[200q20v] Re: [V8] V8 vs old S4/S6 in reliability and handling

[CWurts12 at mindspring.com]

I have had experience with both and would simply describe the two as
different cars.  I have a 90 V8 and have also had a lot of experience with a
91 20V Avant and an 95.5 S6 Avant (the UrS6 is pretty much the same as the
UrS4)  The V8 feels a lot heavier IMHO.  It is a cruiser of first order.
The UrS6 feels  lighter and more nimble.  I have to admit that I love both,
but I am really partial to the old inline 5 20v turbo.  The i5 has been
developed much more than the V8 and I feel is a stronger drive train.  The
S4/6 will not be inexpensive to maintain, but will be good for more miles
with less mystery IMHO.  On the other hand, the V8 is a superior road
tripper IMHO.  Check in with http://www.urs4.com/ for more info and links.

I just added a new '01 S4 Avant to the stable.  I love it, but it isn't as
comfortable for a long haul as the V8.  Its quick and lots of fun, but it
requires much more attention from the driver than the V8.  I hope the 2.7tt
has the future that the old UrS4 has;  time will tell, but I am not yet
convinced.  




on 2/27/01 8:12 PM, Lawrence C Katzenstein at
Lawrence.C.Katzenstein-1 at tc.umn.edu wrote:

> Hi,
>  I've had a V8 for about 4 years. It has cost a fortune to bring up to
> specs- new heads, various new sensors, new UFO brake pads, various tanks
> like for the windshield sprayer, a recent new steering rack etc. The worst
> part of this is that I am now quite fond of the car since it is running
> the way it was supposed to, but initially I found it heavy and
> awkward. Before my V8 I had had a Nissan Maxima SE 5spd for 200,000
> miles. It looked great, was fast, got good to great gas mileage, and was
> bulletproof in reliability. The V8 is slower off the line, but faster at
> the top end. It also looks a little too much like an old Audi 5000 which I
> liked but didn't love. It actually alters the old 5000  look enough so
> that I really like
> the V8 but prefer the looks of the newer 100 and A6 if not the even newer
> fastback. 
> Is there any reason I should stay in a V8 if I can pick up an old S4 in
> terms of appearance, room, 0-60 acceleration, top end, safety or seat
> comfort? I do love the support of the V8's seats on long trips, but
> imagine that the S4s are similar. Why would a turbo 5cylinder move faster
> than a plain V8? Does the hot air from the turbo reduce engine life?
> I'm sure others have gone over this before, but I haven't. It sure would
> be nice to have a faster, sleeker, more modern version of what I have now
> with even better gas mileage, but I sure don't want to start over with
> another difficult and expensive car to repair. If the cars are really
> similar I'll just stay put and put the extra money in the bank.
> Thanks,
> Larry
> 
> 
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