Let’s get one thing straight right away. Yes, those really are Fox-body turbines on the car. I had to answer that question 3834348 times per day when I owned it. I’ve always loved the Audi 5000, and Audis in general. I have vivid memories of riding in my grandmother’s 1985 5000 back in the day (in addition to being stranded in it SEVERAL times.
The off-beat thrum of the Audi five-cylinder is one of my earliest childhood memories (the thrum became a roar when the exhaust fell off directly after the cat). Naturally I purchased this beast for only $500 after selling my 626 as soon as I saw it. It was in flawless condition, save for the typical exhaust manifold tick, and the even more typical temperamental power window switches. But it was very reliable, too.
Sadly, 115 HP + three-speed Automatic + large-ish car does NOT = anything resembling acceleration. I don’t mind slow-ish cars in the least, but this car couldn’t get out of its own way. I needed something that didn’t try to kill me while merging on the highway, so I sold this–similar to my previously owned Mazda–for twice what I paid for it.
Did those tires rub in the wheel-wells, because they sure look like they did!
Good price for that one. I laugh when you say 115 hp cant get out of its own way, My avatar has 49.5hp and 75ft lb of torque and easily keeps pace with modern traffic, even towing a trailer full of wood it cruises at the speed limit,
I really like your choice of extremely reliable cars!
The sound you hear is several very expensive bullets whizzing past your head. Now that you have dodged them, repeat after me: Never buy an old luxury car!
Unless it says Towncar, 240, or Mercedes Diesel somewhere on it.
Or it’s a Lexus.
I own and daily drive a ’95 S6 – the next body style of the 5000 after a couple name changes. Love the sound of that in-line five, and of course having a manual and a large turbo attached changes the behavior of the engine entirely.
If someone offered me an ’80s 4000 or 5000 with a manual for $500, I’d take them up on it even to this day. They can keep the fox body wheels, though.
Hi. I have a 85 5000 manual with good original exhaust. 200 psi compression accross the board. Want it? I owned it since 1999. I own a Volvo 240 and stopped driving the 5000 last spring when I bought a Mercedes 300d. No fox body wheels
…..in 2006 I replaced the bottom end with a ’84 lightly honed and re-ringed. I milled the original head .034″ lapped the valves and installed new valve guide seals. The original head was never overheated to my knowledge. Nor was the “rebuilt” motor ever overheated to this day. It’s always used amsoil 5-40.
in 2006 I replaced the bottom end with a ’84 lightly honed and re-ringed. I milled the original head .034″ lapped the valves and installed new valve guide seals. The original head was never overheated to my knowledge. Nor was the “rebuilt” motor ever overheated to this day. It’s always used amsoil 5-40. In 2013 I installed a new timing belt and Bosch fuel pump. In 2009 I swapped the rear axle with an ’87’s for rear disc brakes