FWD GT NOT Michele Mouton, Gene Hunt, Walter Rohrl

[Milford Cubicle]

I bought this last night, it has the best part of 6 months tax and test. It was a case of 'see you later wages'. Oh well, it's a car I've always promised myself, even if I can't afford to fuel it until I get paid next week.

The first job was to re-fit the original dealer plates which were helpfully stowed in the boot. I hate modern plates on old cars.

It's had 17 previous owners but doesn't seem like it, it drives spot on apart from a humming rear wheel bearing, and has had lots of money spent on it recently, including brakes, tyres, timing belt, etc. The interior is in good order, and the bodywork is ok apart from a few rusty stonechips on the doors.

I've always liked the look of these, frumpy and aggressive at the same time. My ideal spec would be an early GT with quad lamps and those 'flower' alloys, but I can't really complain at a few hundred notes.

The interior is pretty staid, enlivened by a sickly 'Feu Orange' air freshener found in the glovebox.

It isn't super fast with 128bhp and 2.0 litres to push it along, but the engine is very tractable from low revs and quite economical.

The noise is the main thing. It was great fun being a third rate Walter Rohrl on the Speyside back roads on the way home, with the 5 cylinder yowl echoing off the roadside birches and firs.

[pogweasel]

That looks super!Even with ashes to ashes tax these are still good valu compared to late Capri's & Manta's.

[Pillock]

Lovely. I'd tap that.Great to see the period air freshner too, years since I've seen one!

[trigger]

Great to see the period air freshner too, years since I've seen one!

You know what, I was just about to say that, Not seen one of them Fir Orange? air fresheners for years.She looks nice even with 17 owners!

[Mash]

Nice. I like those.A bloke I worked with back in '92 had one identical in every way.

[Volksy]

I think one of those 17 owners was my old next door neighbour!He owned that, and another 1.8 one about ten years ago. This one (if it is the same car) spent about 2 years off the road in the showroom of the garage that my neighbour owned. It then got sold on to one of his customers and I saw it last about 6 years ago. I may have the owners handbook for it somewhere.If you have any service history, see if it was ever serviced at Alwoodley Motor Service.

[dollywobbler]

Excellent. I really like these, especially as they steer clear of ur-Quattro Ashes to Ashes knob-headery.You still get the lovely, warby engine and the looks. Never a stunner, but I've always liked them.

[Milford Cubicle]

I think one of those 17 owners was my old next door neighbour!He owned that, and another 1.8 one about ten years ago. This one (if it is the same car) spent about 2 years off the road in the showroom of the garage that my neighbour owned. It then got sold on to one of his customers and I saw it last about 6 years ago. I may have the owners handbook for it somewhere.If you have any service history, see if it was ever serviced at Alwoodley Motor Service.

There's quite a bit of service history, going back to the early '90s. No mention of Alwoodley, it's been based in Shropshire and Merseyside much of its life judging by the receipts.If you do have a handbook kicking about I'd like to acquire it. It is odd how they are so undervalued, especially compared with their dowdy VW siblings.

[Volksy]

I'll have a dig around, think its at my Parents house.Your more than welcome to it if I find it.

[MrRegieRitmo]

I'd love to know how you get on with this, I've always loved the B2 Coupe & Quattro ever since I was little & had a 1/36 Matchbox Superkings model of one. They were one of my favourite cars on the road in the 80s. About 11 or 12 years ago I used to admire this immaculate black A reg Quattro as it burbled past me whilst waiting at the bus stop every morning - heavenly!

 

I was so close for taking the plunge & bidding for one last October when I was looking for new wheels, I was sat there hovering during the final seconds of the auction but it went to more than I was prepared to spend. It was a 1987 2.2 in white (pictures below), it divided opinion on whether it would have been a good car for me or not but fate decided I wasn't going to find out...

 

http://www.autoshite.com/forum/viewtopi ... er&start=0

 

 

 

 

can still really see myself in one - lovely

[Volksy]

They're great cars, I had a very early black one (Quad lights and daisy wheels), in fact I owned it twice.They're good to drive, not a sporty drive but comfy. The 5 cylinder engines are pretty bombproof, provided you change the cambelt. They can be a little thirsty, as the engine note is so addictive... They are roomy, well built, but do seem rot prone in comparison to other Audis. I've seen quite a few with rotted out sills and screen pillars. Electrics can be a little unreliable, Windows in the main. The boot release cable can snap, (if you've not found it, its in the door jamb) which leads to a bit of a nightmare to get into the boot.Most parts are availiable as it shares a lot with the 100, although good body panels can be difficult to get.

[Guest]

The first job was to re-fit the original dealer plates which were helpfully stowed in the boot. I hate modern plates on old cars.

Good on you, they look like the same font that seemed to adorn every new VAG product in the 1980s, even over here in Jersey. Have you got a friendly local graphic designer who could knock up a spare pair for you?