GTP Cool Wall: 1967-1977 NSU Ro80

  • Thread starter Jahgee
  • 36 comments
  • 3,198 views

1967-1977 NSU Ro80

  • Total voters
    106
  • Poll closed .
Jahgee

Jahgee

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Jahgee1124
1967-1977 NSU Ro80 nominated by @titleguy1
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Engines: 2 x 497.5 cc 2-rotor Wankel
Power: 113 hp
Torque: 117 lb-ft.
Weight: 1210 kg
Transmission: 3-speed semi-automatic w/manual shifting mode
Drivetrain: Front engine, front wheel drive
Body Styles: 4-door sedan
Additional Info: "One of the first cars ever in the world to utilize a Wankel Rotary engine. Also was a huge step ahead in styling, technology, and performance. Unfortunately, it had a reputation of breaking down very often. It earned the European Car of the Year in 1968."​
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Yes it has a Wankel which is cool, or a 3-speed semi-auto which is kinda cool as well, but there's something about it that makes it uncool.
 
It has a semi automatic gearbox, with a clutch, and a normal H pattern shifter.
It works by pressing a button on the shifter to release the clutch.

Also, reliability went up on the later models. They're not bad to drive either, somewhat comfortable.

Cool.
 
Severely tainted by early engine faults. But like Citroens around that period, it dared to be an advanced quirk in European motoring. Except with a clean, modern design as opposed to being radically offbeat.

Low cool.
 
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The ro80 was the right car, with the wrong time (and budget) of preparation. NSU didn't have the resources to undertake such an audacious car, and the reliability issues it had showed such a flaw. However, when it worked, it was a proper mean of transportation. Very aerodynamic and smooth to drive (according to many journalists).

Too bad its early reliability flop led to the death of NSU, followed by the merge with Audi and the slow death of the ro80 under the new management. Despite all of that, if you can find a proper conditioned car you will have a reliable vehicle. It's a head turner, the equivalent of a German Citröen DS. And it is cool, make no mistake about that.
 
Joey D
Seriously uncool. Anything with a rotary engine in it isn't cool since you'll look like a total dork trying to explain it to anyone. If it was East German, I'd probably bump it up slightly though.
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I disagree to an extent about explaining things. I don't think a car needs to be self explanatory. If you can educate someone about a car, sometimes they find that car even more cool than before.
 
So crazily ahead of its time that it's (inevitable) failure brought the whole company down with it. It's cool in the sense that it's a desperation shot like the Taurus or Omni or Caravan or Cherokee. An extremely competitive and borderline revolutionary car made under times of great duress.


It's seriously uncool because it's a desperation shot that completely airballed, like the Pacer. Or the Aurora. Or the Cougar.
 

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