Is the UR S4 really worth it

[TM]

Like what Brett said, but to add:

The UrS is a much more refined and luxurious car than the 5ktq.

I don't own an UrS but I've driven quite a few and it is very
obvious to me that there are a few advantages to the UrS:

Significantly stiffer chassis- much more solid-feeling than any
type 44. If you drive them back-to-back, you can practically feel
the chassis flex on the type 44.

Much better turbo spool-up with the stock K24 and the much higher 9.3:1
compression ratio, along with the far more sophisticated coil-on-plug
direct ignition with individually controllable cylinder timing. Better
breathing engine with the crossflow head and the much better intake
path with the IM having a straight shot from the intercooler straight
into the head without going near the hot turbo side of the engine,
much better cooling system with both the radiator and the A/C condenser
mounted in front right behind the grille, as opposed to the side
radiator
arrangement on the type 44.

Better seats- the UrS sport seats are far better than the sport seats in
my old 5ktq or my 200q, much more bolstering, a bit more secure when
cornering
hard although still not enough for track use.

Keyless entry is a nice plus, very convenient (I really like the keyless
entry
I have now that I have had it installed).

Much better headlamps- the projector beam system in the UrS is far
beyond the
crappy lights of the type 44s, you really don't need to go to Euro
lights,
although the Euro lenses appear to help a lot with even the stock UrS
lights.


There are also a few major downsides:

Weight- the UrS is a relative pig, being more than 3800 lbs., and with
seriously
inadequate G60 brakes to slow the thing down. There's a good reason why
in Europe
they kept the UFOs on the UrS until 1994, when they went to the
Lucas/Girling HP-2
2-piston 4-pad setup which incidentally are the same brakes on the S4tt
and A6 2.7T.
Added weight also means you eat up consumables at a higher rate- tires,
brake pads,
bushings, fuel, etc.

1st gear- the transmission in the UrS seems problem prone in that they
have enough
torque to compromise the transmission if it is not shifted properly.

Parts cost- there are quite a few unique parts on the UrS which make it
rather
expensive should you require those parts, esp. body panels and some
engine-specific
parts. The 200q20v is not really much better in that regard, although
you can use
the entire interior from any '89-91 100/200 exc. for things like the
instrument cluster,
and the trunk, doors, hood and a few other parts will interchange in
pretty much any
'84-91 type 44. The point being that the relative rarity of the UrS will
make junkyard
parts very hard to come by.

Inexperienced technicians- the 200q20v and the UrS are rare enough that
you need to
find an experienced mechanic with specific training to those cars and
engines in order
to have your car serviced properly, should it need service- few
dealerships have techs
these days that have that kind of experience and it's not necessarily
easy to find
guys at independent shops that can either. It can be a costly
proposition if you have to
find a new mechanic.


All said and done, I'm very happy with my 200q20v, although I could use
some more power
and a stiffer chassis. I'll probably make the jump to a S4tt or A6 2.7T
when the time
comes to replace the 200, though- the S6 is getting too old and A8s
don't come with
manual transmissions in the States, otherwise I'd seriously consider a
hot-rodded A8/S8
with 6-speed.

Taka