[torsen] More from the dark side...

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/8/01 5:13:10 PM Central Standard Time, S4audinut writes:

> In a message dated 03/01/2001 11:41:37 AM Eastern Standard Time, QSHIPQ at aol.
> com writes:
>  
>  > A few years ago, I heretically indicated that if WMB ever got back into 
> the 
>  >  awd fray, audis life would get complicated.  Well, I just drove a 
friends 
> 
>  >  330xi yesterday, and I'm convinced more than ever, audis life will get 
>  >  complicated.
>  >  
>  >  0-60 times are rated at 5.8 (1/4mile at 14.4 at 96 stock)
>  >  62/38 f/r split 
>  >  
>  May have all wheel drive, maybe even the good stuff w/viscous couplings, 
but 
> it will never have the Audi I5 20v Turbo, and that in my not so humble 
opinin 
> is the best piece Audi (or maybe anyone else) ever produced.
>  Rod is back 

Interesting to note Rod, that the 330ix is really close (in almost perfectly 
so) to the new S4tt in 1/4 and ET, while retaining a rwd character in an awd 
application.  I might agree that the I520vt is good/great, but remember WMB's 
nack for doing silly things: like how far away is the M3ix, the M5ix, or the 
XM5ix (which is slated for intro this fall)?  I might also point out that the 
I520vt is a great motor always in search of a great chassis.  The 4000lbs it 
must haul around, the finicky gearbox, the POS dual mass flywheel, the 
triangulated front swaybar, the marginal chassis stiffness.  We can spend a 
whole bunch of money on the 20vI5t or just go to the dealer and buy the 
current M5 at 400hp with a warrantee and all the goodies from the get go, 
including great brakes.  If it then goes quattro without the front end anchor 
problem and retains the rwd character, lookout audi, the ante is up on this 
whole fwd chassis design. 

I'm not here to start a WMB vs audi war, only pointing out that when you have 
great chassis dynamics *with* awd, audis gig is gonna get tougher.  Here's 
hoping tougher, means better.

This ain't no 325ix appeasement WMB put forth here.  My take on the 330ix:  
This is what audi shoulda been targetting over all these years.

My .02

SJ
20vtI5 84URQ