Audi 80 2.0

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I got the Audi 80 2 years ago , after spotting it laid up in a local garage's yard . I enquired about what the problem was with the car and was told it had a blown head gasket and the brakes were seized on , it also had a dent in the passengers side front wing. The reason the brakes were seized was because it had been standing there for the past 7 months. The original owner had decided to scrap it due to the cost of repairs set against the ...
...you want it you'd better take it away cos it's being scrapped in a couple of days ! .

Head gasket replaced, rear brakes sorted, and front wing replaced ( £35) off it went to the Mot test....... straight through .... no problems ! .
Bearing in mind the time it had been stood around there was no rust to worry about, all the body panels are galvenised (zinc coated) so no probs' in that department. A good coat of thick polish and ... more

I've owned quite a few cars in my 20 odd years of driving , some were great , and some were absolute pigs . I find this great car a joy to own.

I got the Audi 80 2 years ago , after spotting it laid up in a local garage's yard . I enquired about what the problem was with the car and was told it had a blown head gasket and the brakes were seized on , it also had a dent in the passengers side front wing. The reason the brakes were seized was because it had been standing there for the past 7 months. The original owner had decided to scrap it due to the cost of repairs set against the value of the car.
I was told ....."If you want it you'd better take it away cos it's being scrapped in a couple of days ! .

Head gasket replaced, rear brakes sorted, and front wing replaced ( £35) off it went to the Mot test....... straight through .... no problems ! .
Bearing in mind the time it had been stood around there was no rust to worry about, all the body panels are galvenised (zinc coated) so no probs' in that department. A good coat of thick polish and the car looked like new.

First impressions of the car as you get in are of a good quality feel, the door thuds shut with reassuring feel, the seats are firm and well upholstered, the dash is strongly built but soft and padded to touch, all the electrical switches are uncluttered and placed well, the drivers seat moves up and down as well as back and forth
The seats are a bit flat, and dont hold you in place very well when cornering hard.

This leads me to the handling, which, for general purpose driving .....is fine, but if you push it hard into a bend, the car will not feel very stable, and tends to understeer, the suspension would need to be stiffened, to improve matters. Mine felt like it could do with lower profile tyres also, to stop the 'squidgey' feel on fast bends.The tyres on mine were 185/65/14's.

The version I own has power steering, electric front windows & sunroof , air conditioning (dont forget to use this in winter as well to keep seals in good order , or the gas will leak out )
This car has a safety feture called "Procon ten ",. This means , in the event of a frontal crash, the pedels & steering column are pulled downwards to prevent feet and chest injury, large high tensile cables connect around these items and are linked to the front of the car.

The engine is powered by the Bosch K jetronic fuel injection system, which I find , is very reliable, (more mechanical than ecectrical) so less likely to breakdown. This also gives around 30 mpg in hard use, and over 40 on a run.
The accelerator pedel has a 2 stage feel to it , general driving is a free feel up to 1/2 way, pressed further and it feels stiffer and goes like a rocket ! , brakes and steering are also very positive.
The cars looks are clean and rounded, understated, less in your face as a BMW equavalent, but just the same build quality.The window glass is of high quality, and tinted blue, the windscreen has a dark blue 4 inch shaded area at the top of the screen
It also uses the same engine as fitted to earlier Golf GTi 's .This one had 115 BHP standard. This car is fitted with a catalitic converter, which will rob power, but because of this ones age, it would be possible ( within the law to dump this, and fit a replacement connector piece. This would increase torque and top end ).

Servicing the car, I find is very easy, oil , air, filters are easy to get to and remove, as are the spark plugs, ( NGK BPR6 ET) triple electrode type are standard. Cam belt is also very easy to change.

Parts can be sourced from places like ( euro car parts ) and are very reasonable, you really dont need the main dealer for this one. It will not break the bank , alloy wheels, body parts, engine bits , brakes , steering , suspension and interior fancy bits are readily available also.
The second hand market is now so depressed, you could pick up one of these cars for around £500.

If you want a good quality second hand car you can trust....... consider this ! . 

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