words: Bill, photos: Ambassador Automobile
It’s good to see an old timer like this one. This is a 1980 Audi 5000S (C2) with an inline 2.0L 5-cylinder diesel engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. This is a front-wheel drive vehicle; Audi didn’t fit the quattro system until the C3 model. Here’s the ad:
| MAKE: | AUDI |
| MODEL: | 5000S DIESEL |
| STOCK: | 338 |
| TRANSMISSION: | 5 SPEED MANUAL |
| EXTERIOR COLOR | ONYX GREEN METALLIC |
| INTERIOR COLOR | GREEN VELOUR |
| VIN: | 43A0052143 |
Aaaaaannd that’s it so let me fill you in with a little information about the C2 5000S Diesel. As mentioned before, it was powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0L inline-five producing 67hp and 86lb-ft of torque. It went from 0-60 in 18.1 seconds, did the 1/4-mile in 21.2 at 64mph, and its top speed was 93mph…not exactly a powerhouse (the gas version had a whopping 100hp/112lb-ft of torque). That 67hp engine had to move a 2,866lb car so speed wasn’t its forte; economy was. The EPA rated it at 27 city/43 highway mpg. It had a huge 19.8 gallon fuel tank so your theoretical range on this diesel was an average of just shy of 600 miles.
The highlight of this particular 5000S has got to be the interior. While you could get leather (in green) in the 5000S, this model has the cloth interior and I must say, it looks as clean as the day it left the factory. Along with the green velour seats/door cards, you see a green dashboard, green A/B pillars, green steering wheel, green seat backs, green speaker grills…I’m surprised the a/c vents aren’t green. Even the glovebox is lined in green carpet. I especially love that each rear (green) door has an ashtray with its own cigarette lighter. Talk about luxury.
This specimen shows 28,537 miles; I don’t know if that’s true mileage or not but by the condition of this 5000S, I’d have to say it is. There isn’t any rust showing anywhere on the car. There are many more photos of this 1980 diesel Audi 5000S and you can find it HERE. In the immortal words of that wise green sage, Kermit the Frog:
