full size spare, worth a custom wheel (Fuch)? (4 or 5 wheels?)

[Craig Lebakken]

Greg Galinsky wrote:

"So my 5kcstq is getting Fuchs! :-)"

Well done. I can spot a properly shod 44 from at least a 1/4
mile.

"At least with the Fuchs, I can still use my very new tires.
Also, the
ride will be kept stockish.  Aha!  More ammo to convince
myself
not to lower it, to make/keep the car setup for what it's
for, cruising
comfortably for long trips.  (I tend to belabor my upgrades
and
enhancements.  Should I?  Shouldn't I? etc.)

Check the registry for 4000's. I am towards the bottom. As
much as I tried to make the car look "stock", (and I have
always loved the original Ronal R8 16 spoke), I really wish
I would have gone with 15" instead of 16". Audi, I think,
designs the cars pretty closely around the wheel, so upsized
rim options are limited, and often messed up when the tires
rub the fender. I maxed out mainly for looks (well, not
really, 17" can be had for the truly insane) and I regret
it. Wifeperson has scrubbed one wheel on a curb (my fault
for having "special" wheels!), so they are just as
unforgiving in a parking lot as they are on a bridge
expansion joint @ 70 mph. Therefore, I would not call it
"belabour". I would call it engineering consideration. And
tires are #1 for ride comfort. Evaluate your driving needs
and buy accordingly. When it comes to suspension, however, I
doubt I will ever own a car that I do not immediately
upgrade to stiffer/slightly lowering springs, and Koni
Adjustable shocks. Even when driving straight ahead, the
road feel is worth it. + the Usual: control arm bushes,
alignment, ..etc..etc..

"I just don't like looking at those stock 'aero' wheels.
Are the Fuchs
any lighter than the stockers, btw?  I suppose they could be
heavier, but it wouldn't seem so."

You would be hard pressed to find better engineered
wheels.<(Period).

"Other wheels I was (am? sheesh!) considering for the car
are the 7
or so spoke A4 wheels in 16".  The open lug design where the
spokes curve back.  Very nice, imo.  There's a pic of some
car
somewhere on the net (q-club event), I believe it's a black
wagon
(5kcstqa), that is lowered and has these on it.

Pretty wheels, yes, but lotsa work to put on your car.

"Then there's the 2k S4 Avus wheels.  For the money, I was
leaning
towards the aftermarket, like those Team Dynamics for
example."

Ya got more $$$ than me.

Regards,

Craig Lebakken
1986 4KQ