1 of 150: 1991 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo Avant
This 1991 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo Avant is more than just a boosted grocery-getter, it’s an uber-rare AWD manually-shifted all-weather machine of which reportedly 150 or fewer of them made it to the U.S. It can be found here on eBay in Wallingford, Connecticut with a current bid price of just over $4,000.
As a long time Audi owner and fan, I personally love this car. I’m not a huge fan of tan or gold cars, in general, or in this case – Bamboo – but this would be a fun car to own. It sounds like a lot of maintenance work has been done to keep things as reliable as possible. I’ve never had one problem with my Audi TT in the decade and a half that I have owned it and I’m of the mindset that if a person maintains their vehicle, no matter what it is or how complicated it is, most of them will keep on running well. Just don’t ask about our former 2011 Mini Cooper.
There were reportedly 150 or fewer of this model brought over to the U.S. so they’re rare. And, being a 5-speed turbo wagon with Audi’s famous Quattro AWD system, that makes it even better. With that sloping hatch door it really cuts down on cargo room but it had to have helped with fuel economy and for sure it helps the look. This car has zero rust, according to the seller, and they say that it runs and drives great. They have owned it for less than a year and have put a ton of new parts on it to make sure that it’s a reliable daily driver.
The interior looks like it’s easily a 9 out of 10 to me, I don’t see any flaws at all here. The backseat area doesn’t have as much room as a 2019 Audi A8, but I’m guessing that it’s comfortable none the less. The heated seats all work front and rear and there is a new cruise control switch, rear wiper motor, and new headliner and everything works other than the AC.
The engine is VW-Audi’s 2.2L inline-five which in the Turbo quattro had 217 hp and 228 ft-lb of torque. That isn’t a lot by today’s standards but with a 5-speed manual and AWD, this would be a super fun winter car and a 7.5-second 0-60 time is more than respectable. The seller has added a new power steering reservoir and all new power steering hoses, a new battery, a new valve cover gasket, a new timing belt and related pulleys, thermostat, and water pump. They have also added a stage-1 chip, Bilstein shocks, and Euro H1/H4 headlights. Have any of you owned an Audi 200 quattro wagon?
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Comments
This awesome machine just made me ask a question I’ve never asked before…why didn’t Ford make an SHO wagon?
stupid. they were stupid. I love wagons.
I recall period magazines citing concerns over the wagon’s less rigid structure not being able to handle the additional output. This seems dubious, since the 3.8 available in wagons put out more torque. So, it probably boils down to money – demand insufficient to cover engineering and certification costs.
You mean like the Ford Taurus SHO Wagon?
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a36352007/1993-ford-taurus-sho-boss-wagon-by-the-numbers/
Sorry i’m several years late to the game lol
The headlights do not fit with the car, in my opinion. I thought they looked off and then read the seller changed the headlights.
I like cars that are original or close to it.
Us Spec audi headlight are garbage. Its like driving while holding a struck match.
Hey Oregon_ Guy78 where are you from? I am from milwaukie
OR
hi oregonguy78
I love classic cars and I also love taste full mods, because they were common at the time. I do respect people who like the originals from the factory because that is also something special. Sadly some people who love original cars don’t show much tolerance for people who like mods. We are both out there and should sow respect for each other because we are all car lovers.
In this case the headlight he put in are the ORIGINAL headlights from the Factory in almost all countries but the US. So what do you call original in such case?
The Euro headlights look almost exactly identical and are the same dimensions as the DOT units, so I don’t know what you mean about them looking “off”–maybe you are thinking of the 100-style headlights which are a different shape altogether?. As mentioned further down this post, the DOT lights were very poor in light output, which is why we always swap over to the far superior European replacements.
Wonder how much more power the chip gets it
Ok. A couple of questions. Why didn’t they fix the A/C? More than the cost of the car? And what’s with the jab on the Mini Cooper? I had a 2011 and it was one of the best cars I’ve owned. ????
