Shed of the Week: Audi 80 Avant
Four-wheel drive, scabby exterior and loads of history? This 80 is Shed's ideal winter wagon
Minimalist Audi interior, 90s style
If your answer is B, step right this way sir, we have just what you're looking for: a not-so-lovely Audi 80 quattro Avant 2.6 (feel free to rearrange those words and numbers in whatever order you like best) that can fairly be described, in the best and most literal sense, as used. Richly endowed with what some might call 'inner beauty', it's just in time for the upcoming season of snowy chaos and the wrong kind of leaves on the motorway.
Before the Audi Doodoo jokes start, yes, it's scabby, but that only adds to its appeal as a working car. The 'ABC engine' reference at the top of the ad means it's an SOHC 12-valve V6. This is a good or a bad thing depending on whether your preference is for chugging or charging. Whatever, Shed likes the idea of eighteen fewer bits of pounding metal to worry about - this is an 'interference' type engine, with a cambelt - but then he likes eight-valve Golf GTIs too, which only goes to show something or other.
Worry not, the original wheels are there too
Again, Shed takes the view that a programme of constant replenishment means you're always running on clean oil, which is surely a good thing, plus at the end of the day it's only money. You'd only spend it on food, or shoes for the children.
In regards to what else the next owner should be looking out for, Shed would not presume to add anything to the refreshingly honest and knowledgeable comments made by the owner in his massive ad. Rusty brakes, flickering fuel gauges, expensive exhausts, he's bared his chest about everything. None of it is a problem as he has both addressed and kept on top of all these areas, in the same conscientious way that we all like to think we would, if only we could be bothered.
And not a DRL in sight!
Personally, Shed would think twice about buying any more cars from the Lake District (where this one lives) after collecting a Passat estate from there a year or so ago, and then spending the next few weeks baling water out of the cabin and replacing soggy comfort ECUs at considerable expense. It was a nice trip up on the train though. They give you free wine in First Class.
Here's the Audi ad. Get your slippers on.
Audi 80 B4 Avant Quattro 2.6 V6 ABC Engine in Green, 162k miles.
£700 ono.
As Ned Stark says, 'Winter Is Coming'...
5 former keepers, current owner since April 2009.
Electric windows, sunroof, central locking all working.
MOT paper history back to 2004, service history from new.
1994-2001 servicing carried out at Lex Audi then Castle Audi (Dundee).
2002-2006 servicing carried out at Chris Abbott VW/Audi Specialists, Alton, Hants.
Comprehensive Service History and receipts of repair work from previous owners.
Current mileage 162K (in daily use so this will increase, approx 40 mile commute).
Last MOT (2012, expiry 6/12/2013) mileage was 150,425.
2011: 138360
2010: 128064
2009: 117160
2008: 110372 (previous owner)
Here's a summary of work carried out (backed up with receipts) during my ownership. All work carried out by Central Garage, Ulverston between 2009-2012, unless otherwise stated.
Nov 2009:
New passenger wing and respray, repair to rear arch.
New radiator & coolant.
Full service (oil, oil filter, spark plugs, brake fluid)
2 x anti roll bar links.
New front discs and pads.
4 x tyres.
September 2010:
New water pump.
New cambelt at 126k
Oil & oil filter.
(Last cambelt change before this was 2003, mileage approx 50k at this point.)
November 2010:
2 x new catalytic converters.
2 x new exhaust downpipes.
January 2011:
Full Powerflow exhaust system (fabricated & fitted by Westgate Tyres of Morecambe).
(Last major exhaust work had been carried out in 2002, including both new cats and sections - receipt present)
June 2012:
New rear discs and pads.
New oil & oil filter.
December 2012:
New front brakes and pads.
New front brake calipers.
New brake hose.
Replacement brake fluid.
Last few months:
New Radiator Fan Switch
New Battery
I have spent upwards of £1500 on upkeep of this Audi, and to my knowledge it has never been off the road for a period of time or declared SORN - I've taken it to festivals, road trips, from one end of the country to the other while I organised relocating South.
Car description / general stuff:
I have owned this Audi for just under 4 and a half years, and I've loved it. I bought it from an ex-Volkswagen mechanic near Kendal in Cumbria. It has 2 and a half months' MOT left, and up until the end of October on Tax. I wasn't planning on selling it - I have been offered my partner's car as she is buying new, so what with my 40 mile commute now, it makes sense to pass this cracking V6 Quattro estate on to someone else.
