AUDI 200 Quattro Turbo 5dr (1987)

Still excellent

Audi must be the only non-Asian car maker to put together a car that doesn't fall to pieces within five years. I've had a Ford, a Vauxhall, and don't even mention Fiat around me..! The Audi 200 might be old, but it's out-paced all the above, and kept me happily motoring along for many years (and I got it used, when it was probably already pretty old).

The biggest problem with the Audi 200 is that the image hasn't aged well. It's very 80s so I'm told, a bit boxy and not very curvy at all. But then, that really is the biggest problem, nothing else to grumble about really. It hasn't needed many repairs over the years, the only thing really has been a few internal fittings that have worked loose and sometimes needed replacing. There have been a few mechanical things, the only one I can really remember being the gearbox that needed fiddling with or something, not replacing or anything like that, just retwiddling.

I suppose the Audi 200 doesn't give a fabulous fuel return. We don't drive that much so it isn't a problem really, and I'm just happy to have a car that's so reliable, so I'm not bothered about changing just for lower petrol usage. It might not be for you though if you rack up the miles. I think we probably get less than 30 miles a gallon, which may well be laughable by today's standards.

I said it looks bulky and silly but that's not to say it doesn't handle well. I find it very responsive, and on the motorways it's a lovely drive, very calm and relaxing even. There's plenty of space for everyone, and the boot has never been insufficient for us. We've used the roof bars a few times though for bulky stuff. It's great having the bars already on the car.

The best thing is just how long it's been going. I've been on about this already but I've done over 200 thousand miles in the thing, and it's just showing no signs of ageing at all. The Audi 200 must be made of tougher stuff than anything else.

If there's one thing to warn about, it's the size of the bonnet. Thinking back, I remember it took me absolutely ages to be able to park it properly. I'm ok now, but it could be a challenge, and it seems more modern cars have learned to cram things in a bit better.