When you talk about iconic Audis, the Coupe Quattro is one of the foremost examples on most enthusiasts’ minds. Quattro all-wheel drive, turbocharged powerplant, tight-shifting gearbox, and box flares reminiscent of the company’s most prized rally cars – it captured the essence of a homologation car. But if you wanted a taste of this model with a much smaller budget, the front-wheel drive Coupe GT like this one here on eBay is a respectable alternative.
Many of these Coupe GTs have fallen down the slippery slope of deferred maintenance and champagne dreams on a Budweiser budget. Because it wasn’t the rally-car-for-the-streets like the Coupe Quattro, values have kept it very attainable, but as a result, there’s been a much lower rate of preservation. That’s what makes this one-owner example such a standout in a sea of very tired German two-doors. Mileage is under 90,000 and the current bid of $5,700 hasn’t cleared the reserve yet.
I don’t blame the seller for holding out for a reserve number in the case of this auction, as so few of these Coupe GTs are left in condition like this. I have been selling one off and on from my uncle’s property in Georgia for a few years and there have been no takers, so it’s a limited market. The biggest challenge is most Audi diehards have a hard time justifying anything more than table scraps for values on these cars as they’re used to seeing deflated prices for the last decade or more.
5-cylinder engines are still fairly exotic by today’s standards, and they sound incredible with the right exhaust. The seller notes it has an upgraded exhaust which is obvious in the photos, so I’ll bet it sounds pretty gnarly at full chat. The engine bay, interior, and body are all in excellent condition and seem to back up the low mileage, and I suspect you could own this car and not lose much money on it over the next few years. Find a better one, as they say.
The seller is either confused or has a typo in the description. This is a 1984 Audi coupe. The GT looks like a Ford Mustang badge. The Coupe did not get the GT designation till 85 after the facelift. A lot of good things happened in 85 for the coupe. A revamped electrical system moving away from the VW rabbit fuse box. Interior got a revision with better quality instrumentation and switch gear. The engine got the Bosch KE jetronic and the engine picked up a few extra ponies and hydraulic lifters over the old shim on bucket design and the transaxle got hydraulic clutch activation over a cable. Still a cool car though just not the more desirable later series.
So sorry but you are wrong sir… GT was available in 84. I happen to have owned a few Audi’s in my day.
You are indeed correct and I was certain the GT was added for the 85 model refresh. Thanks for pointing that out.
My wealthy friend had an 85 Quattro. He totalled it within 6 months going 30mph on my street. It was icy and he hit the curb sideways which bent the frame. In less than a week he had a bmw 633csi. From what I vaguely remember the bmw had a much smoother ride. It didn’t really matter though, his Doberman ripped the interior to shredds…..lol
Regardless of varying trim/eqpt. levels (and corresponding model designations) available in Europe, I seem to recall these were always called Audi Coupe GT in the North American market, and the trunklid badging was just Audi at the left end and GT at the other (or maybe it was just Audi GT together at the left end?), no Auto Union rings nor “Coupe” badging at all aside from the shaded “coupe” lettering in the reflector band below the license plate recess.
I also don’t think these ever had full-chrome badging like seen here, just black plastic with silver-painted faces, so I’m pretty sure these badges were added after the recent respray mentioned in the ad copy.
Very well written, Jeff. These have always been the bridesmaid in their own way yet they’re a terrific car in their own right and yes that in-line 5 has its own distinct amazing sound at full chat.
Someone lucky is taking this sweetie home and across the (garage) threshold soon I’ll bet.
Actually this car has the 2.22 engine with KE Jetronic and the interior is not the usual Audi design so there have been changes made to this car over stock. I had a 82 Audi coupe and I did a lot of parts swapping on my car. One was to replace the engine and fuel injection to the more modern KE Jetronic add a special cam and the euro exhaust manifold, Koni shocks/struts, and 15” Borbet wheels.
I had a 1980 Audi GT Coupe. Mine was red with the black leather interior. As I recall it had a red digital dash cluster. I didn’t keep it for long because it was an automatic and ran 0-60mph in a rather doggy 10 seconds. I’d post a photo if knew how (or is that a possibility on this site?
I had a 1980 Audi GT Coupe. Mine was red with the black leather interior. As I recall it had a red digital dash cluster. I didn’t keep it for long because it was an automatic and ran 0-60mph in a rather doggy 10 seconds. I’d post a photo if I knew how (or is that a possibility on this site?).
I had an 85 version of this car and remember it well. It always ran very well and it was my first all wheel drive car. Extremely stable, well built and very solid and comfortable. Mine had a 5 speed manual transmission and it had controls for individual locking of the differentials.
All in all likely in the top 4 cars I have owned in my life!
I owned 2 red-headed stepchildren to this car. They were 86 and 87 Quantum Syncro Wagons. Same drivetrain as this, with the locking center and rear differentials. I recall the tight work space when I swapped-out the slave cylinder on one.
Very much a pleasure to drive in the snow. I left the diffs open unless I was stuck or crawling on ice, as the car wanted to go sideways with them locked.
Wish I could find a nice one now.
Had an ’87 Synchro Wagon myself. I bought it because it was a bargain. Extremely smooth car. A bit heavy but a fantastic machine. However, also had a Mk2 Scirocco big valve 5speed and it was faster than the Quattro and Wagon by far. Kept the Scirocco another 5-7 years, gave the wagon to my father who traded it in on a pick-up truck for a house we built to lug materials to contractors. The Scirocco was also a bit heavier than it needed to be. Bought an Alfa GTV with a fresh engine and specialist refurbished SPICA, and that 2200 pounds with around 155hp was the most fun car I ever had. But Quattro is a good machine. Join a club and keep up with maintenance. Don’t do much to it because it’s well engineered from the getgo. They eat motor mounts, shocks, suspension bushings every 50k or so. If you let it get too rattled is when the vacuum lines etc start giving gremlins. Keep the rubber and springs young and it’s a good investment.
AS n architect after the military worked for the late Jack Brewer who owhuch 31 dealerships 4 of them Audis, which gave me the opportunity tp own and drive many, The one here is certainly a fine example of the earlier years even those with the transmission problems. My wife drives a 2018 S5 convertible. which is almost as fast as my muscled up 2012 4.8 pickup.
I think one of these is my next Audi project. Love the 5 cyl engine sound for sure.