[200q20v] Re: Don't lower the car

[david_haupt at agilent.com]

Bernie wrote:

>IMO, no one should consider changing the ride height of his car without a
>complete understanding of the bump steer characteristics of the vehicle,
and
>the resultant associated handling problems!  Yet, most contributors to this
>and other trivial Audi lists are avocates of both higher rate, shorter
>springs and "stiffer" shocks, the constant "feels so good, thinner wallet"
>fad, and all this in spite of wives and friends complaints (know the
>difference?) about the resultant SUV ride characteristics.

>Color is king!  Do you like yellow shocks with red springs, or are two
>orange striped black springs with purple shocks the better combo,  what is
>the consensus?

Bernie makes some good points.  But it leaves me with the question "what to
do?".  I purchased an Audi because I prefer the handling to Japanese
vehicles of similar dimension and power.  However, it's still not as "tight"
or "flat" as I'd like.  Certainly not as nimble as even earlier Audis that
I've owned.  In the past, I've used aftermarket shocks on a car, and while
they make some improvement in tightness, the fundamental characteristics of
the car (numb feel to the steering and suspension, lots of diving motions
when faced with multiple road undulations) remain.

In the past, I've looked for aftermarket springs that don't change ride
height, but are merely stiffer, to no avail.

As far as color, that one has always eluded me.  I want it to look bone
stock, frankly.  The less splash, the less color, the better.  I know too
many people who've put nice colorful suspensions or brakes on their
vehicles, only to find that makes them a target not only for tickets but for
theft.  I've even gone so far as to repaint some aftermarket shocks that
were bright yellow.

Dave