Ah yes, many fine memories of sitting in the very back of that thing with my brother on long family road trips with the bucket between us so when we got carsick we woudn't hurl on eachother... However, that front-engine/rear-drive/actually has a frame wagon is one of the last cars that came out of GM that could tow more than 10 lbs. My uncle had one to tote his boat, and now I am wishing for something like that to tow old cars around.
I am looking for an earlier Quattro though, 83-85 coupe. Money pit, probably won't ever be worth anything, slower than my Honda, but eh, its cool and will keep me occupied.
I'm afraid you will live to regret that decision, unless you have an extremely good sense of humor.
If you want an Audi that will be worth something, try to find a 5000 Quattro Turbo Wagon. That's a car worth having; otherwise, it's money down the drain IMO.
BTW: the quattro systems aren't the problem...it's everything else attached to it.
Actually, if you want a wagon like that, your needs would likely be better served by a 1991 Audi 200 Quattro Avant. Its the same car, except with plastics that don't deteriorate, a wire harness that can actually handle current, and best of all, a 20 valve 5 cylinder with turbo, so it is actually almost quick, even by today's standards. The biggest issue besides the typical Audi parts availability, is the "UFO" brakes. Apparently, the caliper is on the inside of the rotor, which allowed them to use bigger brakes with smaller wheels. Most cars have either had the brakes replaced by now, or they have been converted to conventional brakes. I am partial to the UR-Q because it invented the AWD sports car, the godfather of the Eclipse GSX, EVO and STI. I also know enough about the car and its maladies to know what I'm getting into, just too stupid to care.
My racquet-ball partner just bought a pristine, early 90s Audi 90 2.8 V6 quattro (5-spd) for $4,500. Leather, heated seats & mirrors... beautiful inside and out.
Like I told him, "Dan, this is an incredibly nice car for the money, but you've only just begun to pay for it." :P
And this is allowing you can actually find the part. Unlike other German auto manufacturers, Audi pretty much drops support for anything over 10 years old. Anything before the '96 A4, good luck.
Funny thing...someone in my building drives an Audi 100 from the mid 90s...that body used between maybe 92-97. I've never seen it broken or seen him drive anything else.
the style that had the double-loop bumper and hidden headlights? As a kid, I used to hate those '69-73 fuselage style Mopars with a passion, but I find as the years go by, I like them more and more. Especially the various styles that had the hidden headlights.
You can't warn people off bad cars they really want. They have to learn for themselves. A few get lucky, like the guy who falls off a building and lands on a matress truck. But really, who wants those odds?
My wife had one of these her last year of college that I think was a 1989 or maybe a 1990 I don't remember.
All that thing ever did was break, electrical this electrical that busted coolant hoses and expansion tanks just a mess. The car did have 210,000 ++++ miles though so that was part of it. The odometer only worked from time to time so who knows how many miles it really had.
I ended up repairing one of the rigid plastic hoses on the expansion tank by epoxying in a bit of PVC pipe. Used it to keep the crack from expanding anymore since they wanted like 750 dollars for a new tank.
I used to really dislike those fuselage cars too, slugs and tanks. Now I don't think they are so awful...they look like they would be very comfortable anyway - for a passenger at least.
I like the differences between that $1500 500SEL and the $7995 example. You could paint the $1500 car and fix the rear end, and already be at $7995. The most expensive Mercedes is the cheapest one.
The car would have to be show quality for even $6,000. This asking price is silly money given the condition shown by the photos. I'd say $3,500 is plenty for the car, even generous. I hope the dealer has plenty of birthday candles...
Shifty I've seen your comments played out in reality- I saw many Audis, Saabs and Jaguars deteriorate rapidly after about the 5-year mark.
What about Volvos, what do you think of their long-term durability? My 1996 850 has 71K miles but it still looks like new. The 240 series is a different story though...
I really have very little experience with Volvos after the 240 and 7 and 9 series left the scene--those never impressed me as having much durability in terms of materials or build quality. But they did seem to run a long time, even with most of the parts falling off. So you have to give them some credit. Real rattle traps though. I think Volvo really improved in the 90s.
Vovlo, like Audi, in a way, made a very robust engine. The BF230 series (the 4 cylinder that Volvo put in everything) was over built and under stressed, even with a turbo. The issue was with some of the auxiliary systems. Volvo doesn't sell that many cars, so they had to adapt more general mainstream components to fit. Over the years they have had transmissions from different manufactures as well as interior pieces. They just didn't have the quantity of scale to have top quality for all trim pieces. Then Volvo got bought by Ford, who put an end to the piece-meal silliness, but hurt the cult standing of the car a bit. Eventually, the capitalized on strengths and watered down the brand a bit (Ford 500 uses Volvo/Audi TT AWD, Ford Freestyle similar to XC70...). One of my friends from where I grew up is driving around his parents 1984 Volvo 240 GLT wagon they got via European delivery. It still has it's European temporary plates under the California plates. Its got like 200k, head has never been off, but its on its 2nd turbo, 3rd driver's seat, 3rd glove box, not original wheel etc. My favorite thing is it still has that back back seat I remember sitting in when we got picked up for soccer when I was 10 or so.
Man, not to whine, but the Detroit craigslist is (insert PC derogatory term here) compared to Seattle. Even Chicago and Cincinnati aren't as good. Santa Cruz/San Francisco/San Jose is good, but thats because everyone needs to buy used stuff to be able to afford to live there.
....has deteriorated BADLY the past few months. It's pretty much filled with curbstoners (LOTS of those), re-sellers (people selling the junk they bought from a curbstoner a month ago), dealers, dreamers (my $600 XYZ is worth $2k because that's what I have in it, or 'need to get out of it') and other assorted scammers (the ones in Calcutta selling new BMWs for $11k). It's really no fun any more most of the time.
