I bought this Audi two years ago, used, but as I knew the former owner personally quite well, I could rely on this one being a good and reliable and well watched car. Why this suspiciousness? Because there are several people around who change the motor electronics with a so called 'Chip tuning', ... Read review
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I bought this Audi two years ago, used, but as I knew the former owner personally quite well, I could rely on this one being a good and reliable and well watched car. Why this suspiciousness? Because there are several people around who change the motor electronics with a so called 'Chip tuning', that makes the engine run up to 100 or even more horsepowers, instead of the factory promised 90. So IF you're looking for an used TDI (no matter if Volkswagen, Audi, Seat or Skoda) watch for this!!! Audi itself says about chip tuning: 'No more warranty as the engine WILL suffer by this new program'. But that's just a hint for starting my op. So let's come to my experiences with it.
2 years of ownership and about 80000 kilometres of driving will make me able to tell some facts of my daily use of it.
First of all, let's start with the facts: As there's a picture of it at Ciao, I won't spend too many words about the design. Let's say, it's quite frumpy compared to the new A4, but still functional. The interior decoration is well handled and there's no clattering by now, and the car is 10 years old and has done 170.000 kilometres. All the switches are where they are good to use and also the place for the radio is okay. But if you are a smoker you shouldn't use the 3rd or 5th gear <lol>, as the ashtray will not be to good to reach when you're in these ones. In fact I'm talking about the left hand drive version of this car, but I think it's the same for the right hand drive YOU should prefer ;-). The position for the driver was very unfamiliar for me at the first kilometres I owned this car, I always thought "O my god, WHY did I buy this car?", but today I dislike the position of the driver in the car of my wife (Toyota Yaris). In this Audi, you will be sitting like you do in a bathtub. The plate of the door almost reaches my shoulder (even if there is no pure plate in the inside, but stylish fabric and plastic).
Comfort: All the seats are well worked and don't look used up until now. I hope this will keep on like this for 5 years, that's how long I'm planning to keep this car. ;-)
There's one big downside for the people who will take place behind me: There's not much space left for their legs. I'm 186 centimetres tall and most of it are my legs <loL>, so my seat is at position 2 of the possible ones to choose) Very comfortable for me, but not for the ones in the behind. Here's the new A4 much better designed. But still this is not a limousine like a Mercedes S or BMW 7 or a Rolls Royce, but you also don't have to pay for it like you would have to for these 'alternatives' :-).
For the winter, you'll find a very well and fast working heating, although the TDI technology makes the newer engines have to use an additional heating system for the passengers. This is not fact for the old Audi 80. So I don't have to get cold in winter. (So that's 4 to 6 month a year :-( ). For the days in summer there's air conditioning, but not fully automatic like it's standard now, so you have to use it together with the heating in summer if you don't want to get a cold! This air conditioning costs the car one of the 5 stars.
Reliability: Nothing important to complain about. The heat up system for cold starts in winter is a bit strange, so you have to turn the key three times before you try to start the engine, and there was a reparation at the wheel bearing after an 'accident' on a very poor road. Also the accelerator pedal broke off the plastic top part two weeks ago, but I still could use it. But nothing really fatal or costly happened.
Economy: Very good. I'm about 6 litres of Diesel on 100km, and when I drive, I'm not driving slowly. ;-) 180 kilometres per hour on the motorway and many overtakings on the main roads I mostly have to use. Oil service is every 15.000 km and it takes 3.5 litres of 'the best you can get' ;-) . The wearout of tires is normal, so I can use a kit (? sorry, I don't know if it is the right word ;-) ) of tires for about 30.000 kilometres.
Handling: Quite good, but the ABS is not the fastest one, so you can feel it when it's working. But I never had the feeling of loosing control at any time. What a great chassis! No over and no understeering at any normal situation and even in critical situations I never felt like I have to fight against something mad (like my VW Campervan was ;-))) ). The look to the back when parking into a small parking space is a bit tricky, but you can do it. :-)
Extras: I've got this bloody air conditioning, a sliding roof, electric and heatable mirrors, ABS and a central locking as notable extras.
My verdict: The best car I have ever had. (And there were lots of them :-) f.e. two Volkswagen Golfs, Polo, Volvo, Opel (Vauxhall) and Volkswagen Campervan). Even if the passive security isn't state of the art no more it's okay. So you won't find no airbags in my car, but you could have bought them for about EUR 700 extra at the time of purchase). I'm planning to keep this car for another 5 years or 170.000 km, and I think it will make it. No rust, no aging of the parts to see, I'm delighted. :-)
Update May 2003: So the air conditioning doesn't work no more. To repair it, I would have to change the cooling gas in the system as the old - called R12 - must not be used no more in Germany. So this would be a 700 EUR bill. So that's why I will sell the car soon, and get 2500 EUR for this 11 year old vehicle with nearly 200.000 km done. :-) So I'll go for the Toyota Avensis now. Goodbye Audi, you've done a good job.
