Some RS6 impressions

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

In turbo trim, a slushbox will always be faster assuming the gearing to be 
right.  Torque converters are great BPV's.   The "lack of interaction" on this 
car has nothing to do with the slushbox, and everything to do with the drive by 
wire.  A bigger delay in the DBW than in the paddle shifters IMO.  But then 
again, after working my 91 v8 autobox hard for a year now, I'm not so sure that 
manual shifters on big boats is such a good thing.  After working my v8, I 
found the progression to the RS6 slushbox to be natural in feel and easy to 
accomodate to.  Another gear, well place paddles, and 150more HP bodes well, and 
is our collective automotive future, certainly audis.

WRT my trim comments Brett, there are fender flares on the 4.2 A6 already.  I 
can tell you from 20 feet you wouldn't know this was a RS6.  The wheels are 
18x8.5 with 255/40 btw, not 19's.  What do *I* want?  Distinction, and 
distinction doesn't have to have to be high profile.  Go AMG type 600 stuff...  I'd be 
looking at things like maybe hood/fender vents, more pronounced ducting to 
the brakes, a distinctive rear spoiler (not fruit plate Evo type, but maybe 
polished stainless/aluminum or some such - a bit of Talledega 200 roots to boot).  
Maybe the power rear sunshade found on the euro v8/A8.  The 4ringed exhaust 
tips that Graydon so well copied (tho the sportec is a great compromise there, 
only the best part of it's art is tucked away for only mechanics to see on a 
lift) Certainly the interior should sport some massive upgrades over a loaded 
A6.  For this kind of money, those seats were majorly overlooked.

I'm not at all bitching.  Audi is onto something good here.  No question 
after driving this one, I could think of few other cars I'd want in my fleet.  I'd 
go for the avant myself, but I'm partial.  Bottom line:  This is a sleeper, 
and I'd argue, to the extreme conservative side.  

Wolves can be in sheeps clothing, but armani prices dictate a better 
presentaion of the supermodel wearing such fine weave wool.   Even to the casual 
observer this animal should command attention.  It just doesn't, to a fault.

My .02

Scott Justusson
QSHIPQ Performance Tuning

In a message dated 1/9/2004 11:56:57 AM Central Standard Time, 
t44tq at mindspring.com writes:
The RS6 has a slushbox- no matter how nice the engine and the chassis
may be, the freewheeling aspect of the slushbox and the lack of
interaction
kills it for me, that's not having driven the car, though.

I'll take a manual every time. If Audi keeps going the way they are and
no DSG gearboxes for the S-cars, I'll be looking at Evos and STis.

Taka