I just checked through the archives, and it looks like I’ve written about every Audi 4000 shown here on Barn Finds, and also every Audi diesel, which happened to all be Audi 5000s. That’s crazy, even for a major four-ring fan like myself. This 1982 Audi 4000 S Diesel is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and they’re asking $6,200. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Sam61 for the tip!
I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about these 1980s Audis for me. I love the Audi 80, or the Audi 4000 as they were called here in North America, for the better part of the 1980s. It’s a perfect size, before everything got so bloated, Audis included. The melted-bar-of-soap era hit Audi hard, and I very much prefer the crisp edges of this car as opposed to the later 1990s and 2000s cars. Speaking of melted bars of soap, here’s my 2002 Audi TT ALMS with a tick over 25,000 miles and never driven in the winter.
With just over 50 horsepower, I hope that’s a very light trailer they’re hauling, unless it’s just for a bike rack. The seller says this is a California car, but I can see some scary spots around the car, specifically over the left rear wheel arch, and on some of the underside photos. Kudos to the seller for including so many photos, though; that’s typically a good sign. The underside appears to have had a bit of a rattle-can restoration, and there’s a visible rust hole, unless I’m just seeing things.
The Audi 80 was known as the 4000 here in North America, and this is a B2, which is a generation of cars made between 1978 and 1986. 87-year-old Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro not only has a great name, but he also designed literally dozens of very tailored and gorgeous cars. Italian cars weigh heavily on his impressive list, but vehicles from AMC to Ford and Volkswagen are also well-represented. And with VW comes Audi. The seller has this car listed as having a 5-speed manual, but all of the information I can find lists the diesel model as only coming with a 4-speed manual. That being said, Audiworld, my go-to source for Audi information, doesn’t list any spec information at all for this car, but they list a diesel S model, and the 4000 S was available with a 5-speed. I’m hoping one of you will know. The non-airbag steering wheel is great, but there are a few cracks in the dash and some other issues inside.
Blue velour seats may be at the bottom of my wish list (red would be #1), but at least they appear to be in good condition, aside from some fading after 44 trips around the sun. No power windows is a shocker to see, although not really for the 1980s, even in a European car. It wasn’t locked in yet, and you’d never find fabric in an Audi today. As with most (but not all) vehicles, it’s leather or nothing. The trunk is fairly small, and I’d want to take a peek under that rubber mat.
Here’s where the magic happens: VW Group’s EA827 1.6-liter SOHC inline-four diesel with 52 horsepower and 72 lb-ft of torque. Pulling stumps may not be on your to-do list here, but power is sent through a 4-speed or 5-speed manual to the front wheels for a 0-60 time of around what it takes to write out the entire novel War and Peace in cursive writing. I don’t care how fast it is, I love its unusualness, its crisp design, its manual transmission, and, of course, its chugging diesel engine. The seller says it’s been mechanically restored, and you can drive it anywhere while getting 50 mpg. That seems about 10-15 mpg high to me, but this ad lists 52 mpg highway. This car has new tires, all new brakes, a new suspension, a new exhaust, new struts, a new cooling system, a new timing kit, and all new fluids. It sure sounds like it’s ready to go. Have any of you owned an Audi diesel from this era?
Big brother is watching. I hit publish at 7:49 pm central time and at 8:02 pm, I got an email from the Audi Service Department about service specials. Hmmm…
See? And they say I’M paranoid, perhaps the new “conversation feature”( for members only) has a few bugs yet,,,and that pizza delivery van has been across the street for a week,,
“Two Guys From Quantico”?
I never understood the logic of a diesel powered car. Especially in the 80s, when not every Kwik Star had diesel and you have to buy it at those filthy, crime ridden, urine soaked truck stops. Typically, underpowered, smoky, hard starting, and the fuel mileage, 52mpg, not mph,,,another rare SG typo was a optimistic estimate and with such low power and foot to the floor, didn’t get any better mileage than the gas jobs. Not to mention today, diesel is over $1 more than gas( wait until THAT hits the grocery store), so in conclusion, a diesel car is just a poor choice.
But hey – it has boat horns!
Don’t know about everyone else, but I had an’80 Diesel Rabbit (Golf elsewhere) and I consistently got 43 mpg all around, but could hit 55 mpg if driving several cross island trips up to the North Shore (where the winter waves are…). Yes, diesel was not universally available then (some stories there) but it could be had. As for the cost, the extra miles obtained for that additional dollar (at least half again more) certainly pencil out. Yeah- it was hard on short on-ramps, plus a cloud of smoke, but I loved that car!
My Dad drove diesels throughout the 80’s and 90’s. First Rabbit diesels, then up to 300TDs.
He was an unconventional guy – MIT educated engineer – and the idea of the diesel engine appealed to him. Fuel was available at most regular stations then – I do not remember ever having to go to a truck stop.
I always wanted one too, but the idea that diesel is a cheap, unrefined fuel that costs the least in Europe, yet in the US it is way more expensive than gasoline just turned me off. And like electrics, the manufacturers always charged a premium up front for them which didn’t justify any savings you got by using the fuel.
Back in the ’80s a lot of the road fleet (including used cars only a few years old) still had breaker-point ignition. The lack of moving ignition parts meant reduced servicing costs. Also diesels make sense in urban environments or other use cases where the car spends a lot of time idling because diesels use much less fuel at idle than their gasoline powered counterparts.
Actually Howard…. with this amount horsepower…… 52 .MPH actually sounds pretty accurate. ( hope you guys know I’m kidding……. Or am I????)
