Euro-phoria - Part One

With the Australian-manufactured performance scene booming and Japanese imports so popular, the poor ol’ Euro performance cars don’t get much of a go these days.

In this two-part series we’ll introduce you to some absolute sleeper cars from the other side of the world – and, no, they’re not expensive. The cars we’re checking out can all be purchased for under AUD$10,000!

Euro prestige and performance for under 10 grand? You bet!

Volvo 740 Turbo/Turbo HP

What’s rear-wheel-drive, turbocharged, intercooled and can be bought from as little as AUD$2100? Give up? Well, think outside the square and get your head around a Volvo!

Released in Australia during 1986, the Volvo 740 Turbo – available as a sedan and wagon - was one of the most desirable turbo machines on the market. It made the Holden VL Turbo look like a tarted up model near the end of its life (which it was!) and it employed the next generation of engine management and turbo sophistication.

The Volvo 740T is powered by a 2.3 litre B230F-series engine boosted by a water-cooled Garrett T3 turbocharger. The SOHC, 8 valve cylinder head is nothing flash, but the air-to-air intercooler on the 740 is simply huge. It consumes the entire frontal area of the car!

This huge intercooler enables the engine run a decent amount of boost without going off the scale in charge-air temp. In contrast to the VL Turbo of the same era, the Volvo employs electronic boost control that gives up to 12.8 psi of boost. Note that full boost arrives at just 2000 rpm - this gives the Volvo its peak torque (253Nm) at an easily accessible 2800 rpm. Peak power is 115kW at 5300 rpm – nothing to rave about but more than you get in a similar capacity Mazda MX-6 turbo engine. Unfortunately – as far as we can determine – the 740 Turbo was sold as an automatic only. This dulled performance and you can expect 0 – 100 km/h performance in the 11 second region.

But let’s focus at the genuine high-performance 740 Turbo – the one that seems to have slipped beneath everyone’s radar.

In 1988, Volvo Australia introduced the head-banging 740 Turbo HP (High Performance). The sedan-only HP is identified by a rear boot lip, an air scoop along the base of the windscreen, 16 inch wheels and wider 205mm rubber. Oh, and you can also pick one by the way it launches off the line!

The HP engine is identical to the regular 740 Turbo’s except the engine management is remapped to deliver more boost. Interestingly, this extra boost arrives progressively between 2000 and 4600 rpm – this relatively gentle torque delivery helps avoid massive wheel spin. Peak boost is a considerable 14.8 psi, which is held all the way to 5800 rpm. A knock sensor pulls back turbo boost when fuel octane isn’t up to the job. Peak power is eyebrow-lifting 134kW at 5400 rpm.

With a standard 5 speed manual gearbox (no auto option), the 740 Turbo HP can sprint to 100 km/h in less than 8.2 seconds. That’s not hanging around for a 1350kg four cylinder. Quarter mile? A best time of 15.3 seconds has been recorded!

The big Volvo’s rear-wheel-drive chassis certainly helps in the traction department and contemporary road testers also commented on enjoyable power oversteer characteristics. Maybe you could start a Swedish drift craze?!

Factor in leather trim, power windows and mirrors, air conditioning, excellent practicality and renowned Volvo safety and this is a brick that deserves consideration. What could be a better sleeper than a Volvo?

Redbook lists the early Volvo 740 Turbo automatic starting at just AUD$2100 and the last of ‘em (sold in 1990) costs up to AUD$9600. The desirable HP model ran from only 1988 to 1989 and fetches up to AUD$7100. Note that these are the quoted “national average price – private sale.”

For an example of a high modified Volvo 740 Turbo, check out Vivacious Volvo

Audi 200 Turbo

Another turbo vehicle that’s forgotten is the Audi 200 Turbo.

Think Audi turbo and your mind will probably spring to S3s, S4s and the like. Well, you won’t get any of those for under 10 grand, but you can certainly get into a 1986 – 1989 Audi 200 Turbo.

The 200T (which is based on the naturally aspirated Audi 100 model) is powered by a 2.2 litre SOHC in-line five. The static compression ratio is dropped to 7.8:1, a KKK turbocharger is installed along with an air-to-air intercooler and Bosch K-Jetronic engine management. Peak power is 118kW on normal unleaded, but it’s reasonable to expect a bit more when running high-octane fuel. Like the Volvo, the Audi 200T has an emphasis on useable torque – there’s 225Nm at only 3000 rpm.

Unfortunately, all the Audi 200Ts were delivered to Australia with a standard 3 speed automatic transmission. You couldn’t get a 5 speed manual version, as available in other countries. The 3 speed auto gives poor acceleration from a standing start and, as a result, the 1300kg Audi 200T manages to hit 100 km/h in a fairly sedate 9.5 – 10.0 seconds. The front-wheel-drive chassis configuration is apparently torque-steer free. Contemporary magazines said the Audi is best as an open-road speed machine – it cruises at 170 km/h effortlessly.

Despite its original AUD$92,000 price tag, the Audi 200T uses a relatively crude beam axle rear together with a run-of-the-mill MacPherson strut front-end. With the engine mounted forward of the front axle line, it’s only reasonable to expect the Audi to understeer. Its urban-type handling is nothing special but its brakes are certainly ahead of their time – not many cars from 1986 have ABS!

Inside, the Audi is understated luxury. Interior styling is simple (bordering on bland) but is does come packed with electric seats, trip computer, climate control and electric windows. There’s also plenty of space to accommodate four adults.

The Audi 200 Turbo body is relatively pedestrian looking but its aerodynamics were ahead of almost everything else from the era. The body sits high above the standard 15 inch alloy wheels.

'Potential' is the key word for the Audi 200 Turbo

Some overseas markets received the 20 valve, 5 speed Quattro version which is good for 6 second 0 – 100 km/h sprints. Seriously fast! Using the same engine platform, much of the Quattro’s go-fast hardware can be transferred to the local vehicle. Parts are not cheap but there is certainly potential. Note that, alongside achieving more power, a 5 speed gearbox conversion should be high on the list of priorities.

These are very strong motors – several hundred horsepower was extracted reliably in the Quattro’s rallying heyday.

Redbook lists the early (1986) Audi 200T as available for as little as AUD$2500 while late models (1990) fetch up to AUD$8200. We have, however, seen low kilometre examples advertised for sale at a shade under 10 grand.

Stay tuned for Part Two of this series – we’ll get you thinking about some more cheap Euro performance!