We got a lemon, there’s no question about that, Doug. It was a non-turbo so even Consumer Reports loved them. It was on the back of a tow truck three times in the three years we owned it with $15,000 in repairs. Thankfully, we got the 100,000-mile warranty so we only paid $50 each time. My wife finally traded it on a new Subaru Crosstrek, which has already had two new CV joints, a new LR wheel bearing, and a $6,700 transmission in 90,000 miles. We can’t pick a decent car to save our lives!
Gotcha! I’ve been in the same boat, and was just curious about your story. That’s a bummer, Scotty!
Thats one a year, a 70’s British car owner would be super jelly……
I didn’t realize these were so scare, I used to have a blue one and thoroughly enjoyed driving it. Coming home from Christmas dinner at the in-laws one year we came up on a tuned Honda that didn’t take kindly to being passed by a family wagon full of four people and a load of packages. He tried to accelerate with us when we passed him doing about 75 so I toyed with him for a minute then dropped a gear and left him in the dust. That car handled better on ice and snow than any other car, truck, or SUV, I drove. As for the previous post about the headlights. You will change your mind the first time you drive one in the dark and be happy to swap to European market lights. German cars sold new in the US back then came with crap for headlights and the only cure is to swap for a set from Europe as the problem is in the lens. The downside to the conversion is the US models had a set of marker lights the European models did not have and without them you get a bulb out indicator on the instrument cluster. You can try to remove the bulbs and install resistors to fool the system into thinking the bulbs are there but it doesn’t always work. I ended up leaving the bulbs in place but secured in the engine compartment as the resistors didn’t work out. The best part of the installation other than the improved lighting is that our insurance company paid for them. My wife hit the back of a truck and I bought a used Euro style grill and lights rather than the stock ones.
Nice find, Scotty! I test-drove one of these used, a 5000 CS Turbo Quattro Avant, five-speed, right after Audi’s stock had plummeted thanks to the 60 Minutes “Unintended Acceleration” story, which is why I believe they changed the model name. It was nice. On High the heated seats roasted my flesh. It was a $30,000 car as I recall, four years old, and they were asking $3500. I was scared of maintenance costs on a fancy German car and passed. In retrospect it would have been an epic car to have bought and held onto, but you can’t keep them all. Great job as always, Scotty, and thanks for the memories.
Ha! Thanks, Todd. Did CBS invent fake news?! I never thought of that, those rascals.
Yeah that 60 Minute story tanked Audi hard but from what I’ve heard from several people that owned them was these were also pretty unreliable which couldn’t have helped.
Square the back off and it’s a Volvo V70. Almost identical but less cargo space.
“Wouldn’t you really have a Buick?” (Roadmaster)
I had an automatic, the neatest thing was the aerodynamics. When driving in the rain, the only time you needed the rear wiper was when stopped.
The whole Audi controversy was nonsense. Someone should buy this and maintain it properly and have something really enjoyable and practical.
I worked in service for an Audi dealer in 1987, hired just after the “unintended acceleration” nonsense. The 4000 and 5000 and GT Coupe were all great cars at the time. Later I went to an independent shop specializing in Audi working on the same lineup as well as the 100 and 200. I always loved the rounded slightly flared wheel arches of the 20 valve 200 TQ and the 200 V8 TQ. I’m pretty sure there were more than 150 brought into the US but I don’t have any stats. I did have a chipped ’86 5000TQ for my family car back then. Fast, heavy, capable, and fun, they were only available as a 5 speed in Quattro trim except for the V8 back then. I agree with Scotty on the color, not a fan of gold or tan, pearl white was and would still be my choice. I picked up this 200 a few years ago, my daughter learned how to drive a manual on it, still fun and the interior aged well.
Al you are correct about the aerodynamics. This and the Audi 100 were two of the lowest drag cars ever designed. Look at all the details and everything that could be done to smooth out that body was done. I have ridden in one just once and it was one of the quietest cars I had ever been in that was not a Rolls Royce.
I would go after it but the Audi dealer in the Kansas City area is one of the worst dealers I have ever had to deal with and I hear that from many owners. There are a few that have minimal problems but far too many complaints for me. Plus they always need to order everything from the East coast or Germany and repairs always seem to take forever. Damn shame because Audi does some hard work to make these things successful and proper cars.
