Do I Really Want One?

Thu Oct 6 15:36:49 PDT 2011

I liked it.  It reminded me a lot of my old 4kq, but a bigger, more
complex and sophisticated version of it.  The car was smaller than I
thought it would be.  I remember telling Steve it looked very
"mechanically dense."

AFAIK, the car was stock, and had some issues (CEL was on), so there
wasn't a huge rush when I dipped in the throttle, but it moved well
enough.  I didn't want to adjust his seat positions so I didn't get a
sense of whether or not I "fit," so to speak.  I think I need another
(longer) test drive.  Steve, if you're reading this, I'm not fishing
for anything---just making an observation.

I don't like the look of the UrS4.  With apologies to UrS4 owners on
here, it's got the "bloated lip" grille that just doesn't do anything
for me.  I know it's the better car mechanically, but there's a lot
aesthetically about the Type 44 that really appeals.

I drive about 8K a year.  We use the minivan for longer trips, so my
DD sees my 22 mile round trip commute a day and occasional trips on
the weekends.

Definitely going to buy the best one I can find.  That's the whole goal.  :)

The Nikasil thing is basically over, BTW.  Gasoline has been
reformulated since the mid-'90s and M60s that have made it this long
are in the clear.  That's the consensus, at least.

Thanks,
Matt

On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 6:14 PM, robert weinberg <centaurus3200 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> well, you drove a 200q20v - what did you think of it? was the example
> chipped or stock?
> i'd say this - as much as i dig my 20V, if you had just one car - i'd
> personally go for a URS4. tighter chassis, less vacuum hoses flying all
> about the engine compartment and most importantly, DIS ignition! no worry
> about spark hop on high boost applications.
> yeah, it sorta looks like a bloated B5 A4 - but technically, it is a better
> car. the 20V looks downright mean though when lowered on 17"-18" rims
> though. i'll give you that.
>
> now back to the 20V. performance wise, the 525i and 20V aren't really
> comparable IMHO. stock we are talking 168HP vs, 217HP. and chipped (as most
> 20Vs are by this point) i'm at a dyno proven 280HP/305tq at the crank.
> forget the HP, that's SERIOUS TORQUE for a turbocharged 2.2L I5. and that's
> NOTHING compared to what this engine can take with the help of a larger
> turbo.
>
> a well maintained and chipped 20V is a 13 second 1/4 mile car. the 525i
> doesn't really stand a chance straightline race. you'd need a similar year
> M5 to catch it.
> now to the rest of your points. the BMW is probably a better handling car.
> lighter with better weight distribution, not to mention a tighter chasses.
> but with AWD (and my koni/H&R setup), i just plant the 20V in a corner and
> keep my foot on the gas - it does just fine in the twisties and is totally
> exhilarating.
> as far as reliability - i think my car has been possessed by some german
> demon somewhere - it's basically been a piece of shit. BUT i do attribute
> that to it being just one car and it only gpne 114k in its 20 years. it did
> a lot of sitting around which is the worst thing you can do for a car. the
> seals and hoses all dry out. i do have friends with high mile 200 20Vs that
> have been far better on the reliability front.
> but regardless, we are talking about OLD cars here. how many miles a year do
> you drive? i wouldn't have too much reservation putting 6k-8k/yr. on the
> car. but i'd be wary of trusting it for 15k-20k/year. bu that's just me.
> lastly, buy THE BEST ONE you can get. stretch if you need to. get one that's
> already sorted out and already modded. if you buy a cheap one - it will suck
> your wallet dry more in the end anyway.
> you could always buy a 540i - but then you have that nikasil crap to worry
> about. at least in the early ones.
>
> see ya,
> Robby
> ________________________________
> From: Matt Suffern <msuffern at gmail.com>
> To: 200q20v at audifans.com
> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 12:20 PM
> Subject: Do I Really Want One?
>
> Hi guys.
>
> My name is Matt; I was on the list about a year and a half ago in a
> futile quest to trade for / buy a 200q20v.  Steve Janesick even
> graciously let me drive his copy over lunch one day just so I could
> get the feel of the thing.
>
> Well, here I am again.  I ended up selling my '86 BMW 635 and buying a
> '95 525i 5-speed in excellent condition:
>
> http://nceuro.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15077
> http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1723900
>
> That said, and I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but the 525 kind of
> "fell in my lap," and even though it's been a fantastic car for the
> year and a half that I've owned it, I'm still not convinced it's "me."
> There's something about the lure of an Audi (I used to own an '86
> 4kq) that keeps me coming back.  I wrote about it recently on my blog:
>
> http://www.spannerhead.com/2011/09/30/daily-driver-daydreaming/
>
> I'll be in a position in a couple of months (December-ish) where I
> could conceivably purchase a 200q20v and sell the BMW to help offset
> the cost.  I guess what I'm wondering is, will it be worth it?  The
> 525i is a wonderful car to drive, and I want to make sure, as fast as
> the 200q20v is, will it compare to the BMW in terms of the overall
> polish of the driving experience.  To put it another way:  I've pined
> for a 200q20v for a while now; will owning one be another case of
> "don't meet your heroes?"
>
> Not helping is the fact that I'll probably have to travel and/or have
> the one I find shipped, so there's a good chance I won't even have the
> opportunity to test drive it before committing to purchase.
>
> I expect to have to repair it more.  No illusions there.
> I know my fuel economy will go down.  Got that.
> I know it won't be as balanced to drive.  Understood.
>
> I guess I just want to make as informed a decision as possible and
> avoid buyer's remorse, especially given the fact that although the 525
> doesn't excite me, it is still a very, very good car.
>
> Any thoughts?  I can't keep 'em both; I'm looking for a "DD with potential."
>
> Thanks guys,
> Matt
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