3.6 liter, 240 hp, AWD, with a 5-speed manual transmission, all back in 1991.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2405542781&category=6055

I think it's a pretty car, probably performs pretty decently, too.

Are these any good as vehicles? Anyone know?



-Sam

Audi didn't go to all-aluminum until the introduction of the A8 in '96 or thereabouts. The old V8 Quattro is steel.

I dunno. I'd worry about electrical problems though.

Judging from postings on the A4 section of www.audiworld.com, A4s can be kind of sketchy from a reliability standpoint (some are great, some are bad). I'd wonder if this would carry over to other Audi models, earlier or later.

My dad and I looked at a '97 A4 1.8 T Quattro as a possible buy (ended up getting the 940SE for 1/3 of the price of the Audi). The car was a blast to drive, but things that went wrong with other A4s scared us away.

I love the AWD and German-ness of Audis, but will they hold up?

-Sam

The V8 was steel, but galvanized steel. The ones which rust are usually have a problem with a bad done body repair.

Big problem with these cars is that they were produced in very limited numbers. There is no market for used parts, aftermarket parts, anything. Pretty much no part of the common 5000 (Audi 100) will fit. And just think about the inside-out brake rotors...

To maintain these beauties costs a fortune, to find a mechanic which is familiar with the V8 is almost impossible.

There was a factory stretched version available. I have seen one once as a hotel shuttle for an upscale Hotel in Freiburg where I studied.

Last summer I saw a stretched one at the famous Solitude race track. The owner put a blanked over the leather and drives his dogs around with that car


At least the dogs have enough leg room

Kind regards
Eberhard

I test drove an A8 Quattro... amazing amazing ride but I didn't go for it after I talked to my mechanic (an Audi specialist). The Aluminum body can on be repaired (structural repairs) at 6 shops in the Entire US. Typical turnaround in close to 6 weeks! And they are so complex that they are riddled with electrical problems that are enormously difficult to track and repair. He said if I was going to buy one that I should be looking at an 99 or newer (this was a 97'). I went with the 420sel instead.

__________________
1988 420SEL 170K

Browsed through www.audiv8.com to find some information.

According to them, the car is very well build. The big, big problem is, that Audi at that time put every gadget they could dream of into the car. The maintenance costs of this car is in fact much higher than any comparable Mercedes or BMW.

Just look at the brakes which are inside of the brake rotors.




Kind regards
Eberhard

I really don't know, why I always find the police cars



Kind regards
Eberhard

If I could afford it I would love to have a 4.2l A6 Quattro, those are spectacular cars. You should check out the engine compartment if you ever get the chance... it looks like a sculpture! Man it can move too, its like the ultimate 'sleeper'. It looks elegant and quiet but if you stomp on the gas you can burn all four tires for as long as you'd like... sigh... one day

__________________
1988 420SEL 170K