Monday 12th April 2021

Audi 80 Sport 16v (B3) | Spotted

Blast-from-the-past Audi very lovely - and up for little more than a Sandero

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How inviting does the thin-rimmed steering wheel of this immaculate Audi 80 Sport look? It’s got to be one of the best kept B3s out there, with a cabin that defies its 79,109 miles and 30 years of existence. In a world of infotainment screens and assistance systems bongs, the simply styled interior looks like a breath of fresh air - from a car that still oozes Audi's famed dependability and toughness. That it is finished in back-in-fashion green only adds to the rose-tinted allure, even if this is a front-drive 16v, and not one of the more desirable quattro 80s.

Still, with no drive heading rearward, the B3 80 Sport 16v’s longitudinally-mounted 2.0-litre faces less mechanical resistance through which to dispatch its 137hp, available at 6,000rpm. Perhaps applying the vendor's name - Pocket Rocket - to the eighties veteran (this 1991 car is a late run Typ 8A example) would be overstating it a bit, but the 80 Sport was brisk enough in its day. With standard-fit fuel injection for the naturally aspirated motor, it was a saloon to aspire to, with a galvanised chassis highlighting its quality.

Admittedly, the front-drive car was never able to facedown rivals like the BMW 3 Series when it came to enthusiasts, but that was never the car’s purpose. All the way through its life, Audi made the B3 saloon unashamedly sensible, with the stylish five-pot-powered Coupe trusted to win hearts. The firm was fostering an image of engineering prowess in the VW Group ranks. Not everyone watched rallying, after all. 

That being said, Audi was always keen to highlight its acheivements – note the ‘Competition’ badge on this car’s dash – and the 80 Sport was suitably capable. It delivered a then-respectable nine-second 0-60mph time and top speed of 129mph. Yet it was a subdued as a solicitor's briefcase with simple, handsome lines, matched by a functional interior, with its oil temp, pressure and battery volts gauges low in the centre console. A leather-wrapped three-spoke wheel and five-speed gear knob finished it off nicely.

With the cloth seats, Audi-branded mats and surrounding cabin plastics all wonderfully fresh looking in today’s Spotted, it's hats off to the former keeper (or whoever returned it to this state). The six-spoke 15-inch wheels, wrapped in 500-mile-old ContiPremiumContact 2 rubber, are immaculate. Same goes for the paintwork, chrome bits and black exterior plastics. Only the modern Blaupunkt stereo falls short on ensuring 100 per cent authenticity, but there’s almost no denying the added functionality of the discreet modern system. It’s only going to help keeping this car in routine use easier in a world of digital signals.

Adding to the car’s usability case is the fitment of an aftermarket alarm system, and promise that all of the 80’s original switchgear and electrical items work without fault. There are said to be no warning lights displayed on the instrument cluster, which is so very old Audi. Were it the full 80s Sport quattro, no doubt this loveliness would come with a bigger price tag, but because this is the front-drive car, it’s up for a fiver short of eight-grand. There can’t be many better value, headache-free ways to transport yourself back to this era of concrete-solid German engineering, can there?

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SPECIFICATION | AUDI 80 SPORT 16V (B3)

Engine: 1,984cc, inline four
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 137@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 133@4,500rpm
MPG: 24
CO2: 246g/km
Year registered: 1991
Recorded mileage: 79,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £7,995

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[oilit]

There definitely is something delightfully simple about these older cars sans lcd displays and big air bags with a wheel around them.

If I recall correctly from a friend who had two of these, he always claimed the ventilation system was poor through the dash vents....

When ever I went in them I always thought they seemed to be a great drive compared to the cavalier I was driving at the time!

[sifocus]

Dad had one as a company car in red. Loved the look of these cars.

[Turini]

Oh the memories and this one has the very rare optional Air Con (2 buttons to the right of the ventilation controls) which was very expensive back then. I had a succession of these, 2.6 Quattro Avant, 2.3 Coupe, 2.3 20v 90 Saloon, two previous shape Coupes and then moved onto an 20v S6 Avant.

Still have a soft spot for them but very little appeal for modern Audis, this was all down to rallying....

