[A4] Noob ?s about A4 2.8 "MY 2 CENTS"

[Brizax at aol.com]

just my 2 cents,
 
i have owned a 95 325is and it was horrible, had a lot of problems with  only 
70k miles on the car, maybe it was just a rare lemon?
 
if you want performance and handling go with a 1.8t quattro, and chip it,  
the car is a whole different beast chipped, the 2.8 is nose heavy and wont  
handle as good as the 1.8 and a 1.8 chipped will destroy a v6, and is cheaper to  
mod, 

Was  considering the E36 BMW cars (budget price is up to about $15k or so)
but  am a bit scared off by potential subframe/shockmount/engine mount
problems  and thought I'd think about the A4 2.8.  So, a few ?s if you  don't
mind.
1)  Lots of torque steer with the FWD 2.8?   
2)  But, because of no AWD on the 2.8 FWD, is it appreciably faster  0-60
than the 2.8Q?
3)  What is the real world time 0-60 of the  2.8Q?  I've seen a big
disparity when I can find anything at all on  the 'net.
Now, I know that 0-60 is not the end all/be all of owning a car,  but just
to establish some kind of benchmark/comparison between cars I'll  be
considering, which are:
1990-1996 Nissan 300ZX (Z32 chassis- but non  turbo)
I TEST DROVE ONE OF THESE , IT FISH TAILED AT 65 MPH ON A SLIGHT CORNER , I  
WAS NOT IMPRESSED, NEVER HAD THIS PROB BEFORE WITH ANY CAR FWD OR RWD


1992-1997 Lexus SC 300 (only the ones with 5 speeds, probably too  "soft" a
KIND OF A HEAVY CAR BUT HAS THE SUPRA ENGINE WHICH IS A GREAT MOTOR TO  
TURBOCHARGE ETC VERY DURABLE


car)
1994-1998 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra (but not the '96 unless  cooling changes met)
AMERICAN? WHY BOTHER? :)
 


1997-2001 Honda Prelude type SH
GOD NO :)


1999  Mazda Miata (not AE version, I can only count up to 5...)
DRIVE ONE, THEY ARE WAY UNDERPOWER'D AND THERE IS NOT MUCH LEG ROOM UNLESS  
YOUR SHORT.  I DROVE A 97? DUNNO WHICH YOUR LOOKING AT, GET IN A WRECK IN  ONE 
OF THESE AND ITS OVER :(


1995  BMW M3 (if I can afford entry/maintenance costs)
ONE OF THE BEST HANDELING CARS FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD, STILL E36 PLATFORM, BE  
CAREFULL OF MAINTENANCE
 


1995+ BMW E36 coupes (but with Sport package)
SAME AS E36 M3, 


and  maybe the (B5?) Audi A4 2.8 (either FWD or Quattro, depending on  your
ID GO WITH THE 1.8T 


answers!)

Thanks very much, and Merry Christmas (Season's  Greetings) to all,
Tom Reynolds
Sand Springs, OK

MERRY XMAS, OF COURSE YOU NEED TO DECIDE ON YOUR OWN, THESE ARE JUST MY 2  
CENTS, I MAYBE RIGHT OR WRONG ON SOME THINGS,  DRIVE A COUPLE. A4S DO HAVE  LIL 
PROBS OF THERE OWN AS WELL, BUT FOR WHAT YOU GET ITS WORTH IT IMO. YOU CAN  
PICK UP A USED 1.8T FROM 96-99 FOR AROUND 12K AVOID THE NEWER 99.5 AND 2K THEY  
HAVE THE THROTTLED CONTROLED BY A ELETRONIC WIRE , YOULL LOOSE PERFORMANCE, 
THE  99 CARS HAVE THE ONE PIECE HEADLIGHTS, OR YOU CAN INSTALL EM WITH LITTLE 
WORK ON  A OLDER, I DID,
 
I HAVE A 98 1.8T AWD :) ITS A FUN CAR THAT LOOKS LIKE A SLEEPER FOR THE  MOST 
PART, INTERIOR IS GREAT, GOOD LUCK :)