Autocar UK – 21 August 2019

The V8, which ran from 1988-93,

was Audi’s first bent-eight and the

predecessor of the A8. First-gen

cars used a 3.6 but this one, a 1993

w i th 8 1 , 0 0 0 m i l e s , i s th e l a te r 4. 2. I t s

galvanised body should mean those

gleaming flanks are no illusion.

Toyota’s hot hatch of 1988-92 was

a desirable thing despite rivals such

as the Golf GTI and Peugeot 205

G T i. T h i s 1 9 8 9 c a r h a s 1 0 0 k m i l e s.

Two years ago you could buy one

for £2500, but as rust claims more

scalps, prices of the rest are rising.

I n 2 0 1 3 a ti d y exa m p l e of th i s swa n k y

g r ey i m p o r t co st £ 1 k , b u t a s th i s 1 9 9 4

car with 103,000 miles shows, they’re

now over £3k. If you’re going to have

a punt, it may as well be on a motor

from the then-fledgling luxury brand

whose reliability was already envied.

‘The only right-hand-drive Avantime

i n th i s co l o u r! ’ c l a i m s th e a d. T h i s

Grand Air has one-touch opening of

windows and sunroof and a 3.0 V6

with a manual ’box, because that’s

h ow we r o l l e d i n 2 0 0 3. I t ’s d o n e 1 0 0 k

miles and has just been serviced.

SMART

RELIABLE

COUPE

BARGAIN

BRITISH

DROP-TOP

BUY THEM

BEFORE WE DO

WILD CARD

he MG F created a stir

when it landed in 1995.

Here was an alternative

to the MX-5 that was also

more interesting thanks to its mid-

mounted, 1.8-litre 16-valve engine.

I n M P i f or m it pr o duc e d 118bhp w h i le

the VVC version made 142bhp.

Hydragas interconnected

suspension ensured the car was

comfortable and composed, while

standard goodies included remote

locking, electric windows and heated

mirrors. VVC spec added half leather,

anti-lock brakes and electric power-

assisted steering (EPAS).

The Mk2 version followed in 1999

a nd t he n i n 2 0 02 it w a s s uc c e e de d

by the TF, with its stiffened chassis,

quicker steering and traditional, fully

independent, coil-spring suspension.

It was a good car but today it’s the

F where the bargains – or buckets –

lurk. Many have been taken in by a

cheap F only to find it’s held together

with Waxoyl, the head gasket is

spewing oil and the clutch linkage

is corroding where it’s exposed to

the elements. Also exposed are the

underf loor coolant pipes while, at

the front, the radiator has a habit

of rusting to dust (an aluminium

replacement is the way to go).

If the car is sitting low and rides

too firmly, the Hydragas system may

be out of juice. Unfortunately, many

p e ople on l y r e c h a r ge t he f lu id w he n

it’s the nitrogen gas, which lives in

sealed units, that needs replenishing.

It’s a skilled job but Hydragas and

Hydrolastic Service (hahsltd.co.uk)

can do it for you.

Our interest was stirred by a 1998

S-reg 1.8 MPi with 101,000 miles for

£650. Bargain or bucket? The seller

says it’s reliable, citing a trouble-free

journey from oop north to darn saarf

as proof. Got to be worth a look.

T

MG F £ 650

Renault Avantime

3 .0 Privilege £ 4250

Lexus Soarer 3.0 auto coupé

£ 3290

Audi V 8 quattro

£ 10 ,0 00

Toyota Corolla GTi-16v

£ 5250

AN ODD

AVANT I ME

APPEALS

POTENT

JAPANESE

HATCH

74 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 2 1 AUGUST 2019