, the engine harsh (and sounded as much), the steering completely lacking in any feel or tactility, and the handling typically Audi front wheel drive/Haldex pretend 4WD.
Factor in the price and it was LHD only and the 1M beat it from EVERY perspective.

Epic fail I'm afraid Audi

0/10

Brilliant.

[va1o]

I seem to recall quite a few of the UK allocation ended up getting bought up and exported elsewhere, which might explain the very low numbers remaining

[D7Cup]

The Crack Fox said:

Er, nice wheels. That's it.

Agree, I'd say the red rev counter as well.

[PorkRind]

The Crack Fox said:

Er, nice wheels. That's it.

Yup

[anonymous-user]

Mr_Sukebe said:

Being an Audi, shouldn't it come complete with a fine and 6 points on the license of the buyer, in anticipation of them driving like a complete pratt?

At least it's already painted white and I'm sure you can get it on some sort of easy-pay finance. All they need to do To finish it off is go over to new-reg and buy a plate to bastardise to chav-spec.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

PorkRind said:

The Crack Fox said:

Er, nice wheels. That's it.

Yup

Aye.

[ChasW]

Not a particularly good looking car to start with but it's the equivalent of adding a lousy fake tan, cheap boob job and botox IMO.

[Small Car]

And they are sticking to dealer showrooms like glue. The one I had a sniff at is still there 10 months after I looked at it.

[s m]

Small Car said:

And they are sticking to dealer showrooms like glue. The one I had a sniff at is still there 10 months after I looked at it.

A new S1 is 10k cheaper - you can add the 3k worth of wheels and still come in cheaper

[Turquoise]

Mr_Sukebe said:

Being an Audi, shouldn't it come complete with a fine and 6 points on the license of the buyer, in anticipation of them driving like a complete pratt?

Ironic.

By making Audi stereotype jokes, you do realise you are conforming to a stereotype yourself, I hope?

[DamianQS]

I may be slightly biased but I think they S1 is more resolved design wise.

[Dale487]

There's one in Didsbury, Manchester I've seen a few times - reminds me of the Delta Intetgrale, without the homolgation pedigree. But it's a weird mix of R8 gear stick, other high end Audi bits and Škoda stalks, pedals & switches (parts sharing I know but switchgear in your £40k car from a £10k budget hatch must grate a bit).

£33k gives you a hell of a lot to play with on an S1 options list, including the choice of the 5 door Sportback - I know the S1 won't be an investment but neither will the A1 Quattro if you put 10k miles a year on it.

[scherzkeks]

Nice little cars. Very rapid and the handling is also quite playful. They were also individually assmbled by quattro IIRC. Definitely a bit pricy though.