Ill-meant comments do not honour carsurvey. And it is definitely ill-meant to judge with present day criteria a car designed in 1968 and running for more than 30 years! Compare it with a car of its time if you like. You don't buy a car like this today for everyday driving, you buy it only to preserve it as a classic. The car was a great success by the standards of its time. When production ended in 1976 more than 800,000 cars had been sold. Audi's present success was built on this model!
Its 1760cc engine was designed from a diesel engine in 1965 by Mercedes Benz and was initially used in Super 90 in 1966 and then in 100LS in 1968. These engines generally needed to be rebuilt after 150,000km, so it is natural to burn oil and smoke if the car has not been taken good care of. My father made more than 400,000 happy km over 18 years of ownership of a 1973 model without trouble (sold fifteen years ago). A friend of mine still uses his 1971 model every day although he also owns a new A3, but he loves and takes good care of the car. An uncle of mine still has his 1974 model in running condition. As for myself, last year I bought a 1973 LS with 300,000km on the clock, without any rust, all its trim in place and an almost perfect interior. Old cars deserve care not mockery!!
Hello.
I was the person who posted earlier about my 1974 100 LS and how it is still going strong after 32 years (limited to non-winter use now). My comments are based on factual experience and meant to supply pertinent info to readers of this website. Here is additional info.
Current mileage : 92,500 (all non-winter except for about 6 months)
History: been in the same family for 31 years - bought 1 yr, used in 1975
Recent work: Valve job due to loose valve guides (expected after mileage on engine - compression excellent - no ring job req'd)
Engine size: 1.874 L
Transmission: Automatic (no work required except new modulator for less than $30 + fluid change as req'd)
Other routine maintenance consisted of exhaust, carb rebuild, distributor points, brakes, belts, tires, water pump, battery, plugs, oil and filter changes, etc. - NORMAL AND EXPECTED MAINTENANCE - YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN THE CAR NOT ABUSE IT!)
If you do not believe me - fine. For those who have preserved this wonderful and extremely rare car, you know what I am talking about...
I have a 1972 Audi 100GL that is just a wonderful car.
This is my second Audi. My first was a 1973 100LS that
someone ruined before I got to it and being on a student
budget, had to part ways before it bankrupted me. My
100GL though had been taken well care of and has been
a pleasure to own so far and has been quite the attention
getter on the road, although I'm not sure if they are
looking or laughing. The 100GL has an orange body with
a black vinyl top so it tends to stand out a bit. Even
more so around Halloween.
Hi There!
Anyone knowing where I can find a Audi 100 LS in the year 1975-1977 PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP.
Would like for it to have a/c, sunroof (a must) and good to decent body.
Please contact me at : UBAltruistic@aol.com.
Serious ONLY!
Thanks.
"Sy"
I am in search of 1971 Audi 100LS in restored or restorable condition. Any available will be seriously considered. North America preferable. Please contact at knight89_k@yahoo.com.
I owned two 100LS's. The first was a '73 with the stick shift, and bought as a demo with about 5K miles on it. The second was a '72 Automatic that I bought used in '80.
Oh Boy! What can I say about those cars? It was such a love/hate relationship. The good parts were exquisite, the bad parts were abhorrent.
The good parts...
RIDE and HANDLING.
I doubt if I will ever again ride in or drive a car with such superb ride and handling. The first time I rode in a 100LS was on a dealer test drive. The salesman put two wheels on the shoulder, which was very rutted. I felt nothing, and couldn't believe he had done that, I had to look down to verify his words. I fell in love with that car.
Then, when I drove it, the handling was like it was on rails. Wow. No other car I know of can do that combination.
LOOKS.
What a looker! Of course it helped that the first time I saw one I was convinced it was a Mercedes.
ROOM.
Lots and lots.
Mmmmm...it was insidiously seductive. What a honey!
Then, it came to living with it.
Now, I expected service/repair to be expensive, and, possibly, with attitude.
What I didn't expect was that I'd run into downright incompetent, sloppy dealership repair/service shops.
First of all, there were "quirks" in that car (4th gear advance, for one), and no matter how exactly I explained the problem, the car always came back unfixed. I guess Audi didn't train their mechanics?
Second of all, some of the repairs were done very sloppily.
I'd get the car back with major safety related nuts and bolts finger loose, like McPherson strut bolts, not to mention brake lines hanging loose out of their mounts.
Now we come to basic design mistakes. Two major ones are related to the A/C.
The way the compressor mounted on the engine with those rubber bushing guaranteed that you had to have them replaced (for $200 in the seventies) every year or two.
The other AC related problem was electrical. The radiator fan fuse would heat up, causing heat deformation of fuse block (mucho buck replacement.)
It was such a shame that such a superbly designed automobile was executed in such a seemingly haphazard fashion.
I once talked to the district office and the agent told me, in his best Teutonic German, "Our responsibility ends when the car leaves the factory."
So there's the love and the hate I have for that era Audis. I also owned two '76 Silver Foxes - they both had the same problems.
Now I'm a confirmed Celica driver.
