Audi 80 Cabrio... Should I?
Discussion
Hi everyone!
Ok I've had a few good cars in the past including an Impreza Turbo, Lotus Elise etc but recently due to lack of cash I had to go backwards and now have a seriously dull MG ZS 120. It was nearly new when I bought it and due to the MG thing it was going cheap. It's a 55 plate with only 7000 miles on the clock.
A local garage has a 1998 Audi Cabriolet 2.8e with 70000 miles on the clock. I'm seriously tempted cos it looks great in dark purple with cream leather. I think this one screams retro and looks pretty stylish.
Should I or shouldn't I? What bad points should I be looking for if I go for a test drive etc? Does it drive well? I've heard it's not the best handler?
I'd appreciate any advice!
Thanks!!
Ok I've had a few good cars in the past including an Impreza Turbo, Lotus Elise etc but recently due to lack of cash I had to go backwards and now have a seriously dull MG ZS 120. It was nearly new when I bought it and due to the MG thing it was going cheap. It's a 55 plate with only 7000 miles on the clock.
A local garage has a 1998 Audi Cabriolet 2.8e with 70000 miles on the clock. I'm seriously tempted cos it looks great in dark purple with cream leather. I think this one screams retro and looks pretty stylish.
Should I or shouldn't I? What bad points should I be looking for if I go for a test drive etc? Does it drive well? I've heard it's not the best handler?
I'd appreciate any advice!
Thanks!!
daz111 said:
Does it drive well? I've heard it's not the best handler?
It's an Audi, and an old one with no roof at that, so expect it to wallow and twist and generally be not particularly electrifying to drive. For roof down wafting it'll be fine though.
The 2.8 is prone to oil leaks, so check the cam covers and the valley and head gaskets. 1st being cheap, neither of the others are. I had an oil leak on my old 100 2.8 that was eventually diagnosed as the head gasket on the left bank leaking externally.
Tappets will natter at cold startup but should shut up within a few seconds, 5 max. Any longer either indicates low or wrong oil or something more expensive.
I think it's only the 12 valve V6 in the cabrio, so don't expect it to be ligntning fast or particularly exonomical by modern standards.
Yep it's mostly likely the 12 valve V6 in that, although I have been surprised to see the 1.8 20v in late 80 cabs so they could have put the 30 valve V6 in too...
Still it's only a smallish car so should move fairly well. They still look pretty great and I like those retro Audi interiors, the new ones feel less high quality and a bit plain, and also a bit like they've been 'designed' rather than 'engineered'.
Still it's only a smallish car so should move fairly well. They still look pretty great and I like those retro Audi interiors, the new ones feel less high quality and a bit plain, and also a bit like they've been 'designed' rather than 'engineered'.
My wife was after a cabriolet a couple of years ago, and the Audi was mentioned. We compared one with the Saab 900 and there was no comparison - the Saab won hands-down in so many areas: price, economy, rear seat space, roof mechanism, roof rear window, boot space.
The Audis were more expensive (our budget was about £7k), but only the badge seemed to be the reason. Saabs have proper glass rear windows with demisters in; Audis have a plastic window and a blower. Not all Audis have electric roofs either and you'd be surprised what an inconvenience this would become.
So we bought a Saab, and we love it. Can seat four adults in complete comfort.
Still, the Audis do look nice - I was put off taking the cheapest one we found out for a test drive by the weird panel gaps I noticed so I'd recommend a close, objective inspection of the one you've found. Look along the car's sides; Audis are well built, so any misaligned panels could be due to accident damage. Check that the doors open and close smoothly and don't catch on the bodywork - IIRC the Audi doors are part of the strength of the body and have special alignment pegs to help keep the body stiff.
Worn or rain-stained leather seats can be reconnolised for £130 so I wouldn't let that put you off a tired high-mileage one.
Good luck.
The Audis were more expensive (our budget was about £7k), but only the badge seemed to be the reason. Saabs have proper glass rear windows with demisters in; Audis have a plastic window and a blower. Not all Audis have electric roofs either and you'd be surprised what an inconvenience this would become.
So we bought a Saab, and we love it. Can seat four adults in complete comfort.
Still, the Audis do look nice - I was put off taking the cheapest one we found out for a test drive by the weird panel gaps I noticed so I'd recommend a close, objective inspection of the one you've found. Look along the car's sides; Audis are well built, so any misaligned panels could be due to accident damage. Check that the doors open and close smoothly and don't catch on the bodywork - IIRC the Audi doors are part of the strength of the body and have special alignment pegs to help keep the body stiff.
Worn or rain-stained leather seats can be reconnolised for £130 so I wouldn't let that put you off a tired high-mileage one.
Good luck.
daz111 said:
I'm seriously tempted cos it looks great in dark purple with cream leather. I think this one screams retro and looks pretty stylish.
Should I or shouldn't I? What bad points should I be looking for if I go for a test drive etc? Does it drive well? I've heard it's not the best handler?
I'd appreciate any advice!
Thanks!!
Should I or shouldn't I? What bad points should I be looking for if I go for a test drive etc? Does it drive well? I've heard it's not the best handler?
I'd appreciate any advice!
Thanks!!
daz111 said:
I'm seriously tempted cos it looks great in dark purple with cream leather. I think this one screams retro and looks pretty stylish.
A good looking one of these turns so many heads - I saw the coupe version in our carpark a couple of weeks ago, black with cream, superb condition and valeted to within an inch of perfection - the 1.8T Audi A4 Cab in the next bay looked very invisible...
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