For our final pairing this week, we’re going to check out a couple of cars that I must regrettably refer to as “classics,” even though neither one of them looks that old to me. You don’t see either one of them very much any more, and either one would be a welcome sight at a car gathering. But which one would you rather see pull in, or drive in yourself?
Yesterday’s slap-dash matchup involved two unfinished dune buggies. I thought the extra power from the Corvair drivetrain in the fiberglass buggy might be a selling point, but many of you wanted to know how hard it would be to return it to VW power. The sandrail, with all standard VW components, seemed to appeal to more of you, with the added advantage of actually running and driving.
I’d take the sandrail as well. I prefer my RC dune buggies in kit form, but when it comes to the real thing, I think I’d have a lot more success with something already assembled and running. And I’m pretty sure, with the addition of a few things like turn signals and windshield wipers, it could be street-driven here in Michigan. My neighbor drives his side-by-side (or sometimes his riding mower) to Dollar General; I can’t imagine anyone giving someone a hard time over a sandrail.
Wednesday night, we had an Autopian meetup at one of David’s old haunts: the Wal-Mart parking lot in Troy, Michigan. I didn’t count how many cars showed up, but the variety was amazing: everything from a Honda CRX convertible to a glorious baby-blue ’59 Imperial to a perfectly crusty Subaru Brat showed up. There was a whole fleet of Miatas, a couple of kei cars, an MGB GT just like my old one except it was green, a Shelby GLHS Charger, a fantastic Pontiac Sunbird turbo convertible, and so much more. And every time something new rolled into the parking lot, conversations faltered and heads turned to watch the new arrival pull up and park. The Met Gala has its red carpet; car meets have the turn in from the road. In both cases, the goal is the same: Make an entrance they’ll notice.
It would be foolish to choose a car based solely on that first impression; your own enjoyment of the car has to come first, and frankly, if you don’t love it, no one else is going to give a damn about it anyway. But it is fun to see everyone watching you pull in, even for an introvert like me. So for today’s Showdown, I picked two cars I think I could really enjoy, but are also capable of pulling focus when they arrive – at least, at an Autopian meet. Let’s check them out.
1987 Audi 5000 S – $3,900
Engine/drivetrain: 2.3-liter OHC inline 5, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Paw Paw, MI
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: Runs and drives well
I grew up with Audis and Volkswagens. We had, at various times, a Beetle, a diesel Dasher, a Golf, a Scirocco, and two Audi 5000s. After my parents got divorced, my dad bought another 5000, because he missed it. The Scirocco was my first car, and after that died I got the Golf as a hand-me-down, and shortly after that I bought a ’73 Super Beetle for $250, but didn’t have it long enough to title it, so it barely counts. And yet, I haven’t owned a VW or Audi product since 1994. Were I ever to do so again, an Audi 5000 would be high on my list.
This ’87 model is just like the red 5000 that I drove to my senior prom, with one crucial difference: it has a five-speed stick. It isn’t a turbo or a Quattro; this car has a simple 130 horsepower naturally-aspirated version of Audi’s legendary inline five, and it only powers the front wheels. But it’s enough. These cars don’t feel fast, but then you look down at the speedometer and realize you’re doing 90, and it feels like 60. They’re just so smooth. This one runs and drives great, and it has a new alternator, water pump, and timing belt.
It’s in good condition inside, but it does need a couple things. The seller says the speedometer cable is disconnected from the transmission, which is why we don’t know what the mileage is. My guess is that the drive gear stripped out, and the seller hasn’t been able to find a replacement. One of the perils of trying to fix up a rare old car, I guess. You can always use a speedometer app on your phone; I’ve done that before. It also looks like the radio is missing, but that’s easy to find. Any single-DIN radio will fit.
This car looked like nothing else on the road when it debuted in 1984, and all these years later, it still looks great. It’s a timeless design, and thanks to fully galvanized sheetmetal, an ageless one too. The seller does say that this car has never seen a winter, but rust isn’t much of a problem on these anyway.
