1992 Audi 80 TDI review from UK and Ireland

The hand brake cables have required replacement several times.

The Heater matrix has been replaced.

All the front suspension bushes have been replaced.

The Audi 80 TDI has a rather strange acceleration curve. It seems to accelerate at exactly the same rate from 0-60 as it does from 60-100. So although it may not feel very quick before 60 after than it seems to gather pace at a rather impressive rate. Off the mark it is a little sluggish. This is due to the turbo being introduced at almost 2200 revs. So to pull away quickly you must make sure that it is a these revs, otherwise it will bog down.

It is rather 'tall' geared. For example it will do 85mph in third gear, just over 100mph in fourth and romp on to 125mph in fifth.

In my experience, for a car of its size, the 80 handles rather well. It gives you far more confidence to throw it into bends than a number of hot hatches.

Inside, there are a few little niggles. The 'clutch foot' rest is very small on the right hand drive Audi 80's. So on long journeys, unless you are wearing very narrow shoes, you cannot get your foot past the clutch pedal to rest it.

The roof is quite low, this can be solved by lowering the driver's seat. However, neither the passenger seat nor the back seat have height adjustment. So try not to be alarmed when your taller passengers emerge from the car with the same postures as vultures.

The brakes are very good, chiefly because the disc's on the rear are far bigger than they need to be. This means you can safely bring the car to a halt even with four passengers.

Unlike the newer A4, the 80 has split fold rear seats which makes it very practical.

All Audi's leave the factory galvanized so if you find a rusty one it is more than likely that it has been involved in an accident.

This car is best suited to traveling great distances along the motorway. It will sit at 90 mph all day without missing a beat. Thus making the TDI Audi 80 a fast economical way of traveling across the country.