The Audi comes with the original Ronal 15 inch alloys, which would need a refurb (not buckled, just scruffy). It also comes with a plastic boot liner and original roof bars.
Engine pulls very well, gearbox and clutch are both absolutely great. Masses of torque, 30mph in 5th if you want, good acceleration throughout the gears.
Cooling system works as it should. I replaced a header tank and a pipe as part of work done including a new radiator soon after purchase, and in the last few months I had a new fan switch fitted for the two stage fan.
I had a full Powerflow exhaust fitted about 2 and a half years ago - one of the downsides of the old 4wd Audis is that the original exhaust parts alone would have cost over £1000, and the whole system really needed a revamp at the end of 2010, following repairs to the original exhaust by previous owners. It looks like major work was carried out in 2002, so it did well to last through to 2010. The necessary work was carried out to get it through the MOT, but I priced up a new system and went for a full stainless from the (brand new) Cats back, and it hasn't put a foot wrong ever since. It has added a little performance but to be honest, the 2.6 V6's are not something for tuning. I asked the engineer for as close to OEM as possible and I'm very happy with it.
Rear brakes on Audi 80's rust through like nobody's business, and in my ownership I have replaced all four discs once and all pads at least once. On the last MOT the calipers were sticking, so these were both replaced on the back, along with discs and pads.
The fuel gauges on Audis of this era tend to read erratically, caused by a solder joint behind the instrument cluster on all 80's and 100's - the car's range is around 330 miles on a full tank, but I tend to do 300 miles then fill up, and I am left with about 16 litres left. This works out to around 25-27 mpg as a rough estimate.
Electric windows and sunroof all work spot on, and the locking rear diff engages and disengages like it should, disabling the ABS at speeds up to 30mph. Fans blow on all speeds hot and cold, rear screen heater works, and I recently replaced the cabin filter also.
Before the next MOT, I was going to have a new shock absorber on the offside front, as this has a slight leak, and a CV boot, both marked as advisory on the last test. As my plans have changed (inheriting a Focus), I haven't had time to have this done. That plus the relatively short MOT means I've priced this to sell, open to offers of course.
Condition:
Bodywork-wise the Audi is in reasonable shape for a 20 year old car but does need some attention:
The front drivers wing has rusted around the arch and will eventually need respraying or replacing.
Couple of scratches and parking dents, one larger one on the passenger rear wing, paintwork hasn't been affected there though.
There is a small patch of lacquer peel on the drivers side front bonnet.
There is a larger area of lacquer peel, and some bubbling, just under the rear drivers wing, below the window seal. It doesn't leak through, but would require rubbing down and respraying by a bodyshop.
The bonnet has a small dent on the lip where the grille sits - this happened to the previous owner when a Rav 4 decided to reverse a little too far with a spare wheel mounted on the back! The rust has not spread and it could be filled in and smoothed over if necessary.
A stone very rudely decided to crack the plastic lens on my drivers side fog lamp. I have sourced a replacement one for £15.
Interior is good, there are a couple of very minor marks but nothing you would notice. The drivers seat has a little discolouration (previous owner went skiing and left the sunroof open). Original rubber mats in the front and back, and I am including my Brodit car mount, on which you can attach phone or satnav holders (no marks on the windscreen!). The car doesn't come with a stereo, so you'll have to supply one.
I had the windscreen replaced by Autoglass during my ownership in 2011. No receipt to hand, just so you are aware.
That's about it, any questions or arrangements for viewings can be directed to my email address above. I work 8.30-5pm weekdays so either the evenings from 6pm, or the weekend would be best for viewing. The car is in daily use and will continue to be until sold, so the 162k mileage will be added to.
Shame there's no fog lights or Quattro system on hers..
Awesome shed!
Bring back Riggers!
As for winter duties, 4wd wont help when braking down a slope. Got to be winter rubber if you're that worried. I am off to Mytyres to order mine, but then I do live in the alps, and the fine for not having them is rather large.
Nice shed, and as for the writing, always makes me grin.
All 80's suffer from dry joints in the dash. Once the car has warmed up it helps.
That's the only advice I can offer, other than these are nicely understated cars.
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