My first two cars were Audi 100LS's, the first was a '72 I inherited from my brother, the next (because I loved the 1st one so much) was a '76 100LS 2dr. Although it had some weird electrical glitches (it was already a 10yr old car when I owned it) and required valve adjustments more than usual I really loved the car and wished I'd kept it til I could restore it. Now I always thought that the slant 4 motor from these cars went on to fame in the Porsche 924's? Which were also assembled by Audi and just badged as Porsches... am I wrong about this? or was that a different motor altogether?
Being a collector of older German cars I am often amused at the conclusions some will come to regarding poorly maintained 30 year old cars. The 100LS was a brilliantly conceived car that performed on the road better than many modern cars today, however there were some niggling issues that, when properly sorted out before they developed to bigger issues, would not impact the long term viability of the car. These cars were built like tanks with exceptional fit and finish and interior ergonomics. Having owned over 90 German cars from this era, I must agree with an earlier comment that no car has ever been made that rides and steers quite like a 100LS. I'm looking for a mint low-mile sample to add to my collection soon.
I have always loved the 100LS. I restored a 1971 two-door, 4 speed. It was such a fun car to drive! I sold it when we bought our house (to gain more of a down payment).
I currently own a 1974 and have owned it for 10 or so years. It received a light restoration and is in excellent condition. It is black with a black interior, automatic, and 49,000 original miles. The car originally came with a red interior, but I swapped in a black one from another 100LS I had to achieve that very formal black on black appearance.
I have a small collection of vintage Audis. I am certainly not looking to sell any, but for the right price, I might consider parting.
I now have children and less time to drive my special cars. They are all garaged and well cared for, but I could always use more time to drive them!
If anyone here is sincerely interested in what may very well be the best 100LS in the country, feel free to get in touch.
My email address is robpetschke -at- hotmail -dot- com.
I own a '70 100LS 2dr Sedan. Despite having only 48000 miles on it and constant upkeep by a well trained European auto mechanic it has still found itself on the back of a flatbed eleven times on the last 4000 miles.
Parts replacements to date at 48,562 miles.
Valve Guides - 2 sets (soon to be 3)
Trans output bearing - 2
1st gear - 2
Carburetor - 3
Fuel pumps - 5
Fuse boxes - 2
Brake calipers - 3 per side
Engine mounts - 2.
I still love it and I still drive it... but only if I know a tow is only a phone call away.
I have a 1976 100LS that I bought here in Denver 2 years ago. No rust and all the glass is good. My GF and I have fallen in love with this unique and fun to drive car.
We just got the head rebuilt because it was warped, and the guides were toast, and now I am just scouring the planet for a stinking head gasket. LOL Go figure.
If anyone knows of a gasket source or has one, please email me at jettaglxdriver@hotmail.com. My next step is getting the seats redone and a paint job. Long live the C1 Audi.
Audi 100 1970. My father's car, the best car I ever drove in my life...
The day they came to take it from us, I was crying in 1989 when my father sold it...
That car is my childhood car...
I was born in 1976. My father bought it brand new in 1970...
My father taught me how to drive in that car when I turned a teenager...
I remember that car power and the sound of the engine...
It was white; I remember the dashboard with the wood inside...
The reason my father gave it away was because in the end he had serious problems with the gearbox, and a lot of smoke was coming out from the car...
That car was very powerful. I remember that my father was using it for work, it is a very heavy duty car, it's not like the plastics we see today on the roads...
I wish i can find one today. I am interested in an Audi 100 1970-1976... Europe area to ship to Cyprus...
Love you Audi 100 1970.
My father today is 71 years old and I wish I could make him feel the joy again of owning that Audi...
Please help me make that dream come true.
My email: savvasze@cytanet.com.cy
I bought a used 100 LS in the early 80's. Maroon with black leather. I had experience with "exotic" foreign cars-- owned a 72 Peugeot 044, Alfasud 1300 etc. But the Audi was the cats meow.
Bought the car in Dayton Ohio where I "inherited" the mechanic from the seller. The mechanic just happened to be a USAF jet mechanic assigned to the nearby Wright Patterson Air Force base. For the modest sum of $15/hr labor charge he kept that sweet ride running nicely.
Romantic car, but you really should not attempt to own without your own jet mechanic...
You may own or owned a 100 LS that is a great car, but is or was it a 1973? My dad owned one of these.
The disc brakes were too close to the engine. Oil leaked out of the valve cover and got on the disc brake rotors. The pads wore out way too quickly.
Automatic transmission shifting was very jerky. I know, I know, don't get automatic transmission with a car like this.
Overall poor quality and reliability.
I read some of the comments on this topic with a chuckle. Either we in South Africa got better Audis and America the lemons or, rather America has no mechanics to work on anything but American rattle boxes.
I collect Audis, have 3 in the US, where I struggle to find good competent workshops and in South Africa I have 4 Coupe 100S', that was never sold in the American market and then a 100L, 100LS as well as a 100GL and a couple of NSU's and, down here I have no problems as my mechanic knows his product. Incidentally, I do agree the inboard discs were not so nice and can attest to that as my 1976 Coupe has the first outboard discs and it is better in all aspects.
My 1979 Fox in the US is at a German garage in Houston at the moment, and they have problems getting it to run well. In SA the same car is an Audi 80 and, except for your awful bumpers is the same as the Fox. My garage services this car and there is no comparison.
It seems then, the only mistake Germany made was to let loose their cars in a country where Japanese Scrap rules.