90's audi coupe any good?
Discussion
A nate came round other night in his audi 1.8gt after a little burn i liked it but felt it needed to be a quatrro to give it some fire in its belly. So i trawlled the classifieds and a proper quatrro is just to expensive because of that dam Gene hunt. But the second generatrion coupes and getting cheap i saw this now for £800 what do you think. just fancy something differant to my landrovers something sporty and a bit differant
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1325583.htm
Are they worth it or re they devoid of all excitement and soul which is something i belive the newer ones suffer
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1325583.htm
Are they worth it or re they devoid of all excitement and soul which is something i belive the newer ones suffer
I hate cars (or maybe adverts) where people put only needs this (simple fix) and no paperwork.
Basically if its so simple why not do it and get the MOT and you'll probably more than cover your costs when it comes to resale.
Which to me suggests there is either, much more wrong with the car for the MOT i.e. they've tried to get an MOT, but the cost of the repairs is prohibitively expensive (hence lost documentation).
Or they are being accurate, but they can't be arsed so suggests to me that they haven't been respectful in the maintenance of the car.
Basically if its so simple why not do it and get the MOT and you'll probably more than cover your costs when it comes to resale.
Which to me suggests there is either, much more wrong with the car for the MOT i.e. they've tried to get an MOT, but the cost of the repairs is prohibitively expensive (hence lost documentation).
Or they are being accurate, but they can't be arsed so suggests to me that they haven't been respectful in the maintenance of the car.
I had a 1993 L reg 2.8 Coupe Quattro (1 of only around 120 in RHD I think) and I liked it very much. Quick enough, comfortable and I like the look of them. Certainly stuck to the road well and could suprise a few other motors through fast roundabouts.
Mine was expensive to run, round town MPG was very poor, and I also had to replace both cats (and some other bits) at MOT time which meant a bill of circa £700. It used to occasionally smell of petrol in the cabin too, on removing the fuel tank no leak could be found.
I'd have another 2.8 Quattro if I could find a decent one at a reasonable price.
Only comment on the one you have posted is the 2.3 10v isn't very powerful (130 bhp ish I think), maybe try and see if you can find a 2.3 20v quattro which is more like 170bhp (similar to the 2.8 I think) however these are more desirable and may be more expensive.
Mine was expensive to run, round town MPG was very poor, and I also had to replace both cats (and some other bits) at MOT time which meant a bill of circa £700. It used to occasionally smell of petrol in the cabin too, on removing the fuel tank no leak could be found.
I'd have another 2.8 Quattro if I could find a decent one at a reasonable price.
Only comment on the one you have posted is the 2.3 10v isn't very powerful (130 bhp ish I think), maybe try and see if you can find a 2.3 20v quattro which is more like 170bhp (similar to the 2.8 I think) however these are more desirable and may be more expensive.
Parents had a 2.3 20v quattro years ago (1990ish) from new and loved it! Plenty of poke at the time and very good handling! I looked for one a few years ago and was recommended in 2.3 form to go for the 20v version. Oh - it'll sound awesome too! 
Check around the screen as I believe they can leak water in, also the door seals. I always have a look at the honest john site too as gives any details of any recalls or what to look out for.
Hope that helps.
Check around the screen as I believe they can leak water in, also the door seals. I always have a look at the honest john site too as gives any details of any recalls or what to look out for.
Hope that helps.
Hi
My dad bought a similar car new in 1989. I wouldn't get hung up on the performance they are all much of a muchness unless it is the S2 – a bit steady IMO. The car did 140k before it was sold some 13 years on. Very little went wrong with the car, consumables were cheap enough. Doors were heavy and boot’s leak. The rear seat belts are no good for children's car seats. Fuel consumption is very high for such a car, 20-25mpg on average. Quattro systems are solid, electrics are quiet good. The car needed welding on the MOT before it was sold so despite galvanised bodies, floor pans were not so hot.
