s3q and s4 coupe quattro

[JShadzi at aol.com]

Now, now, Brett, you've taken my original post and replied to an assertion 
that I was not making.  You don't have to convince me of Audi's fit and 
finish, and I was not saying there was anything wrong with any of the cars 
Audi is currently making, as my last sentence stated.  

Frankly, VW doesn't make anything that I would consider a "stripped down Audi 
performance model".  If you are referring to the FWD 1.8t Golf, shame on you. 
 

First off, it would have to be quattro (preferrably not Haldex).  And as nice 
at the A41.8t is, its just too heavy, even chipped, its not very quick.  Even 
the S4, though very powerful, is very heavy and disconnected.  I have driven 
every range of modified A4/S4, from stock, to supercharged 30v, to APR Stage 
3 1.8t, to KO4'd S4tt, etc, you name it.  One of the best S4's I drove was a 
stripped down track car with rock hard suspension, the car actually 
communicated what it was driving over, much like my 80tq.  

I am describing a car in the vein of the M3 lightweight, or even the UrQ or 
SportQuattro performance wise (though both of those were quite expensive).

What it comes down to for me right now is that I would be willing to pay for 
the performance, and do without all the cush which I can live without, and 
doesn't make the car go any faster.  The S3 could be that car, that was my 
whole point.  Not a stripped down S4 that could smear the brand image, but a 
smaller "hot hatch" type car for those who just want performance.  They sell 
those kind of cars in Europe and Japan, and now Subauru decided to bring one 
over to the US- but most Americans probably wouldn't recognize the worth, and 
Audi is likely smart for ignoring the segment.  

Afterall, even the new 2002 911 has cupholders, what most American drivers 
are concerned about anyway...

Javad


In a message dated 10/19/2001 10:03:53 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
brett at cloud9.net writes:

<< At 6:36 PM -0400 10/19/01, JShadzi at aol.com wrote:
 >I think Audi needs to be following Subaru's lead here
 
 No, for a whole lot of reasons.
 
 Ever seen a WRX?  Yeah, those bug eye lights are kind of an eyesore(a 
 face only a mother could love), but otherwise, it looks great, right, 
 especially those nice fenders?  Ok, now ever seen a WRX -UP CLOSE-? 
 Like, popped the hood, studied the interior, looked at all those 
 hidden parts of the car you don't see standing 10 feet away?
 
 Up close, paint, body, interior, etc are all of questionable quality. 
 Dan was like a kid at Christmastime when the WRX was announced(it was 
 all he would talk about :-), and after getting a chance to look at 
 one before it came out, he was pretty disappointed initially.  The 
 car even had rust all over the engine, and it was barely a few months 
 old!
 
 Now, go and look at a 2002 A4.  -Everything- is perfect down to the 
 last detail; the engine compartment is a literal work of art, and 
 it's gorgeous; we were both floored.  Even the glovebox gracefully 
 glides open; the ashtray glides up, the grab handles up above don't 
 thwack, they glide back up when you let go.  All interior surfaces 
 and joints are perfect; the tie-downs in the trunk are a beautiful 
 chrome.  Everything screams, as my friends used to say, "hi-budg." 
 Now, look at the price tag for a base 2002 1.8t, and a WRX with all 
 the accessories.  They're pretty close, the base 1.8 and the top 
 WRX...but they are -totally- different in terms of quality, features, 
 etc.  What would I do?  I'd buy a 1.8t, chip it after things were 
 broken in, and Be Happy.  Among other things, I wouldn't have to 
 cringe every morning looking out the window at the car in the 
 driveway(I know someone's going to have fun with this sentence :-)
 
 
 >, the key is affordable and light.  If recent history is any 
 >indication, the S3 will be powerful, but offset by weight and a 
 >hefty price tag.  I would love to see an S3 quattro model with the 
 >225hp 1.8t, lightened interior with minimal sound dampening, simple 
 >manual control ventilation, AC optional, with stiff suspension and 
 >wide rubber (ok, basically my 80tq but 15 years newer  =)   And, 
 >priced below $25k. 
 >
 >This is best illustrated by the recent Car and Driver challenge, 
 >where the S4tt barely beat out the WRX in performance, though close 
 >to half the price.
 
 I wouldn't be asking "why is it that at twice the price the S4 can 
 barely beat a WRX", I would be asking "why is it that a bare bones 
 fast-ultimate-in-handling-cheap WRX is beaten in most reviews, by 
 what is in comparison a luxo-boat sports sedan?"  The WRX is spartan 
 at best; the only thing with more gadgets than an S4 is Billy Gate's 
 house(or perhaps maybe an LS400 with those massaging rear seats.) 
 Just doesn't add up, all this business about "spartan=better 
 sportyness."  The price makes sense; the fact that the S4 trounces 
 the WRX doesn't; a more "pure" sports sedan should win.  It's a 
 testament to Audi engineering that it can outclass what everyone 
 seems to consider a very serious contender in the "driving 
 experience" arena.
 
 
 >   Keep making all the cushy luxo cars, Audi, but I'd love to see a 
 >stripped down, affordable performace model too.
 
 Guess what?  It's already been done, and has been for quite some time.
 
 It's a company called Volkswagen!
 
 :-)
 
 B
 --  >>