Friday 24th July 2009

SOTW: Audi 80 Sport

Another German saloon, but this one is no barge.

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I’m back in the SOTW chair looking for something reassuringly German as per usual, but something different caught my eye today. I have resisted simply going for a large capacity barge and instead I’ve opted for compact good looks in the form of a 1984 Audi 80 1.8 Sport.

This car was tested by Autocar in July 1985, and they commented on the cars size by saying that the then new Audi 80 had become a rather large car for the class. It measured in at 4406mm long and 1682mm wide, that’s 300mm shorter than the current A4 and 300mm narrower than a new Fiesta, which just goes to show how big cars have become these days.

In my eyes the mid '80s 80 looks fantastically solid, desirable, fast and strangely modern - and that’s no mean feat for a car that’s 25 years old. I deserve to lose a few shed points for the low power offered by the 1.8 110 bhp engine from the Golf GTI giving a fairly leisurely 0-60 time of 9.3 seconds and a top speed of 118 mph, but that’s not too far behind the lighter Golf of the time. Handling was decent enough though, and it was a perfect choice for the thrusting executive with it’s ’80 Sport’ graphic on the rear window (still present on the shed), discreet front and rear spoilers, five speed ‘box and £8995 price tag.

I reckon this SOTW would cut it as respectable transport even today, with genuine Audi style devoid of the pedestrian safety bumpers, daytime running lights and huge alloy wheels of the current models. This car has only covered 75,000 miles and apparently has no rust to speak of, the interior is reported to be in good shape too. It has an MOT until April 2010 and comes with a stack of receipts for work done, but you will need to pop to the Post Office to tax it before taking it home. Best of all, the owner will put the standard wheels back onto the car before the new owner collects it, and that only increases it’s desirability in my opinion.

I’ll finish with a quote lifted from the previously mentioned Autocar road test as it sums it up perfectly in a slightly sexist and old- fashioned way, 'It isn't cheap, but it does seem to be well put together, and will understandably attract the man who doesn’t like hatchbacks, but who wants efficient performance'.

Vorsprung Durch Shed, as we say in the PH office.

Advert says: Audi 80 Sport MK2 1.8 DZ 1984, 75,000 miles. WITH 75K GENUINE. IN FANTASTIC CONDITION mot till april 2010 ,no tax, LOADS OF RECEIPTS, NO HOLES IN SEATS OR RUSTY BITS VERY ORIGINAL CONDITION, USED DAILY AT THE MOMENT, VALUED AT £1500 POUNDS ON CLASSIC INSURANCE, MUST BE SEEN TO BE APRECIATED. THE WHEELS IN THE PICTURES WILL NOT BE ON THE CAR THE GENUINE SPORT RONALS WILL BE ON WITH VERY GOOD TYRES. £1,000.

[Harry Flashman]

Funny how trendy these have become! My Pa used to work for VAG Group in the 80's and had a white one of thee as a company car before graduating onto UR Quattros.

That white 80 sport would be almost unbearably cool in on Shoreditch Huigh Street today.

[Stu R]

Good choice

[Garlick]

Stu R said:

Good choice

Cheers I love it too.

[leon9191]

That is really cool.

[louismchuge]

(not the advert >>> obviously..!)

Edited by louismchuge on Friday 24th July 11:23

[varsas]

No interior pics, exterior shots taken from miles away, advert written all in caps...hmm....

[J111]

varsas said:

No interior pics, exterior shots taken from miles away, advert written all in caps...hmm....

Possibly simply a typo, but misspelling your own name is a bit odd, too

First Nigerian SOTW ?

[MrTappets]

Almost a foot narrower than a Fiesta? Come off it!

[Patrick1964]

I had one of these for six years and 100K miles - brilliant car at the time, faster than Mk3 Golf GTi's and could seriously scare Mk2's. Mine had a Sachs Boge suspension kit on it but was otherwise standard, and I'd have kept it for longer if I hadn't been given a company car. I sold mine to a friend who ran it for a few more years. If this one is as described I'd happily run it myself.

Edited by Patrick1964 on Friday 24th July 11:23

[PPPPPP]

Stu R said:

Good choice

Absolutely - I was fortunate enough to enjoy the two predecessors, the Audi 80GT from 1974 (source of the original Golf Gti engine!) & then the 80 GTE in 1976 - two of the finest cars I have owned. These lightweight cars were pitched well against the BMW 2002 & the tii.

Edited by PPPPPP on Friday 24th July 11:57

[Garlick]

MrTappets said:

Almost a foot narrower than a Fiesta? Come off it!

1984 Audi 80 Sport: L 4406mm W 1682mm

2009 Fiesta: L 3950mm W 1973mm (according to What Car)

Apologies if it is wrong

[plasticpig]

MrTappets said:

Almost a foot narrower than a Fiesta? Come off it!

Someones got the sums wrong. Fiesta is 1722mm; 1722 - 1695 mm = 27mm. Nice shed though.

[plasticpig]

Garlick said:

MrTappets said:

Almost a foot narrower than a Fiesta? Come off it!

1984 Audi 80 Sport: L 4406mm W 1682mm

2009 Fiesta: L 3950mm W 1973mm (according to What Car)

Apologies if it is wrong

Hmm. Your figure for the Fiesta includes the wing mirrors. I doubt the figure for the Audi does.

[Lawrence5]

Mate had a fern green one at college and we loved that car. Another mate decided to steal it and go for a drunken drive and crashed it

[hugo a gogo]

don't old Audis have piss-poor parts availability? VAG having discontinued loads of bits?

[fastgerman.com]

Think it'll be hard to get £1k for that - sorry.

[hugo a gogo]

plate has to worth a couple of quid tho

[hundleydavid]

My dad worked for VAG in MK and had one of these in black, but in quattro form, great car and I ended up buying one as my first track day car years and years ago.. Solid as a rock...except for the rust and dodgy electrics!

[New Scot]

hundleydavid said:

My dad worked for VAG in MK and had one of these in black, but in quattro form, great car and I ended up buying one as my first track day car years and years ago.. Solid as a rock...except for the rust and dodgy electrics!

I had an 80 quattro in 84-85 with the 5-pot engine from the ur quattro but sans turbo. WOuld outrun almost anything on a smooth road in the dry - and just about everything if the surface was damp/wet/slippery! Wonderful car - I sold it to buy a 944 which was no quicker in real-world use!

[aarondrs]

Remember a guy in my sixth form had an 80 CD with all the extras (electric windows and sunroof) and a 5 pot engine. Sounded great and we all thought he was a spoilt git!!

My Renault 5 TS with its twin choke carb and vinyl fold back roof was a rusty old shed then compared to his.

Love the quattro and 5 pot versions. Wonder you can't get one of these for a grand.