Illustration by Thompson Smith Visit his website for cool Audi illustrations!

1980 Audi 4000
Blue (faded and oxidized real nice)
4-speed manual transmission
~90bhp 4 cylinder
Air conditioning
Blaupunkt casette stereo
Sunroof (manual)
CB Radio

My parents bought this car for me for somewhere around $2000 in 1989. I hadn't even turned 14 yet, but I was already searching the newspaper for cars every day. I had, in prior years, influenced several car purchases, including a 1983 Renault Fuego and another 1980 Audi 4000 (white). I have no idea what it was, but I dug the Audi, so I wanted one for myself.

The car sat in the garage, waiting for me to get my driver's permit for maybe two months. Dad drove it occasionally, but mostly, it was there for me to sit in and play with the sunroof, shifter, and turn it over and listen to it run. When I finally did get my learner's permit, it was all mine!

I have been hooked on the marque ever since. Sure, the car couldn't comfortably reach 80mph under its own power, but it was a blast to drive at its limits, and was ultimately quite reliable. There was nothing like learning to drive on this cool of a car.

The only major repairs to the car were an exhaust ($190 foolishly paid) and a clutch rebuild. Then, one sad day, the clutch pedal bent severely at the pedal carrier, and since it was already 12 or so years old, it was time to put her out to pasture.