HTH
My dad bought a similar car new in 1989. I wouldn't get hung up on the performance they are all much of a muchness unless it is the S2 – a bit steady IMO. The car did 140k before it was sold some 13 years on. Very little went wrong with the car, consumables were cheap enough. Doors were heavy and boot’s leak. The rear seat belts are no good for children's car seats. Fuel consumption is very high for such a car, 20-25mpg on average. Quattro systems are solid, electrics are quiet good. The car needed welding on the MOT before it was sold so despite galvanised bodies, floor pans were not so hot.
HTH
Edited by Andrew_M on Friday 8th January 17:07
having owned one of these I can tell you that you will want a years ticket on it before you go spending anything like that on one.
I picked one up for 300 quid and then spent £2k getting it back up to a high enough spec to take it to the ring.
a year later pretty much everything had returned to its previous shagged state.
Money pit.
I picked one up for 300 quid and then spent £2k getting it back up to a high enough spec to take it to the ring.
a year later pretty much everything had returned to its previous shagged state.
Money pit.
Another pro vote here:
I ran 93 2.8coupe quattro for 3 years as a daily car did 55k in that period. There were 180sold in RHD, not sure how many are left now but relatively rare. The FWD are much rarer still. The 2.8 replaced the 2.3 20v (which was on the B3 shape). Note there are two shapes for this, the B3 88-91 and the B4 92-96. Very subtle difference, but engines are the main one, the bonnet and grill are integrated on the B4, and the B3 the grill ingrates to the front bumper. The B4s tend to be a bit better specced for modern luxuries, cloth interiors etc.
Mine had 80k on the clock when I bought and utterly nothing went wrong with it it. replaced the consumables. Added a stainless exhaust system after the original developed a leak and thats it. Never let me down once, surprisingly practical too for a coupe, had a fridge in the back of mine. I am a mountain biker and it easy gets a bike in the back. I would say it is hugely reliable a few typical issues/faults effect them all,
boot leak (usually around the light cluster)
brake pressure accumulator (sometimes called the bomb) tends to fail (!) on dashboard
fuel lines can leak
headlights are pretty poor
Rear callipers / handbrake cable sticking.
front suspension tends to knock (top mounts/ antiroll bar links) as these are not light cars.
I averaged 28mpg every week in the 2.8, on long runs would be mid/low 30's. The 20v (7A) is a bit hungrier, and sounds utterly fantastic on song, revs like a VTEC but returns me mid/low 20s again would do 30mpg on a longer run. The 20v is more tunable than the 2.8.
speed goes like this;
S2 - 2.3T - 220/230bhp
2.8 174bhp or 2.3 20v 170 bhp
2.0 16v 140bhp or 2.6 150bhp or 2.3 10v (136bhp)
2.0 8v (115bhp i think)
quattro are surefooted, understeer when pushed. Tend to wallow a little, uprated dampers and poly bushes on the wishbones make a big difference, I have been in a few 20vs with coilovers. ARBs as well reduce the understeer i believe but never been down that route yet.
I have owned 5 B3/B4 cars all in the past 6 years. I have a 20v quattro at the moment which is the most driver focused of all the engines, but clean ones are getting thin on the ground. Mine had a few issues when i bought it all rectified now but nothing out of the ordinary.
The link you passed on is a KV/NG 10v which isnt the fastest but plenty torquey and sounds fabulous! Want something sporty, fun and raise a smile and cheap then the 20v is the answer imho.
Mike Dewars website has a buyers guide for the S2 coupe which minus the engine includes most of the shared running parts.
http://s2-audi.co.uk/tech_articles/buyers.htm
I ran 93 2.8coupe quattro for 3 years as a daily car did 55k in that period. There were 180sold in RHD, not sure how many are left now but relatively rare. The FWD are much rarer still. The 2.8 replaced the 2.3 20v (which was on the B3 shape). Note there are two shapes for this, the B3 88-91 and the B4 92-96. Very subtle difference, but engines are the main one, the bonnet and grill are integrated on the B4, and the B3 the grill ingrates to the front bumper. The B4s tend to be a bit better specced for modern luxuries, cloth interiors etc.