Thanks to all the readers who made it down here, even if my technical background on automobiles isn't that of an mechanic but I told you of my daily use of this "product". I hope it's understandable English to read, if not, please tell me about and I will update this OP as soon as possible.
Advantages: Good all-rounder Disadvantages: Too wide
...to drive in my father’s Audi 80 TDI, and I can tell you it was one hell of an experience. Going from my instructor’s Nissan Micra 1.0l to this baby, I kind of felt like I was driving a tank. Nowadays, I’ve got a lot more respect for it. Although getting on a bit at 6 years old, the Audi 80 had retained it’s classic looks and still drives well. Not very practical for around the town, this car is more suited to high-speed roads where the engine can ... ...- not just the length but the width as well, it’s around 4 inches wider than the average saloon of similar stature. But for a decent ride and a kind of reliability that’s typically German, the Audi 80 is a very good option for the second hand car buyer. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Quality, solidity and reliability Disadvantages: Dealer parts and service costs
If you are driving the 1.9TDI and approaching 200K miles, then you may wish to read about some issues of concern, and how to over come them.
Whilst normal wear and tear is expected, the following stand out as issues in the higher mileage cars:
EGR Valve. The "exhaust gas recurcultaion" valve. This can leak air at the wrong time leading to what can be described as a "coughing" sensation. Other than replacing the valve and sender unit, a simple blanking ... ...reduce performance and stop the air leak. A much cheaper solution.
Airbag. Airbags are only warrantied for 10 years. The MOT law is due to change soon, and airbags will be part of the inspection. If you car is approaching 10 years old, and you still have an old airbag, be warned, it is very expensive. There is no alternative to replacement, so being forewarned in adequate time is the best that you can hope for. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Practical, economical,good quality Disadvantages: too big
I have been driving an Audi 80 Tdi Estate for 3 years.
I have bought my Audi 3 years ago for £3200. The price
was so cheap, because it has done 112.000 Miles and I have
sold it with 152.000 Miles on the clock. The reason why I have
sold it was because the Heating was out of order and it would cost me
too much to fix it, so I decided to buy a new car, yes an Audi.
I would have driven that car for another 50.000 miles, if not more.
It is very ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Money saving on Diesel & Car Parts Disadvantages: Maintenence/Repair may be a bit costly
...second own car i baught Audi 80 1.9 Turbo Diesel Injection Sports Eddition 6 months a go, i choose this particular car because it is very cheap on running diesel and also all german car parts are very very cheap. It runs excelent and comfertable inside, on the outside the ten spokes alloyes and a spoiler on the back boot gives the car sports look, the car is very reliable for a 1994 L reg model and it has been driven over hundred and fifty thousand ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: reliable, well done, economic, Disadvantages: hasn`t any
...car in our family, my audi was produced in 1990, and when we bought it, it has already made 230.000km , but it was in a very good condition, the previous owner was taking a lot of care about it and I think that`s why it still gives us so much joy. Up till now it has made 350.000 and iy is still working very well, during 6 years of using it we had no problems with the car. The engine works very well, and is really very economic it takes something ... ...drive 1400 without visiting petrol station. Suspension could be a little bit more soft, but it`s great. Also very importatnt thing is that it doesn`t lose too much value after years. I advice everyone that car, for not so much money you can buy a friend on which you can always rely. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: performance, economy, reliability, value for money, rarity value, looks, handling, comfort, boot space Disadvantages: rear leg room
...a little and 50mpg is easily achievable - giving a tank range on the 55 litre (12.1 gallon) tank of 600 miles!
I remember being astonished at the official fuel figures for the Audi80 1.9TDI back in 1994 - one of the first cars to have this Direct Injection engine. 10 years on and it still appears to have better economy than most other circa 2.0 turbodiesels and is now a very well proven unit. I also read years ago of an earlier Golf diesel that was still running strong on its original engine at well over 400,000 miles!
I paid £2850 for my 1998 Skoda Octavia GLX (90bhp) 1.9TDI in April 2003.
£100 for a 'tuning box' which squirts 20% more fuel into the engine for a given throttle opening (DON'T pay £400 for one of these - just look on a certain very well known Internet Auction site instead) and £45 for a free - flow airfilter - make...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
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27.11.2004