Scotty, I owned one of these as well. Absolutely LOVED that car. The only problem I ever had was every time it went in for an oil change it cost me a grover in “other” repairs.
Favorite memory (long, but bear with me) was a trip to Tahoe. My brother had come to the Bay Area to pick up my ’87 Turbo-T WE4 and we were heading up to Tahoe via I-80. My wife was following us in the Audi (Silver Bullet). Heavy traffic. We’re in the left lane at the speed of traffic.
As usual, some yahoo in a Mustang GT was lane flipping and cutting people off so he could get to his destination 30 seconds earlier. Every time he tried to pass my wife, she’d just plant her right foot and blow right past him. This went on for 30 miles. BTW, the Audi was packed full.
Oh, did I mention, this was one of the most fantastic driving cars I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned damned near everything on the planet at one time or another.
I like this car but its a catch 22 like my old Subaru gl turbo, probably the greatest cars in the snow, but your a moron if you use it in the snow,cuz then the clock starts ticking, how long till the first rust spot? I know, its negative thinking.
I had one for several years and consider it one of the best/most fun cars I’ve had. Mine had sport springs, sport shocks, a chip and a heavier waste gate spring that were supposed to deliver 305 hp. Maintenance was expensive but the car made it worth it. With the galvanized body panels it resisted rust up here in Rochester, NY until sold it in 2010. Not many other cars could match that.
nice driver/rider – owners like em (if deep pockets)
mechanics like em (its always something),
I guess VW didn’t improve the reliability?
Auction update: this beauty sold for $12,100!
I am glad I found this post, Yes the 1991 Audi 200 CS QT was limited to under 130 for the American market (last year for the C3 Type 44 for use in the 200, the 1991 100 was the 1st year use of the C4), all of them were 5 speed and had the 5 cylinder 2.2L 20 valve Turbo Charged engine, same engine as the S4 and 80’s Rally cars and in 92 S6 (C4 platform) the C3 platform sedan version was continued to be used in the V8 Quattro from 1990-94.
In regard to the headlights, if you want to think original it should have the US DOT however Euro headlights are the ones intended to be used in this awesome machine, also the front bumper is similar to the Quattro V8 (has the fog lights in the bumper)
In my case I have 1987 5000 CS Quattro Turbo Avant, this particular one is 1 out of 5 (options and has tan interior) imported to the U.S in 1987, it has the S4 sport 5 speed transmission, I am fortunate to have all the original purchase documents, plus this was a European delivery. The Avant was built on April 13, 1987, and delivered on April 15, 1987. before shipping to the U.S, it had to be retrofitted with the catalytic converter and fuel filler, reason why in Europe horsepower is higher than U.S. version. and the irony in today’s dollars it cost $74,586.00
Also own a 1989 Avant 200 CS Quattro Turbo, 1 of 19, a 1986 5000 CS QT (1 of 58) and a 1990 V8 1 of 322
Sorry to have to correct you Reverend, but Audi imported 149 200 Avants in 1991 and many more 200 sedans. Owned a 91 200Avant and loved it. You are right about the arm and a leg when going in for service.
Forgot to mention, the 1987 5000 CS QT Avant I found it listed last year in offer-up, they were asking $500.00, just the wheels are worth that, for parts or as project I, paid $450.00, it runs great, replaced water pump, timing belt, right now in the process of replacing heater core (got for $19.00) and the heater blower fan, also in the process of fixing all the gremlins (fortunate to have shop manuals both volumes), tools and sometimes youtube and Audi forums [there aren’t too many], but they help. One thing for sure no mater if it is a 1980″s Audi or a recent model , every time it goes to the shop costs a pretty penny$, so had to learn to do the work myself.
Parts are expensive, but if you do some searching you can find closeout’s ie: complete front drive shaft with inner and outer cv joints $50.00, idle control valve original $250.00, found it new for $32.00, so if you are into it it is a nice hobby, plus they are a dream to drive. (old school, only help is ABS the rest is up to the driver)
j. r. here. i own a 1990 200 t q 10 valve worth every dollar i spend keeping it running. silver avant. wonder how many
were sold in usa that year.