21st Jan 2006, 11:30

I own An Audi 100 LS. It was passed down in my family to me and I think that it is the best car on the road. I even gave up an Elcamino for it. I don't think you should insult a beautiful car like this until you actually drive one. Everybody I know loves my car one of them wanted to give me his Porsche 914 for it, but I think the Audi is nicer.

31st Jan 2006, 18:21

"this one coasted at 110 MPH for a very long distance"

Are you sure you didn't steal it? And who perposely ruined it? You or Audi? And finnaly why did the headline call it a winner?

18th Apr 2006, 15:12

Just commenting on the basic engine design; Those older style inline 4 cylinder engines were practically bulletproof. Otherwise they wouldn't have kept the same basic layout up until 1993.

Very rarely do you hear about a cracked block or any such thing on those motors- reason? the block was the same as the diesel motors. Casting was identical, and interchangeable. I can't 100% verify from the motor I saw, that it is the exact same motor, but it looked very similar. I will say that from 82 on, they were unstoppable.

15th Jun 2006, 06:47

Ill-meant comments do not honour carsurvey. And it is definitely ill-meant to judge with present day criteria a car designed in 1968 and running for more than 30 years! Compare it with a car of its time if you like. You don't buy a car like this today for everyday driving, you buy it only to preserve it as a classic. The car was a great success by the standards of its time. When production ended in 1976 more than 800,000 cars had been sold. Audi's present success was built on this model!

Its 1760cc engine was designed from a diesel engine in 1965 by Mercedes Benz and was initially used in Super 90 in 1966 and then in 100LS in 1968. These engines generally needed to be rebuilt after 150,000km, so it is natural to burn oil and smoke if the car has not been taken good care of. My father made more than 400,000 happy km over 18 years of ownership of a 1973 model without trouble (sold fifteen years ago). A friend of mine still uses his 1971 model every day although he also owns a new A3, but he loves and takes good care of the car. An uncle of mine still has his 1974 model in running condition. As for myself, last year I bought a 1973 LS with 300,000km on the clock, without any rust, all its trim in place and an almost perfect interior. Old cars deserve care not mockery!!

17th Jun 2006, 11:25

Hello.

I was the person who posted earlier about my 1974 100 LS and how it is still going strong after 32 years (limited to non-winter use now). My comments are based on factual experience and meant to supply pertinent info to readers of this website. Here is additional info.

Current mileage : 92,500 (all non-winter except for about 6 months)

History: been in the same family for 31 years - bought 1 yr, used in 1975

Recent work: Valve job due to loose valve guides (expected after mileage on engine - compression excellent - no ring job req'd)

Engine size: 1.874 L

Transmission: Automatic (no work required except new modulator for less than $30 + fluid change as req'd)

Other routine maintenance consisted of exhaust, carb rebuild, distributor points, brakes, belts, tires, water pump, battery, plugs, oil and filter changes, etc. - NORMAL AND EXPECTED MAINTENANCE - YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN THE CAR NOT ABUSE IT!)

If you do not believe me - fine. For those who have preserved this wonderful and extremely rare car, you know what I am talking about...

15th Nov 2006, 22:40

I am in search of 1971 Audi 100LS in restored or restorable condition. Any available will be seriously considered. North America preferable. Please contact at knight89_k@yahoo.com.

1st Feb 2007, 22:53

I owned two 100LS's. The first was a '73 with the stick shift, and bought as a demo with about 5K miles on it. The second was a '72 Automatic that I bought used in '80.

Oh Boy! What can I say about those cars? It was such a love/hate relationship. The good parts were exquisite, the bad parts were abhorrent.

The good parts...

RIDE and HANDLING.

I doubt if I will ever again ride in or drive a car with such superb ride and handling. The first time I rode in a 100LS was on a dealer test drive. The salesman put two wheels on the shoulder, which was very rutted. I felt nothing, and couldn't believe he had done that, I had to look down to verify his words. I fell in love with that car.

Then, when I drove it, the handling was like it was on rails. Wow. No other car I know of can do that combination.

LOOKS.

What a looker! Of course it helped that the first time I saw one I was convinced it was a Mercedes.

ROOM.

Lots and lots.

Mmmmm...it was insidiously seductive. What a honey!

Then, it came to living with it.

Now, I expected service/repair to be expensive, and, possibly, with attitude.

What I didn't expect was that I'd run into downright incompetent, sloppy dealership repair/service shops.

First of all, there were "quirks" in that car (4th gear advance, for one), and no matter how exactly I explained the problem, the car always came back unfixed. I guess Audi didn't train their mechanics?

Second of all, some of the repairs were done very sloppily.

I'd get the car back with major safety related nuts and bolts finger loose, like McPherson strut bolts, not to mention brake lines hanging loose out of their mounts.

Now we come to basic design mistakes. Two major ones are related to the A/C.

The way the compressor mounted on the engine with those rubber bushing guaranteed that you had to have them replaced (for $200 in the seventies) every year or two.

The other AC related problem was electrical. The radiator fan fuse would heat up, causing heat deformation of fuse block (mucho buck replacement.)

It was such a shame that such a superbly designed automobile was executed in such a seemingly haphazard fashion.

I once talked to the district office and the agent told me, in his best Teutonic German, "Our responsibility ends when the car leaves the factory."

So there's the love and the hate I have for that era Audis. I also owned two '76 Silver Foxes - they both had the same problems.

Now I'm a confirmed Celica driver.

9th Nov 2007, 16:03

Being a collector of older German cars I am often amused at the conclusions some will come to regarding poorly maintained 30 year old cars. The 100LS was a brilliantly conceived car that performed on the road better than many modern cars today, however there were some niggling issues that, when properly sorted out before they developed to bigger issues, would not impact the long term viability of the car. These cars were built like tanks with exceptional fit and finish and interior ergonomics. Having owned over 90 German cars from this era, I must agree with an earlier comment that no car has ever been made that rides and steers quite like a 100LS. I'm looking for a mint low-mile sample to add to my collection soon.