Is one 80 in the family really ever going to be enough?

Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 9:31 pm

As some of you may know, I've spent the last couple of weeks looking for a Coupe for my son.

Well the good news is mission has been accomplished, he's now the very proud and very happy owner of a lovely 2.6 Coupe.

The bad news is I now have a serious yen for one myself. No matter how I weigh it up I just can't justify spending even a few hundred quid on a second car. Sad

Thing is the biggest mistake I think I've ever made is meeting up with some of you nutters at Stanford Hall at the weekend. You made it seem almost normal to have this irrational yearning. So I'm now looking to change my ultra reliable, ultra comfortable, ultra practical, ultra economical and totally rust free 2.1TD 406GL (R24 TTF) with it's new cambelt and clutch (£700+) for a car of similar value but 3-4 years older and a total unknown quantity.

Makes perfect sense doesn't it? Shocked

In your expert (and obviously totally unbiased) collective opinion would something like this be practical as a daily drive?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/AUDI+80/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-240-4294963502-4294966807/advert.action?R=200913331143005&distance=36&postcode=mk437bn&channel=CARS&make=AUDI&model=80&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1994&vehicleRegLetter=L

I do a lot of miles earning my living as a self employed sound engineer. The most I ever carry is a boot full of hand tools and drills and on occasion a pair of steps, sometimes two pairs. Estate is a must.

And what of the car itself, potentially a good buy? I know a 1.9 TDI would make a lot more sense but.....erm none of this makes sense anyway so you lot should relate to my need to complicate my life for no particular reason

Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 9:54 pm

I'd look at the 1.9tdi you know, the performance will be about what your used too at the moment.

I've had a few Audis now as well as a variety of much quicker daily drivers, I can't get my head around the economy my little diesel gives though, the absolute worse I have achieved on country roads beating the living daylights out of the throttle is 45 to the gallon!!!! Best is around 60.

I'm actually going to sell the 20v CQ I bought intended as a replacement for the tdi (which was only supposed to be a stop gap car) as the tdi gives almost as much pleasure to drive believe it or not (admittedly there is a power difference, but the 80 doesn't handle badly and it will chug along at 100 happily) but the economy is addictive.

My car is the poverty spec including windy windows, but it has sunroof and central locking, pleasure to drive, relaxed at 80 on the motorway (about 2750 rpm) and seriously comfy.

The next Audi will be a cab as my daily driver..............With a tdi engine!

Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 9:58 pm

Well, you saw Al's green Avant there on Sunday with over 300,000 on the clock now. Yes it's an A4 but a very similar beast to the 80.

My 80 is only a lowly 1.6 saloon. Prior to me getting my sticky hands on it it had not been cleaned, let alone serviced for three years!!

This weekend just gone it has done 781 miles in three days going from Dundee to Stanford Hall and back, carrying me, the wife, both children and a boot full of luggage (and they have big boots) using less than a tank and a half of unleaded! (Overall mpg was 35.8 but I was booting the poor thing at stages on Sunday to keep up with more powerful machinery - even at 70mph it's doing nearly 4000 rpm)

No wonder we all love these older Audi's! Very Happy

Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 10:05 pm

Sounds like the guy who owned my car did a number on yours too Owen!!!

The amazing things about these cars is their ability to take abuse, when I collected mine it was so badly abused it wouldn't drive in a straight line due to the completely shot front suspension, the engine was pouring smoke out on boost, it wasn't boosting right, the oil was non existant and what there was was like tar, tyres were worn unevenly and almost bald.........The list goes on.

Now it cruises up and down the UK, sits at 80 on the motorway all day long, pulls strongly and is calm and collected.

Treat them right they last forever, you can pick an 80 with potential up for as little as £100.

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 8:01 am

No, he was very up front about it - just a guy who see's a car as a way of getting A to B - gets petrol when it needs it, oil when the warning light comes on, etc. etc.

He did give it to me for nothing so can't really complain Laughing

But totally agree that it's amazing the abuse they can get and still run well. Wonder if the Modern crop of Audi's would withstand that ?

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 4:00 pm

get an s2 and fold down the back seats dad!

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 4:52 pm

Oh yeah, wot about me ladders? Confused

Thanks for your other comments guys, I know my heart is ruling my head but I really am digging that V6 engine. Time to get me head down and think some more maybe!

Anyone out there got any experience of the TDI engine coupled to an auto box? I've seen some mixed views about the Audi autobox on here but would really appreciate some input.

I've seen a couple of estates with really nice interior specs but auto boxes

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 5:02 pm

OK so an S2 avant?? Wink

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 5:23 pm

What a lovely thought. I'd never want to get to the job. The serious option is getting 12mnths ticket on the 406 and get her on sale Sad

do love that car.