I still think, though, that I'd just as soon (or rather, really) have a 300SEL or 420SEL, especially if I could find one with the power rear seat, if my own money were involved. The extra power of the 560 isn't worth the trade-off in gas mileage, or worse yet, having to repair/replace the air suspension when it fails.
This thing was $6500 the other day, glad to see he came to his senses :P . Jesus. These are nice and all, but doesn't an Infiniti G20 have the same engine and only about another 300 pounds on these (and for a third this price)?
This is another, "Gee, Honey, I tried to sell it" deals.
That 2.0L SR20 that is in the SER and the G20 has a big following. It responds well to turbo kits, or can be replaced by an SR20DET (although you need a front drive version). Even using the JDM Primera motor raises the compression and has more aggressive cams, and runs well under a grand. I agree that this guy is dreaming at 6k, but with an SER racing classes on both sides of the country, I imagine someone will want that. OpenTrack now NASA has an SER class on the west coast, and I believe there are similar organizations on the east. Fun stuff.
...in good condition at Macungie two years ago. To get an idea of how tiny this car is, look at the license plate in relation to the rest of the back of the car.
....this looks quite nice, though w/167k and new oil pan and head gaskets, it might be a patch job just good enough to get it on the road to an unfortunate new owner. At least the seller discloses these things. Still, could be a decent first Bimmer-slash-poseurmobile, or just a second car:
Comments
However, that front-engine/rear-drive/actually has a frame wagon is one of the last cars that came out of GM that could tow more than 10 lbs. My uncle had one to tote his boat, and now I am wishing for something like that to tow old cars around.
If you want an Audi that will be worth something, try to find a 5000 Quattro Turbo Wagon. That's a car worth having; otherwise, it's money down the drain IMO.
BTW: the quattro systems aren't the problem...it's everything else attached to it.
The biggest issue besides the typical Audi parts availability, is the "UFO" brakes. Apparently, the caliper is on the inside of the rotor, which allowed them to use bigger brakes with smaller wheels. Most cars have either had the brakes replaced by now, or they have been converted to conventional brakes.
I am partial to the UR-Q because it invented the AWD sports car, the godfather of the Eclipse GSX, EVO and STI. I also know enough about the car and its maladies to know what I'm getting into, just too stupid to care.
Like I told him, "Dan, this is an incredibly nice car for the money, but you've only just begun to pay for it." :P
james
If you are okay to pay $500 for a high pressure side power steering hose, or $1,000 for replacement headlight assemblies, then good on ya'.
I even back away from these cars, and my personal good friend owns an Audi repair shop.
Not a car, but would be cool for the fintail or any period car
This is in the dictionary under "money pit" - hmm where do I start...the rear suspension has failed, the paint looks shot, the door frame trim is shot (so the leather and wood likely has issues), the fender trim likely hides rust, the front bumper is dented...but on the other hand, it's a Euro car with lights and washers and bumpers, it could have good parts, some people like those goofy period wheels...maybe for $500 as a parts car or beater
I think this is lovely, and so fetching with the Euro lights. I would remove that fender trim, but otherwise it looks perfect. I think these are just beautiful cars
You can't warn people off bad cars they really want. They have to learn for themselves. A few get lucky, like the guy who falls off a building and lands on a matress truck. But really, who wants those odds?
All that thing ever did was break, electrical this electrical that busted coolant hoses and expansion tanks just a mess. The car did have 210,000 ++++ miles though so that was part of it. The odometer only worked from time to time so who knows how many miles it really had.
I ended up repairing one of the rigid plastic hoses on the expansion tank by epoxying in a bit of PVC pipe. Used it to keep the crack from expanding anymore since they wanted like 750 dollars for a new tank.
And yep, it looks like those cars would have hidden lights
I like the differences between that $1500 500SEL and the $7995 example. You could paint the $1500 car and fix the rear end, and already be at $7995. The most expensive Mercedes is the cheapest one.
So it's all relative really.
What about Volvos, what do you think of their long-term durability? My 1996 850 has 71K miles but it still looks like new. The 240 series is a different story though...
Then Volvo got bought by Ford, who put an end to the piece-meal silliness, but hurt the cult standing of the car a bit. Eventually, the capitalized on strengths and watered down the brand a bit (Ford 500 uses Volvo/Audi TT AWD, Ford Freestyle similar to XC70...).
One of my friends from where I grew up is driving around his parents 1984 Volvo 240 GLT wagon they got via European delivery. It still has it's European temporary plates under the California plates. Its got like 200k, head has never been off, but its on its 2nd turbo, 3rd driver's seat, 3rd glove box, not original wheel etc. My favorite thing is it still has that back back seat I remember sitting in when we got picked up for soccer when I was 10 or so.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
http://chicago.craigslist.org/car/135934903.html
This thing was $6500 the other day, glad to see he came to his senses :P . Jesus. These are nice and all, but doesn't an Infiniti G20 have the same engine and only about another 300 pounds on these (and for a third this price)?
This is another, "Gee, Honey, I tried to sell it" deals.
I agree that this guy is dreaming at 6k, but with an SER racing classes on both sides of the country, I imagine someone will want that. OpenTrack now NASA has an SER class on the west coast, and I believe there are similar organizations on the east. Fun stuff.
The price is too high, but I think this car wears red well...and I usually don't like red on many cars
I suppose parts are hard to find anyway
Seriously, this is one of those that I would pay someone to take off my hands.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/car/136144531.html
Anyone know anything about these, other than the fact that with 134hp, they're not exactly fast?
That movie also had a good scene in a MB showroom ca. 1985.