Audi UR Quattro - Part 1

I had a job in drains when I was 21. It wasn't literally in drains but I worked for a drain cleaning and CCTV company run by Nick, one of the nicest blokes I've ever had the pleasure knowing; and a complete car nut as well.

Flares back in fashion...

Nick loves cars and has had some beauties over the years. But I shall never forget turning up at work to see a new Sepang blue Quattro Turbo. Most cars are cars, they look as they do and make a variety of noises, but some cars possess a different element that's almost impossible to describe. It's an atmosphere, a statement of something that's only measurable in the form of a personal reaction. The 930 Turbo left that type of imprint - it was more than just a car. And the Quattro did the same. I can reference the rear three-quarter view over the flared arches, or that engine note when the turbo spools up. But those are components; the whole is more than that - it owns a different part of you. It's a sensory overload. It's desire.

I had never previously been in a car that could accelerate up a hill, let alone make one feel flat.

Back when these things were new we didn't mind that the wheels weren't big enough or that the rear section seemed too long; perhaps it doesn't. To me it was incredible, and then I got to drive it. I drove it from Colwyn Bay to Cirencester at shit o'clock in the morning. There's a hill up from just outside Gloucester that climbs to a village called Birdlip. I had never previously been in a car that could accelerate effortlessly up a hill, let alone make one feel flat. I remember pretending to my mates after the drive that I understood why they were called the ultimate Alpine cars of the day; of course I hadn't a clue. But I knew at that point that one day I would own an Audi UR Quattro of the same year as Nick's.

Another Accident Delivers

Being the sad fool I am, I follow the classic car market closely. I have my destination sites and spend far too much time a week looking at what's happening. And I've done this, week in, week out for years. It's a therapeutic pastime; one day I'll grow out of it. Many of you will know what I mean when I say: ultra-low mileage, fully-documented Quattros that have been utterly cherished are super rare. Understandably, they're to be driven, and happily most of them have been. I say happily; unless of course you're trying to find one. It took a long time. And in fact it was a bit of an accident - I was chasing down something else for a friend and stumbled on an auction that was advertising a few items. Buried deep in the catalogue was a silver 1986 WR with 51k miles from new, fully documented. It had gone into storage in 1990 to reappear in 2014. The independent survey revealed how good it was.

Squeezing the life out of my overdraft on top, got me over the line.

Remortgages and overdrafts are good friends at times; the 190sl was possible for the same reason thirteen years previously. But by chance, I had taken out a remortgage to build an extension on the house. Doing this build myself with a friend brought it in for less than a third of what I was quoted by a couple of firms. At the time I saw the Quattro, I had about £15k left from it. Squeezing the life out of my overdraft on top, got me over the line and I managed to get it for the reserve before it went in front of a load of far more capable buyers the following weekend.

By today's 'performance car' standards the Quattro isn't a fast car. Nevertheless, it is still an intoxicating blend of purpose with an addictive lump of turbo lag that takes years off your maturity. I think it's fair to say that I've yet to drive this thing with the windows up - that exhaust note when induction becomes a little more forced, is a moment of wonder from behind the wheel. A well-sorted Quattro still handles better than anyone should need on a public road and as a whole package it delivers big grins from the passenger seat.

I suspect though that I'll not keep this car for years. I bought it when I couldn't afford to really. The only saving grace was that my mortgage period had come up again after the two years since I'd maxed it out for the extension. Obviously I went again but this time to make sure I could replace the missing £20k with which I was meant to be sorting the garden and a few other things. Having a super tolerant family helps; trying to do this stuff under the radar would be terrifying.

Let me know what you'd like to know about this car. I've been thinking about a few things which I'll share as we go. Would be good to get your input. Like the others, it really needs a proper blow-out trip; perhaps in the spring. I've a friend in Southern Ireland who has a couple of lovely old cars; once the Soul Machine video channel is running I think I'll head over via the Welsh mountain roads and film the journey to share with you so we can see what this thing is really all about.