[Slowlygettingit]

Lovely car - was even more tempting at £5250 on CC’s a month or so back

[EarlOfHazard]

Turini said:

Oh the memories and this one has the very rare optional Air Con (2 buttons to the right of the ventilation controls) which was very expensive back then. I had a succession of these, 2.6 Quattro Avant, 2.3 Coupe, 2.3 20v 90 Saloon, two previous shape Coupes and then moved onto an 20v S6 Avant.

Still have a soft spot for them but very little appeal for modern Audis, this was all down to rallying....

My dad's E-reg Audi 90 had air con. He bought back in 1990 and was the first car that he owned that had it - was uber cool -pun intended!
Also had a button to disable the ABS, as it's less effective on snow/loose surfaces.

I myself also owned an urS6 saloon..

[anonymous-user]

If there’s one car I’ve seen handle mega mileages it’s this. Rock solid compared to the more ‘modern’ ones.

[Mysstree]

oilit said:

There definitely is something delightfully simple about these older cars sans lcd displays and big air bags with a wheel around them.

If I recall correctly from a friend who had two of these, he always claimed the ventilation system was poor through the dash vents....

When ever I went in them I always thought they seemed to be a great drive compared to the cavalier I was driving at the time!

It’s the clean lines, no bits sticking out. Even though its slightly angular its not aggressively angular and there is more glass area, it looks open and airy.

[Uggers]

Used to go up to the Lake District most weekends in one of these. The quality and build seemed light years ahead of any of the other mass market saloons I'd been in at the time.

[crosseyedlion]

I had a 2.0 16v estate one of these at 18, with an identical interior.

Brilliant car, handled well (estates had stiffer rear suspension) - ruddy brilliant interior and that S2 steering wheel. Superbly revvy engine. Amazing build quality.

Pulled strongly for the numbers, coupled with the surprisingly little traction (longitudinal engine, front wheel drive) it felt really sprightly and good fun.

[Clifford Chambers]

Nice looking and solid but not all that comfortable and don't drive too well, not a patch on its competitors at the time.

[anonymous-user]

oilit said:

There definitely is something delightfully simple about these older cars sans lcd displays and big air bags with a wheel around them.

If I recall correctly from a friend who had two of these, he always claimed the ventilation system was poor through the dash vents....

When ever I went in them I always thought they seemed to be a great drive compared to the cavalier I was driving at the time!

Seconded!!! I had an Audi 90 2.3 20v, loved it. Really love the dash layout, classy look.

[rastapasta]

Its a really nicely written article. it would almost tempt you to buy it, a return to simplicity and build quality..

That spoiler is what does it for me, completely useless functionality wise but in those days it was all about the aesthetic.

[crosseyedlion]

rastapasta said:

in those days it was all about the aesthetic.

Even more so now!

[sidewinder500]

This, albeit with 90 hp or so was my company runabout for a year when I started work a lifetime ago and they had their first facelift.
It was frugal, soothing, surprisingly fast in a straight line, big boot, uninspiring, felt a little bit beige for a then twentysomething, and

HAD THE MOST EFFICIENT SEATWARMERS I EVER EXPERIENCED

[cerb4.5lee]

I loved the shape of Audis from around this era. I always remember thinking how posh an Audi seemed back then in comparison to the Fords that I was used to. Where I was from you were very well off if you had an Audi back then.

I like this a lot but I'd personally prefer a bigger engine in it though.

[s m]

Loved the steering wheels on this era of sporty Audis

Preferred the previous shape Sport to this one though

Friend had the 90 Quattro 20v - really well made

[timomakk]

From the days when Audis were a little upmarket, far before they became the PCP chav wagon of choice...

Amazingly enough the indicators worked well on these and they were rarely driven 2mm from the car in front!

[redbaron924]

These are great cars, I had two. The suspension on the one in the article looks standard, not sport which was lower and also the sport models had a different front bumper with integrated fog lamps. That steering wheel is the best ever.

[Evilex]

£8k? Have I missed something?

[Turini]

My old one came up for sale a few years ago and I almost bought it, needed a respray and all sorts of other work but engine was still strong. Lack of space prevented it, they still have a strong appeal..!

EarlOfHazard said:

My dad's E-reg Audi 90 had air con. He bought back in 1990 and was the first car that he owned that had it - was uber cool -pun intended!
Also had a button to disable the ABS, as it's less effective on snow/loose surfaces.

I myself also owned an urS6 saloon..