Thanks for catching that, H-A.
LOVE my 2002 VW Jetta Wagon with the ALH Diesel and 5 speed manual. Get over 600 miles to a tank, average 40mpg. Stock is 90hp, with the current tune (bigger injectors, turbo) around 165hp to the wheels and 270ish torque up front. Diesels love load so 3rd, 4th, 5th is moves out like a freight train, surprises lots of folks on the highway. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
Lovely looking car. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember when the Audi looked like this. I find this way more attractive than what’s currently being offered. It’s too bad they discontinued the Turbo Diesel engine for the USA market. I think the decision should be up to the American car buyer.
I had one of these. Used it for road trips for work and made $ on mileage reimbursement. Yes 50+ mpg is real. Plug in a cassette and before the 1st side is done you will be at cruising speed (70-80). Pack a lunch, it will be a while before .a fuel stop
diesels (cept for smell/fuel cost) are preferable to me. I liked the look of these when 1st coming over (VW had acquired’n 100LS showed up). Friend hada 4000 (or was ita “5000”?) wagon (I liked) as an Audi dealer mechanic. I liked how they brought 4WD to the rally car (Quarto won ‘em all for awhile).
I dont think they have ever had the ‘durability’ or ‘low maintenance’ moniker attached. Cant even get in a TT… they show up at the garage a lill less often than generic vee dubs. All a lill too much for my thicker blood…
If I had the money, I’d buy an Audi Quattro and install an Audi Turbo Diesel engine.
Once upon a time, I owned and drove 2 VW Syncro wagons. One tornado red, and the other some shade of silver. They were based on an altered 1st gen Audio 4000 Quattro, I believe. Fantastic in the snow.
They were motorvated by 2.2 Audi 5-cyl. with CIS-E injection. They only came with a 5-speed, and I only about 3,000 made it to the USA, in 1986, 87, & 88, or thereabouts.
I searched for several years for an Audi 5-cyl. turbo diesel to install in a Syncro, but never found one near CT.
I also owned and drove an 86 Jetta diesel 5-speed. It consistently returned 38 mpg with the A/C on, and 42 mpg with the A/C off. I never drove it faster than 70 mph, and it reached 70 mph in 6.3 minutes. I ultimately designed and installed a grease-burning system, and ran it on free french-fry oil for a few years, until my girlfriend blew the head gasket @ 350k miles. I then moved on to a Peugeot 505 turbo-diesel with an XD2S turning a 5-speed.
Awesome! I’d buy either a VW Passat Syncro or an Audi Quattro and if it fits, I may have a TDI Turbo Diesel installed.
Love this drive train, this one probably a tad slower than the ‘86-‘89 Jetta 5-speed diesels we ran in ‘86-‘95. First was an ‘86 no a/c returning 50 mpg for the 250k we had it. Second was a lower geared ‘89 non a/c rig that tried to improve acceleration but just shaved economy to 44 mpg. 250k again. Last was a ‘91Eco Diesel low boost turbo with 5-speed and a/c. Faster if you knew the torque curve, boost timing, gear ratios and current tidal pull. Fun to drive! Returned 42 mpg. 250k again. Dad and I ran these along the I-5 and OR 30 corridors with no, I repeat no problems, turnkey all the way. All were sold cheap and mechanically sound after 250k to college kids for around $500. Conclusions: 5 speed is critical, final drive from ‘86 returns best economy, seeing the inside rear wheel lift off in my rear view whilst pushing tight downhill corners is my highlight. Tires were 175/80-13, and the 14 on the newer one!
Owned an Audi LS100 back in the early 80’s. Despite what you may read about the failings of this car, I found it to be a fun autocrosser. Of course, after installing adjustable struts and shocks, Weber carb, Header, better tires, it was far more capable thank before. Mainly lots of fun on the cloverleafs and vacant parking lots. Since that LS100 I’ve always had an appreciation for Audi’s. Love the design of these 4000’s and 5000’s, very crisp and un jellybean like. Maybe I’m just getting old (75) but today’s cars, despite their mechanical supremacy, just don’t appeal to me. Especially at their prices. For that average new car price of $50K, I could fill my garage with some interesting and entertaining vehicles.
I owned a 1980 Audi 4000 with no options at all and then I bought a 1987 Audi 4000 thousand fully loaded with options. Both great cars, real highway drivers. One of Audi’s better looking automobiles. The 87′ was the same body style as the 80′ only styled up with handsome ground effects package. Now I drive a 1998 BMW 318ti my wife bought for me in 2002 with only 6000 miles. (Not a misprint). I get along well with German engineering.
I’m all in for diesel. I’ve had two VW Jettas 2002 and 2006 with manual transmissions. And yes you can regularly get 40+ mpg out of them. My current diesel is a 2006 Mercedes E320 with the 0M648 turbo diesel. I get mid thirties around town and over 40 on the highway. Plenty of power too. 230,000 miles on the clock and still runs amazing. It’s a keeper.
Lovely looking car. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember when the Audi looked like this. I find this way more attractive than what’s currently being offered. It’s too bad they discontinued the Turbo Diesel engine for the USA market. I think the decision should be up to the American car buyer.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to breathe clean (unpolluted) air as much as anyone living. But I’ve always hated Govt. deciding what makes for clean air.
Another SG featured vehicle that is SOLD.
You should be named Marketplace salesman of the week.
Ha, more like goofball of the week. Thanks, sir!