As revolutionary as the sleek aerodynamic styling of the mid-1980s Audi 5000 (100/200) was, we have always had an appreciation for the older “slab sided” C2 version sold in the U.S. from 1978 through 1983. These cars had distinctively Vokswagen-esque styling along the lines of the Rabbit/Golf and the Dasher/Passat, but were markedly upscale of those cars with luxury accessories and more power than their lesser brethren. It was in these cars that Audi’s 5-cylinder motor – which lasted in varying forms through the S6 of 1996 – debuted. These days, however, good slab sides have become very difficult to find, especially with the short-run Turbodiesel motor. Find this low-mileage example here on Craigslist in Seattle, Washington with an asking price of $3,200.
Tag Archives: Audi 5000
1982 Audi 5000 Turbodiesel: Slab-sided Oil Burner
1993 Acura Vigor GS: Honda Builds an Audi
In the early 1990s, after being exonerated from the “unintended acceleration” scandal which concluded with the simple fact that drivers are stupid and resulted in the brake release for automatic transmissions that are law today, Audi came back. Before the UI debacle, they had been lauded in the automotive press for bringing to market stylish luxury German cars that regular people could afford. They looked a little like Mercedes, but sleeker. As their resurgence took hold in earnest, the folks in the land of the rising sun took notice. Honda’s Acura brand had taken aim directly at the likes of Audi, but lacked a mid-size sports sedan in their lineup – the Integra was too small and the Legend was a little too cushy. So they borrowed a page from Audi’s playbook – longitidinally-mounted inline-5, short front overhang, availability of a 5-speed manual tansmission, strong list of standard equipment, and zebrano wood – and built the Vigor. Good examples are getting hard to find, but this clean example can be found here on Craigslist in Cornelius, Oregon for just $2,595, or click here for a listing of Vigors for sale from multiple sites.