Faults:

General wear repairs, such as hoses, brakes, tires.

General Comments:

I have had many Audi's, and I will always buy them. I treat my cars terribly, from physical abuse (speed bumps, off road, curbs), to neglecting all necessary maintenance like alignments, oil changes, fluid changes, bushing changes. I drive the engine to the limit of its capabilities, and brake very heavily. My Audis are dirt cheap to maintain, when I do it (myself, easy). They are great to drive and tough in wrecks.

Avoid cars that have been neglected, as you can have several little things that add up to a bummer, and you may stray from a great car company.

Avoid automatic trannies until 1991, as they'll tend to go out. I have had original trannies in a 230,000 mile turbo, but not usually.

Check differential fluid in quattro's.

Research your problems, if you have them, and it's often a simple fix.

I've had a Porsche Turbo, Benz 500 coupe, and I'd love another of each as extras some day... but my next car is another Audi. 1990 90 quattro 20 valve.

P.s. 4000's and 80/90 series are more reliable than 5000's and 100/200 before 1992. The smaller Audi's are truly a spectacular economy car, if you get a well maintained one.

Faults:

The muffler just wore out.

The fuel pump quit leaving me stranded. I would advise any owner to change theirs, as mine only acted up under the heat and load from a long trip. Its demise gave no warning, and was difficult to diagnose. After the pump cooled off it ran perfectly, which was very frustrating after a + 100 mile tow!

At 100K the water pump developed a very slow leak. A thousand miles later it seized, ripping off my recently replaced timing belt causing very expensive valve damage.

The lifters are noisy until the engine warms up. I'm told this is a common quirk with this engine and isn't dangerous or damaging. I've found that using 20w50 synthetic oil and a can of Restore at every oil change will reduce but not eliminate this problem.

Other minor repairs such as minor electrical problems, new window switches, and renewed fuel lines are to be expected on a car this old, I guess.

Parts for this car are expensive, so potential buyers be prepared. Frequent maintenance by a mechanic experienced with these cars is essential, and will save you a lot in the long run.

General Comments:

Despite its expense in repairs, this car is overall very reliable.

Quattro system is incredible in snow and rain, giving unparalleled control. The drive-line is silky smooth. Braking is excellent. The suspension is also top notch, as this car is very comfortable on trips while giving the driver a firm and precise feel of the road.

This is a heavy little car and feels that way off the line and when pushed to its cornering limits. Although my car has responded well to a K&N filter and Total Audi Performance chip upgrade.

This car's sweet spot is in third gear 3500-5000 RPM. It cruises comfortably at 90 MPH.

Fit and finish is second to none.

Easily the most beautifully designed car I've ever owned. Its shape is still contemporary today.

Despite its age it gets lots of compliments and admiring looks.

The heated seats are a godsend, and the Bose stereo system still works well and still sounds crystal clear.

This car loves to be really driven, the engine sounds wonderful and feels strong under all circumstances.