1994 Audi 90 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Almost two years back I was in need of a super inexpensive daily driver. I wanted something that was interesting to drive and not too common. After searching the local used car lots I found a 1994 Audi 90S for $3,000.00. It was a 5-speed, well-optioned car with 125,000 on it's silky smooth 2.8 V6. I did a carfax report on this car and found that it has two local owners. I intention was to drive the car until I could buy up to a more modern car with much less milage. After three weeks behind the wheel I racked up over 1,200 miles. This car is a joy to drive and it seems to enjoy long distance travel. After a three months I noticed that the car would stall at a stop light if I didn't shift into neutral and rev the engine. My mechanic told me it was a faulty cam position sensor. I went to my local Audi dealer and after $200.00 for parts and labor, my car ran smoothly again. The V6 is a sweet unit. While it does not enjoy high revs it is a very capable cruiser. Combine it with a solid chassis that enjoys switchbacks as much as interstates and you have a great fun car on the cheap. I must remark on the relatively high cost for parts and labor at the dealer. With a car this age I suggest you find a good independent mechanic. A year and a half later I finally bought a 2003 Passat. Knowing that this model was very similar to my Audi 90 under the skin made me realize what a great job VW/Audi did on the original set up to last over a decade. The down side...The V6 is nose heavy. Audi likes to place it's engines in front of the axle giving these cars a long snout and uneven weight distribution. The Audi would plow a bit on fast, tight turns, much more than the my Passat with the lighter turbo 4. If you're in the market for cheap wheels with character, go find a 90S or even better a 90 Quattro. But make sure you listen for tapping valves and oil leaks as well as quirks in the electical system and failed heater cores (burried deep behind the dash - big bucks for repair). Change the oil regularly and use good quality unleaded premium fuel (with a detergent additive). These two things will ensure your Audi will be a good runner for a long time. By the way, I recently sold my Audi after putting on 40,000 trouble free miles in less than two years and got $1,800.00. If you're in the market for good resale, buy a used Mercedes. If you're looking for genuine fun think Audi.Apr 10, 2007