Mine had 80k on the clock when I bought and utterly nothing went wrong with it it. replaced the consumables. Added a stainless exhaust system after the original developed a leak and thats it. Never let me down once, surprisingly practical too for a coupe, had a fridge in the back of mine. I am a mountain biker and it easy gets a bike in the back. I would say it is hugely reliable a few typical issues/faults effect them all,
boot leak (usually around the light cluster)
brake pressure accumulator (sometimes called the bomb) tends to fail (!) on dashboard
fuel lines can leak
headlights are pretty poor
Rear callipers / handbrake cable sticking.
front suspension tends to knock (top mounts/ antiroll bar links) as these are not light cars.
I averaged 28mpg every week in the 2.8, on long runs would be mid/low 30's. The 20v (7A) is a bit hungrier, and sounds utterly fantastic on song, revs like a VTEC but returns me mid/low 20s again would do 30mpg on a longer run. The 20v is more tunable than the 2.8.
speed goes like this;
S2 - 2.3T - 220/230bhp
2.8 174bhp or 2.3 20v 170 bhp
2.0 16v 140bhp or 2.6 150bhp or 2.3 10v (136bhp)
2.0 8v (115bhp i think)
quattro are surefooted, understeer when pushed. Tend to wallow a little, uprated dampers and poly bushes on the wishbones make a big difference, I have been in a few 20vs with coilovers. ARBs as well reduce the understeer i believe but never been down that route yet.
I have owned 5 B3/B4 cars all in the past 6 years. I have a 20v quattro at the moment which is the most driver focused of all the engines, but clean ones are getting thin on the ground. Mine had a few issues when i bought it all rectified now but nothing out of the ordinary.
The link you passed on is a KV/NG 10v which isnt the fastest but plenty torquey and sounds fabulous! Want something sporty, fun and raise a smile and cheap then the 20v is the answer imho.
Mike Dewars website has a buyers guide for the S2 coupe which minus the engine includes most of the shared running parts.
http://s2-audi.co.uk/tech_articles/buyers.htm
Edited by istoo on Friday 8th January 19:07
Except an s2 has a 6 speed box, alloy suspension arms, carbon fibre prop shaft, thicker driveshafts, bigger brakes, 5 stud hubs, uprated springs, shocks, anti roll bars, xenon headlamps.
But every thing else (except the engine, wheels) is the same ;-)
Which really leaves the shell, plastics,interior and rear lights - Ha.
An s2 may look the same but it really is a muuuuch better car than any other coupe quattro - by a long chalk.
BUY ONE WITH MOT - at least you might get a year out of it before:-
Gearbox synchro fails 1-2 or 2-3
Engine mounts fail
Wishbone bushes need replacing
Drop links need replacing
Exhaust needs replacing (especially if a cat model as large puddles crack the cat)
Top mounts
Shocks
Rear calipers
CV gaiters
Front fogs crack
Boot leaks
Rear diff mounts fail
Windscreen de-laminates in the corner
Heater only works on position 4
Water leaks in through the heater plenum
Heater matrix fails (requiring dashboard out)
Electric window relay packs up
Window mechanism pulleys shear off
Window rubbers go hard and make a whistling noise above 50mph
Bottom end fails (rare on KV but it has happened to me)
MAF fails (if NG)
Hydraulic tappets pack in
Steering rack leaks
Track rods seize
Front and Rear subframe bushes give out
Headlining falls down
Seat tip cable fails
Gear selector mechanism goes really sloppy
Clutch slave cylinder leaks
Core plug leaks at the back of the block
LCD display for MFA readout bleeds
I had all this on one car in a year!, ok it went to the ring and back but other than that it was a complete money pit.
Use the above as a checklist/haggling tool and you may get a good one.
By contrast I also had an audi 90 2.2e and an audi cabriolet 2.6e which were both brilliant and only needed poly bushes.
But every thing else (except the engine, wheels) is the same ;-)
Which really leaves the shell, plastics,interior and rear lights - Ha.
An s2 may look the same but it really is a muuuuch better car than any other coupe quattro - by a long chalk.