1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 3.1-liter OHV V6, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Cleveland, OH
Odometer reading: 39,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
As I’ve mentioned before, I spent the mid-’90s working in a garage attached to a gas station. It wasn’t quite a quick-lube; we could certainly change your oil while you wait, but you could also drop your car off in the morning and pick it up later. And for a few customers, we even picked up and delivered cars. As a result, I got to sample a lot of ordinary cars from that era, and a few stood out. I developed an affinity for GM’s W-body coupes, particularly the Pontiac Grand Prix and the Olds Cutlass Supreme. This car, especially in this very ’90s teal, takes me back.
I wish I could tell you this is one of the very rare Cutlass Supremes with a Quad 4 and a five-speed stick, but alas, it is not. This one just has a run-of-the-mill 3.1-liter V6, backed by a 4T60 four-speed automatic, just like millions of other GM cars from the ’90s. Its strengths and weaknesses are well-understood, and parts are widely available and cheap. This car hasn’t even cracked 40,000 miles yet; I’m guessing it was someone’s parent’s or grandparent’s car who rarely drove. You might have some soft parts to replace due to sitting, but otherwise it should be a nice reliable ride.
Back when this car was built, you could order options in cars individually, rather than only as part of a package. It made for some odd combinations, like a fancy digital dashboard with manual windows and locks. That digital dash, unfortunately, is the one issue with this car: the seller says it occasionally cuts out. It’s probably a loose connection behind the gauge cluster, which shouldn’t be too hard to fix. The dash top is also warping, it looks like, and I’m not sure how you’d go about straightening that out. Otherwise, it looks really clean inside.
The paint is in great shape, and there doesn’t appear to be any rust on it, but you’d have to take a peek underneath to make sure. This looks like the basic S model, based on the steel wheels with plastic covers, which these days probably makes it even rarer than the fancy models.
Ordinary survivors like these are some of my favorite cars to see at shows and gatherings, and judging by the reactions to cars at our meetup on Wednesday, I’m not alone. I get the feeling that either one of these would have been a hit. Which one would you rather watch roll in, or better yet, arrive in?
Both?
I love the color on the Olds, but they both have some appeal.
You’re speaking my language here, Mark. The Regular Prize at TriangleRAD events is for just this type of car.
Which one would I rather see at a show? That’s a tough one. I’ve seen 5000’s maybe twice in the wild in the past five years, but never one at a show. I’ve seen two Cutlass Supremes of this vintage at events in the past, but both were red convertibles. A base model like this is a much rarer thing to see, as you mentioned.
I’d totally geek out over either one…I think the basic wheel covers and the oh-so-
’90s teal paint gives the Olds a very slight edge today.
I had a Audi just like this one before,they’re certainly nice cars to drive but the fuel injection was overcomplicated and shit. That being said I wouldn’t mind owning one again,maybe I’d have more luck this time.
I’ve gotten burned enough times owning Audi 5000s to know I never want another one as long as I live.
As much fun as the Audi would be, olds all the way.
I know these cars pretty well, and with that low of miles, all the dumb stuff hasnt happened yet, and can be prevented easily.
Plus parts and labor are super cheap and easy on these. Plus those v6s sounds kinda rowdy uncorked a bit. So gimme
Man, it takes a pretty good car to beat that Cutlass for me—amazing color and I’ve always been a sucker for the wraparound rear glass—but a manual 5000 with minimal issues does the trick. I’d want my mechanic to spend 4 hours checking it out, but if what’s listed are the only issues, I’ll take it, if only for a year or two.
Do I want to sort of cosplay Ferris Bueller’s father, or remember how ’90s GM products were?
The Olds, I guess, because the Audi will be broken and have unobtainium parts, which means I couldn’t arrive at any meetup at all.
But I’d likely just spend my ~$4k on some better nostalgia.