In the meantime shopping around for a sexy little 80 Avant Very Happy

Then bingo, you've got 2 new AOC members for the price of one, only son No 2 to go then, get him out of his Clio 1.5 TD (nother nice car in fairness)

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 6:42 pm

That does sound the sensible option - BTW you don't need to own an Audi to be in the AOC - enthusiasts welcome too Wink

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 8:19 pm

S2 avant... sorted!
the tdi is ace on fuel and the Vees are pretty bombproof. my first audi was an 80 2.8q which with 188k on the clock was a revelation after our 70k 306 (which i did like) rattled itself apart. Have a hankering for another one, have a hankering for an entire fleet if i am being honest!

Enjoyed reading both you and sonofwah's threads... its refreshing to see folk coming through the same way i did a few years ago. its ace! and the compulsion just gets worse!!!

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 9:40 pm

I bought my 80 in August 2007 and never intended to wash it, let alone upgrade anything. After 3 months of being on here and visiting Nogin's I have stickier tyres, uprated brake pads on the way, a new stereo, my eyes on suspension upgrades and a desire to polish my rims... Rolling Eyes

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 10:28 pm

I think it's fantastic Very Happy

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 10:18 am

tell me about it! just seeing the condition of the s2's at stanford hall has made me want to make mine mint!

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 3:45 pm

been digging around and tdi's looks like the way forward, one claim of 700miles on a tank!? dont know how true that is

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 4:25 pm

I know Buz, TDi is the sensible option.

Bit like the 2.0L 16v would have been your sensible option??

I'm still interested as to how the TDi drives hooked up to an auto box if anyone has any first hand experience?

There's a huge range of age/mileage/condition/spec/price out there at the mo, so for the mo I'll just keep looking. Just wish I had the dough to run one as a second car.

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 12:24 am

The 1.9TD is a great engine...probably not as much geared towards performance but it should return 50mpg+...my Dad ran a '96 Passat Estate and consistently got 52 from it, and he's got quite heavy shoes Laughing

Don't know the weight differences between the 80 and the Passat but i wouldn't have thought there'd be much in it as they're basically the same car:?:

V6...not had any dealings with. Obviously not gonna be anywhere near as economical.

But if you're gonna shirk on economy you might as well push the boat out and get an S2 Avant Laughing

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 1:49 am

827 is my record Wink

That was driving like a fanny though, but shows what is possible from the 1Z TDi Smile

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 7:43 am

i have been dinging around in a mk3 golf estate whilst the 90 is in the garage. same engine i believe but yes 700 miles from a tank is normal! I am stunned as to how good it is on fuel, even by modern standards.

Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 11:54 pm

meh. 2.0L 16v or 2.6 v6? one clear winner there!

sensible=estate?

if thats the way your thinking maybe an rs2 dad?
il help you drive it! Very Happy

700 miles is awesome man im sure they won't lack a bit of poke

Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 2:28 pm

Sounds like the guy who owned my car did a number on yours too Owen!!!

The amazing things about these cars is their ability to take abuse, when I collected mine it was so badly abused it wouldn't drive in a straight line due to the completely shot front suspension, the engine was pouring smoke out on boost, it wasn't boosting right, the oil was non existant and what there was was like tar, tyres were worn unevenly and almost bald.........The list goes on.

Now it cruises up and down the UK, sits at 80 on the motorway all day long, pulls strongly and is calm and collected.

Treat them right they last forever, you can pick an 80 with potential up for as little as £100.

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 9:29 pm

Evening all! My word what a sensible discussion I was having with you chaps exploring options for replacing me Peugeot.

Well a year down the line it all went tits up a few days ago when the trusty 406 decided to kill it's second clutch in 18 months. At £350 quid a pop and bearing in mind all the age related clunks and other noises it's developed over the same period I decided I needed an interim car whilst the Pug's future was debated.

Secretly really pleased to announce I am now the proud owner of an N reg 2.0 8v Coupe in what could best be described as unloved condition (cosmetically anyway).

Mechanically however she's faring an awful lot better. Nice dark bluey green (Emerald Green?) and surprisingly rewarding to drive. Not a patch on No 1 son's awesomely silky V6 but fab enough on it's own merits. Quiet, solid, flexible and somehow capable of instilling a really powerful sense of security.

Got a bit of work ahead of me to get her into a less embarrassing state but I have finally been given my answer to the original question I posed. One Coupe in the family was never going to be enough.

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:00 pm

nice one min, look forward to seeing more of this. it gonna stay an interim offering or will it become a more permanent 'feature'??

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:34 pm

Hey MonkeyBoy, who knows what the future brings? Main problem is she'll have to stand as my daily driver, and I do a fair few miles. Plus I've got to get all my work gear in there so my plan at the moment is just to enjoy the experience and see how she goes.

Kinda got used to the ridiculously low fuel consumption of the Peugeot estate so it may be a painful experience. On the other hand when you spend as much time driving as I do it's a real bonus to actually enjoy the simple mechanics of driving from A to B.

Plus it's really nice to share my son's enthusiasm for the marque even if he has got me beaten hands down with his 2.6.