BUY ONE WITH MOT - at least you might get a year out of it before:-
Gearbox synchro fails 1-2 or 2-3
Engine mounts fail
Wishbone bushes need replacing
Drop links need replacing
Exhaust needs replacing (especially if a cat model as large puddles crack the cat)
Top mounts
Shocks
Rear calipers
CV gaiters
Front fogs crack
Boot leaks
Rear diff mounts fail
Windscreen de-laminates in the corner
Heater only works on position 4
Water leaks in through the heater plenum
Heater matrix fails (requiring dashboard out)
Electric window relay packs up
Window mechanism pulleys shear off
Window rubbers go hard and make a whistling noise above 50mph
Bottom end fails (rare on KV but it has happened to me)
MAF fails (if NG)
Hydraulic tappets pack in
Steering rack leaks
Track rods seize
Front and Rear subframe bushes give out
Headlining falls down
Seat tip cable fails
Gear selector mechanism goes really sloppy
Clutch slave cylinder leaks
Core plug leaks at the back of the block
LCD display for MFA readout bleeds
I had all this on one car in a year!, ok it went to the ring and back but other than that it was a complete money pit.
Use the above as a checklist/haggling tool and you may get a good one.
By contrast I also had an audi 90 2.2e and an audi cabriolet 2.6e which were both brilliant and only needed poly bushes.
Edited by hman on Friday 8th January 21:24
I'm running a 2l 16v as a second car and I love it.
110,500 miles and 1 month ago on the rolling road it made without fettling 135.9bhp and 136ft/lb torque.
Its wallowy on standard suspension and can understeer like a b
h but on standard tyres all be it brand new there are high levels of grip.
Mines in the lifestyle colour kingfisher blue. 1994 l reg and without an MOT I paid £500 from a 70 yr old gent. I took it for the MOT the same day and it passed with no advisories.
I'd have another today at the right price.
You can always get advice at www.classiaudi.co.uk
110,500 miles and 1 month ago on the rolling road it made without fettling 135.9bhp and 136ft/lb torque.
Its wallowy on standard suspension and can understeer like a b
h but on standard tyres all be it brand new there are high levels of grip.Mines in the lifestyle colour kingfisher blue. 1994 l reg and without an MOT I paid £500 from a 70 yr old gent. I took it for the MOT the same day and it passed with no advisories.
I'd have another today at the right price.
You can always get advice at www.classiaudi.co.uk
seems hmans was a money pit, but thats not been my experience with them on the whole. And by contrast he had one bad one from 3 in that platform. Any car can be a money pit if not looked after. There is a general view that this era german cars are reliable and well made, and some folk will run these to the ground.
The earlier S2 came with a 5speed box in the 220bhp 3B and a 6speed box in the 230bhp ABY. So they are not all that different, 7a shares some parts with the 3B as well. But lets not split hairs as this isnt an I know more than you contest.
£1000 might get you a belter or it might get you a dog. Shop around and you can get a good one, but overall I rate them highly, not an out and out sports car but for a daily driver excellent. And like 99% of the posters i would have another at a shot
To the OP, are you looking for a daily runner that's a bit of fun? If your up in the Aberdeen area i can easy take you for a run in a 20vquattro or a a urS4 (near identical to the S2 lump).
The earlier S2 came with a 5speed box in the 220bhp 3B and a 6speed box in the 230bhp ABY. So they are not all that different, 7a shares some parts with the 3B as well. But lets not split hairs as this isnt an I know more than you contest.
£1000 might get you a belter or it might get you a dog. Shop around and you can get a good one, but overall I rate them highly, not an out and out sports car but for a daily driver excellent. And like 99% of the posters i would have another at a shot
To the OP, are you looking for a daily runner that's a bit of fun? If your up in the Aberdeen area i can easy take you for a run in a 20vquattro or a a urS4 (near identical to the S2 lump).
Edited by istoo on Saturday 9th January 10:54
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1385025.htm
Cheaper with MOT
ETA not quattro though
Cheaper with MOT
ETA not quattro though
Edited by annodomini2 on Saturday 9th January 13:00
annodomini2 said:
that looks clean as well, even looks like the red still has its shine perhaps a sign its had a good life recently. 10v engine, does sound wonderful so you get the gene hunt noise and a slightly more 80's interior
For near on £600 its cheap whatever it is with a long MOT.
istoo said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeHDukbshmc
Top Gear review circa 1989 by A youngish Tiff
I enjoyed that.Top Gear review circa 1989 by A youngish Tiff
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