Living in Germany for nearly six years gave me a true appreciation for speed. The stories are real: there are stretches of the autobahn where you really can go as fast as you want. Granted, these moments are somewhat rare due to traffic, construction, and weather, but they do exist. And I took full advantage of them, starting with my GTI and continuing with the 911S, Mustang GT, and the Eagle Talon.
But no matter how quick they were, my cars were never the fastest machines on the road. If you’ve experienced the autobahn, you know the true kings are the big sedans from Audi, Mercedes, and BMW. You could be cruising along at 120 mph, and suddenly one of these titans would appear in your rearview mirror, left turn signal flashing, moving much faster. And I wanted one of those.
As I approached my return to the United States, I began looking for a U.S.-spec car I could bring back with me. I got lucky and found an Audi 200 Turbo Quattro. Despite its modest five-cylinder engine putting out 220 horsepower, this big panzer could cruise at high speeds for hours. Its all-wheel-drive system (a novelty at the time) provided excellent traction and stability. Sure, the Mustang GT could reach those speeds too, but it was a much more dramatic, white-knuckle experience. The rear wing was more for show than aerodynamic function. The Audi, by contrast, exuded stability and confidence. You’d glance down and realize you were going 125 mph or more without even noticing.
But the Audi wasn’t just fast; it was luxurious and refined. The trunk was massive, the backseat roomy. In many ways, the Audi was my first “adult” car. And although mine was bright red, it wasn’t flashy. The 200 had a serious, classy demeanor. If you can’t tell already, I loved that car… for a while.
While I was enjoying my Audi in Europe, the brand was facing disaster in the U.S. In 1988, the TV program 60 Minutes aired a now-infamous report about alleged safety issues with Audi vehicles, specifically concerning "unintended acceleration." According to the segment, Audis were suddenly surging forward without driver input, causing over 700 accidents and six deaths. Audi responded with recalls and fixes, but the damage to the brand was done, despite the fact that the real issue was largely driver error.
When I moved to North Carolina in 1994, the 200 started giving me trouble. My internal speed sense didn’t mesh with American speed limits, and I racked up a couple of bad tickets pretty quickly. Whether it was my frustration or just bad luck, the car soon developed several expensive mechanical problems. And since the 200 was rare in the U.S., parts were difficult to find and service costs were high. I realized it was time to move on, only to discover the car was nearly worthless. Audi’s resale values had been decimated by the false 60 Minutes narrative.
I made the best trade-in deal I could after failing to sell it privately, and bought what I thought would be a more responsible, practical vehicle for life in the suburbs.
Guess how long that lasted?