That Cutty is my first car! Sort of. Mine was the fancy SL, but it was maroon on maroon with a luggage rack spoiler – can it get more 90s?
Anyway, loved that car. My 3.1 was flawless, it drove well in the snow, and I still the square fixed beam lighting. Great looking car then, great looking car now.
Luggage rack spoiler. So cool yet also dorky at the same time. Loved the dual purpose. But can’t say I ever saw anyone strap their Samsonite to one IRL. Kind of like today’s fake vents on a front clip. Worthlessness eclipsed the style.
I’ve never owned an Audi, and this one’s a stick. Sign me up. I’m sure the experience would be terrible (I helped a friend keep one of this era running), but at least they are decent to drive.
Having rented PLENTY of that era of GM garbage back in the day, I find them absolutely hateful. No thanks, despite the low miles and seemingly nice condition.
This is the second generation 5000. I had a first generation, and haven’t seen one in the wild for 35 years. As for the second generation, it’s probably been 30 years since I’ve seen one
And, I forgot to add, my mom had the cutlass supreme. This is a tough choice today.
Olds all the way. I had the Buick equivalent (the Regal), and it was a joy. Not too big for one person but not too small to haul four, good economy, and comfortable.
The Audi is cooler, and it has a manual and…WAIT, did you say there is a Subaru Brat in Michigan that is more than a pile of rust dust with a Subaru badge and a jumpseat handle sitting on top of it? That’s NUTS.
Though the Audi with the manual is interesting, I know the parts for it can often be insanely expensive or unobtainium.
And for that reason, my vote goes to the mind Oldsmobile. It’s mint and parts/service will be way easier.
I would take that Olds and rent it out on Turo.
Owned a 5000 of this general vintage, except ours was a turbo. One of the most comfortable cars I’ve ever owned, and it would get up and go. Unfortunately it was in the shop a lot and costing me a fortune.
Finally told the shop to do a thorough inspection of everything and took care of the serious stuff. Shortly after that, the timing belt broke and it never ran again. Hauled it for scrap and that was that. Of course the shop told me the belt looked good to them.
Give me the Cutlass, can probably at least get parts.
What idiots. If the age of a timing belt is unknown, just replace it.
I felt like an idiot myself, should have known to have it changed.
All part of being a car person, we all do the stupid now and again. Don’t beat yourself up, though I am sure you are long over it.
This was a very hard choice. I went with the Olds for parts availability. I once had a Lumina with that engine and it gets the job done quite well.
Cutlass! Wow, you actually got me to pick auto over stick TWICE in 1 week! Both of them being a type of blue just added to that- I’m a sucker for blue cars (I finally have one after a bunch of shitboxes in awful colors) That D50 was a great little truck too…and this Olds looks great in teal and would look good pulling in to an awesome Autopian meet! While the 5000 looks like fun to drive, I’ve heard they can be a nightmare of issues and whenever I hear Audi I automatically think unreliable and expensive. The classic ones like this are still less unreliable and less expensive than newer ones though. The one to get would be the iconic and legendary Quattro. Damn, that Cutlass is so clean too and will run badly (or decent!) longer than other cars will run at all! Ha ha
I think that’s the last Audi I’d want to own.
I mean, the last one that Audi MADE, that I’d want to own.
(That teal GM thing is kind of pretty, but if I’m going to have something weird and old might as well go all in.)
I’m not sure. Neither, both?. They both don’t do much for me. Cutless supreme is another trailer park special. Must be one of the secret reasons Pontiac and Olds were killed they was the the trailer park brands. That one is a good color and super clean and very of its time. So I kind of want it. But the audi looks good too is one of the few good audis and I kind of want it. But I don’t really want either. I think the audi looks better so I picked that. I do think it could probably be taken to where the gen z hipsters that still have access to their parents money and flipped for a profit. Not so sure on the cutless supreme. But maybe. It might be one of the nicest in the country.