The demise of the 1980 4000 was not enough to put me off of the marque. I hit the local papers like a madman while I drove the Fuego to school, searching in vain for an Audi of non-ill-repute. Lo and behold, I spy a 1983 Audi 5000S at a local dealer for $2900.

A trip the dealer in the bleary Iowa rain with my father proves fruitful as a test drive puts a grin on my father's face. We had never owned nor operated such a luxurious vehicle, and the price was just about right. Many people have commented that the 5000S series were luxury cars ahead of their time. Automatic climate control, low interior noise levels, on-board diagnostic computer, pressurized cabins, and lots and lots of interior room. They all came standard with a relatively underpowered ~115bhp 5-cylinder engine, but were available with a 10-valve Turbo engine and the quattro drivetrain.

We talk the dealer down to about $2300, run home to grab mom's checkbook, and voila, keys in hand, we're back in the driveway about 9:30PM with a new Audi, cream in color.

1983 Audi 5000S Sedan
93,000 miles
Automatic Transmission
Power everything

Soon thereafter, we put the 30-day warrantee to the test. The 3-speed auto box failed on us and we were more than happy to take it back to the friendly people at Hartwig Dodge in Iowa City, IA, for replacement. They must not have liked that, as it was probably not cheap.

The car performed well enough for the next several years and changed hands from myself, to my father, and finally to my sister. It sprung a few leaks, had a few brake problems, and got beat up a little in some Iowa winters by my sister, but all in all, it survived until it got traded in for a VW Passat.

But, of course, not before my father decided he wanted another Audi 5000. So, around 1994, he picked up a 1984 5000S wagon. It was not quite as nice, having some peeling paint on the bonnet and 50,000 more miles, but still, it was a great highway cruiser and hauled the Chang family on long distances on more than one occasion.