We’ve seen 13 Audis from 1983 here on Barn Finds, and all but one of them have had only two doors. The only four-door 5000 sedan we’ve seen was written up by yours truly, three years ago here. It was a nice black one, which would be a perfect counterpoint to this white 1983 Audi 5000 Turbo Diesel sedan. It’s posted here on craigslist in Richmond, Virginia, and the seller is asking $8,900. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mitchell G. for the tip!
Offered in North America as the 5000, the second-generation Audi 100 and fancier 200 were made from 1982 for the 1983 model year, until the end of 1991 for the 1992 model year. If any of you were around during the mid-1980s, you undoubtedly remember Audi’s infamous marketing nightmare and the unintended acceleration debacle. In 1989, Audi did away with the jaded 5000 name and just went with the 100 and 200 for North America, as the rest of the world knew these cars.
Oddly enough, the Turbo Diesel was the slowest of the three Audi 5000 models available in 1983. The 5000 S was about two seconds faster, and the S Turbo was two seconds faster again. The word “fast” in 1983 wasn’t exactly the same as it is today, as most minivans today get to 60 mph literally twice as quickly as this car does. Still, there’s something about a 1980s Audi sedan that gets to me. There were only two basic body styles, a four-door sedan and a four-door wagon. I think a two-door convertible may have looked pretty sporty…?
Unfortunately, as a somewhat plush touring sedan more than a Bahn-burning sports car, the 5000 Turbo Diesel comes with just one transmission choice, and it doesn’t include a third pedal. It’s a corporate mothership Volkswagen-sourced three-speed automatic with a 3:08 final drive. The rest of the interior looks nice, and it had better be for a 42-year-old car with 93,000 miles that’s priced at almost $9,000.
The engine is made of German leather and… er… hey, wait a minute. Yes, sadly, for a car that’s 99% about the unusual engine, the seller hasn’t included a single photo of the engine. You don’t know how badly I want to swear right now. Because that always makes things right, no? The engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline-five (yes) with around 84 horsepower and… hey, are you still awake?! I said, with 84 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. That isn’t a lot, hence the minivan tail lights you see every time you leave a red light. Power is sent to the front wheels only, and I think this would be a fun car to own. Not everything has to be a friggin’ Hemi Cuda, sometimes it’s more fun to own a slightly quirky and slow but nice car, isn’t it? Who’s with me?
Having put over 350k on an 86 Golf 5 sp. gasser, and the same on an 86 Jetta N/A diesel 5 sp. (which I ran on waste veggie oil), I’d like to pick this up, just for the taste of it. Alas, life is too busy at the moment.
Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed 2 Quantum wagons (both gassers)–a 4-cyl. 5 sp., and a 5-cyl. A/T (the auto was actually nice).
Also, I loved the AWD featured on 2 Quantum Syncros, and I appreciated the utility value, snowability, and mileage provided by my 1981 Rabbit P/U, 5 sp. gasser.
The 82 Vanagon diesel 4 sp. was just too slow.
Nice looking car. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember when Audi cars looked like this. Compared to Audis today, I find Audi of the 1980s up to the early 90s quite attractive. For a painfully short time you could get certain cars with a diesel engine or a turbo diesel engine. Why Audi discontinued the Turbo Diesel engine is beyond me. That to me is *not* okay. If one wanted a Diesel powered car, they should be allowed that option.
A friend of mine had this exact car in the ’90s with the turbo 5 diesel and I drove it a bit. My recollection might be a bit fuzzy, but I remember the car performing comparably to many 6 cylinder cars of the time. The flat torque curve of the diesel and where it makes its 127 ft lbs. relative to the gearing matters more than the peak number.
My dad purchased a 1978 Audi 5000,
5cylinder w, 5speed and great brakes for the times. Not the fastest car, but
It did handle the mountain roads pretty well.
It was a lot of fun rowing the gears up and down the twistys! I remember racing my buddy’s 240z, he could pull away on the straight run by I could reel him in on the turns. Great memories!
I had one as a demo for a while. Was very proud to be driving a new one of these back in 1983. Nice quality when new and great cars if you stay up on maintenance. Not fast, but surprisingly good fuel economy and nice ride. Shifts itself into neutral at idle to reduce diesel shake, then pops back into drive when you touch the accelerator pedal. Neat old car.
Mercedes-Benz offered Diesel engine, by then, Volkswagen offered Diesel engine. Why the hell not other car makers?
Nice looking car. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember when Audi cars looked like this. Compared to Audis today, I find Audi of the 1980s up to the early 90s quite attractive. For a painfully short time you could get certain cars with a turbo diesel engine. Why Audi discontinued the Turbo Diesel engine is beyond me. That to me is not okay. If one wanted a Diesel powered car, they should be allowed that option.
I’d like to breathe clean (unpolluted) air as much as anyone living. But who the hell is our govt. to decide what makes for clean air?