was Subaru dreamin-LAC

[james accordino]

--- Virtual Bob <hey9811 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> He says one ex-Audi racer couldn't believe it and
> said, "he wished he had
> this system (not the engine) in his Audi." Another
> comment? He claims
> Subaru is aiming high -- on or about BMW, Mercedes
> territory with that new
> 3.0 Legacy. (I almost peed in my pants reading
> that.) Talk about amazing
> claims! 

Making claims is fine, building fine cars is another
matter.  Anyone here remember the 1st Nissan Maxima? 
Shrunken head version of a Chrysler New Yorker.  Big
front engine/rear drive.  Lame handling, bad brakes,
puffy, button tuck velour interior in electric powder
blue?  I thought I would puke.  Anyone seen the "new"
Maxima?  What a diff.  Despite being 22-25 Billion in
the hole, IMO they pulled off a great car.  Yes, I'd
still rather have an Audi, but they're aiming at the
Camry primarily, and I feel that it makes the Camry
look and perform like a hurst, although that may be
Toy's target.

I feel like I started a firestorm.  Merican cars
aren't slow; they are slow revving.  All that rotating
trash in the top end of the engine is NOT competitive
any more.  Any racing in which pushrod engines
"appear" competitive is because air inlet restrictors
are being used.  This is under the guise of "keeping
costs down".  Translated that means allowing Merican
engines to play.  When airflow is not limited, their
entire induction concept, rooted in the first half of
this century, cannot possibly compete.  Part 2 of the
dig was that Merican manufactures really caught on
late that "maybe" handling and braking, and God
forbid, an understated, ergonomic interior design
might be nice in a car.  We've always had the go
fast-straight line part down.  Too bad our motors
stopped being high winding in 1963.

Jim Accordino
Audi-first manufacture to pull their heads out of their